This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
What makes Wednesdays so great is the fact that nearly everyone plays. That opens up the whole field of players and makes value plays much easier to come by. That's why the focus of this article will be on players south of $9,000, as it's key to get as many of these cheap players into your lineup as possible, so you can get one or two of the five-figure studs, as well.
Bradley Beal, WSH at BRK ($7,400): Beal is coming off a monster performance on Monday and he should be able to add to those numbers against the Nets. In that game against the Cavaliers, Beal dropped 59 fantasy points, which marked the fourth time in his last five games he reached at least 35 fantasy points. It's the matchup that's the most tasty though, with the Nets ranking last in total defense, while allowing the second-most fantasy points to shooting guards this season.
D'Angelo Russell, LAL at DET ($6,200): Russell is coming off a stinker in his most recent game, but prior to that dud, Russell had scored at least 38 fantasy points in three-straight games. What's especially enticing here is the matchup, as the Pistons are allowing the third-most fantasy points to point guards across their last 10 games.
Reggie Jackson, DET vs. LAL ($5,900): Jackson has been in a slump over his last five games, but it's lowered his price to a number that's too hard to pass up. At just $6,000, Jackson is one of few players who can approach 8X value, as he can drop 40 fantasy points with relative ease. That was evident when Jackson scored at least 33 fantasy points in his previous four games before that five-game slump. The Lakers allow 23.6 points and 9.6 assists on 47 percent shooting to point guards this season, which are some of the worst marks in the league.
Gordon Hayward, UTA at NOP ($8,000): Hayward has been a freak recently, as he's scored at least 43 fantasy points in three straight games, as well as 27 or more fantasy points in 13 of his last 14 games. Plus, the matchup Wednesday is strong, with the Pelicans allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to small forwards across their last 10 games.
Julius Randle, LAL at DET ($5,800): Randle saw a huge price drop due to a bout with pneumonia, but he should be ready to return to a being $7,000 player sooner rather than later. He looked poised to have a big game in his return from illness, but foul trouble limited Randle to just 17 minutes and 21 fantasy points. When Randle plays at least 30 minutes, he averages well over 30 fantasy points per game, and that alone makes him a strong of a value at under $6,000.
Derrick Favors, UTA at NOP ($5,000): Favors is coming off the best game of the season on Monday. Against the Atlanta Hawks, Favors collected 20 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks en route to 42 fantasy points. That's the sort of upside Favors has, and what makes him more intriguing Wednesday is the matchup, with New Orleans allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to power forwards this season.
Marc Gasol, MEM vs. PHX ($8,600): Gasol has been a monster over recent weeks and he should be able to abuse a bad defense like the Suns' on Wednesday. Gasol is averaging 26.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 blocks across his last 11 games. That's close to 50 fantasy points per game and that doesn't seem like an outlandish number against a Phoenix defense that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency and allows the eighth-most fantasy points to centers on the season.
Andre Drummond, DET vs. LAL ($8,300): Drummond has been a rebounding monster recently, as he has at least 17 boards in seven of his last 11 games. The defensive statistics have been a huge bonus, as well, with Drummond averaging 2.4 steals and 1.6 blocks across his last 14 games.
Lucas Nogueira, TOR at MIN ($4,100): This is a risky and sneaky pick, but Nogueira could be in for some big minutes against a Minnesota team that typically employs two true big men at center and power forward. Toronto has very little in terms of frontcourt depth and that should make Nogueira more usable here than usual. He's scored at least 19 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 games, while surpassing 23 fantasy points six times in that stretch. That doesn't sound like huge production, but it's 6X value at just $4,100. Not to mention, Patrick Patterson looks unlikely to play Wednesday, so Nogeuira could very well approach 30 minutes of action.
