DraftKings NBA Lineup Advice: Wednesday (1/2)

Tonight’s slate is a little lighter than most Wednesdays, but we still have nine games to choose from when setting DFS lineups. The highest over/unders of the evening are 76ers/Suns 228.5, Hawks/Wizards 229.5, Thunder/Lakers 230, and Pelicans/Nets 230.5. These are the games to target when picking your roster, although there are quality options across the board. No game has a line higher than -6.0, so it’s unlikely that there are any blowouts resulting in reduced minutes for stars.

Tonight, I’m paying up at the Shooting Guard position for some elite players, and I’m spending down at Center because of some quality cheap options. I still love Karl-Anthony Towns who is on a white-hot streak, but there are a lot of values tonight at that position! Here are the players I like most tonight, and while you can’t play them all, any of these guys will make fine additions to your DFS lineups. Good luck and Happy New Year to everyone!

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Point Guard

D’Angelo Russell (PG – BKN): $7,000 vs. NO
The Nets/Pelicans game sports the highest over/under of the evening at 230.5, and I expect Russell to do his fair share of scoring. He’s averaging nearly 30 minutes per game and 34.5 DK PPG this season as Brooklyn’s leader in scoring (17.9) and assists (6.1). Russell gets a home matchup against a giving Pelicans defense, and he hasn’t played in five games after being rested on Saturday. Well-rested and playing in a potential shootout, Russell makes a great play tonight.

Elfrid Payton (PG – NO): $5,300 @ BKN
I like a PG on the other side of the NO/BKN matchup. Payton entered the starting lineup on New Year’s Eve after missing 22 games with a broken finger. Although he only played 24 minutes and finished with 19.8 DK Points, his usage and point totals should certainly increase as he knocks off the rust. Dishing to the likes of Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis, I like Payton in a friendly matchup at Barclays Center. At only $5,300 for a starting PG, he’s a value play.

Also consider: Kemba Walker vs. DAL, Tyus Jones @ BOS

Shooting Guard

Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $8,600 vs. Atlanta
With John Wall done for the year with an Achilles’ tendon injury in his heel, Beal will be the focal point of the Wizards’ offense. Just four games removed from an 80.8 DK Point outburst, he’s shouldering the load for Washington and producing for DFS owners. Over his last three games, Beal has averaged 40 minutes per game, 25 points per game, and 23 FG attempted per game, so his usage rate should remain high tonight. The home matchup against the Hawks is juicy, and I’ll gladly pay up for Beal here.

Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHO): $8,300 vs. PHI
Booker has been an elite fantasy option all season (42.9 DK PPG), and that’s not going to change tonight in a prime matchup with the 76ers. The over/under on this one is 228.5 with the 76ers as five-point favorites, so there should be a lot of scoring here. Philadelphia will play in Phoenix for their fifth road game since Christmas and the second of a back-to-back after an emotional win over the Clippers last night in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the Suns are at home for the fourth straight time. I think the Suns pull the upset here against a drained Philly squad, and Booker goes off. His 32 DK Points on Monday were his second-lowest of the entire season, and he’s hit at least 54 in half of his last eight games, including two 60+ point games. He needs to be in your DraftKings lineup tonight.

Also consider: Josh Hart vs. OKC, Malik Monk vs. DAL

Small Forward

Paul George (SF – OKC): $9,200 @ LAL
It’s hard not to love George every night, but tonight he faces a young and banged up Lakers team missing the services of LeBron James. George seemingly spurned the Lakers when he chose to sign a long-term extension with the Thunder this past offseason, so that narrative shouldn’t be understated. PG13 is averaging career highs across the board in points (26.4), rebounds (8.2), and assists (4.1). His 2.2 steals per game are just the cherry on top of a fantastic season in which he’s playing at an MVP level and delivering for fantasy owners. Coming off a relative dud (37.5 DK Points) on New Year’s Eve, his price has dropped to $9,200, the lowest it’s been in two weeks. George will exceed his season average of 49.4 DK Points in tonight’s matchup.

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $6,300 vs. MIN
Tatum has been Boston’s most reliable playmaker outside of Kyrie Irving, and tonight he takes on a Timberwolves team surrendering the third most points to the SF position, at 43.83. Averaging 30.9 DK PPG this year, I think he bests his average against the Celtics and easily hits over 5x value. 

Also consider: T.J. Warren vs. PHI, DeMarre Carroll vs. NO

Power Forward

Kyle Kuzma (SF/PF – LAL): $7,500 vs. OKC
Kuzma has been great this year, especially when given some extra opportunities. In seven games that Brandon Ingram missed in December, Kuz averaged 39 DK PPG. In three games without LeBron James since Christmas, he’s averaging 42 DK PPG. In what should be a fast-paced game, the sophomore could put on a show.

Jerami Grant (PF – OKC): $5,300 @ LAL
Grant is often overshadowed by teammates Paul George and Russell Westbrook, but he has been a solid contributor for the Thunder this season. Over his last six games, Grant has made his mark across the stat sheet, averaging nearly 14 points, six rebounds, and just under two blocks and two steals per game. The matchup with the Lakers should be favorable because of pace and scoring with an o/u of 230. Grant makes for a relatively cheap option at the PF spot.

Also consider: John Collins @ WAS, Marvin Williams vs. DAL

Center

Thomas Bryant (PF/C – WAS): $4,700 vs. ATL
Bryant has emerged as the Wizards’ starting Center, and he’ll most likely keep that job moving forward even if Dwight Howard returns. In three games that he’s played at least 30 minutes this season, Bryant has averaged 42 DK points, 21 points, and 10 rebounds. With John Wall done for the year, Bryant should stay involved picking up the offensive slack. Like Bradley Beal, he’s at home with a great matchup. He’s a steal at $4,700.

Mohamed Bamba (C – ORL): $4,600 @ CHI
Bamba is likely to draw the start at Center tonight with Nikola Vucevic ailing from a calf injury he suffered against the Hornets on Monday. Bamba has averaged just over one DK Point per minute this season giving him a solid (if unspectacular) floor if he plays a lot tonight. In his only start on 12/19 vs. the Spurs, Bamba played 26 minutes and scored 27.5 DK Points. Chicago currently allows over 60 DK PPG to Centers. Bamba is a cheap option with upside tonight.  

Also consider: Karl-Anthony Towns @ BOS, Alex Len @ WAS 

Dirt Cheap Bonus

T.J. McConnell (PG/SG – PHI): $3,600 @ PHO
McConnell has put up five straight 20+ DK Point performances heading into tonight’s tilt with the Suns, and I think he’ll extend that streak to six games. The Suns allow the sixth most DK Points to opposing PGs at just under 50 per game. At only $3,600, he should easily hit value and allow you to spend your money elsewhere.

Zachary Hanshew is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.