Shaun Evans 
Welcome to our new NBA DraftKings Top Tier Plays article. I’ll go tier by tier to break down my favorite play from each one. I’ll also note which ones you can pivot to for any multiple-entry contests you play. Make sure that you check out the NBA Player Projections for the tier slate to get the upper hand on your opponents.
NBA DraftKings Tiers 1-2
Luka Doncic over Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama (Tier 1)
Right out of the gate, we have a tough choice to make in Tier 1. Luka Doncic projects the highest out of all three with 68.46 DK points. Going back to my NBA DFS Core and Top Bets article – Victor Wembanyama doesn’t project well for his dollar point. He holds a 5.00 value rating and would be in the worst position out of all three. Doncic and Nikola Jokic are walking triple-doubles and will continue to be. Luka has faced San Antonio three times this season and averages 33 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. He is the main target. Jokic has faced Minnesota just once and averaged 25 points with 10 rebounds and three assists. The Timberwolves have been dealing with injuries which makes Jokic a strong second option in Tier 1.
Kyrie Irving over Anthony Edwards, Paola Banchero, and Jamal Murray (Tier 2)
This isn’t the toughest tier to choose for but if Rudy Gobert is ruled out again tonight, Anthony Edwards could bump Kyrie Irving out of the way. Pairing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on main DFS slates gets difficult but it’s simple and easy for Tiers. San Antonio is one of the worst teams versus point guards. They allow 26 points, 8.8 assists, and 6.8 rebounds to the position. Irving would be the first target, Edwards would be second, and Paola Banchero would be third. I will be excluding Jamal Murray from my builds.
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NBA DraftKings Tiers 3-4
Fred VanVleet over Zion Williamson, Miles Bridges, and Jalen Green (Tier 3)
Zion Williamson and Miles Bridges both have tough matchups tonight even though they project well for this tier. I will be sticking with the Houston Rocket players: Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green. Fred VanVleet does have the better matchup of the two and projects almost 4 DK points higher than Green. However, Green will bring in lower ownership most likely. For VanVleet, Washington allows 25.2 points, 9.6 assists, and seven rebounds to the point guard position. They allow slightly lower numbers to the shooting guard position with 24 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. What makes the Houston guards more appealing is that Washington plays at the fastest pace in the league.
Franz Wagner over Brandon Ingram, Mikal Bridges, Devin Vassell, and Cam Thomas (Tier 4)
Franz Wagner is another core piece for the main NBA DFS Core Plays and Top Bets article. Charlotte has shown issues versus small forwards, allowing them to average 22.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. Wagner averaged 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists in two games versus them this season. Brandon Ingram does make a good second option as he projects for 39.53 DK points versus Brooklyn. Cam Thomas would be a fade as he’s on the lower end of this tier projection-wise.
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NBA DraftKings Tiers 5-6
Jabari Smith Jr. over Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr., Brandon Miller, Jordan Pool, and Naz Reid (Tier 5)
Jabari Smith Jr. and Nic Claxton make for an interesting play. Both are better options than the rest of the pool but the matchups aren’t the best. Jabari Smith Jr. has been playing center which could boost him for a nice double-double bonus tonight versus Washington. They allow opposing centers to average 26.3 points with 18 rebounds per game. Nic Claxton is in a similar position versus New Orleans. They allow opposing centers to average 21.4 points with 14.7 rebounds per game. Not as monstrous as Washington, but a nice double-double upside also.
CJ McCollum over Aaron Gordon, Dennis Schroder, Jeremy Sochan, and the entire tier (Tier 6)
CJ McCollum projects pretty well alongside his teammate Brandon Ingram versus the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets also don’t guard shooting guards well when it comes to three-pointers. CJ McCollum loves shooting threes. They allow them to average 3.5 makes per game alongside 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. In the past five games, McCollum has shot 38 three-pointers. Give us this matchup all day. Amen Thompson and Dennis Schroder would be the only other two players to have some type of exposure to but overall, CJ McCollum should be the play.
