5 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Wednesday 4/5/23
One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays.
If you're looking to roster a stud player or two, you need to consider squeezing one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.
Let's take a look at some players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup on FanDuel tonight, using numberFire's daily fantasy basketball projections as a guide.
Tyus Jones, PG, Grizzlies ($5,800)
Santi Aldama, PF/C, Grizzlies ($5,300)
The Grizzlies were the first team to drop the hammer of the 11 on a back-to-back today.
Their injury report lists Ja Morant (hip) and Luke Kennard (ankle) as doubtful, and center Xavier Tillman (ankle) is listed as questionable. This game is all but meaningless for Memphis, who are effectively locked into the West's two seed. It's no surprise to see players resting.
We know the drill when Morant is out. Tyus Jones becomes the ultimate value priority, averaging 36.4 FanDuel points per 36 minutes with Ja off the court this season. That's come on just a 19.4% usage rate, too. His production is incredibly stable.
As for Tillman, there's not a huge incentive to play him, either. It's likely Santi Aldama draws another start just as he did seven days ago, but that one was for Jaren Jackson. Aldama tallied 32.1 FanDuel points in 32 minutes against the Clippers last Wednesday.
These two should be the key value cogs for Memphis with Jackson and Desmond Bane getting bumps amongst the studs.
Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF, Pacers ($5,700)
It's beyond odd to still see Bennedict Mathurin at this salary.
With Tyrese Haliburton on the shelf due to an ankle injury, the Pacers have unleashed their rookie into the starting lineup, and he's eclipsed 32 minutes in each of their last four games. He's topped 30 FanDuel points in three of those, including a 48.8-FanDuel-point outing last Wednesday against Milwaukee.
His scoring upside is just too great for this salary. He's held a 22.4% usage rate in this same stretch, and Buddy Hield -- one of two starters ahead of him -- has been held to 22 minutes or fewer in consecutive contests as the tank is on in Indiana.
Mathurin is an ideal pairing for the massive wave of Knicks value -- above this article's $6,000 cutoff -- due to Jalen Brunson's injury.
Kendrick Nunn, PG, Wizards ($4,500)
Johnny Davis, SG, Wizards ($4,200)
No team in the NBA is bottoming out in this final week quite like the Washington Wizards.
Their entire starting five and sixth man, Delon Wright, are listed as out on Wednesday's injury report. It's forced many of Washington's bench options into huge spots. Daniel Gafford is still amongst a rotation of bigs, so the most reliable options should come from the backcourt.
Johnny Davis should start there. The rookie poured in 43 FanDuel points across 36 minutes last night against Milwaukee, and he's all but a sure bet for that type of role considering he plays during blowouts. Jordan Goodwin will start next to him with a $5,500 salary, but he only logged 28 minutes last night.
In that event, I actually find the upside of Kendrick Nunn a bit more appealing. The veteran only logged 22 off the bench and isn't a part of Washington's future, but he made sure to fill it up when he was out there. Nunn had a team-best 34.8% usage rate during his time on the court.
These two are among a myriad of Wizards to consider with the team's rotation so thin. Anthony Gill, Corey Kispert, Quenton Jackson, Xavier Cooks, and Jay Huff could all see a decent amount of time on the court.
