Wednesday delivers a seven-game NBA DFS slate. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position for Wednesday’s NBA action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $100K Fadeaway [$20K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns, $9,800
As the season comes to a close, Flagg has been very aggressive and solidifying his case for Rookie of the Year. The Duke product has erupted for over 70 FPTS in two of his last three. Following his 45-point outburst vs. the Lakers on Sunday, Flagg overtook Kon Knueppel in the odds markets for Rookie of the Year. Flagg is currently a -300 favorite for the award on DraftKings Sportsbook. This race is still far from over, though, with a few games left in the regular season and Flagg surely wants to have another big outing or two before it’s all said and done.
The 19-year-old is handling a godly 38.3% usage rate in his last three and chasing Flagg’s ceiling is smart for GPPs tonight, regardless that he is facing a Suns’ defense that ranks 10th in rating this season.
Other Options: Devin Booker ($9,300), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($6,900)
Value
Lucas Williamson, Memphis Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets, $4,400
The Grizzlies set an NBA record for most made three-pointers in a game Monday vs. the Cavaliers with 29 and Williamson knocked down five of them. The 27-year-old recently signed a 10-day contract with Memphis and in that matchup with Cleveland, Williamson drew his first career start and finished with 37.25 FPTS in a team-high 39 minutes while seeing a 19% usage rate.
The Grizzlies only had nine healthy players for this tilt and they will be down to eight tonight, as GG Jackson (knee) will be joining the team’s packed inactive sheet. Williamson should once again see big minutes as Memphis continues to give him a long look on this 10-day deal and this is a plus matchup vs. the Nuggets, who rank 21st in defensive rating this season. Williamson should surpass five-times value with ease and is a strong play for all formats.
Other Options: Dylan Harper ($5,500), Walter Clayton Jr. ($4,400), Adama-Alpha Bal ($4,300)
Forward
Stud
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs, $9,000
Avdija has been dominant vs. the Spurs this season, scoring 58 and 64.75 FPTS in two matchups. One of the main reasons for Avdija’s success against San Antonio is that Victor Wembanayma missed both of those matchups, making this is a much friendlier matchup. With Wembanyama off the floor this season, the Spurs’ defensive rating is 10.5 points per 100 possessions worse than with him on. Thankfully for Avdija, Wembanyama is expected to miss tonight’s game as well, as he is listed as doubtful with a rib injury.
Avdija has topped 50 FPTS in two of his last three and this is an important game for the Trail Blazers, as they are only one game back of the Clippers for the No.8 seed in the Western Conference. Avdija is leading Portland with 1.3 FPTS per minute and a 29% usage rate this season, and he is the top high-end value on the slate.
Other Options: Paolo Banchero ($9,100)
Value
Dariq Whitehead, Memphis Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets, $4,200
Just like Williamson, Whitehead is currently on a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies and the 21-year-old has been seeing a big role. In his last two, Whitehead has scored 25.8 FPTS in 39 minutes vs. the Bucks and 26.2 FPTS in 31 minutes vs. the Cavaliers.
Whitehead is handling a 23% usage rate with Memphis and that rate could increase tonight with Jackson sidelined. Nonetheless, Whitehead should receive over 30 minutes and is the top forward value on the board.
Other Options: Toumani Camara ($5,900), Cameron Johnson ($5,200), Matisse Thybulle ($3,700)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $12,500
The Nuggets are one game up on the Lakers for the No.3 seed in the Western Conference, but Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker between these teams, so the race for that spot isn’t over. Denver needs to win tonight and Jokic likely will lead this slate in FPTS by a comfortable gap, particularly with the tanking Grizzlies on the other side.
Memphis has been the best matchup for big men since the All-Star break. Over this time, the Grizzlies ranks 29th in defensive rating and they are allowing the most rebounds and points in the paint. The Nuggets’ massive 133.5-point implied team total on DraftKings Sportsbook is the highest on the slate by over 10 points and Jokic should go crazy in this spot. As Denver looks to secure the No.3 seed, the superstar has topped 70 FPTS in five of his last seven.
Other Options: Donovan Clingan ($7,500)
Value
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers, $5,900
Okongwu is in strong form as the season winds down, posting at least 34 FPTS in three of his last four starts. The center is scoring 1.1 FPTS per minute with a 20% usage rate this season and getting a win tonight is crucial for the Hawks, as they are only one game up on the Raptors for the No.5 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Ranking 13th in pace and 16th in defensive rating this season, the Cavaliers are a solid matchup and Okongwu is a strong value in this spot at only $5,900. While way back in November, Okongwu went off for 40.75 FPTS the last time he faced Cleveland.
Other Options: Mark Williams ($5,200), Luke Kornet ($4,400), Robert Williams ($4,200)
