The NBA has been largely unpredictable this season and blowouts have become even more abundant recently. Weird things have been happening across the association as of late and it’s made things difficult to predict, whether you are playing NBA DFS or sports betting. For example, on Monday night, the Miami Heat were easily defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers, who were without James Harden and Joel Embiid.
Even with the volatility that is taking place in the NBA, there’s still money to be made in DFS. We only have a few more weeks of traditional main slates, so cherish these moments until next season. With all of that out of the way, let’s take a look at who I like at each position for DraftKings’ main slate on Wednesday night.
Point Guard
Pay-up option: Dejounte Murray ($10,300)
Once the playoffs begin, I’m going to miss the days when I was able to play Dejounte Murray in DFS. Murray has been a fantasy darling all season, averaging 50.8 DraftKings points per game for the San Antonio Spurs. While Murray has scored fewer than 40 DraftKings points in his last two appearances, he had scored 52+ DraftKings points in seven straight before that. I’m expecting Murray to bounce back in a big way on Wednesday versus a Portland Trail Blazers team that has allowed the second-most DraftKings points per game (55.21) to point guards in their last 15 games.
Value option: Tyus Jones ($4,600)
The Memphis Grizzlies have already ruled out Ja Morant for Wednesday’s showdown with the Brooklyn Nets. So with Morant sidelined for the second straight game, Tyus Jones should draw the start at point guard for the Grizzlies again. In the last two games that Morant has missed, Jones has eclipsed 30+ DraftKings points both times. Besides seeing a massive increase in minutes, Jones gets a favorable matchup versus a Nets squad that surrenders the fifth-most DraftKings points per game (49.79) to point guards this season.
Shooting Guard
Pay-up option: Devin Booker ($9,300)
DraftKings continues to give us a discount on Devin Booker while Chris Paul remains out for the Phoenix Suns. There was optimism that Paul could return on Wednesday, but the Suns have since ruled him out, paving the way for Booker to handle a heightened workload again. Unless there’s a blowout, Booker has a great chance to return 5x value on Wednesday versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota has been bleeding points to point guards in their last 30 outings, giving up the sixth-most DraftKings points per game (52.57) to the position in that span. I’m also fine paying up for Kyrie Irving if you can afford it, especially if Seth Curry is ruled out for the Nets.
Value option: De’Anthony Melton ($4,800)
Aside from Jones, De’Anthony Melton is another member of the Grizzlies who benefits from Morant being ruled out on Wednesday. When Morant has been out for Memphis this season, Melton has seen a 2.3% increase in his usage and he’s scored an additional 2.15 DraftKings points per 36 minutes. Melton just posted 28.75 DraftKings points in his last game with Morant sidelined and he plays a Nets team on Wednesday that has allowed the fifth-most DraftKings points per game (43.80) to shooting guards in their last 30 games. I also like Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz as value options if James Harden is ruled out for the 76ers for a second straight game.
Small Forward
Pay-up option: Cade Cunningham ($8,700)
I wouldn’t blame anybody for playing either Kevin Durant or Jayson Tatum at the small forward position on Wednesday. But with me wanting to pay up at other positions, Cade Cunningham is a nice way to save a bit of salary from Durant and Tatum. The rookie forward for the Detroit Pistons has been trying to make his case for NBA Rookie of the Year since the All-Star break ended. Cunningham has produced 43+ DraftKings points in six of his last eight games and he draws a nice matchup versus the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. The Hawks have the fifth-worst defensive efficiency in the NBA this season and Cunningham just put up 55.5 DraftKings points on them two weeks ago. I’m fine going down to Dillon Brooks if you’re not interested in paying up at small forward with Morant missing another game for the Grizzlies.
Value option: Justin Anderson ($3,100)
Here is a play that is undeniably dependent on the starting lineup that the Indiana Pacers deploy on Wednesday night. With Malcolm Brogdon sitting out in Indiana’s last game, Justin Anderson was inserted into the starting lineup despite being on a 10-day contract. Anderson would proceed to score 34.5 DraftKings points in 36 minutes against the Trail Blazers on Sunday. Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte are both questionable for the Pacers, so Anderson could draw another start for Indiana. If Anderson isn’t in the starting lineup on Wednesday, then Ziaire Williams and Cameron Thomas are viable value options at small forward.
Power Forward
Pay-up option: Wendell Carter Jr. ($8,400)
I was debating putting Durant or Tatum here as well, but Wendell Carter Jr. could go overlooked as long as the Orlando Magic let him play on a back-to-back. Carter has been one of my favorite players to use this season despite the Magic being an underwhelming team. The young power forward has been a double-double machine lately, posting a double-double in 11 of his last 13 games. And after supplying 59 DraftKings points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Carter gets an opportunity to face the same Thunder team again on Wednesday.
Value option: Torrey Craig ($4,700)
Torrey Craig recently joined the starting lineup for the Suns due to Jae Crowder missing a game with an injury. Even though Crowder has returned and Craig isn’t in the starting lineup, Craig is still seeing minutes for Phoenix. Craig has gotten 28+ minutes in four consecutive games and he’s accrued 24+ DraftKings points in three of those four games. If we can get 25-ish minutes from Craig on Wednesday, there’s a good chance he returns 5x value. Chuma Okeke is another viable value option at power forward and if Julius Randle missed another game for the New York Knicks, then Obi Toppin is still only $3,400.
Center
Pay-up option: Joel Embiid ($11,000)
Ahead of Wednesday’s clash with the Los Angeles Lakers, Embiid has been removed from the injury report by the 76ers. Embiid still needs to solidify his case for the NBA MVP award and the All-Star center wants to make sure he takes home the hardware in the postseason. Even if the Lakers deploy Dwight Howard in their starting lineup, they don’t have anyone that can match up with Embiid. Even with a back ailment that’s caused issues recently, Embiid has still posted 56+ DraftKings points in five of his last seven outings. I also like Deandre Ayton at $7,300 on the green site.
Value option: Damian Jones ($3,700)
Domantas Sabonis sustained a knee injury on Sunday against the Suns, which will keep him out indefinitely for the Sacramento Kings. Seeing that the Kings don’t have anything to play for to finish the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sabonis sit out the rest of the season. With Sabonis out, Damian Jones will likely join the starting lineup at center while Trey Lyles starts at power forward. Jones is only $3,700 on DraftKings and is essentially a free square on the green site as long as he’s confirmed in the starting lineup. The Kings face the Pacers on Wednesday, who have surrendered the fourth-most DraftKings points per game (61.23) to centers in their last 30 games.