Alex Hunter breaks down his top DraftKings DFS targets and value plays for the NBA slate on Wednesday, December 31.
DraftKings’ main NBA slate for Wednesday night features five games and starts at 7:00 PM EST. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position for Wednesday’s NBA action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs, $9,400
Brunson is on the heels of a 50.25 FPTS outing vs. the Pelicans on Monday and he scored 42.5 FPTS vs. the Spurs when the Knicks defeated San Antonio in the NBA Cup Final earlier this month. The Spurs rank sixth in defensive rating, but they have been vulnerable against point guards this season and tonight’s matchup vs. the Spurs carries the second-highest total on the slate at 236 points. Furthermore, San Antonio is only favored by 1.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Brunson is producing 1.2 FPTS per minute with a 32.2% usage rate this season, and he should thrive in this strong game environment. When competing in spreads under five points this season, Brunson is amassing 48.4 FPTS per game (eight games).
Other Options: Jamal Murray ($9,300), Brandon Ingram ($7,600)
Value
Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans, $4,500
With the Bulls shorthanded in their backcourt with Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) both out, Jones is a must-play at only $4,500. Giddey and White have collectively missed two games this season and Jones produced 35.9 FPTS in 31 minutes per game in those tilts.
With both Giddey and White off the floor this season, Jones is generating 1.1 FPTS per minute with a 20% usage rate and a 30% assist rate. Facing a Pelicans defense that ranks 27th in rating tonight and competing in the highest total on the slate at a huge 247.5 points, Jones should destroy his cheap price tag.
Other Options: Jordan Poole ($5,000), Kevin Huerter ($4,300), Caleb Love ($4,300)
Forward
Stud
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans at Chicago Bulls, $7,100
After coming off the bench for a stretch, Williamson was moved back into the Pelicans’ starting lineup Monday vs. the Knicks and the forward posted 48.25 FPTS across 28 minutes. With at least 39 FPTS in four of his last six games, Williamson finally looks healthy again and he should approach 30 minutes again tonight in an elite matchup vs. the Bulls.
Chicago ranks second in pace, 24th in defensive rating and the team is allowing the fourth-most points in the paint this season. This game carries the highest total on the slate at 247.5 points and Williamson is way too cheap for his upside in this juicy spot.
Other Options: Deni Avdija ($9,700), Chet Holmgren ($7,500)
Value
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans, $5,100
Dosunmu should be one of the main beneficiaries with both Giddey and White out. In the two games these two guards have missed together this season, Dosunmu generated 29.3 FPTS in 27 minutes per game.
Dosunmu’s usage rises 3.0 percentage points to 23% with both Giddey and White off the floor this season, resulting in 1.1 FPTS per minute, and in this expected shootout vs. the Pelicans, Dosunmu should have zero issues surpassing five-times value and he is a valuable play for this slate with the veteran being small forward eligible.
Other Options: Saddiq Bey ($5,900), Khris Middleton ($4,900), Keldon Johnson ($4,400)
Center
Stud
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks, $9,900
Wembanyama only scored 33.5 FPTS vs. the Knicks in the NBA Cup Final earlier this month, but he was limited to just 24 minutes off the bench that night, as it was just his second game back after missing 12 straight with a calf injury. Fast forward a few weeks later, Wembanyama is starting again and dominating.
As a starter for the last two games, Wembanyama has scored 53.75 FPTS vs. the Jazz and 53.5 FPTS vs. the Cavaliers while logging 27 minutes in both of these contests. While the superstar is likely to remain limited to right under 30 minutes tonight, Wembanyama is underpriced for that type of role at only $9,900. This season, the big man is supplying a massive 1.7 FPTS per minute with a 32.4% usage rate.
Other Options: Alex Sarr ($7,000)
Value
Jonas Valanciunas, Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors, $5,500
The Nuggets will be without Nikola Jokic (knee) for at least four weeks and while DraftKings quickly increased Valanciunas’ salary to a season-high $5,500 in the wake of the Jokic news, this price point is still too low for this situation.
Valanciunas should start at center with Jokic sidelined and see at least 25 minutes on a nightly basis. He is scoring a strong 1.3 FPTS per minute with a 26.9% usage rate this season and the big man is producing 39.4 FPTS per game for the last 10 times he has logged over 20 minutes. The Raptors aren’t a great matchup, but Valanciunas should score over 30 FPTS tonight and he is a tough fade at only $5,500.
Other Options: Jalen Smith ($4,700), Collin Murray-Boyles ($3,800)
