FanDuel NBA: Wednesday Value Plays

FanDuel NBA: Wednesday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.

There aren't many game-time decisions to deal with on Wednesday's 11-game slate, and there are also many avenues to find value. Getting two or three elites into your lineups should be fairly easy.

SLATE OVERVIEW

ATL (-5.5) @ ORL O/U: 226.5

BOS (-12.5) vs. DET O/U: 214

NYK (-4.5) vs. BKN O/U: 218.5

CHI (-5.5)  vs. SAC O/U: 234

MEM (-11.5) vs. POR O/U: 227.5

MIN (-1) vs. TOR O/U: 230.5

SAS (-6.5) @ OKC O/U: 218.5

PHO (-15.5) vs. HOU O/U: 234

GSW (-5.5) vs. DEN O/U: 224

UTA (-5) @ LAL O/U: 227

We'll pay special attention to a potential HOU/PHO blowout spot, and although we didn't target the Suns' bench in our endorsements, they are worth a look. The shootout potential for TOR/MEM and TOR/MIN is also appealing. Like Phoenix, we didn't do much with Portland's new-look offense in the endorsements, but I like all their current starters.

INJURIES

ATL John Collins (foot) - OUT

Expect Danilo Gallinari ($4,800) to pick up the slack in the frontcourt amid Collins' absence.

BOS Robert Williams (calf) - QUESTIONABLE

BOS Marcus Smart (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE

Al Horford ($6,000) should be the best pivot for Williams, while newcomer Derrick White ($6,200) would see increased run of Smart can't make it.

IND Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) - QUESTIONABLE

IND Chris Duarte (toe) - OUT

IND Isaiah Jackson (ankle) - OUT 

Guard pivots in this spot are too volatile, but Terry Taylor ($4,400) and Goga Bitadze ($4,200) are value-beating candidates in the frontcourt.

BKN Kyrie Irving (home game) - OUT

BKN Ben Simmons (conditioning) - OUT

We will see significant nightly output from Seth Curry ($5,700), especially when Irving is out.

NYK RJ Barrett (ankle) - OUT

Evan Fournier ($5,800) is logging max minutes in this scenario, but Quentin Grimes ($5,200) is the surprise value for the Knicks will Barrett out.

CHI Zach LaVine (knee) - OUT

Ayo Dosunmu ($6,500) should continue to excel amid LaVine's absence in the backcourt.

MEM Ja Morant (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE

De'Anthony Melton ($5,400) and Tyus Jones ($3,800) are good pivots for Morant if he's out.

TOR Fred VanVleet (knee) - QUESTIONABLE

Go with the starters if VanVleet sits, starting with Scottie Barnes ($6,000) as the best value.

MIN Anthony Edwards (ankle). - QUESTIONABLE

The severity of Edwards' sprain is unknown at present, but Malik Beasley ($4,700) stands to benefit if he can't make it.

OKC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee) - OUT

OKC  Luguentz Dort (shoulder) - OUT

Tre Mann ($5,300) and Aleksej Pokusevski ($5,000) stand to gain from this scenario.

LAL LeBron James (knee) - QUESTIONABLE

I wouldn't endorse anyone with much confidence, especially considering James' likelihood to play.

ELITE PLAYERS

It's difficult to ignore the smash spot for Dejounte Murray ($10,800) against the Thunder, and given San Antonio's recent play, the game could be a competitive one. I also like Julius Randle's $10,400 in the Garden against the Nets, who are suffering from defensive deficiencies in the frontcourt. I also like Nikola Vucevic's $9,900 salary against the Kings despite the recent arrival of Domantas Sabonis ($9,200).

Elsewhere at the elite level, I expect standout games from Devin Booker ($8,800) and Chris Paul ($9,400) against the struggling Rockets.  Trae Young ($10,200) will also be working overtime against the Magic as they try to garner a W without John Collins.

Also consider: Stephen Curry, GSW ($9,700) vs. DEN

EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS

Jaylen Brown, BOS ($7,800) vs. DET

Pitting Boston's offense against the Pistons is an excellent idea, and Brown typically thrives when Marcus Smart is absent. Derrick White's presence could complicate things, but Brown's 40-plus FP upside and double-double capability should cause fits for Detroit. 

Kyle Kuzma, WAS ($7,700) @ IND

Kuzma continues to be an unsurprising addition to my endorsements. He continues to do it all for the Wizards, and his contributions across the board make him a nightly double-double threat. The Pacers are scrambling to make ends meet without Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, so I'd expect heightened rebound numbers for Kuzma in this matchup. He had a 26/11 double-double against the Pacers earlier in the season.

Russell Westbrook, LAL ($7,300) vs. UTA

Westbrook's salary is at an all-time low, and I think he's a good value against Utah if he can up his minutes a bit. He only played 28 minutes in his last tangle with the Jazz and came close to meeting value. He probably won't get the job done in the rebounding department with Rudy Gobert back, but a good assist number is a distinct possibility.

Also consider: Josh Giddey, OKC ($7,200) vs. SAN, Wendell Carter, ORL ($6,900) vs. ATL

VALUE PLAYS

My favorite value mentions from the injury section are Horford, Taylor, Curry and Grimes.

Cole Anthony, ORL ($6,300) vs. ATL

I still have no problem with Anthony at this salary when the matchup is right. Although his record against Atlanta has been up-and-down, he recorded 49 FDFP against the Hawks earlier in the season, and without John Collins, the Hawks won't be at their best.

OG Anunoby, TOR ($5,700)  @ MIN

Anunoby's salary dip creates a great value opportunity, especially if VanVleet misses Wednesday's game. Anunoby provides a decent floor, and the matchup against Minnesota seems pretty solid. He's generated value-beating numbers in four of his last seven games relative to his current salary.

Isaiah Roby ($4,200) and Aaron Wiggins ($3,600), OKC vs. SAS

Roby and Wiggins are two deep values that could easily pay off against the Spurs. The Thunder have been electing to go big with Roby at the four on occasion, and we will probably see even more of him with Dort out. The same holds for Wiggins, who is a more natural pivot for Dort's production.

Also consider: Jarred Vanderbilt, MIN ($4,500) vs. TOR

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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Edgerton
Jeff has provided sports content for numerous sports outlets and has played fantasy sports since scores had to be tabulated via newspaper. He started working with RotoWire in 2017. Originally from South Carolina, he's a lifelong Clemson fan now enjoying the sun in Los Angeles.
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