This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Wednesday's slate consists of 10 games with a wide array of options to choose from. There's a lot of value to be had, especially at the forward positions, so let's get to it.
First, we'll hit the high-priced players in the 10K-plus range. It's prudent to include a few others who are lingering in the 9K area, of which Joel Embiid ($9,700) and Andre Drummond ($9,300) are the only players not carrying a questionable tag at this time. You'll have to delay buying Steph Curry, Kevin Durant or Ben Simmons, and I think that order (from most likely to least likely) lays out their probability of suiting up. While the Warriors have been underperforming against subpar teams recently, it's a nice matchup for them against the Lakers, and Curry is a great add if he plays.
Both DeMarcus Cousins ($11,000) and Anthony Davis ($10,800) absolutely dominated against the Timberwolves in their last meeting, and they are rested and ready to go. I am going to go with Boogie on almost every lineup build I have based on his last meeting against Karl-Anthony Towns, who ranks dead last in defense versus other centers.
Honorable mention goes to Russell Westbrook ($11,200) against the Magic, and his recent streak of 60-plus DKFP games cannot be denied. Proper strategies for this slate would involve a mix-and-match of any two high-salary selections. Cousins and Davis will take a small dip in ownership due to how Minnesota's defensive rank is listed, so a Westbrook/Cousins combo is probably the most reasonable choice. I don't mean to intentionally fade James Harden ($11,600), but good value can be had at the two spot on this slate and, well – you can't buy everyone!
Now to the rest of the player pool: I'll be highlighting three players at varying salary levels from highest to lowest at each position.
GUARDS
Bradley Beal, WAS at PHI ($8,100): If you read my Tuesday column, you know I was a fan of Beal, who turned out to be a head-scratching clunker against the Timberwolves. I am going right back to buying him because that poor outing will give his ownership a slide, and if Ben Simmons doesn't play, you're looking at a substantially weaker Sixers backcourt. Look for Beal to bounce back in a big way.
Tyreke Evans, MEM at SA ($6,600): First Conley goes down, and now Mario Chalmers has a questionable tag for Wednesday's game. Chalmers' stat lines prove there is output for the taking here, and although I expect Andrew Harrison to draw the start at point guard if Chalmers sits, Evans will be the prime beneficiary in the backcourt.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs. WAS ($4,600): I went looking for McConnell intentionally with Ben Simmons' sprained ankle in play, and was pleasantly surprised to see him priced this low. This is much lower than you'd find him on other sites. Couple the potential of Simmons' absence with a Wizards team that is having trouble with point guards without John Wall, and McConnell shapes up to be a great value asset.
I usually only stick with three guards, but I'd be remiss if I didn't give a bit of time to Tyus Jones, MIN at NO ($4,500) against the Pelicans. Jones has played lights-out in place of Jeff Teague and although Jrue Holiday is a worthy opponent (and another low ownership target at $6,500), his 30.5 DKFP game he had against the Wizards.
Other guards to consider: Kyle Lowry, TOR vs. CHA ($7,800), Klay Thompson, GS at LAL ($7,400), Dennis Smith Jr., DAL vs. BKN ($5,600)
FORWARDS
Kristaps Porzingis, NY vs. MIA ($8,200): I watched a good portion of the Cavs/Heat game on Tuesday, and the Heat just looked out of sorts. I also saw Kevin Love destroy the Heat inside with blazing efficiency. Hassan Whiteside put up a decent line despite the loss, but the Heat looked messy. Miami also comes in on the tail end of an away back-to-back, and the matchup looks too juicy to not consider KP, despite his price. If Love can do it, so can Porzingis.
Otto Porter, WAS at PHI ($6,700): With Wall still gone, Porter remains a great play against a Sixers team that ranks 22nd against small forwards. I give an extra push for Porter of Ben Simmons sits. He only went for 28 DKFP in their last meeting, but that was the first game of the season with Wall in the lineup, so this different set of circumstances plays to an uptick for Porter.
Harrison Barnes, DAL vs. BKN, ($6,100): There are so many bright and shiny choices at forward (and I'll mention more of them after this) but I hope Barnes doesn't read this article. That's because I'm about to refer to him as a comfortable, old shoe. Well, actually I just did. He's yet to play the Nets this season but they rank 27th against small forwards and you can't find a better model of consistency than Barnes. He's never going to wow you, but he'll rarely disappoint. He's coming off a below-average night against the Spurs, and he'll be ready to face some softer competition on Wednesday.
Other forwards to consider: Tim Hardaway, Jr., NY vs. MIA ($6,500), Robert Covington, PHI vs. WAS ($6,200), Kelly Oubre, Jr., WAS at PHI ($4,200)
CENTERS
As I said before, I'd go with one of the Pelicans here, but here are some other options to consider, especially for contrarian GPP lineups.
Andre Drummond, DET vs. PHO ($9,200): It's difficult to fade Drummond at home against the Suns, as this rebound monster will certainly gobble up enough bricks to be super-relevant as a lineup booster. While I don't think he'll outperform Cousins, he'll certainly give Boogie a run for his money. The Suns rank dead last in scoring defense, all the more reason to consider ownership.
Clint Capela, HOU vs. IND ($7,400): Ownership will be way down across the board for mid-range center options, and Capela is a safe pick for value against Myles Turner and the Pacers. It's unclear if Turner is still suffering from the concussion he sustained early in the season, but he's been struggling on both ends of the floor, aside from a few breakout games. With Chris Paul seeing more and more time, the Rockets are now shifting into high gear offensively so look for Capela to get plenty of looks down low.
Dwight Howard, CHA at TOR ($7,100):Kemba Walker will sit out on Wednesday, but the Hornets are chock-full of dime-droppers, and they'll find a way to get to Howard inside as he lines up against a struggling Jonas Valanciunas, who's been unable to replicate his breakout performance last year. Howard has averaged 43.7 DKFP over the past ten games, and is the best budget center on the slate.
Other centers to consider:LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. MEM ($8,100)
That'll do it for Wednesday! Do yourself a big favor and always check for injuries and late scratches before tip-off, and monitor events with the Warriors and Sixers to see how those injuries shake out.
