Ja Morant is an affordable, high-upside option with a favorable matchup against the Suns tonight in DFS.
Wednesday’s nine-game NBA DFS slate offers plenty of action and intriguing matchups to sift through. The Memphis Grizzlies–Phoenix Suns contest headlines the night with a slate-high total of 240.5 points, while the Los Angeles Lakers–Minnesota Timberwolves matchup sits at the bottom with a 224.5 total.
Most games are projected to stay competitive within nine points, though the Denver Nuggets enter as 12.5-point favorites over the New Orleans Pelicans. With several high-scoring environments and only one potential blowout spot, this slate sets the stage for diverse roster construction and strategic differentiation in DFS contests.
Let’s break down some of the top plays and value options to consider when building lineups for Wednesday’s slate.
NBA DFS core plays
Nikola Jokić (C – DEN)
- DraftKings: $11,500
- FanDuel: $12,100
Nikola Jokić dominantly opened the season, recording a triple-double in each of his first three games. He’s in a strong position to make it four in a row against the New Orleans Pelicans, who rank 25th in defensive efficiency, 28th in rebounding percentage and have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
The only concern for Jokić is the 12.5-point spread in this matchup. However, despite their 0-3 start, the Pelicans have managed to keep two of those games within six points, offering hope that Jokić sees his usual workload in another potential stat-stuffing performance.
Austin Reaves (SG, SF – LAL)
- DraftKings: $11,600
- FanDuel: $9,300
Likely one of the most popular plays of the night — and rightfully so — is Austin Reaves. With Luka Dončić (finger/leg) sidelined for the past two games, Reaves has been lights out, averaging 46 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 2.5 steals while posting a team-leading 33.3% usage rate.
It’s hard to overlook that kind of production, especially at his current FanDuel price, making Reaves one of the top guard options on Wednesday’s slate.
NBA DFS cash game targets
Devin Booker (PG, SG – PHX)
- DraftKings: $10,200
- FanDuel: $9,100
With Jalen Green (hamstring) still sidelined and Dillon Brooks (groin) ruled out for Wednesday’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Phoenix Suns will continue to lean heavily on Devin Booker. In the team’s last game without Green and Brooks, Booker took a season-high 26 shots and recorded his first double-double of the year with 34 points and 10 assists.
Booker draws a favorable matchup against the Grizzlies, who play at the second-fastest pace and rank 23rd in defensive rating — an ideal recipe for another strong performance.
Ja Morant (PG – MEM)
- DraftKings: $10,400
- FanDuel: $8,300
Ja Morant has struggled from the field since his outstanding opening night performance, when he scored 35 points and shot 65% against the New Orleans Pelicans. Over his last three games, he’s shot just 32.1% from the floor, though he’s still managed to average 18 points per contest.
Despite the recent inefficiency, Morant remains a strong cash game consideration. This matchup against the Phoenix Suns carries the highest total on the slate, and Phoenix ranks 29th in defensive efficiency, giving him an ideal bounce-back opportunity. Plus, his FanDuel price tag adds to the appeal for DFS players looking for an affordable, high-upside option.
Jaden McDaniels (SF, PF – MIN)
- DraftKings: $5,700
- FanDuel: $5,800
With Anthony Edwards (hamstring) sidelined last game, Jaden McDaniels stepped up in a major way, finishing second on the second unit in usage rate at 24.7%. He led the team with 25 points while adding three rebounds, one assist and four blocks in a strong all-around effort.
The Minnesota forward now faces a Los Angeles Lakers squad dealing with multiple injuries and playing at the second-fastest pace in the league since Luka Dončić (finger/leg) went down two games ago, setting up another favorable spot for McDaniels to deliver solid value.
NBA DFS GPP targets
Josh Giddey (PG, SG – CHI)
- DraftKings: $8,800
- FanDuel: $8,900
Josh Giddey has been a major reason the Chicago Bulls have started the season 3-0. He’s averaging 19.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 41.7% from three.
Tonight, he faces the Sacramento Kings, who have been solid defensively this season. However, the Kings will be playing their first game on zero days of rest, and with the Bulls’ fast pace, their veteran backcourt could struggle to keep up — putting Giddey in a strong spot.
Cam Thomas (SG – BKN)
- DraftKings: $6,800
- FanDuel: $6,600
Through four games this season, Cam Thomas has been on an absolute roller coaster. He exploded for 40 points on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs, but followed that with just nine points on Monday versus the Houston Rockets, making him the ultimate GPP play.
Tonight, Thomas faces the Atlanta Hawks, who rank 24th in defensive efficiency and have long been known for playing at a fast pace. Thomas carries a team-high 33.6% usage rate. With a day off on Tuesday, he’s well-rested and in a favorable spot to bounce back and deliver another big performance.
Deandre Ayton (C – LAL)
- DraftKings: $7,400
- FanDuel: $6,600
With Luka Dončić (finger/leg) sidelined for the past two games, Austin Reaves has understandably received most of the attention for his performances. However, Deandre Ayton also deserves a spotlight. Over his last two games, he’s taken full advantage of a 22.3% usage rate — the second-highest on the first unit — averaging 19 points, 11.5 rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals and one block per contest.
Ayton draws a favorable matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who rank 20th in rebounding percentage this season, putting Ayton in an excellent position to deliver a double-double.
NBA DFS value plays
Collin Gillespie (PG – PHO)
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $4,600
With Dillon Brooks (groin) sidelined last game, Collin Gillespie logged a season-high 32 minutes and made the most of the opportunity, posting 15 points, three rebounds, 13 assists and three steals.
Brooks will miss another game on Wednesday, setting Gillespie up for an expanded role once again. Given his recent production and increased workload, he’s in an excellent spot to exceed value on tonight’s slate.
Ben Sheppard (PG, SG – IND)
- DraftKings: $4,200
- FanDuel: $4,500
The Indiana Pacers remain shorthanded in their backcourt as Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Bennedict Mathurin (hamstring) and Johnny Furphy (foot) were all ruled out for Wednesday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Those absences open the door for another expanded role for Ben Sheppard. He struggled in Sunday’s contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves, shooting just 22.2% from the floor and scoring six points.
Despite the rough outing, Sheppard remains a strong consideration given his price tag and the expectation that he’ll once again see 30+ minutes, providing ample opportunity for production.
Jock Landale (C – MEM)
- DraftKings: $4,600
- FanDuel: $4,000
Jock Landale has quietly been off to a solid start this season, averaging 9.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and one assist across four games. He’s logged 23.3 minutes per contest and continues to provide steady production in his current role.
That workload could rise if Santi Aldama (shoulder), who’s listed as questionable, is forced to sit out. Landale also draws a favorable matchup, as the Phoenix Suns have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season.
