This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Tuesday night might have been opening night in the NBA, but Wednesday is the first big night on the schedule with 14 games. Although 14 games leaves a lot of options for your FanDuel lineup, it can be a little overwhelming trying to find the right combination with so many choices. Here are some cheap options to consider that will hopefully not only make selecting your lineup easier, but also make you a winner.
Point Guard
Emmanuel Mudiay, $5,500, DEN: Mudiay has been dealing with a hamstring issue, but he did return to practice earlier this week and appears to be ready for action Wednesday against the Rockets. He was excellent in his final preseason game against the Thunder, scoring 22 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Mudiay is going to get plenty of opportunities to contribute right away, making him an intriguing play considering his price.
Shooting Guard
C.J. McCollum, $5,200, POR: There has been a lot of buzz around McCollum during the preseason as he scored at least 22 points in three of his last five preseason games. Not only is he scoring, but he also contributed at least four assists in all but one game during the preseason. The Trailblazers are going through a rebuilding process and don't have nearly as much depth as they have had in the past, so look for them to give the talented McCollum plenty of minutes right out of the gate.
Louis Williams, $4,800, LAL: Williams has played well during the preseason as he has scored at least 16 points in four of the five games that he played. There is a chance that Williams could start Wednesday against the Timberwolves, but he should play around 25 minutes even if he doesn't start. The Lakers seem to have a lot of shooters when you combine Williams with Kobe Bryant and Nick Young, but Williams should still provide solid value in this game.
Small Forward
Marcus Morris, $5,700, DET: Morris was great Tuesday against the Hawks as he scored 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists, resulting in 36 FanDuel points. He faces the Jazz Wednesday and if he plays well again, this might be the lowest price you will see for him for a while.
Otto Porter, $5,300, WAS: Porter will be the starting small forward for the Wizards this season after Paul Pierce left for the Clippers. He didn't excel in the preseason, but he was solid as he averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game. If you want to go cheap at small forward Wednesday, Porter can provide value at this price.
Power Forward
Thaddeus Young, $5,600, BKN: The Nets play the Bulls Wednesday and although a matchup against the Bulls defense was tough last year, they are playing a different style this season with Nikola Mirotic starting at power forward. Young finished the preseason on a high note as he averaged 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds over the final three games. Young has the potential to pay big dividends considering his price in this game.
Julius Randle, $4,500, LAL: I can't jump on Randle fast enough Wednesday considering how little he will cost. The Lakers don't have a ton of depth up front, leaving Randle with an opportunity to really stand out. Not only can he score and rebound, but he passed the ball well in the preseason as he dished out at least four assists in three games. Don't be surprised if Randle turns out to be one of the best value plays Wednesday.
Center
Jahlil Okafor, $5,600, PHI: Okafor is likely going to hurt full season owners with his free-throw percentage, but daily players don't have to worry about that. He can score in the post, rebound and block shots. Philadelphia plays the Celtics Wednesday, a team not exactly blessed with exceptional frontcourt options. Look for Okafor to have a strong showing in his first game in the NBA.
Meyers Leonard, $4,900, POR: Leonard finds himself as the starting power forward for the Trailblazers and although he won't be able to contribute at the rate LaMarcus Aldridge did, he is still valuable. Meyers isn't going to be a huge scorer, but he is a good shooter from behind the arc, a solid rebounder, and can contribute in both steals and rebounds. I wouldn't be surprised if he provides great value Wednesday against the Pelicans considering his increased playing time.
