RADIO
Welcome to Wednesday, where the NBA DFS slate is always sure to throw a curveball into the mix. Across the nine games on the slate, we have the two teams most relevantly affected by players dealing with the league’s health and safety protocols (Bucks, Thunder), as well as three of the teams that have been most significantly impacted by them this year (Wizards, Grizzlies, Suns); all of which is to say that the openings created by absences pave the way for oodles of upside, much of which we’ll focus upon below.
For NBA fans of a certain age, the sight of seeing the Cavaliers and Nuggets lock horns like they are Wednesday conjures up memories of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony duking it out. This generation may grow one day to feel the same way about the Mavericks and Hawks, with Luka Doncic and Trae Young continuing their intrinsically intertwined paths towards greatness. To boot, Dallas and Atlanta feature multiple sound DFS options to consider Wednesday.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/10/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor globally, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Luka Doncic - PG, DAL vs. ATL ($10,800)
Sure, Doncic is essentially always a solid candidate and could earn consideration in this space nearly every time that he takes the floor. But Wednesday’s showdown with Trae Young and the Hawks is such an advantageous matchup that he has forced his way into the conversation. For as impressive as Doncic’s streak of 11 straight games with at least 25 points scored has been (which includes last Wednesday versus Atlanta), Young is as equally important a dance partner for Doncic’s appeal Wednesday.
According to Defensive Real Plus-Minus, Young has quite simply been dreadful defensively this season, posting the worst DRPM (-2.49) of any point guard in the league. The last time that he and Doncic squared off, Young finished with a 126 dRTG. Doncic’s price tag may be exorbitant, but he can be viewed as the premier cash contest build, while holding sizable GPP upside for those who can finagle him into lineups.
Kyle Lowry - PG, TOR @ WAS ($7,300)
Expect the vast majority of fantasy managers to look the other way when it comes to Lowry on Wednesday due to either the back injury that forced him from Monday’s contest or the fact that he has scored in single digits in his last two outings. But he earns a spot in the column today due to every DFS player's favorite metric: pace.
With roughly six weeks of data at our fingertips, no matter how you slice it, the Wizards play at a torrid pace. Fortunately, for our statistical sake, their defense has been correspondingly pounded by the opposition, particularly the backcourt. Per DraftKings’ scoring, Washington continues to let up the second-highest points total (53.3) to opposing PGs this season, which propels Lowry’s appeal up the board, especially in light of his price tag dip.
Lou Williams - SG, LAC @ MIN ($5,500)
Don’t look now, but Lou Will appears to be finding his rhythm offensively, a scary proposition for opposing defenses. His last contest resulted in a season-high 23 points to go along with a season-high 16 field-goal attempts, which just so happened to coincide with Paul George’s (foot) absence from the rotation.
Luke Kennard has seen his DFS intrigue spike in his own right as he has shifted to the starting five without George in the mix, but it’s Williams who has scored in double figures in all five games that George has been absent from this season. In those contests, Williams is averaging 16.8 PPG, which when combined with the Timberwolves’ defensive deficiencies, should make for Williams becoming a staple of cash contests Wednesday.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Khris Middleton - SF, MIL @ PHO ($7,900)
With Jrue Holiday landing in the league’s health and safety protocols, Middleton has stepped to the forefront as the Bucks’ primary tonesetter. Already in the midst of averaging a career-best 6.0 assists per game this season, Middleton ripped off 12 assists without Holiday on Monday, setting a new career high.
Even while serving as a distributor Monday, Middleton was able to get up 16 shot attempts and take 11 free throws, leading to a 29-point effort. His price tag has not quite adjusted to the perpetual double-double threat that he now presents in his new role as de facto point guard for Milwaukee.
John Collins - PF/C, ATL @ DAL ($7,500)
When Collins and the Mavericks first locked horns this season last Wednesday, all he did was set season highs with 35 points and 12 boards, completely eviscerating the Dallas interior, while shooting a staggering 16-for-21 from the field. This whole domination of the Mavs schtick he has going may have some credence to it considering that last season, his season high in scoring also came when facing Dallas en route to a 35-point showing (with 17 rebounds to boot).
Collins has certainly been a seesaw DFS commodity through his first 23 games of the year, as evidenced by a scoring stretch earlier this season that saw him go for 31, four, and 30 points, respectively, in three straight games. But from a GPP perspective, Collins' upside is undeniable, especially against the Mavs.
Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF, OKC @ LAL ($6,500)
Here we go again. With the OKC backcourt decimated by injuries, Diallo is set to step into his do-everything role for the Thunder, which spikes his upside despite his tremendously difficult matchup versus the Lakers. Each of Diallo’s past two starts have resulted in him producing a double-double, including Monday versus L.A. when he tied his career high with 11 boards.
Joining Diallo in this skyrocket ascension of value is Luguentz Dort and Kenrich Williams, who figure to make up the remainder of the Thunder guards with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee), Theo Maledon (health protocols), and George Hill (thumb) all unavailable. The price tag rise for Diallo will keep some fantasy managers in check, but OKC’s sheer lack of options will funnel production toward him.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Jonas Valanciunas - C, MEM vs. CHA ($7,400)
It may have taken a 27-point, 20-rebound effort in just his second game back from the league’s health and safety protocols, but Valanciunas firmly has our attention. By replacing Brandon Clarke (calf) in the starting five with wing shooter Desmond Bane, the glass has become open season for Valanciunas to feast upon with the starting unit.
Earlier this year, Valanciunas produced a 14-point, 10-rebound showing against the Hornets, marking his fourth double-double in his last five games against the group. Minutes have consistently been Valanciunas’ path to DFS relevance, and having received 34 in his last showing, there’s reason to roll the dice on his upside, particularly with Charlotte’s own big man reliance likely to force Memphis’s center into action.
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