We have a loaded 12-game slate for Wednesday's DFS action, and it's definitely a night where you want to embrace the variance and take your shot with some of FanDuel's GPP offerings. Using RotoWire's trusted NBA projections, we'll analyze the vast player pool and pull up our favorite selections for the evening. You'll need to keep tabs on some value opportunities by looking back at our NBA injury report before lock, as the budget options should pop up for Denver and Memphis as the day progresses.
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NBA Games Today
While it's not always necessary, trimming teams away from consideration when encountering 10 or more games is a good way to narrow things down and break some ties. We certainly did that with the Clippers and Warriors, and our exposure to the Lakers and Grizzlies was also very low. Teams worth exploring further are the Sixers and the Bucks.
For the latest spreads and over-unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
NBA Injuries Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Wednesday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
CHI Josh Giddey (hamstring) - OUT
CHI Matas Buzelis (illness) - QUESTIONABLE
CHI Coby White (calf) - QUESTIONABLE
CHI Jalen Smith (concussion) - OUT
Tre Jones ($6,000) will be healthy for Wednesday's matchup, and we'll likely see more from Ayo Dosunmu ($5,700) and Patrick Williams ($3,800) off the bench. Isaac Okoro ($3,900) is also likely to start again for the Bulls.
DET Jalen Duren (ankle) - OUT
DET Tobias Harris (hip) - OUT
The Pistons are rolling with Isaiah Stewart ($6,000) and Paul Reed ($4,900) in this scenario. There are some probable tags on the board for Detroit, but they shouldn't be concerning.
PHI Joel Embiid (knee/ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
Embiid may take a seat for injury management, in which case Andre Drummond ($4,000) would handle most of the work at center.
TOR Jakob Poeltl (back) - OUT
Collin Murray-Boyles' ($5,600) solid game during Monday's win grabbed my attention, and he's vaulted into fantasy viability as he subs for Poeltl.
DEN Nikola Jokic (knee) - OUT
DEN Jonas Valanciunas (calf) - OUT
DEN Cameron Johnson (knee) - OUT
DEN Aaron Gordon (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
DEN Jamal Murray (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
DEN Christian Braun (ankle - QUESTIONABLE
Questionable tags for Gordon, Murray and Braun make it challenging to pluck value out of this lineup early in the day, but we can readily assume that pivots like Jalen Pickett ($4,900) and DaRon Holmes ($4,200) will be in play. Peyton Watson ($6,800) is too expensive for my liking, but Spencer Jones ($5,000) is at a serviceable pivot cost for Johnson. Keep an eye on the starting lineup as tip-off approaches.
ORL Franz Wagner (ankle) - OUT
ORL Jalen Suggs (knee) - OUT
ORL Moritz Wagner (knee) - OUT
Tristan da Silva ($4,000) and Anthony Black ($7,800) will continue their fill-in roles during Wednesday's matchup.
LAC James Harden (shoulder) - QUESTIONABLE
LAC Derrick Jones (knee) - OUT
Kobe Sanders ($4,000) did an excellent job with 20 points in Harden's absence, and he'll be one of my favorite bargain plays if Harden is forced to sit again.
NOP Herbert Jones (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
NOP Saddiq Bey (hip) - QUESTIONABLE
Jones played in Tuesday's game but visibly struggled. He may retreat back to the bench, but there's a possibility that Bey may make a return. Trey Murphy's ($7,500) production would rise if either of them is out.
ATL Trae Young (quad) - QUESTIONABLE
Rumors are swirling about Washington as a potential landing spot for Young before the deadline, and one wonders how the Hawks will handle this injury. I doubt he'll play, making Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($6,700) the pivot in his absence.
MEM Ja Morant (calf) - QUESTIONABLE
MEM Cedric Coward (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
MEM Zach Edey (ankle) - OUT
Morant and Coward could both be back on Wednesday. Go with Cam Spencer ($6,300) if Morant misses, and I would opt for Vince Williams ($3,900) for Coward if he's cleared to play.
GSW Draymond Green (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
It's hard to nail down a pivot for Green. The team is still dead-set on denying a role for Jonathan Kuminga, but there's a chance he'll finally take the floor after a lengthy absence.
HOU Alperen Sengun (ankle) - OUT
Steven Adams ($4,600) will continue to sub for Sengun.
