Wednesday features a nine-game slate, creating plenty of opportunities for FanDuel NBA DFS players to build competitive lineups. Using RotoWire's trusted NBA projections, we'll highlight top-tier studs, mid-range targets, and value plays shaped by the latest NBA injury reports and expected NBA starting lineups. We'll need to monitor lineups for a few teams to see if injury-related value opportunities emerge, but I've clearly identified those spots below.
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NBA Games Today
Players for the Lakers, Cavaliers, Jazz, Warriors, Bulls and Pacers enjoy the advantage of the highest projected total of the night. The Timberwolves are solidly in play against the Mavericks, and the potential playoff preview between the Raptors and the Knicks should yield some impressive DFS totals. Teams to monitor for breaking injury news include the Cavs, Mavericks and Timberwolves.
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NBA Injuries Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Wednesday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
CLE Darius Garland (toe) - OUT
CLE Evan Mobley (calf) - OUT
The Cavs have some probable tags, but Garland and Mobley will definitely miss Wednesday's game. Sam Merrill ($4,200) should return to the starting lineup, but a safe pivot for Mobley is less clear. The safest avenue is to go with Jarrett Allen ($6,300), but players ranging from Nae'Qwan Tomlin ($3,800) to Jaylon Tyson ($6,100) will jump in to fill the gap.
IND Jarace Walker (foot) - QUESTIONABLE
If Walker is out, expect Bennedict Mathurin ($5,300) to slide into a larger role.
BOS Neemias Queta (illness) - DOUBTFUL
BOS Luka Garza (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
If both players are out, rookie Amari Williams ($4,500) will slide into the starting role. If Garza is well enough, he'll likely platoon with Williams and dilute the fantasy value of both players.
MIA Davion Mitchell (shoulder) - QUESTIONABLE
MIA Norman Powell (back) - QUESTIONABLE
MIA Kel'el Ware (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
All three of these players could make their way back for Wednesday's game. Notable replacements if absences continue are Jaime Jaquez ($6,400) and Kasparas Jakucionis ($4,100).
TOR Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) - QUESTIONABLE
TOR Jakob Poeltl (back) - OUT
Sandro Mamukelashvili ($6,200) will start at center if Murray-Boyles' thumb injury keeps him sidelined.
MEM Ja Morant (elbow) - OUT
Morant will be out for some time, and Cam Spencer ($6,200) is getting every opportunity to make an impact.
MIN Anthony Edwards (foot) - QUESTIONABLE
This is a favorable matchup against the Mavericks, so I would promote the remaining starters rather than make a direct replacement. We'll probably see more of Naz Reid ($6,300) if Edwards misses.
DAL Cooper Flagg (ankle) -QUESTIONABLE
Flagg will probably miss one of the upcoming back-to-back games. The chosen absence could be Wednesday, and we'd see more from Brandon Williams ($5,600) if he misses.
UTA Jusuf Nurkic (illness) - OUT
Keyonte George should be back after a rest day, so ignore his tag. Nurkic's condition is unclear, but Kyle Filipowski ($5,900) will be a safe option if Nurkic is out.
Elite Players
We have a familiar group atop the player pool with five-figure salaries. Luka Doncic ($12,700) commands a high price, but the numerous injuries plaguing Cleveland's roster make him usable if you're willing to offset him with a couple of players in the $4-5k range. I don't think it's a good night to go with Victor Wembanyama ($11,600) against Houston, and since Jalen Johnson ($10,700) and Jaylen Brown ($10,100) are squaring off against each other, I can find enough cause to fade them as well.
We have eight options at the $9k level, and Donovan Mitchell ($9,900) should get a second look due to the absence of key producers for Cleveland. I'll also endorse Paolo Banchero in this range. The $8k tier has 12 players to choose from. Although I'm a usual proponent of the Knicks, the Raptors are fully healthy and could challenge New York's elites. Instead, I'll push Amen Thompson ($8,600), Pascal Siakam ($8,500) and Josh Giddey ($8,200) as my favorite options in this tier.
Expected Chalk and Mid-Range Options
Brandon Ingram, TOR ($7,700) vs. NYK
Ingram's 31-point effort in a recent matchup against the Knicks stands out as a good metric in his favor tonight. Aside from the center position, the Raptors have everyone back, and they're one of the best teams in the East when 100 percent healthy. Ingram should benefit from the increased synergy and hopefully keep his shot volume up in this home matchup.
Brandon Miller, CHA ($7,700) @ MEM
Miller continues to put up huge stat lines, and with Morant out, the Grizzlies will be short-handed in the backcourt. Miller is slightly cheaper than LaMelo Ball but has arguably more upside at present. Miller will hold one of my highest exposure percentages tonight.
Desmond Bane, ORL ($7,200) @ MIA
Bane has let me down on occasion, but he had one of his best games of the season with a 37-point performance against Miami. The Heat should have most of its probable players returning, but the lineup isn't much different from what Bane faced in his explosive outing. The salary is above the FanDuel median, but I'll take it.
Jaden McDaniels, MIN ($6,700) @ DAL
I could go with any number of Timberwolves in this matchup, but McDaniels' salary and positive correlation to an Edwards absence compel me to mention him first. Rudy Gobert ($6,800) or Julius Randle ($8,200) are also in play, although I'm not as fond of Randle's salary. We already mentioned Reid, and he should also see a full complement of minutes in this game.
Brandin Podziemski, GSW ($6,300) @ UTA
I believe that Podziemski will be the best beneficiary amid Jimmy Butler's season-ending injury, and I'll keep him on my radar while his salary is this low. The Warriors will have Stephen Curry back, which will improve overall offensive efficiency.
Value Plays
Our best bargain options are in the injury section, but here are two sub-$6k plays to consider.
Jalen Smith, CHI ($5,600) @ IND
Smith is a repeat performer in my value section, and his numbers have been featured in a few perfect lineups recently. Indiana's strength is in the frontcourt, but the Bulls are almost fully healthy and have the Pacers outclassed at nearly every position. Smita and his second unit should have an easy time against Indiana's second unit.
Max Christie, DAL ($5,500) vs. MIN
With Flagg's status unclear, Christie could get an enhanced role against the Timberwolves. He's had an excellent run after a two-game absence, destroying 5x value relative to this salary in every contest.
