3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Wednesday 5/12/21

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 in one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at three players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup

Nicolas Claxton, PF, Brooklyn Nets ($3,500)

The Brooklyn Nets' injury situation is a bit of a mess tonight.

Last night, Kyrie Irving left the game early due to a facial contusion and didn't return, putting his status in question tonight. James Harden is a game-time decision tonight, while we wait on word if Kevin Durant will play on the second night of a back-to-back. To say there are some questions to be answered is an understatement and it can lead to plenty of minutes for some value players. One of which could be Nicolas Claxton, who has looked solid since returning to the lineup. Claxton could be in for an even larger role if Blake Griffin sits out due to injury management, as he's been known to do.

The Nets are hosting the San Antonio Spurs, where the over/under is set at 233 points and a close 3.0-point spread. The Spurs come into this game allowing the 13th-most (54.58) FanDuel points per game to centers, putting Claxton in a good spot. This gives Claxton a projection of 20.14 minutes and 19.3 FanDuel points, making him the third-best value option among power forwards.

Khyri Thomas, SG, Houston Rockets ($4,500)

With 11 players on the injury report, the Houston Rockets offer all kinds of value tonight.

The Rockets have seemingly been out of the playoffs all season and that has led to a number of value options on a nightly basis, notably, Khyri Thomas as of late. He has been with the team for only three games and has played 22, 33, and 29 minutes in that time. Thomas has managed to produce at or above one FanDuel point per minute in all three games and that won't be stopping tonight. He comes projected for 28.39 minutes and 39.9 FanDuel points, making him the top value option on the entire slate.

That may seem high but in the three games this season, Thomas is producing 1.32 FanDuel points per minute on a 24.8% usage rate. Even though the Rockets are 13.5-point underdogs on the road versus the Los Angeles Lakers, Thomas will continue to see plenty of minutes and produce plenty of fantasy points.

James Johnson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans ($4,700)

With Zion Williamson still out for the New Orleans Pelicans, James Johnson will stay in the starting lineup.

Johnson has played 26 minutes or more in each of the last three games and has been in the starting lineup for each of those games. We have also seen Brandon Ingram and Steven Adams miss those three games and when they have all been off the court, Johnson is producing 1.18 FanDuel points per minute on a 19.7% usage rate. The double-digit real points in each of the past three games are noticeable compared to his production when he was coming off the bench and that should help make him one of the chalkier value options tonight.

Johnson comes in projected for 31.24 minutes and 32.2 FanDuel points, making him the second-best value option on the slate.