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Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings at each position for Wednesday’s main NBA slate, along with some strategy unique to this slate.
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Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Mike Conley Jr., Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks ($6,100)
With Donovan Mitchell ruled out, we get a ton or production opening up on the wing for Utah. Conley’s been playing well with D-Mitch in the lineup, scoring 32 or more DKFP seven times in his last nine games. The matchup against Dallas is nothing special for guards, but the boost in usage here leaves that as a non-factor. Conley’s been more productive at home this season, averaging 3.9 more DKFP per game in Utah. Chris Paul ($7,600) also deserves mention here. He’s in a very similar situation with Devin Booker out, but is priced with that news already in mind. That said, CP3 went for 56.75 DKFP in Book’s absence on Saturday.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks ($5,900)
Consider this whatever kind of “value” you’d like. Clarkson is only $200 cheaper than Conley, but in an equally strong spot. Clarkson isn’t as consistent as Conley, but makes sure to get his shots up when he comes in off the bench. His role has to grow with the scoring need Mitchell leaves behind, so it would take a dreadful shooting night for Clarkson not to exceed value.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards at New Orleans Pelicans ($10,200)
Washington played last night in Houston, where Beal was slightly underwhelming for the second game in a row since the team got back on the floor following a COVID-19 outbreak. The difference in this game will be Russell Westbrook’s absence due to rest, which opens up more looks for Beal to run the offense. Beal’s been slightly better in road games this season, and New Orleans is nothing special defensively.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks ($4,200)
More trickledown effect here, but when a player like Mitchell is ruled out, and his teammates are still priced at their usual salaries, a lot of value pops. Ingles hasn’t been anything special so far this season, playing limited minutes due to an Achilles injury. Assuming he can handle a bit more run, we have a higher upside than his usual 20-minute, 25-DKFP type of game. He did play 27 minutes last game, and we’ve seen him get into the 30s when Utah needs him to. This should certainly be a spot to ask for more playmaking.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic vs. Sacramento Kings ($7,700)
Point-Gordon has been tremendous lately, averaging 47.25 DKFP over his last four games. He hasn’t just been playing big minutes for Orlando, he’s been a primary ball handler, giving him much more upside. Gordon’s had at least six assists in each of his last five games, and has triple-double upside in any matchup — especially against a garbage Sacramento defense.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,300)
The Devin Booker absence gives us a lot of strong plays on the Phoenix side of the slate. Bridges was underwhelming in the first Booker-less game on Saturday, but we’ve seen him post 45-50 DKFP on multiple occasions this season. Look for him to bounce-back against OKC, which ranks as a bottom-three team allowing DKFP to opposing wings.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers ($8,100)
We saw a glitch in the Matrix over the weekend, as Grant had a couple of awful shooting games, resulting a poor fantasy outings. He got back on track on Monday, finishing with 48 DKFP against Philly, and gets a tremendous matchup here against the Cavs. Grant went for 52.5 DKFP in this matchup earlier in the season, and the absence of Blake Griffin only opens up more.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($4,800)
Johnson is PF-eligible, but more helping to fill the loss of Booker on the wing. He played 35 minutes in the game Book missed on Saturday, but was just 3-of-11 from downtown. Hit a couple more shots in a better matchup against OKC, and fill the stat sheet a bit more, and there’s solid upside here.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($7,300)
Oh look, more Suns. Not that Ayton fills any kind of role that Booker usually does, but Ayton’s just been playing very well lately and has a great matchup. OKC ranks 28th in DKFP allowed to opposing centers, and Ayton’s averaging 48.6 DKFP over his last four games. The ball in Paul’s hands more should lead to more easy finishes around the rim, especially in a matchup like this.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Pay up for other options
I don’t love the value at the position, but with so many spots to pay down elsewhere, we can double up on solid centers. Ayton doesn’t break the bank either, so more expensive options like Nikola Vucevic ($9,200) and Andre Drummond ($8,400) jump out. Vuce has been consistently dominant, and gets a terrific matchup against the Kings. Drummond can lose some minutes given Cleveland’s depth in the frontcourt, but just dominated the Lakers in only 28 minutes. Detroit is about as easy a matchup as you can find for a big, and it’s a revenge game for Drummond.
Overall Lineup Strategy
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I really like looking to a balanced build here. Beal is rather expensive, but otherwise we can pay down with some Jazz and Suns players to make other reasonable priced star power fit in lineups. With 12 games, I don’t have to help you get all that creative.
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