NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (11/8)

What are the NBA schedule makers doing? We know they took Tuesday off for voting, but this scheduling is silly. We had 13 games on Monday and have 14 games on this wild Wednesday card. I love watching basketball, but that’s too many games in one night! It’s more frustrating because we only have two games on Thursday, and it’s hard to understand why the NBA thinks this is a good idea. In any case, we have many teams to discuss, so let’s go ahead and get into it!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• UTA at IND (IND -6.5) O/U: 244.5
• BOS at PHI (BOS -1.5) O/U: 227.5
• WAS at CHA (CHA -2.5) O/U: 242
• LAC at BKN (LAC -3.5) O/U: 228
• SAS at NYK (NYK -9/5) O/U: 224
• PHX at CHI (CHI -1.5) O/U: 221
• LAL at HOU (LAL -2.5) O/U: 218.5
• DET at MIL (MIL -11.5) O/U: 226
• NOP at MIN (MIN -7.5) O/U: 221
• CLE at OKC (CLE -2.5) O/U: 231.5
• MIA at MEM (MIA -1) O/U: 220
• TOR at DAL (DAL -5.5) O/U: 224
• GSW at DEN (DEN -3.5) O/U: 227
• POR at SAC (SAC -8.5) O/U: 221.5

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• Devin Booker (leg) OUT
• CJ McCollum (lung) OUT
• Anthony Davis (groin) Questionable
• De’Aaron Fox (ankle) Questionable
• Jamal Murray (hamstring) OUT
• Terry Rozier (groin) OUT
• Bradley Beal (back) Questionable
• Devin Vassell adductor) Questionable
• Jalen Duren (ankle) Questionable
• Xavier Tillman (knee) OUT
• Scoot Henderson (ankle) Questionable
• Nic Claxton (ankle) OUT
• Robert Williams (knee) OUT
• Draymond Green (personal) Questionable
• Cameron Johnson (calf) OUT
• Khris Middleton (knee) OUT
• Walker Kessler (elbow) Questionable

Core Plays

LaMelo Ball (PG/SG – CHA): $8,900 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
Ball was horrid through the opening two weeks, but he found his stroke on Monday. The Charlotte playmaker had a 30-point triple-double, dropping 72 DraftKings points in one of the best games of his career. We expect more of those in the future, especially against Washington. This woeful Wizards defense is last in both points scored and defensive efficiency, regularly allowing 130-140 points per game.

Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $8,800 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
With CJ McCollum going down, Zion has become the Pels’ de facto point guard. It’s strange to see a 275-lb man handling the ball regularly, but he’s quietly one of the best playmakers in the sport. He was one assist shy of a triple-double in New Orleans’ most recent game, scoring a season-high 52 fantasy points. He’s also showcased a 32-point floor and should have some of the highest usage of his career as long as McCollum remains out.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $8,100 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
Randle has been terrible at times this season, but he shouldn’t be $8K in this matchup with his usage. The big man is still guaranteed 30 minutes and 20 shots, scoring 44 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. That form should carry over here because San Antonio sits 29th in defensive efficiency and was dead last in that category last season. In their two matchups last year, Randle averaged 65 DK points per game!

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
The Joker will be the top cash game option in every article I write. This guy flirts with a triple-double in every game, scoring at least 40 fantasy points in all but a few games over the last three years. He’s also averaging over 60 DK points per game in that span, dropping at least 69 DK points in three straight fixtures. That recent surge directly correlates with the Jamal Murray injury, which only adds to Jokic’s value.

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel
Doncic and Jokic are tied for the highest average in the NBA, averaging 62 fantasy points per game! That’s truly absurd, and it makes both of these guys the safest options on every slate. There are not many players that can stuff the stat sheet like these two, especially since Doncic is projected to lead the NBA with a 40 percent usage rate. In his two meetings with Toronto last year, Luka averaged 56 fantasy points per game.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Hali is looking like the best pure point guard in the NBA right now. He’s scored at least 42 DraftKings points in all six games this season, flashing a 70-point upside over the weekend. He’s doing everything for this Indiana offense and should thrive in this matchup. Utah ranks 26th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency this season.

GPP Targets

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – WAS): $7,400 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Fantasy managers have been disappointed with Poole in the early going, but this guy is streaky. That means some big games are around the corner because he’s still looking at 35 minutes, 20 shots, and a 30 percent usage rate. This guy can be a $9K player in that type of role, and this is the sort of matchup where he can get going. The Hornets are surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards this season!

PJ Washington (PF/C – CHA): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
This Washington-Charlotte matchup is the stack of the day. These teams have a ridiculous 242-point total between them, and it should be a competitive game between two bad teams. That’s why we love Washington, seeing a boost in usage and shot attempts with Terry Rozier sidelined. He was already going off with Rozier, scoring at least 27 DK points in every game this season. That’s a ridiculous floor from a $6K player, but we’ve seen this big man showcase a 60-point upside in the past. That was clear when PJ had at least 37 fantasy points in three of their four matchups last season.

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Mitch-Rob doesn’t put the ball through the basket too often, but he provides value through rebounding and defense. Despite averaging just 6.3 points per game, Mitch-Rob averages nearly 30 DK points per outing. That’s encouraging since we saw him drop a season-high 41 fantasy points in his most recent game, making him an elite option against one of the worst defenses in the NBA.

Value Plays

Deandre Ayton (C – POR): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
Ayton has heard major criticism throughout his career, but his start in Portland has been fantastic. The big man has at least 43 DraftKings points in three of his last four outings. The recent boost is no surprise when looking at the training room because he’s being asked to do more in the absence of Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons. That boost in usage makes Ayton a sensational option against a 23rd-ranked Sacramento defense.

OG Anunoby (SG/SF – TOR): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
OG has gotten off to a slow start this season, but it’s strange seeing him hover around $6K. This defensive stud is usually closer to $7K throughout the season, and it is just a matter of time before he gets back there. What we love is this spot, because he has to play 40 minutes to oppose Luka and Kyrie Irving. That should put him in line for a handful of defensive stats while also getting those premium matchups on the other end of the floor. In their two matchups last season, Anunoby had at least 46 DK points in both of those!

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Jones has dropped below $6K with some lackluster play, but this price is insane. We saw Jones average nearly 40 fantasy points per game when filling in for Ja Morant last season, and we expect a similar role this season. The problem is that Kyla Kuzma and Poole are swallowing all the usage, but this team needs Jones to run the show. They’ll realize that soon, and facing a team that allows the most fantasy points to opposing guards is what could get him going at this diminished price tag.

Advantageous Pricing

• Buddy Hield (SG – IND): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Deandre Ayton (C – POR): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
• Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $8,800 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
• Grayson Allen (SG – PHX): $5,500 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
• Naz Reid (C – MIN): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $9.900 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
• Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $8,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Klay Thompson (SG – GSW): $6,900 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Harris Barnes (SF – SAC): $5,700 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel

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