I’ve had a break from the NBA DFS core plays, but I’m excited to be back. Last night was pretty disappointing with some chalk value and chalk studs both flaming out. Then I got off of Jonathan Kuminga and he erupted for 30 fantasy points. Brutal stuff!
Fortunately, Wednesday’s slate is a nice 5-gamer that will allow us to erase those horrible memories. There could be a fair amount of news trickling out, so keep an eye on a fluid slate, but start your process with my top NBA DFS picks at DraftKings and FanDuel.
DraftKings NBA Core Plays
- Ja Morant ($7.7k)
- Jalen Duren ($7.2k)
- Tobias Harris ($5.2k)
- Daniss Jenskins ($3.4k)
Update 2: Morant/Duren/Tobias are locks for me at this point. I am fine going 3 Pistons deep with Jenkins as a core play IF HE STARTS. If he does not start he is riskier. Ivey would probably start instead and be plenty viable, but he’s a shakier play. Onyeka is a great play if you’re not playing JJ. Hornets guys, starting with Kon, all look solid. Spida and Jaylen are fantastic spends, but my stud of choice is Jalen.
Update: Morant’s projection went up. He’s tough to get away from at this price. Good spot vs. Hawks. I love Jalen Johnson on the other side of that game, too. Duren is a smash play vs. the Pels. Tobias also looks really good, but we can consider fading since he will be owned (Ausar is a solid leverage play).
Gross stuff! I think all of the best plays are pretty expensive, so let’s try to set you up with a decent core that offers value. Knueppel really stands out, as he faces a Cavs defense that is missing one of its top defenders in Darius Garland and also happens to rank dead last at defending the three.
Literally all of the main Hornets are in play in this matchup, but Kon is their best pure shooter from long range and he’s also the cheapest. He projects to be very owned, so feel free to pivot to Brandon Miller or Miles Bridges, but he looks great.
Duren is a smash play against the Pels. New Orleans is terrible down low and Zion Williamson is questionable to play. Duren’s minutes and usage can be erratic and this game has serious blowout risk, but this is definitely a matchup we should be eager to exploit.
Tobias Harris is in that Neemias Queta and Jock Landale range. I think those two actually project better, but Harris offers better positional flexibility and he’s in a smash spot. New Orleans ranks 28th down low and 25th on the break, but they also allow the 29th most three-point makes in the NBA.
Studs: Cade, Jalen, Jaylen, Spida, and KAT.
That’s a good amount of studs to fawn over for a five-game slate. My favorite is Jalen Johnson. He has burned me regularly lately, but he finally woke up again with 60 fantasy points in his last game. He is in a really good DFS environment against Memphis and it doesn’t look like the field will be on him.
Cade is the most obvious play of the slate. He’s also been burning me with regularity, but he draws a smash spot against New Orleans. That game has serious blowout risk, though. While he is an amazing play, I am very interested in pivoting from him to JJ.
Jaylen Brown and Donovan Mitchell are two very good spends, and then guys like KAT and maybe even MPJ stand out as supreme value spends. Towns is in a smash spot against a Nets defense that is terrible against big men, while MPJ faces a Knicks defense that let’s you launch threes at will.
I am mildly worried about the Knicks sending a message after holding a player’s only meeting recently, but the matchup sets up well for Michael Porter Jr. and any other Nets that are threats from long range.
FanDuel NBA Core Plays
- Ja Morant ($7.9k)
- Tobias Harris ($5.4k)
- Onyeka Okongwu ($7.6k)
- Jalen Duren ($7.9k)
- Jenkins/Ivey (whoever starts)
Update: I don’t see a way around Duren. Fade for value if you want, but I wouldn’t. Tobias and whoever starts between Ivey/Jenkins help open up salary. Ja is too cheap and in a smash spot. Onyeka being PF eligible makes him a very easy play. For studs, I’d start with Jaylen and Spida due to price. KAT is super appealing at PF as well.
The value sucks on both sites at the moment. Tyson looks a little better on FD, but is playable on both sites. He grades out nicely, though, as he has a solid role and is going to get 32+ minutes in a good matchup against the Hornets.
Harris and Duren both look great on FD as well. I think Tobias is more of a priority over there since we need the extra slot filled. I hesitate to lock Duren in on FanDuel, however, as you can only play one center and guys like Jock, Queta, Claxton, etc are all pretty viable.
Onyeka is PF eligible and a little too cheap compared to the rest of the options. I wouldn’t pair him and JJ together on either site. I like Cade > Jalen on FD, but might go the other way on DK.
Donovan Mitchell and Jaylen Brown look like more compelling options on FD due to price when looking at someone like Cade or Jalen.
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