This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
With eight games on the schedule for Wednesday's slate, there's a ton of options to sort through at all levels of the price scale. The following list should provide a handful of players to consider building your lineup around:
GUARDS:
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs NYK ($8,900): After losing four straight games, the Celtics have gotten back on track recently, winning two of their last three. That's mostly due to the work that Irving has put in, averaging 28.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.0 steal across 33.7 minutes during that three-game stretch. That was good enough for an average of 42.7 FanDuel points. With Irving clearly doing everything he can to get this team pointed back in the right direction and the fact that he's got a favorable matchup scheduled against the Knicks, are both good reasons to fire him up in DFS lineups Wednesday. Marcus Smart (hand) also continues to sit out, so Irving should get as much run as possible -- he's logged 37 and 36 minutes the last two times out.
Wesley Matthews, DAL at PHO ($5,400): Matthews has also played surprisingly well of late, albeit somewhat inconsistent. He's logged 35 or more FanDuel points in two of the last four games, notching 36.9 against the Heat and 48.3 against the Rockets. His opposing matchup, the Suns, have given up a ridiculous amount of FanDuel points to shooting guards over the last five games, putting them at the top of points given up to the position during that stretch of time. With Matthews recent surge and the Suns' poor performance defensively of late, this marks a good time to go with him considering he's priced at just $5,400.
Terry Rozier, BOS vs NYK ($5,100): Like I mentioned with Irving, Smart remains sidelined while working back from a hand injury. Rozier is one of the biggest beneficiaries of that absence and he's coming off Monday's outing where he put up 32.8 FanDuel points in 30 minutes. With that sort of workload likely available once again Wednesday, Rozier should have some viability as one of the cheaper point guard options on the slate. However, if Devin Booker (ribs) of the Suns can't play, Tyler Ulis ($4,000) makes for an extremely low-cost option as well after posting 36.7 FanDuel points in Booker's absence Monday.
FORWARDS:
T.J. Warren, PHO vs DAL ($7,100):Devin Booker's (rib) potential absence here is the real reasoning behind Warren's inclusion on this list. While Warren didn't necessarily have a huge game when Booker was sidelined Monday, he still posted a respectable 24 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal across 35 minutes, which was good enough for 35.9 FanDuel points. He can expect a sizable increase in usage once again if Booker remains sidelined and Warren's ability to go off as a scorer on any given night gives him a ton of upside.
Bobby Portis, CHI at POR ($4,500): Portis is probably one of my favorite plays on the slate in terms of upside versus price. The Bulls have already ruled Lauri Markkanen (personal) out and there's a chance Nikola Mirotic (leg) is unable to give it a go as well. Even if Mirotic plays, I still like the Portis play, as he's proven to be super efficient when given increased playing time. He posted 27.3 FanDuel points when he saw 22 minutes on Friday and logged 47.2 FanDuel points when he managed 25 minutes last Wednesday, which shows his upside when he gets the time. At a price of just $4,500, that makes him a no-brainer.
Frank Kaminsky, CHA at ATL ($4,000): The Hornets continue to be without Cody Zeller (knee) in the frontcourt and starting power forward Marvin Williams just went down with an ankle injury. For that reason, Kaminsky is expected to take on a starter's role and could be in line for a 30-plus-minute run with the top unit. Kaminsky has certainly struggled of late, shooting a brutal 17.4 percent from the field and 7.7 percent from deep over the last three games, but I'm forecasting a bounce-back effort here. Sitting at just $4,000 with a starter's workload on tap is enough for me to take a chance on him.
CENTERS:
Dwight Howard, CHA at ATL ($10,200): Howard has one of the best matchups when it comes to centers on Wednesday's slate, as he's facing off with a Hawks team that has given up the most FanDuel points to centers on the season. Howard, himself, has been absolutely on fire of late as well, averaging a ridiculous 50.6 FanDuel points over his last eight games. That sort of production paired with an overly favorable matchup is too tough to pass up if you can afford to pay up at the center spot.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs CHI ($6,300): If you can't get Howard in your lineup due to his high salary, Nurkic makes for a nice fall back option. He's been extremely inconsistent on a game-to-game basis, but he is coming off a 14-point, 20-rebound double-double Tuesday, so momentum is working in his favor. The Bulls have given up the fourth most FanDuel points to centers on the season and the most to the position over the last five games, which marks a recipe for success here. However, if you can't afford either of the two centers I've listed, Tristan Thompson ($4,200) could be worth a look with Kevin Love (hand) done for at least the next month.
