This article is part of our Daily Games Cheat Sheet series.
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defense To Avoid
Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The Jazz defense has hit the ground running in the new season. They're currently equaling their top ranking in average points allowed from last year, and doing it to the tune of a stingy 79.7 per games over the first three. Meanwhile, the Blazers are predictably struggling in the post-Aldridge-Matthews-Batum era , ranking 17th in points per game after a ninth-place finish last season. Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors (if he can overcome an illness) should be borderline dominant against a mediocre Blazers frontcourt, leaving the rest of the Jazz's superior defense to focus on limiting clear Portland scoring options Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Offense To Use
Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings
The Suns draw a DeMarcus Cousins-less Sacramento squad that is also on the road and on the second game of a back-to-back. The backcourt tandem of Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe have shown the upside they provide when their shots are falling, as they did last Friday versus Portland, and draw a Kings defense that is currently ranked 26th in opponents' point-per-game average at 110.5. Factoring in that Sacramento also just surrendered 103 points Tuesday to a Grizzlies squad that couldn't crack 70 the previous night, and that lost Marc Gasol to injury during the game, and you have a recipe for what should be a productive offensive showing for the Suns.
Teams on a Back-to-Back
First Game: Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers
Second Game: Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Jeff Teague vs. BKN ($6,500): Teague's minutes and production have been that of a higher-priced player, and he has been counted on more as a source of offensive production thanks to DeMarre Carroll's offseason departure and backcourt mate Kyle Korver's early struggles in his gradual recovery from offseason ankle surgery. Teague's minutes have been 30-plus over the first four games, and he has eclipsed 40 fantasy points in two of them, while tallying 34.5 in a third. He's also hot from long range, knocking down treys at a 67 percent clip (4-for-6) over his last two games. Teague has even contributed across the stat sheet with a pair of six-rebound efforts in his last two contests, and he now draws a slightly hobbled Jarrett Jack (hamstring) as a primary defender.
Darren Collison at PHO ($4,600): Collison gets an honorable mention as a potentially sneaky value play Wednesday. Despite coming off the bench, has played at least 30 minutes in three of four games, has scored in the teens in each game, and has been at 21.25 DK points or higher in all four outings. Starting point guard Rajon Rondo, despite a pair of impressive 21-point efforts, has shown the tendency to go in the tank offensively from time to time, as he did in Tuesday's loss to the Grizzlies. The Kings may need to find ways to get more scoring options on the floor with DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) out for Wednesday's contest, and Collison has proven he can fill that void.
Other suggestions:John Wall vs. SA ($9,300); Eric Bledsoe vs. SAC ($7,700)
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan at OKC ($7,400): DeRozan draws a Thunder defense that is ranked dead last against shooting guards so far this season, and the game is projected to be a fairly high-scoring affair. He also could benefit from the fact that backcourt mate Kyle Lowry, who has been playing at an elite level, will have to deal with Russell Westbrook the majority of the night. Minutes should not be an issue for DeRozan, who has also supplemented his scoring with some solid numbers in boards and assists so far this season.
Other suggestions:Brandon Knight vs. SAC ($6,700); Langston Galloway at CLE ($4,500); Nik Stauskas at MIL ($3,500)
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. PHI ($6,900): The Greek Freak has seemingly been on a mission since being suspended for the opener and is displaying the consistency that was sometimes lacking in his game last season. He has been outstanding from the field (58 percent), has drained a bucket from beyond the arc in each game so far, and has rebound totals of nine, nine and eight over his first three contests. He's posted no fewer than 38 DK points in that three-game span, making him a bargain at $6,900.
Other suggestions:Joe Johnson at ATL ($4,700); Kawhi Leonard at WAS ($7,800), Rudy Gay at PHO ($7600)
Power Forward
Markieff Morris vs. SAC ($6,200): The general consensus has been that Morris' game is somewhat off so far this season, possibly due to his displeasure over his twin brother Marcus' departure to the Pistons. However, the Suns power forward has quietly picked up the pace since a lackluster opener, and now draws a DeMarcus Cousins-less matchup versus the Kings. Morris has tallied over 30 DK points each of his last three games, and he has been a force on the boards with eight, nine and eight rebounds in each game over that span. Morris' shooting percentage, currently sitting about 13 points below his career 45-percent, is also bound to start positively regressing towards the mean.
Other suggestions:Greg Monroe vs. PHI ($8,100); Derrick Favors vs. POR ($7,300); Tristan Thompson vs. NYK ($4,600); Serge Ibaka vs. TOR ($6,400)
Center
Brook Lopez at ATL ($6,800): Lopez is an indispensable source of offensive production on a Nets squad that is ranked next-to-last in points per game this season. Simply put, Lopez has no option other than to be considerably aggressive with the ball each night for the Nets to have a chance to even approach the paltry 90.5 points per game average they've accrued over their first four outings. Lopez has tallied double-digit points every game and draws a Hawks team Wednesday that is surprisingly ranked 27th against opposing centers. Atlanta also finds itself on the second game of a back-to-back and Al Horford was just double-doubled by the Heat's Hassan Whiteside on Tuesday to the tune of 23 points and 14 boards. Lopez has been no slouch on the boards himself, hauling in nine and 10 rebounds over his last two contests, respectively, while also shooting 53 percent from the field. At a price tag under $7K, the linchpin of the Nets' offense looks like a bargain Wednesday.
Other suggestions:Rudy Gobert vs. POR ($7,000) ; Festus Ezeli vs. Clippers ($4,100)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Alan Anderson (ankle)
Thabo Sefolosha (ankle)
Arron Afflalo (hamstring)
Kyrie Irving (kneecap)
Iman Shumpert (wrist)
J.R. Smith (knee, quad)
Terrence Jones (face)
Donatas Motiejunas (back)
Tony Wroten (knee)
Kendall Marshall (knee)
Carl Landry (wrist)
O.J. Mayo (hamstring)
John Henson (Achilles)
DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles)
Gerald Henderson (hip)
Game-Time Decision
Avery Bradley (finger)
Ian Mahinmi (lower back)
Jarrett Jack (hamstring)
Mike Muscala (ankle)
Kristaps Porzingis (neck)
Chuck Hayes (foot)
Robert Covington (knee)
Michael Carter-Williams (ankle)
Lucas Nogueira (hamstring)
Andrew Bogut (concussion)
