We have a huge Wednesday night in the NBA, with 12 games on the board and the much-anticipated debut of Zion Williamson. Do not worry, we will talk about Zion, but let’s highlight some of the other potential spots to take advantage of early on in the day. Let’s go!
Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel 
Guards
Kemba Walker (PG – BOS): $6,800 vs. Grizzlies
Memphis is one of the most exploitable defenses in the fantasy world, and that’s because their fast pace creates so many extra scoring opportunities for their opponents to exploit. They have added nine fantasy points to opponent’s averages, so the Celtics are in a really nice spot tonight. Pair that with the fact that Kemba sits below $7,000, and you have yourself a monstrous upside play here. While he has been struggling from deep lately, making just 11 of his last 32 three-point attempts, now is the time to jump on the Celtics point guard. He should be in for a great game at this price tonight.
Buddy Hield (SG – SAC): $5,300 at Pistons
We have to be very price sensitive in NBA DFS, and Hield stands out as a really under-priced player on this slate. This is one of the lowest prices I have ever seen on him, and I just am not seeing the production dip to justify it. He has not been shooting well from deep lately, going just 12/41 from downtown over his last four games. That alone has brought his price down, but there is no reason to think that his poor shooting will continue. The guy shot 17 three-pointers last game, and are you really going to fade a guy that has that kind of upside at $5,300? I would not.
We have a huge Wednesday night in the NBA, with 12 games on the board and the much-anticipated debut of Zion Williamson. Do not worry, we will talk about Zion, but let’s highlight some of the other potential spots to take advantage of early on in the day. Let’s go!
Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel
Guards
Kemba Walker (PG – BOS): $6,800 vs. Grizzlies
Memphis is one of the most exploitable defenses in the fantasy world, and that’s because their fast pace creates so many extra scoring opportunities for their opponents to exploit. They have added nine fantasy points to opponent’s averages, so the Celtics are in a really nice spot tonight. Pair that with the fact that Kemba sits below $7,000, and you have yourself a monstrous upside play here. While he has been struggling from deep lately, making just 11 of his last 32 three-point attempts, now is the time to jump on the Celtics point guard. He should be in for a great game at this price tonight.
Buddy Hield (SG – SAC): $5,300 at Pistons
We have to be very price sensitive in NBA DFS, and Hield stands out as a really under-priced player on this slate. This is one of the lowest prices I have ever seen on him, and I just am not seeing the production dip to justify it. He has not been shooting well from deep lately, going just 12/41 from downtown over his last four games. That alone has brought his price down, but there is no reason to think that his poor shooting will continue. The guy shot 17 three-pointers last game, and are you really going to fade a guy that has that kind of upside at $5,300? I would not.
Goran Dragic (PG – MIA): $4,400 vs. Wizards
This price is ludicrous for Dragic. He has played 23-plus minutes in eight straight games and is a 1.09 fantasy point per minute player this year. The price was probably influenced by a possible injury situation, as he left last game early, but he is probable for tonight, and there is no sign that his minutes will get restricted. Take advantage of this price.
Mike Conley (PG – UTH): $4,100 at Warriors
FanDuel has been flexible with pricing this year, routinely dropping bigger name players down to really low price tags when they are not getting full minutes. That is the case with Conley, who has failed to play even 20 minutes in his two games back from injury. If you think this is the game he pushes his minutes back toward 30, he is a no-brainer play. The Warriors have been eviscerated by guards, giving up an average salary return of 5.8x to them this year. Conley has not been the same player in a Jazz uniform, but he is still averaging a fine 0.91 fantasy points per minute. He can easily get you 30 fantasy points if he plays a full array of minutes tonight against this weak Warriors defense, but the play is not without risk.
Forwards
Gordon Hayward (SF – BOS): $5,800 vs. Grizzlies
My second favorite Celtic tonight is Hayward, who seems a bit too cheap at $5,800 for his recent outputs. He is playing a ton of minutes (30-plus in five straight), registering double-digit shot attempts every game, and chipping in rebounds and assists. The Celtics have the highest fantasy point projection on the slate, and Hayward is a nice mid-priced way to get some of that action.
Marvin Bagley III (PF – SAC): $5,100 at Pistons
It seems weird, but big men have really crushed the Pistons this year. They have averaged a 5.9x return on salary, which you would not really think would happen with Andre Drummond present. It’s true, though, and Bagley has been playing some big minutes at the center position, which brings a great floor to the table. Over his last three games, he has averaged 33 minutes, ten rebounds, 15 points, and 13 shot attempts. I really like the floor/ceiling combo in this spot for Bagley.
Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $4,500 vs. Spurs
At the end of the day, the purpose of this game is for enjoyment, right? I doubt too many of you are playing NBA DFS to pay the bills. I say this because I do not really think Zion is a good play tonight. I just cannot imagine him playing 20 minutes in this game. Maybe I am completely wrong about that, and if you have information that says otherwise, then you would have to consider it — but his projection is going to come in low for me. He showed that he could be a solid fantasy contributor in the pre-season, but we obviously not seen anything from him in a real NBA game yet, so there are all kinds of question marks surrounding the spot. If you are playing just for fun and can stomach some big-time risk, play Zion, watch the game, and enjoy. Otherwise, I would let other people jump on the wagon tonight.
Centers
Rudy Gobert (C – UTH): $10,000 at Warriors
I normally would not advise you to pay this huge price for Gobert, who really does not have the 70-point ceiling that we like from the big time studs, but this matchup provides such a huge floor that we have to consider it. The Warriors have given up an average salary return of 5.8x to centers this year, and Gobert is one of the steadiest producers in DFS. He plays minutes in the mid to upper 30’s something like 90% of the time, and he has seven straight double-doubles. This is nearly a lock for 40 FanDuel points, with easy upside for 60. He is a very nice cash play at center.
Bam Adebayo (C – MIA): $8,600 vs. Wizards
This is one of the best matchups in the league, as centers have averaged a 5.9x return on salary when facing the Wizards. The Heat are one of the top projected teams on the slate, and Adebayo is a rock-steady option at center. The price is up there, but if there was ever a chance for Adebayo do post a 50-plus Fanduel point night, this is it.
Thomas Bryant (C – WAS): $4,000 at Heat
This is another situation where minutes are the whole story. Bryant has been working his way back from an injury absence, and he finally went over the 20-minute plateau in his last game. At $4,000, all you should need is 25 minutes to feel very good about this play, and I think that happens here. His upside is somewhat limited, as he is unlikely to play 30-plus minutes, but the floor is safe enough for me to save some money with him at the center position.
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Jon Anderson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jon, check out his archive and follow him@JonPgh.
