Spurs–Bulls carries the highest total on the slate at 238.6. The Spurs' 126.8 implied points are the highest of any team, and they are 15-point favorites over the Bulls. Nuggets–Grizzlies is second at 230.6 with the Nuggets favored by 4. Lakers–Bucks is third at 229.0, with the Lakers 14-point favorites. The seven-game slate locks at 7:00 PM ET Wednesday: three games tip at 7:00 PM and four at 8:00 PM. Celtics–Raptors has the lowest total at 217.1, and Cavaliers–Knicks is second lowest at 223.1.
Injury news opens the most room on the Raptors, who play without Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. The Pacers are without Tyrese Haliburton, the Celtics without Paul George, the Pelicans without Yves Missi and the Grizzlies without Scotty Pippen Jr. Immanuel Quickley (DK $6,800) is questionable for the 7:00 PM Raptors game. Tyler Herro (DK $7,100), Nolan Traore (DK $5,200) and Norman Powell (DK $6,000) are questionable in 8:00 PM games, so each is a late-swap check, where late swap re-solves the open roster spots after lock. Every status here is the latest report and can still move before lock.
Injury Watch
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors, out)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers, out)
- Kawhi Leonard (Raptors, out)
- Paul George (Celtics, out)
- Yves Missi (Pelicans, out)
- Scotty Pippen Jr. (Grizzlies, out)
- Tyler Herro (DK $7,100) (Bucks, questionable)
- Immanuel Quickley (DK $6,800) (Raptors, questionable)
Point Guard
Jeremiah Fears (DK $6,600)
The Pelicans run their offense through Fears against the Nets. He projects for 34 minutes at a 25.6% usage rate. His 17.9% optimal rate is the top mark at point guard, and he is a popular play.
His form backs the role: he averaged 37.2 DK points over his last three games, the newest a 26.3 against the Warriors on November 9. His points prop sits at 16.4. The Pelicans are 3.5-point favorites with a 116.0 implied total.
Josh Giddey (DK $7,800)
Giddey runs the point in the highest-total game on the slate, against the Spurs. His assists prop sits at 8, and he averaged 37.0 DK points over his last three games. He is 8.3% owned with a 17.2% optimal rate.
Ty Jerome (DK $8,200)
With Scotty Pippen Jr. out, Jerome handles the Grizzlies' guard play against the Nuggets at a 32.3% usage rate. His points prop sits at 21.2. He is 8.6% owned with a 16.3% optimal rate.
Shooting Guard
Aaron Nesmith (DK $4,700)
Tyrese Haliburton is out for the Pacers, and Nesmith starts on the wing against the Wizards. He projects for 29 minutes at a 23.3% usage rate. His 5.51 value is the top mark at shooting guard, and he is a field favorite.
He scored 28.5 DK points against the Mavericks on November 9. He averaged 24.3 over his last three games. His points prop sits at 13.5, and his optimal rate is 17.1%.
Kyshawn George (DK $6,500)
George averaged 39.0 DK points over his last three games, and he starts for the Wizards against the Pacers. His ceiling sits at 58.1. He is 12.7% owned with a 16.4% optimal rate.
Cameron Johnson (DK $4,500)
Johnson starts for the Nuggets against the Grizzlies with 25 projected minutes and an 11.9% optimal rate. He averaged 21.3 DK points over his last three games, and his three-pointers prop sits at 2.
Small Forward
Michael Porter Jr. (DK $7,500)
Porter carries the Nets' scoring against the Pelicans. He projects for 35 minutes at a 25.9% usage rate. His 16.7% optimal rate is the second-best mark at small forward, and the field leans on him heavily.
His props line has 22.8 points. He averaged 37.8 DK points over his last three games. The Nets' implied total sits at 112.5.
Jayson Tatum (DK $10,300)
The Celtics play without Paul George, and Tatum takes a 33.1% usage rate into their game against the Raptors. His 49.5 projection is the top mark at small forward. He is 8.5% owned with an 11.7% optimal rate.
DeMar DeRozan (DK $4,600)
DeRozan draws 28 projected minutes for the Nuggets against the Grizzlies, in the second-highest-total game on the slate. He is 1.6% owned with a 10.8% optimal rate and a leverage of 9.2. That gap is the kind of leverage play to let Build & Sim size.
Power Forward
Anthony Davis (DK $8,900)
Davis carries the Wizards against the Pacers at a 30.2% usage rate over 32 projected minutes. His 20.4% optimal rate is the top mark at power forward, and the crowd is on him.
He scored 64.8 DK points against the Pistons on November 9. He has a 53.7 average over his last three games. His props sit at 22.4 points and 10 rebounds.
Pascal Siakam (DK $7,900)
Siakam leads the Pacers' attack against the Wizards at a 27.6% usage rate. He scored 58.8 DK points against the Mavericks on November 9 and has a 43.0 average over his last three. His 18.9% optimal rate ranks second at power forward.
Derik Queen (DK $6,100)
Yves Missi's absence opens minutes for Queen against the Nets. He projects for 22 at a 24.8% usage rate. He is 5.5% owned with an 11.5% optimal rate, the top leverage at power forward.
Center
Jakob Poeltl (DK $5,200)
The Raptors are without Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard, and Poeltl starts at center against the Celtics with 28 projected minutes. His 6.13 value is the top mark at center. He is 21.0% owned with a 22.8% optimal rate.
Recent form carries the case: 39.5 DK points against the Grizzlies on November 9 and a 33.2 average over his last three games. His props sit at 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Ivica Zubac (DK $6,100)
Zubac's rebounds prop sits at 9.9 for the Pacers against the Wizards, and his ceiling reaches 58.3. He is 17.4% owned with an 18.0% optimal rate, the second-best mark at center.
Day'Ron Sharpe (DK $5,300)
Sharpe handles playmaking from center for the Nets against the Pelicans, with a 13.3% optimal rate. His props have 3.8 assists beside 7.6 rebounds. He averaged 35.3 DK points over his last three games, and his 5.64 value is second at center.
What The Market Is Saying
The market's top spend is Victor Wembanyama (DK $11,800). It also treats Luka Doncic (DK $12,300) against the Bucks as a key ceiling play, pointing to the Bucks playing their second game in two nights. The market splits on which stud to pay for, with one side building around Wembanyama, and it keys on Immanuel Quickley (DK $6,800) as the biggest late decision. A minority of the market looks at Karl-Anthony Towns (DK $9,000) and Walker Kessler (DK $7,500). DFS Hero backs the Wembanyama build with a 7.1% optimal rate against 3.4% ownership, while Doncic sits at a 13.7% optimal rate against 14.4% ownership, and Kessler carries the top leverage at center at 8.0.
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The content in our articles is based on data available at the time of publishing. Always double-check your lineups before locking in your players.
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