NBA DFS has been a challenge lately. Last night we saw the Bucks get murdered at home by over 30 points. That was supposed to be a great spot for Giannis and Portis, while Timberwolves were fantastic options with both Gobert and Edwards sidelined. Instead, a blowout ruined the slate.
While that was a bummer, there was still a path to success if you stayed away from Giannis. Tonight’s slate has more games (7), so we can be a bit more selective. We definitely need some news (namely with Denver), but I’ll get you headed in the right direction with my favorite NBA DFS picks for Wednesday at DraftKings and FanDuel:
DraftKings NBA Core Plays
- Cooper Flagg ($8.3k)
- Keyonte George ($8.2k)
- Jamal Shead ($4.7k)
- Coby White ($5.8k)
Update 4: We are already locked into Shead, so not changing core. But Nurk is not starting, which makes Kyle Filipowski look great. Brook Lopez also is a really good center punt.
Update 3: No change. Mamu is out. Murray-Boyles is a really good value. Love Brook Lopez as a punt. MPJ and Harden are my favorite non-core spends.
Update: Zubac is out. Brook Lopez is dangerously close to a core play. Ideally we’d know he’s starting, but it’s something I’m willing to risk. John Collins also gets a bump.
Update: Shead is looking like the best value right now. I also have my eyes on Murray-Boyles, Brook Lopez, and Malik Monk. But Shead grades out the best and will be impossible to ignore if Quickley is ruled out. Coby White is just too cheap for a date with Utah. Flagg and Keyonte remain too cheap and Lauri being out solidifies George. Nurk is also looking great and is a very tough fade.
I don’t see any value that is a true smash yet. We have a decently sized slate, so value will eventually open up and I’ll update today’s NBA Core. Jamal Murray, Lauri Markkanen, and Kawhi Leonard are three big names that are questionable and could give us some value to consider.
Flagg is an auto play right now. Yes, he failed us two slates ago, but he dropped 60 fantasy points the slate before and 47 the slate after. Even if PJ Washington returns, the absence of Anthony Davis gives him a path to 30% usage in any given game. He also faced Denver, who doesn’t have anyone that is going to consistently stop him.
George is another easy click for me. The date with the Bulls is the first reason to get excited, as that game has a 3-point spread and a gaudy 245.5 total. Lauri Markkanen also popped up on the injury report. If he’s out, George is the smashiest play of them all.
MPJ also looks fantastic on a slate that may be absent of any true studs. Guys like Murray, Maxey, and perhaps Harden (if Kawhi sits) are in play, but Michael Porter Jr.’s projection will be on par with theirs and he has a tasty matchup with the Pels.
Other plays I like: Coby White, Derik Queen, Nikola Vucevic, and James Harden
White remains limited, but he should still get 30 minutes against the Jazz. Due to the limit I am hesitant to lock him in everywhere, but no Giddey should give him nice usage and a reasonable ceiling. Queen is a smash against the Nets, who are bad against centers. Zion is also in play, but Queen is far cheaper and Zion has been underwhelming lately.
Vuc looks great in that Bulls vs. Jazz game. He is still a nice price and projects well. Nurk looks good on the other side if he’s in, too.
Harden might be the best stud to pay up for if Kawhi doesn’t play. He and Kawhi are both good-to-great plays if Leonard is in, of course.
Values: Shead and Murray-Boyles
Toronto value, yay! The value suuuuucks on this slate at the moment. Shead has been getting 30+ minutes lately, so he’s fine to start builds. CMB seems to be awful anytime he’s owned, but Mamu is Q. If he’s out, I think I’ll just play Murray-Boyles. Maybe if he’s absurdly owned I’ll do something else, but he’d be a good play.
FanDuel NBA Core Plays
- Keyonte George ($8.4k)
- Coby White ($6.5k)
- Jamal Shead ($4.6k)
- Kyle Filipowski
Update 2: Nurk is randomly not starting. You can play Brook Lopez and/or get to Kyle Filipowski. I think both look great but Kyle is the first play with Nurk and Lauri both sidelined possibly.
Update: Adding Shead. I see no reason not to roll with the 4-pack above. Harden, Flagg, and MPJ are the other spends I’d consider chasing.
George is a smash on both sites. His projection doesn’t blow you away, but the matchup is sublime and he is a very easy click if Lauri is out. Coby is on the other side of that game. Rock solid play at DK as well, but requiring some viable value and an extra slot on FD makes him a must for me. Tre Jones is also fine but I prefer Coby’s upside.
Naji is fine on both sites. He may be a core on DK as well for me if PJ remains out, but he’s certainly a solid mid-range option no matter what.
Nurk’s status is TBD. If he plays he is a smash at this price on FD. He is just way too cheap there and projects very well in a soft matchup against the Bulls. He’s more expensive on DraftKings, but would be perfectly fine there, too.
Spends: MPJ, Embiid, Flagg, Vuc, and Harden
Jamal and Maxey are a bit expensive on FD. I think they are both fine, but as things stand I’m kind of OK with ignoring them. MPJ, Joel, Flagg, and Vuc are the main core of pay-ups I’d be looking at here. None of them are obvious smashes in terms of price right now, but they still look good.
Harden is a smash on both sites if Kawhi is out. Leonard looks really good on both sites if he’s in.
Playing DFS since the days of DraftStreet, Kevin knows the ins and outs of DFS, specifically for NFL and NBA. He’s also been helping people win in fantasy football leagues for 15+ years and is one of many experts featured at FantasyPros.
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