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 Joe Kaiser, André Snellings, Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe, plus DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Renee Miller -- Tyus Jones, Minnesota Timberwolves
It seems like Jeff Teague is more comfortable giving his sore achilles a couple more days to heal, a smart long-term move for both the point guard and the Wolves. Jones has been filling in admirably over the last three games with around 10 points per game, plus really solid assists and rebounds. He also has 12 steals in those three games, which is worth noting because the Pelicans rank fourth in turnovers per game (16.6 TOV). Overall, New Orleans is the fifth-best PG matchup for fantasy, another reason Jones is a strong value to build around tonight. If Teague does play, and Ben Simmons doesn't, T.J. McConnell is the easy pivot play versus the same Washington Wizards that Jones found success against last night.
André Snellings -- Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
In the last 10 days, Westbrook has been channeling his MVP-level self to the tune of 27.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game. On Wednesday, he faces an Orlando Magic squad that has been terrible against opposing point guards of late, allowing (by far) the most fantasy points to point guards in the last 10 days in both the FanDuel and DraftKings scoring systems.
Kyle Soppe -- Avery Bradley, Detroit Pistons
I don't often roster Bradley, but the number cruncher in me simply cannot resist in this spot. I mean, the man is averaging 32.5 minutes per game in November, and you can roster him at a very average price against the second-least efficient defense in the league. Bradley doesn't need to be all that effective to achieve value given how much time he spends on the court, and that raises his floor to a level I am comfortable with. The ceiling isn't usually all that high for him, but he is shooting a cool 45.6 percent from distance this month, and the Suns rank as a bottom-five defense in terms of covering three-point attempts. Give me Bradley tonight in this price tier that includes microwave scorers like Dion Waiters and Tim Hardaway Jr. who offer next to zero daily stability.
Joe Kaiser -- Larry Nance Jr., Los Angeles Lakers
Nance returned last game and played really well, but his salary remains below $5,500 on both DraftKings and FanDuel in tonight's home game against the Golden State Warriors. The Lakers have played the Warriors well at times in the past, and as long as the game remains close, I expect Nance to see plenty of time on the court. At this salary range, he should have no problem reaching value based on his scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking abilities.
Jim McCormick -- Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks
Despite a reputation for strong perimeter defense, the Heat are actually allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to shooting guards over the past five games and the 13th-most on the season using DraftKings' scoring key. Hardaway is averaging 1.03 DraftKings fantasy points per minute. This isn't such an impressive rate until you consider he's been averaging 36.3 MPG and 16.5 shots over the past eight. The unexpected element that's emerged in Hardaway's fantasy profile is his assist rate, as he's averaged 4.5 APG over the past two weeks while his 15.4 percent assist rate is a career best. A sneakily solid matchup and bankable usage metrics align to make Hardaway a cost-effective option tonight.
Players to fade
Renee Miller -- Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies keep saying they need Gasol to be Gasol, and I'm sure that he will be. He's one of my favorite players, and when he's on and in a good spot, he's in the top half of this column for me. However, he faces a Spurs team tonight that plays equally slow as Memphis, ranks fifth in defensive efficiency and is in the bottom third of the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers. His salary (on FanDuel especially) is at a level where he's exceeded value only a handful of times this season. With so much depth at this position tonight, I'm fading Gasol and his floor in favor of more upside and a higher ROI.
André Snellings -- Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns faces the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, which means that he has to face both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Towns has upside, with two games of 33-plus points against them last season. However, he has also gotten into foul trouble in two of the last four times that he faced Davis, including their only meeting this season, and Towns' floor in those foul-trouble games is incredibly low, as he averaged a mere 5.5 points and 3.5 turnovers in those two contests.
Kyle Soppe -- DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans Pelicans
I'm generally not paying up for Boogie unless the matchup is just right, and I don't like this spot. First of all, Cousins' production has trailed off a bit of late (he has failed to double-double in four of his last six games after double-doubling in 13 of his first 14 games), and his carelessness with the ball is a concern (at least six turnovers in seven of his last nine games and a league-high 105 turnovers this season). But this is as much a product of the matchup as it is of Boogie's recent struggles, as there is simply too much risk to absorb at this price point. I expect Cousins to spend plenty of time opposite Towns, and that puts him at greater risk for foul trouble. Even with a generally ineffective KAT in their first matchup, Cousins was held to nine rebounds and just five made 2-point buckets, and while he managed to produce nice fantasy numbers (he made five 3s, blocked three shots and recorded six steals), those numbers are tough to repeat. I don't think he completely decimates your lineup tonight, but on a full slate, I don't think he is the best allocation of resources.
Joe Kaiser -- Mike James, Phoenix Suns
James came off the bench behind Tyler Ulis in Tuesday's win over the Chicago Bulls, and as long as that recipe leads to victories, we can probably expect to see more of Ulis and less of James. Against the Bulls, Ulis played 31 minutes, and James logged only 17 minutes. For the time being, James, as great of a story as he is this season as a 27-year-old rookie, shouldn't be in your DFS lineup.
Jim McCormick -- Mario Chalmers, Memphis Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs remain a stout defensive team that likes to play at a slower pace. Memphis is 28th in pace, and San Antonio is 29th. Thus, this game has a projected point total of just 194 points, well below the crop of other games on this busy slate. Chalmers has failed to meet value in consecutive starts, and his price appears a bit inflated at this point. For value at point guard, look to T.J. McConnell tonight in a game that promises to be up-tempo, while Chalmers is in a poor spot to return value.
