Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings at each position for Wednesday’s main NBA slate, along with some strategy unique to this slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Excellent 8’s [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies ($10,400)
Editor’s note: Tonight’s game between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies is being postponed due to contact tracing, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
There are some great spots to target at PG, as usual, but I feel like Lillard is a bit overlooked. His salary has made an obvious jump, but his ceiling is practically limitless with both CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic out of the lineup. Dame’s gone for over 50 DKFP in three of his last four, scoring at least 35 actual points in each contest. The streak includes 71.25 DKFP against the Kings.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns ($4,700)
Tate moved back to the bench with the Rockets getting some perimeter players back in the lineup, but he still played 30 minutes against the Bulls. That tells us that for as long as John Wall is sidelined, he’s going to have a significant role. There’s still 30-plus DKFP upside here for the time being.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Victor Oladipo, Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns ($7,800)
‘Dipo made his team debut against the Bulls on Monday, and wasn’t shy. He got up a season-high 23 shots in 32 minutes, finishing with a 32-5-9 line, good for 54.25 DKFP. Regardless of matchup, it’s worth exploring the upside here, at least until Wall returns.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Justin Holiday, Indiana Pacers vs. Dallas Mavericks ($4,900)
On the flip side of this trade, the Pacers got a good one back in Caris LeVert, but health issues are going to keep him sidelined for a while. That means all of Oladipo’s minutes are up for grabs with no replacement. Holiday isn’t seeing that many more minutes, but does seem to be taking advantage of the shots the Pacers now have to go around — 13 field goal attempts in his last game.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers ($8,700)
Brown scored 54 and 55 DKFP in the Celtics’ last two games before a week layoff, and since returning, he’s been held under 40 DKFP in both games without Jayson Tatum. The Celtics were on the right side of a blowout against the Magic, then on the wrong side against the Knicks, so Brown hasn’t been in a competitive game yet with Tatum out of the lineup. Assuming we get one in Philly, Brown has upside higher than usual.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves ($7,400)
Gordon isn’t exactly value, but I needed to find a way to fit him in here. He’s basically been playing PG since Markelle Fultz’s season ended, and DraftKings responded by giving him the PG/SF tag. Gordon’s coming off a massive 18-17-9 game for 57.25 DKFP against the Knicks, and faces a Minnesota team thin up front. This should be another mismatch to take advantage of.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks ($7,700)
Grant has been spectacular for the Pistons, and aside from being the hottest prop bet on the market, he’s been an extremely consistent DFS contributor. Grant’s averaging over 50 DKFP in his last two games, and the Hawks rank 29th in DKFP allowed to forwards. This is a high upside spot to keep riding Grant, and we know the floor is also high given his consistency.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Doug McDermott, Indiana Pacers vs. Dallas Mavericks ($4,700)
Myles Turner is questionable with a broken hand, but has missed just one game so far. I’d be surprised if Indy doesn’t let him get a bit more healthy before throwing him back into the fire. If that’s the case, it’d mean another start for Dougie McBuckets, who filled in with 28.25 DKFP in 32 minutes on Sunday. If Turner does send McDermott back to the bench, Cam Johnson ($3,900) is a cheap alternative for the Suns, and was recently moved into the starting five.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves ($8,600)
The Wolves will be without Karl-Anthony Towns, and already have one of the weakest defensive frontcourts in the NBA. We just saw the Hawks dominate the paint in a matchup on Monday, and I expect Minnesota to really struggle with that again. Vuce has been putting up big numbers even in Orlando blowouts, so as favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook against the Wolves, I see 20-20 upside here.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Xavier Tillman, Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers ($3,500)
Tillman is the slate’s overall best value, and can be used at PF/C. He’s seen his role expand with Jonas Valanciunas out of the lineup, averaging 28 DKFP in just over 28 minutes the last two games. Portland is banged up right now, leaving Tillman in a more favorable matchup. This is the closest thing to a free space on Wednesday’s slate, pending major news.
Overall Lineup Strategy
Editor’s note: Tonight’s game between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies is being postponed due to contact tracing, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
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It’s tough to give too much lineup advice on a 10-game slate. Usually we write up how strong PG and C are, and while they are, this is one of the better forward slates of the season. I don’t mind going heavy there, and you can also play three centers, using Tillman at PF and paying for two actual C plays. Sliding Gordon in at PG also lets you load up on more forward plays like Brown and Grant.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Excellent 8’s [$100K to 1st]
Key Injuries to Monitor
— Kyrie Irving is expected to return to the Nets, playing alongside James Harden and Kevin Durant for the first time. That takes away value from those three for now.
— Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are questionable due to ongoing ankle and shoulder issues.
— Myles Turner is questionable with a fractured hand, while Jeremy Lamb is questionable to make his season debut, following an ACL tear 11 months ago.
— Jayson Tatum is out with COVID-19, but Robert Williams will return.
— Seth Curry will NOT return from COVID-19 (after being cleared to return, Curry will sit out due to conditioning).
— Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter are both probable. Cam Reddish is questionable with a knee injury after missing two games.
— Tyler Herro is questionable with a neck injury. Jimmy Butler remains out.
— Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio and Juan Hernangomez all remain out.
— Andrew Wiggins is questionable with a knee injury.
— Marvin Bagley is probable with a wrist injury. Hassan Whiteside is questionable with a hip injury.
— Lou Williams is questionable with a hip injury.
— Jonas Valanciunas remains out.
— CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic remain out.
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Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Excellent 8’s [$100K to 1st]
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