This Wednesday, the NBA continues a busy week with eight games on the main slate on DraftKings, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Teams are starting to find their rhythm in the early part of the season, and we have enough data to really pinpoint some of the most advantageous matchups to target. On this slate, 16 teams make up a deep player pool, but there are three key NBA DFS stacks that make sense to build around as you assemble your roster.
At this point in the season, injuries are also starting to stack up and impact the slate. The daily injury report has a few key names to monitor, led by Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards (hamstring, questionable), Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns (illness, questionable), and Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe, questionable), who may be ready to make his season debut. Make sure to check back for updates to the injury report before the action tips off at 7 p.m. ET.
The NBA DFS main slate includes a variety of contests and pay-out structures on DraftKings, headlined by the NBA $333K Zone Special [$100K to 1st].
Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Mavericks are home against the Pelicans on Wednesday night after sliding to 2-5 with losses to the Pistons and Rockets over the last week. They’ll still be without Anthony Davis (calf) and Dereck Lively II (knee), leaving plenty of work for the rest of the rotation in what should be a favorable matchup at home. The Pelicans have allowed the third-most points and second-best field-goal percentage to their opponents this season. Dallas has averaged the fewest points in the league, but it should be able to get more going on Wednesday as one of the best NBA DFS stacks, even without Davis available.
Core Plays: While Davis has been out, PJ Washington ($7,000) has stepped into a larger role, and he showed off his high ceiling with 55.5 fantasy points on 29 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block on Monday against the Rockets. D’Angelo Russell ($6,100) also had a double-double in that game with 34 fantasy points after an even better showing of 45.8 fantasy points on Saturday night in Mexico.
Value Options: Max Christie ($4,800) has produced 28.5 and 32.0 fantasy points in the team’s two games without Davis, and he has double-digit points in five straight games. Daniel Gafford ($4,700) has only played two games after his delayed start to the season, but he had 30.5 fantasy points on Monday as his workload increased to 25 minutes. Moussa Cisse ($3,500) also got some run on Monday as the backup center and posted 9.5 points in 14 minutes. Naji Marshall ($4,000) is another cheap way to round out the stack who brings some upside as he absorbs extra work. He could be extra motivated on Wednesday since he’ll be facing his former team.
Indiana Pacers vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Pacers have also gotten off to a slow start at just 1-6 while being smashed by multiple injuries. They are in a great spot at home against the Nets on Wednesday, though, since Brooklyn allows the most points and the highest field-goal percentage in the NBA. The Pacers tend to play up-tempo even when they’re short-handed, so opportunities should be there for the remaining players.
With Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) already out, Bennedict Mathurin (toe), Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Obi Toppin (foot), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Johnny Furphy (ankle) and now Quenton Jackson (hamstring) will all be out as well on Wednesday. With lots of available usage, peripheral players will have to continue to step up.
Core Plays: The one key piece the Pacers still have is Pascal Siakam ($9,500), who has gotten a chance to show off his ceiling as the focus of the offense. He has over 52 fantasy points in four of his seven games this season and is averaging 49.0 fantasy points per game. He had 57.2 fantasy points on Monday in the Pacers’ last-second loss to the Bucks. Jarace Walker ($5,800) has also made the most of his expanded chances with over 21 fantasy points in every game this season, an average of 28.3 fantasy points per game, and a solid 35.5 fantasy points on Monday. Aaron Nesmith ($5,900) has been less reliable but also brings a high ceiling.
Value Options: RayJ Dennis ($4,800) is probable with a back issue that has limited his output for the last couple of games. He could be lined up for more work now that Jackson is out as well and is back to being an elite value as long as he’s ready for his regular workload. Ben Sheppard ($4,700) is also getting plenty of minutes but hasn’t shown as much scoring upside as Dennis. In the middle, Isaiah Jackson ($4,600) had a big game Monday with 42 fantasy points, but he hasn’t been nearly as consistent as Walker or Siakam.
Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat
The first two NBA DFS stacks in this post are short-handed teams where players are being forced to step up and are in favorable spots, but for the third option, let’s look at a team that has been firing on all cylinders in the early part of the season. The Nuggets have scored the most points per game in the NBA so far this season, producing 125.0 points per game and shooting 51.8% from the field, the second-highest percentage in the Association. The Nuggets also get a boost from playing the Heat, who have the highest pace in the early going this season.
Core Plays: Most Nuggets stacks have to start with the big man with the big salary and high ceiling in the middle-Nikola Jokic ($12,000). Jokic is averaging 65.4 fantasy points per game this season and is coming off a season-high 78.8 fantasy points on Monday, when he had 34 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks against the Kings. Jamal Murray ($7,700) is probable with his calf injury and has over 35 fantasy points in five of his six games this season, including each of his last two contests.
Value Options: Christian Braun ($5,000) has been boom-or-bust with over 30 fantasy points in three games and under 20 in his other three matchups. Peyton Watson ($3,500) had over 21 fantasy points in three straight games but then went scoreless in 16 minutes against the Kings on his way to just 4.8 fantasy points. Bruce Brown ($3,300) stepped up with 25.5 fantasy points with Watson quieter on Monday. Watson is a little better bargain option, but Brown is also involved enough at this bargain basement salary.
