One of the biggest concerns for NBA fantasy league general managers heading in to the final stretch of the season is the threat of players being rested by their respective teams. You won’t have to worry about that with Stephen Curry, though. He is on track to be named the NBA MVP for the second-consecutive season, but with the Golden State Warriors on a historic pace there is a legitimate chance he sits out at least a handful of games the rest of the way. The best part about DraftKings Daily Fantasy Leagues is that we can pick our optimal rosters everyday without having to worry about a commitment to players that won’t play. Here is some important NBA fantasy advice to consider for Wednesday’s action.
Weak Defense To Target: Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have lost nine straight and the fact that they don’t actually mind being terrible again this year is a big reason why they own the 26th ranked scoring defense in the NBA. Philadelphia’s defense is worth targeting most nights, but Wednesday provides a unique opportunity with some strong value options to choose from when the Charlotte Hornets visit. Kemba Walker is the obvious NBA fantasy stud from the Hornets, but his production has slowed a bit recently and he is also the most expensive option on their roster. Marvin Williams has averaged 17.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.3 three-point shots, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game over the last week of action and is a strong value option. Meanwhile, Jeremy Lin has averaged 10.7 points, 2.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 three-point shot per game over the same span and could be another sleeper option matched up against the 76ers’ defense.
Player Who’s Hot Right Now: James Harden, Houston Rockets
One NBA fantasy superstar that has not slowed down even a little bit is Houston Rockets’ guard James Harden, who has been on fire of late. Harden has averaged a ridiculous 35.3 points, 5.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 three-point shots and 2.3 steals per game over the last seven days and it only makes sense to ride the hot hand. The Rockets are trying to hold on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference so don’t expect Harden to be out of their lineup anytime soon.
Injuries, Rest Create Opportunities For… Kenneth Faried, Doug McDermott
Danilo Gallinari’s latest ankle injury has forced the Nuggets to look elsewhere for scoring and that has really boosted Kenneth Faried’s value of late. Faried has averaged 18.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game over his last two contests and he will be available at a very reasonable price for Wednesday’s favorable home matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Meanwhile, an injury to Jimmy Butler forced the Chicago Bulls’ hand and Doug McDermott is the latest young player to take advantage of the situation. McDermott has averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 three-point shot and 1.0 assist per game over the past seven days and should continue to produce in Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic. As long as Butler is sidelined, McDermott’s minutes are going to make him relevant in NBA fantasy.
Highest Scoring Game Of The Night: OKC @ LAC
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers rank second and sixth respectively in points per game this season so this will should be a dream NBA fantasy matchup. The problem is that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are two of the most expensive players on the board and it might be too risky to trust anybody else on Oklahoma City’s roster for Wednesdays Daily Fantasy Leagues. The better option is to plug in a couple of value plays from the Clippers in JJ Redick and Jeff Green. Redick has averaged 18.3 points, 3.3 three-point shots, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game over the past seven days and is available at a reasonable price. Meanwhile, Green has adjusted well since the move to Los Angeles and his production has really picked up of late. Green has averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 three-point shots, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists per game over the past week and is a sleeper option worth taking a chance on for Wednesday.
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