POR Kris Murray (back) DOUBTFUL
POR Jerami Grant (Achilles) - OUT
If Murray can't go, Sidy Cissoko ($4,000) will enter the starting lineup.
Elite NBA DFS Picks
We have the longest list of $10k-plus players I've seen this season, as a whopping 11 players are above the threshold. We need to trim this list, so I'll take Cade Cunningham and his probable tag out of the equation. It looks like Victor Wembanyama ($10,000) has the most appealing salary relative to his potential production, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,000) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) following close behind. Paolo Banchero ($10,200) is powering the offense for Orlando, so he's also worth a look against the Nets. Jaylen Brown ($10,100) also makes sense, but I will dip to a slightly lower option against the Nuggets.
The $9k grouping is also strong, with seven players at our disposal. We can peel Jamal Murray and Joel Embiid due to their questionable tags, leaving Jalen Brunson ($9,200) and Scottie Barnes ($9,400) as my favorite options in the tier.
The $8k level features 17 selections. Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,900) is almost always a quality play in my book, and Devin Booker ($8,800) is set up for a good game against the Grizzlies. I'll also consider Derrick White ($8,400) over Brown against the depleted Nuggets.
Expected Chalk & Mid-Range NBA DFS Picks
Jalen Williams, OKC ($7,800) vs. UTA
The Jazz have gradually worked their way back to full health, so the team may put up more of a fight in an uphill battle against the Thunder. OKC will need max minutes from Williams as they try to fend off a big game from Lauri Markkanen, and Williams will probably be charged with that task. I expect heavy involvement from the standout forward.
Alex Sarr, WAS ($7,800) @ PHI
Sarr posted an excellent 31/11 double-double against the Sixers back in October, and Embiid played in that game as well. So, even if Embiid starts, there's no need to fade Sarr, who could have a great outing with Embiid or Drummond opposite him. I'm also a fan of his dual eligibility at PF and C.
Onyeka Okongwu, ATL ($7,500) vs. NOP
Okongwu is another big man who has dual eligibility working in his favor. The Pelicans were squelched by the Lakers at home Tuesday night, so this back-to-back may be hard to rally for. The Pelicans have a star in the making with Derik Queen, but I think Okongwu has the goods to give us a double-double. He's an unknown quantity for the Pelicans, as he was absent in their only game against Atlanta this season.
RJ Barrett, TOR ($6,700) vs. CHA
Barrett's salary is hard to fade, and it could be the most appealing number for Toronto tonight. I don't have an issue with Barnes or Brandon Ingram ($8,100), but Barrett's salary hits the sweet spot between value and production.
Tari Eason, HOU ($6,000) @ POR
Eason has put up solid numbers recently, and I like his chance for success on the road against the Trail Blazers. Alperen Sengun's absence should open up some rebound opportunities for Eason, who I like slightly better than Jabari Smith ($6,100), who is also viable in the injury scenario.
Also consider: Miles Bridges, CHA ($7,500) vs. TOR, Payton Pritchard, BOS ($6,900) vs. DEN
NBA DFS Value Picks
Dillon Brooks, PHX ($5,800) @ MEM
Do we want to ride Brooks' emotion as he takes on his former team? Two seasons in Houston separate his tenure in Memphis from his current job in Phoenix, and the Grizzlies had his number in two games against him last season. Brooks was not available in Phoenix's sole game against Memphis this season, and I'm willing to risk him at his current salary point.
Bilal Coulibaly, WAS ($5,500) @ PHI
Coulibaly's five steals against the Magic caused his FP total to spring upward, and although we shouldn't expect the same number, he's emerged as a player with potential upside. He should continue to see optimal minutes while Kyshawn George remains sidelined.
Paul Reed, DET ($4,900) vs. CHI
I know he was already mentioned, but I'm re-issuing the call for Reed, who showed up more than expected in my final builds. Since we can fit quality big men at power forward, Reed may be my favorite pick at center. He has a decent history against the Bulls, and he's performed exceptionally well during absences from Duren and Harris. He only needs around 25 FDFPs to be viable.
Jase Richardson, ORL ($3,800) vs. BKN
Richardson proved to be an innovative pivot Tuesday evening, and I see no reason why the Magic would move away from him, especially considering their current guard depth. He's with plugging in as a cost-saving measure.
