Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Wednesday's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's Kyle Soppe and Eric Karabell, plus DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Renee Miller -- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
He was a great bargain Tuesday night, and perhaps an even better option on tonight's bigger slate. Tatum was named the starting power forward and performed well in his Boston debut with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. With the horrific injury to Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris being sidelined for the near future, Tatum and young teammate Jaylen Brown should be locked into big minutes. Both players are great DFS options tonight; Tatum is my must-play because he is near minimum salary and small forward eligible, and the stars I want to pay up for are guards and centers. The differential in price between other SF options and Tatum is larger than the probable differential in fantasy scoring tonight, making Tatum an excellent value.
Kyle Soppe -- Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings
So you're telling me I get a nice volume play against the Rockets on the second night of a road back-to-back at this price point? Sign me up. I expect the Rockets to be a bit better on the defensive end of the court this season, but let's not confuse "better" for "good." And with both of these teams ranking in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency last season, look for this to be among the highest point totals on tonight's slate. Hield thrived in the second half of last season when given extended run (15.1 points on 48 percent shooting from the field plus 2.4 3-pointers per game), and the Kings have every reason to trust the 23-year-old with a greater role this season. Hield offers a nice way to get exposure to this game without breaking the bank.
Jim McCormick -- Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
There are some really nice options at point guard, but Lillard is the premier play, given what should be a usage rate above 30 percent with nearly 40 minutes of exposure in a game without fellow elite combo guard CJ McCollum. When possible, we want shares of games that have healthy implied point totals and up-tempo offensive schemes. This game claims both of these coveted elements, setting up Lillard for one of the best outcome spectrums of the entire slate.
Players to fade
Renee Miller -- Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
It being the first big slate of the season, I want to have some exposure to everyone! It's the nature of the beast, I suppose. So while I understand some limited tournament exposure to Davis, he stands out as a player I feel less confident in paying top dollar for in most contests. First, he's on the road in Memphis, where defense is still a priority and strength. Memphis plays at a slow pace, another detriment to power forwards. Finally, he's coming off an illness that leaves him probable for tonight's game. I'm sure he'll play through whatever it is, possibly with no limitations, but I'm fine with taking a more conservative approach and spending on star players with no such question marks on tonight's slate.
Kyle Soppe -- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
I plan on having plenty of Jokic exposure this season, but not for the Nuggets' season opener. I expect there to be some growing pains as he learns to share a frontcourt with Paul Millsap, and facing Utah isn't exactly the best spot to start. Rudy Gobert (NBA leader in blocks and fourth in rebounds last season) looms in the middle to make life difficult, and then there is the pace-of-play factor. You know what the slowest offense in basketball doesn't want to do after losing its top scorer? Play more possessions than it needs to. Utah has ranked dead last in possessions per game in each of the last three seasons, and the departure of Hayward this offseason probably doesn't reverse that trend.
Jim McCormick -- Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
I don't want to get my Process card revoked, but I just don't dig the already elevated pricing on Simmons on DraftKings tonight, especially since it simply puts more demand than I think is realistic for his debut. It's not as if he can't reach value around 30-or-so fantasy points, it's that I think his ceiling is compromised by a lack of shooting and scoring upside. I'd rather have Aaron Gordon or Khris Middleton among forwards in the same pricing tier.
