FanDuel DFS NBA Strategy Advice: Wednesday (8/5)

The NBA has a jam-packed six-game slate for Wednesday’s action in Orlando. FanDuel has plenty of contests to enter for the league’s double slate tonight, so let’s take a look at some lineup possibilities with value plays, studs, fades, and more!

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Value Plays: Point Guard

The Spurs’ guard tandem has the advantage of playing a Nuggets backcourt without three vital players in their rotation. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White combined for 33 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in their last game versus the 76ers, and for their price tags, they’re both worth a stab in different lineups.

Chris Paul is in a similar situation. He faces a Lakers team that’s without Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo. Versus Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, and company, Paul is liable for a 20-10 night. The Thunder are climbing the standings while the lakers have locked up the one seed, so Paul could will his squad to victory behind a big game Wednesday. Paul had 23 points and eight assists in his last game versus the Nuggets, and the OKC backcourt as a whole, found success versus Denver giving hope for Murray and White.

Shooting Guard

Donovan Mitchell dropped 33 points in addition to five rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes against the Lakers, and his matchup against the Grizzlies is a favorable one. The Grizzlies allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards (43.53) and the fifth-most total points per game (24.32). Mitchell has a chance to be the highest-scoring shooting guard on the slate tonight, and I’d back him versus Memphis.

Smart may have the advantage at extra playing time or usage rate if the Celtics decide to sit or restrict Kemba Walker’s minutes against the Nets. It would be wise to allow Walker some rest for the postseason and let Smart warm up his offensive game versus a porous team. Josh Richardson scored 19 points in his last game — that’s a huge come-up from his four-point effort in his bubble debut. The Wizards allow the most fantasy points per game (44.89) and points per game to shooting guards (26.49), so back J-Rich versus Washington.

Small Forward

Tobias Harris has attempted 46 shots in the past two games, and beside Joel Embiid, he’s scored 25 and 30 in both games. The Wizards are a great matchup for Harris to continue his scoring streak while Embiid has the chance to play fewer minutes after his two massive games.

Danilo Gallinari posted 15 points and four rebounds, and in Monday’s action, he recorded 20 points, three rebounds, and two assists. He’s only played 19 and 29 minutes so far, so this game versus the Lakers, he’ll be fresh and ready to go. The Lakers clinched the top seed, so they may not care much about this game, but the Thunder do. Gallinari is a sneaky play.

Troy Brown has had three solid DFS games scoring 20.7, 49.0, and 27.4 fantasy points in the bubble. He’s had two near triple-double in his last games averaging 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists. He’s not a lock to have a great game against the Sixers, but he’s a quiet option who could pop off.

Power Forward

Daniel Theis finished with 11 points and five rebounds in his game Tuesday versus the Heat. He’s playing his first back-to-back of the resumed season, and in b2bs, he’s averaging 8.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. The Celtics are going to mess with minutes versus the Nets, so expect Theis to play extended minutes, possibly.

Serge Ibaka is a sleeper pick versus the Magic after the Jonathan Isaac injury. Ibaka is a critical rotational piece to the Raptors, and when he’s facing Orlando’s bench, he’s a threat. He scored 15 points and six assists in the previous game and can build off that versus Orlando.

Jerami Grant has posted 18.8 and 19.9 fantasy point performances in his last two games, but he takes on a Spurs team that loves to run and doesn’t have many options down low. Grant scored 19 points versus Miami, but he struggled against Oklahoma City in his last game. If you need a player at $4,000 value, he’s a reliable stream for the day.

Center

Nikola Jokic had a monster triple-double of 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists versus the Thunder. Against the Spurs, he’s facing Jakob Poeltl and can certainly take advantage and have another huge DFS day. Steven Adams has a tough matchup with the Lakers’ interior, but he’s liable to get a double-double even versus Anthony Davis and company. He’s recorded 20.4 and 34.2 fantasy points in two games thus far and was one point short of having two double-doubles.

In retrospect, however many minutes Davis plays, Dwight Howard has a chance to take them when he sits. Howard has played 17 minutes in both of his bubble games, and he’s averaged eight points and five rebounds. If he can up his minutes to 25-30 in this, he is a sneaky double-double play.

5 Studs Worth Their Salary

• Joel Embiid (PHI) $9,500: Embiid has been just short of unstoppable through two games, and with the Wizards up next, he’s in line for another huge DFS night.
• Ja Morant (MEM) $7,500: Morant is coming off a disappointing last game for the Grizzlies, and after three-straight losses, they’ll go only as far as he can take them.
• Nikola Jokic (DEN) $9,100: Jokic is a stud, and after his triple-double and 30-point game, he should have more confidence to score in a limited offense.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) $6,900: SGA is a dual-threat combo guard, and after his 24-point outburst last game and 19 points in the first, he is worth a buy if you pass on Paul.
• Tobias Harris (PHI) $6,900: Harris has had the shot attempts necessary to be a DFS star, and his rebounding has been a plus. If he gets the green light versus the Wizards, he could go for 30 in the second of his last three games.

5 Notable Players to Fade

• Aaron Gordon (ORL) $6,100: Gordon has surpassed 30 fantasy points in two-straight games, but versus the Raptors top four ranked defense, Gordon is a fade between him and Vucevic.
• Al Horford (PHI) $5,400: Horford recorded 20.2 and 26.7 fantasy points in his first two games, but with two young Wizards bigs and Embiid on a tear, Horford is an afterthought.
• Terrence Ross (ORL) $5,100: Ross scored 20 points in the Magic’s last game, but along with Gordon, his upside is limited tonight.
• Kemba Walker (BOS) $4,800: Walker’s fantasy value has taken a deep dive, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better anytime soon. He may rest or be limited versus a Nets team that rested their team versus the Bucks. 
• Thomas Bryant (WAS) $7,100: Bryant gets to meet up with Embiid during his hot streak, and for any young center, that’s not what you want to see for 30-plus minutes.

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Vaughn Dalzell is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Vaughn, check out his archive or follow him @VaughnDalzell.