DraftKings NBA: Wednesday Cheat Sheet

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Updated on May 2, 2018 1:07PM EST

We'll only be tackling the Rockets-Jazz game on Wednesday's slate, which means DraftKings will be employing its Showdown format for the evening. This format differs from the usual Classic format in a few ways. For one, your roster consists of six Utility spots with no specific position requirement. Second, the prices for players in this format are adjusted and skewed higher, and our own salary is adjusted as well. With 50k at our disposal, our average cost per player comes to $8,333.

Here are the players who come in above that median price:

James Harden ($17,100)
Donovan Mitchell ($13,700)
Chris Paul ($12,800)
Clint Capela ($11,400)
Rudy Gobert ($10,800)
Ricky Rubio(Q) ($9,500)
Joe Ingles ($9,200)

It makes no sense at all to adhere to the usual format for this article, so I'm electing to go by position and discuss the perils that exist at each spot, and then come down with two players per position, with one coming from the group above and another coming from below the median line.

Let's first take a look at the box score for Game 1 to see who our top performers were, with DKFP as the primary indicator. To further illustrate the median line, players priced below $8,333 will be in CAPS.

Harden: 65.5
Capela: 37.5
Paul: 37.0
CROWDER: 34.5
Ingles: 32.5
Mitchell: 30.9
TUCKER: 26.0
Gobert: 24.0
O'NEALE: 20.8
BURKS: 20.0
GORDON: 18.3
ARIZA: 17.8
FAVORS: 15
M'BAH A MOUTE: 11.3
EXUM: 10.3
NENE: 6.0
NIANG: 5.3
ONUAKU: 4.8
G GREEN 4.5
ANDERSON: 3.3
NETO: 3.3
MCCREE: 2.8
BLACK: 2.0
JOHNSON: 2.0
JEREBKO: 1.3

All of this data tells me three things at the outset:

1. Jae Crowder is the best value.
2. Alec Burks, Royce O'Neale and Joe Ingles benefit the most in Rubio's absence.
3. You have to play Harden.

While I don't think the slate will shake down exactly like this in Game 2, it's interesting to see where Gobert fell on this list. He ended up behind Crowder and Tucker, and just ahead of O'Neale and Burks. Donovan Mitchell also underperformed.

Let's face it, we can't pick the top three guys – you'd be left with a median salary of $2,900 for your final three picks and while you could certainly do it, I doubt it would amount to a winning score. So, let's look at each position and see what else we can do.

GUARDS

James Harden ($17,100) is a lock for me. True, there could be a wild-card lineup that betrays this avenue, but there would have to be a wild change in the game script for Harden to not come out on top again. I think we'll miss Rubio again on Wednesday, and in my mind, he's the only guy that has a ceiling high enough to surprise Harden. Mitchell could do it under normal circumstances but he's being asked to do way too much without Rubio next to him.

Alec Burks ($4,000) has been a favorite of mine all year, and finally he's getting the kind of playing time that will showcase his abilities. He exhibits a bit more hustle than O'Neale and even though Royce will likely get the start, I think Burks will once again outplay him.

FORWARDS

Joe Ingles ($9,200): Rubio's absence has pushed Ingles further out onto the perimeter where he can return to his pure-shooting ways from beyond the arc. The deep threat has been compromised by Rubio's stellar play in the first round, but he's now called on to be the primary sharpshooter for the Jazz. IF he gets hot – Houston, you have a problem.

Jae Crowder ($6,200): Crowder is a dicey play because he's going to get super-high ownership on this slate. IF P.J. Tucker or Trevor Ariza outperform him, they'll be the super-smart pivots that clinch it for some lucky owners. You have to wonder why Gerald Green only logged one minute on the floor, and that makes him a punt play only for me.

CENTERS

Clint Capela, ($11,400): Capela's really the only center I'd consider here. Your output from second-unit guards and forwards are going to get better production than any backup center would, and that might lead me to avoid the position altogether. Still, Capela was the second-highest scorer in Game 1, and has one of the most reliable floors you'll find.

Derrick Favors ($7,400): I believe we'll see a bit of a bump from Favors in Game 2. Favors' Game 1 was uncharacteristic after he had a great series against the Thunder, and I think his meager output in Game 1 will leave him under-owned on Wednesday. He could be the wild-card that puts up a big number.

Although I rarely do this in advice columns, I'm going to give you two sample lineups for the evening. One will include Harden, and one will not.

LINEUP WITH HARDEN

Harden ($17,100)
Burks ($4,000)
Tucker ($3,800)
Ingles ($9,200)
Favors ($7,400)
Crowder ($6,200)

LINEUP WITHOUT HARDEN

Capela ($11,400)
Paul ($12,800)
Ingles ($9,200)
Burks ($4,000)
Crowder ($6,200)
Gordon ($6,600)

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.