Wednesday’s slate has a whopping 11 games, culminating in an awesome nightcap – Raptors/Warriors. Other great games include Bucks/Pacers, Blazers/Grizzlies, and Thunder/Pelicans. I’m targeting players from some of those matchups, but there are a ton of fantasy options to choose from tonight.
As always, it’s important to check the injury report right before tip-off. Last Wednesday’s article listed John Wall as a top dollar pick because of the exploitable matchup with Cleveland’s poor defense. The logic was right, but Wall sat for personal reasons. Tomas Satoransky ($3700) filled in nicely in his stead and returned nearly 10x value.
A good NBA DFS lineup features a solid core of high-floor mid-range options with some expensive studs and cheap upside plays used to round out the roster. Matchups are important, but opportunity can be even more valuable when playing DFS. I’m going to list 10 players to target for tonight’s slate ranging from top dollar studs to bargain bin values.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool 
Wednesday’s slate has a whopping 11 games, culminating in an awesome nightcap – Raptors/Warriors. Other great games include Bucks/Pacers, Blazers/Grizzlies, and Thunder/Pelicans. I’m targeting players from some of those matchups, but there are a ton of fantasy options to choose from tonight.
As always, it’s important to check the injury report right before tip-off. Last Wednesday’s article listed John Wall as a top dollar pick because of the exploitable matchup with Cleveland’s poor defense. The logic was right, but Wall sat for personal reasons. Tomas Satoransky ($3700) filled in nicely in his stead and returned nearly 10x value.
A good NBA DFS lineup features a solid core of high-floor mid-range options with some expensive studs and cheap upside plays used to round out the roster. Matchups are important, but opportunity can be even more valuable when playing DFS. I’m going to list 10 players to target for tonight’s slate ranging from top dollar studs to bargain bin values.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Top Dollar
Russell Westbrook (PG – OKC): $10,900 @ NO
This could turn out to be the best game of the night with Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook squaring off in a likely high-scoring affair. This one has a 232 Over/Under, and OKC has an implied point total of 117. Westbrook is a consistent 50 DK PPG scorer and never a bad option in your lineups, but this matchup should elevate his value further. The Pelicans’ poor defense allows the fifth most PPG to PGs on the season. Russ has surpassed 70 DK points in two of his last three and three of his last six. He’s worth his 10.9K tag as the highest priced PG and third most expensive player overall.
Kevin Durant (SF/PF – GS): $9,600 vs. TOR
After three straight 70 DK point outings to close out November, Durant has cooled off considerably. He’s only reached the 50 DK point threshold once in his last five games, thanks in large part to the return of Stephen Curry to the lineup. The Slim Reaper should be in for a huge night against the Raptors, though, in the final game of the night as Kawhi Leonard (Durant’s likely defender) will be out. Durantula put up a season-high 51 points and 76.8 DK points when the Warriors faced the Raptors on November 29. I’ll pay up for him tonight as his price has dropped a ridiculous $1,300 in the last nine days.
Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $10,500 vs. BKN
The big man has had very modest point totals in his last four games, averaging just over 41 DK PPG in those matchups. He’s in a great rebound spot tonight (no pun intended) as he faces a Brooklyn defense allowing the most DK points to the position this year, at a whopping 65.56. Philly has an implied point total of 114 tonight as -7.0 favorites, and Embiid should feast against the Nets at home in a game that the 76ers should control.
Mid-Range
Julius Randle (PF/C – NO): $7,400 vs. OKC
How’s this for a cheap option at Center with a ton of upside? Randle should once again see a lot of court time with Nikola Mirotic ruled out after re-injuring his ankle on Monday. He’s been productive lately given his extra run with Mirotic in and out of the lineup, and he’s put together a 25-10-4 average in his last three games. Over his last five, his floor is 38.8 DK points, with three 50 DK point performances in that stretch. With a 232 Over/Under, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the big man. At this price, he’s a better value for your money than Anthony Davis ($11,200).
Bam Adebayo (PF/C – MIA): $6,100 @ UTA
With Hassan Whiteside once again ruled out, Adebayo is in line for another start at Center on Wednesday night against the Jazz. Over his last three games, Adebayo has seen his minutes rise to over 30 per game while posting nearly 39 DK PPG. As such, his price has risen from $4,200 t0 $6,100 in under a week, but he’s still a great play, likely to return 5x value and more. The Jazz are only middle-of-the-pack against Centers, allowing 57 DK points to the position this year, and Adebayo should make a big impact in this game.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF/C – CLE): $5,700 vs. NYK
Nance Jr. has seen his price rise by $1,000 since Saturday due in large part to back-to-back solid outings against Washington and Milwaukee in which he averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Nance has been a productive player on a lottery team this season with Kevin Love and David Nwaba missing extended time. Now, Tristan Thompson will be out 2 – 4 weeks with a sprained foot, opening up even more opportunities for Nance Jr. He may even draw the start at Center tonight. He’s exceeded his value by at least 7x in his last two, and at only $5,700, he could do it for a third time in this one facing a Nicks defense ranked bottom five in the NBA in defensive efficiency.
Kent Bazemore (SG/SF – ATL): $5,500 @ DAL
In games in which he’s played at 30 minutes this season (four games), Bazemore has averaged 39 DK PPG. He’s likely to hit the 30-minute mark again on Wednesday night with Taurean Prince out for at least the next few weeks. Though his price has climbed by nearly $1,000 in the last week, Bazemore is a great pick at $5,500 and likely to return a ton of value.
Bargain Bin
Fred VanVleet (PG/SG – TOR): $4,300 @ GS
The former Wichita State standout has made an impact in his last two games, averaging 12 points and eight assists. He’s likely to start for the Raptors tonight with Kawhi Leonard out again, and he shined in the starting lineup on Tuesday, dishing a career-high 14 dimes. He’s averaging 28 minutes and 31 DK points in his last two, and his price has absurdly gone down after last night’s great effort. He’s an excellent value tonight against the Dubs.
Jalen Brunson (PG – DAL): $3,800 @ DAL
Dennis Smith Jr. will miss his fourth straight game on Wednesday, and Brunson should continue to be the biggest benefactor. The former Villanova Wildcat has averaged 29 minutes and 27 DK points over the last three games that Smith Jr. has missed, and he’ll square off against a weak Atlanta defense tonight. His price is still bottom-of-the-barrel, and he makes a great cheap play that allows for spending elsewhere.
Robert Williams (PF/C – BOS): $3,400 @ WAS
With Al Horford and Aron Baynes out on Monday, Williams played 26 minutes, chipping in seven points, 11 boards, and three blocks for 28.8 DK points, almost 10x value. Horford and Baynes are questionable again tonight, and Williams would get some extra run if they sit. Daniel Theis had a big game on Saturday as the starting Center, but he was outplayed by Williams on Monday. He’s also $1,200 more expensive than Williams, who I like as a dirt-cheap option with upside playing on a winning team against a poor defense.
Zachary Hanshew is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.
