Christopher Day 
Follow the core, you win money in NBA – simple as that, folks. Shoutout to @SchneiDRO420 in Discord for this beauty!
Want to know what we love to see? Star power on an NBA slate. That is exactly how I’d describe this one tonight and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds through the day. Simply put, things you love to see: it. It’s Wet Wednesday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 FD price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like in this range, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
Point Guards
Russell Westbrook ($11,200 FD / $11,000 DK)
Let me just start by saying that the point guard position is absolutely loaded. I understand that there are other positions with premier pay up options, but the majority of the slate breakers will be at this position, which is why I’m writing up three elite options. Beginning with the marteau d’soir, we have the Westbrook/Fox duo in the last game of the NBA slate. Taking on the worst defense in the league is one thing for Westbrook, but when you factor in that he’s had five triple-doubles in a row, you need to think twice about fading him. During that span, Westbrook has a 27.8% usage rate while averaging 21.4/13.4/13.6 on 45.9% shooting; Beal took 25 shots last game and looked to be back in top form, but that didn’t stop Westbrook from posting a 25/14/14 scoring line on only 15 shots. Cash + GPP Play
Steph Curry ($10,300 FD / $10,500 DK)
When the greatest shooter of all time is on a run like he is right now, you get scared about the idea of fading him on any NBA slate. Make it now seven straight games of 32 or more points for Steph and he’s simply unguardable right now; sporting a 37% usage rate, Curry has a 38.4/6.7/4.1 scoring line on 53.5% shooting and is shooting 45.7% from deep in his last seven. GPP Play
De’Aaron Fox ($9,600 FD / $9,600 DK)
It’s our GPP stack tonight and there is plenty of potential in this one. We already spoke about the elite game environment that is Washington versus Sacramento in the Westbrook blurb, so let’s turn our attention to Fox’s recent production; sporting a 33% usage rate over his last five games, Fox has tallied a 30.8/5.2/7.2 scoring line on 47.7% shooting while taking nearly 22 FGA per night. He’s being more aggressive, taking control of the offense in every way imaginable, and finds himself in a matchup that is perfect for his skillset. GPP Play
Also Consider:
- Luka Doncic ($10,300 FD / $10,900 DK)
- Dejounte Murray ($7,400 FD / $7,100 DK)
- Malcolm Brogdon ($7,300 FD / $7,100 DK)
Shooting Guards
Zach Lavine ($9,000 FD / $8,800 DK)
His price quickly caught up to him after some bad games but he’s right where he should be. Zach Lavine faces a rebuilding Orlando Magic squad, in what should be a fairly easy win for the Bulls, having strung together a few good games; Lavine carries a 33.5% usage rate in his last four games, where he’s posted a 60.8/6.3/8.3 scoring line on 49.4% shooting. While the upside worries me compared to the number of options available at the top of the pricing grid, his floor is relatively safe on this NBA slate. Cash Play
Bradley Beal ($8,500 FD / $8,700 DK)
Three straight games of 20 or more points and Bradley Beal is back, baby. Sure, I get it – you pay this much for Beal, you want him dropping 40+. But if there’s ever a matchup where both he and Westbrook can hit ceilings, it’s here versus Sacramento; Beal is fresh off a 34/3/5 outing whereby he took a whopping 31 shots. He’s the leading scorer in the NBA for a reason and faces the worst defense in the league – do the math. GPP Play
Tyrese Haliburton ($5,500 FD / $6,200 DK)
Sticking with our theme of stacking the last game on the NBA slate, Tyrese Haliburton is a candidate to be the one midrange player we have in our lineups. With Buddy Hield questionable due to illness, his status does affect my interest level in Haliburton. However, we cannot ignore that Haliburton has been logging 30 MPG for the Kings for quite some time now, and versus a smaller Washington team, Luke Walton can roll out the Fox/Haliburton/Hield trio with Barnes shifting to the ‘4’. Posting a 13/3.1/5.1 scoring line on the season, Haliburton is a product of his surroundings tonight, and there is none better on the slate. GPP Play
Also Consider:
- Paul George ($9,200 FD / $9,000 DK)
- DeMar DeRozan ($7,900 FD / $7,900 DK)
- Bruce Brown ($5,200 FD / $4,800 DK)
Small Forwards
Kevin Durant ($9,600 FD / $9,300 DK)
With no James Harden and likely no Kyrie Irving for the Nets tonight, KD takes center stage against Philly. While the minutes are concerning, the majority of the field will think the exact same way – it’s a big risk, but if you’re on him in the first game he plays a full 36, you’re sitting pretty considering he’s one of the best scorers of our generation. Again, I likely won’t get there, but if you’re taking a big risk on tonight’s NBA slate, KD isn’t a bad way to do so. GPP Play
Michael Porter Jr. ($7,400 FD / $7,200 DK)
With Jamal Murray out for the season with a torn ACL, MPJ instantly becomes the #2 scoring option behind Nikola Jokic. With 20 or more points in seven of his past eight, MPJ has already been stepping up for the Nuggets; he has a 23.8% usage rate in that span with a 22.3/9.4/1.3 scoring line while shooting 55.4% from the field and is a great option for our NBA lineups tonight. Cash + GPP Option
OG Anunoby ($6,800 FD / $7,300 DK)
With Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. already ruled out for the Raptors tonight, we can turn to the trio of Flynn/Anunoby/Siakam to shoulder the load on offense. By no means are they the flashiest plays on the board, but when a team is riddled with injuries and suspensions, we have to take a look, especially in NBA cash games. Cash Play
Also Consider:
- Jimmy Butler ($9,300 FD / $9,400 DK)
- Rui Hachimura ($5,200 FD / $6,200 DK)
- Joe Harris ($5,000 FD / $5,600 DK)
Power Forwards
Pay Ups
- Zion Williamson ($10,100 FD / $9,900 DK)
- Domantas Sabonis ($8,800 FD / $9,100 DK)
- Pascal Siakam ($8,600 FD / $8,500 DK)
Also Consider:
- Julius Randle ($9,400 FD / $9,500 DK)
- Dean Wade ($5,100 FD / $5,200 DK)
- Isaiah Roby ($4,500 FD / $5,300 DK)
Centers
- Nikola Jokic ($10,900 FD / $10,600 DK)
- Joel Embiid ($10,100 FD / $10,000 DK)
- Nikola Vucevic ($9,100 FD / $9,200 DK)
- Jonas Valanciunas ($8,100 FD / $7,600 DK)
- Moses Brown ($4,700 FD / $6,300 DK)
Value Gems: Check the projection model.
I will continue to stress the importance of having both the projection model and cheat sheet open when building lineups for a further player pool and to ease a decision between two players, in addition to finding additional value plays.
You can find me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost
