FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Wednesday 12/1/21

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

The Slate and Key Injuries

The Miami Heat infirmary ward is the top situation to monitor of the day again. Jimmy Butler (back) are Bam Adebayo (thumb) are questionable for Wednesday's contest. Miami will get back Tyler Herro (soreness), though; he's listed as probable.

Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for Dallas with an ankle issue. That would be a slight boost to Luka Doncic, but it's hard to trust the replacement bigs behind Porzingis.

The Timberwolves have three players questionable due to flu-like symptoms, but the only needle-mover amongst them is Anthony Edwards. Edwards missing would likely shift more onto Malik Beasley and their other two stars.

Jaylen Brown may sit tonight for Boston as he works back from his hamstring injury. There are no reports of a setback so far, but he's only gotten to 27 minutes, so he may need a maintenance day.

The Orlando Magic are swapping point guards tonight. Cole Anthony returns, but Jalen Suggs will now miss a few weeks with a thumb injury he picked up Monday. Anthony is better, so that's a slight bump to their competitiveness.

Lastly, Cam Reddish is poised for a large role for the Hawks due to other surrounding injuries, but Reddish himself is now a game-time decision with his wrist injury. On the other side of that game, the Pacers might be missing Myles Turner (illness) for a second straight contest. Indiana will also be without Justin Holiday due to COVID-19 protocols.

Guards

Trae Young ($9,400): Finding a high-salaried guard tonight with a floor and ceiling to feel good about is impossible. The tiebreak awarded to Young? I'm going to be in and around this game a lot for value options and injury replacements, and if those players score in a tournament-winning fashion, the Hawks' top option likely has himself a night as well. Young is averaging 1.53 FanDuel points per minute the past week, but despite the recent uptick in production, he's the one Hawks starter that hasn't seen his salary shift dramatically.

Malcolm Brogdon ($7,200): Regardless of Myles Turner's status, Brogdon is a core play. Brogdon eclipsed 35 FanDuel points in three of his four games before Myles Turner exited the lineup, and then the boost in usage Monday allowed him to post 46.7 FanDuel points. His ceiling is assuredly better without Turner, but he's just under-salaried in this spot. The 218.0-point total here is actually the second-highest on the main slate.

Seth Curry ($5,400): I may not even get here personally because there are so many "wing" players with shooting guard eligibility that are better options, but Curry has upside at this salary. He has a workable 20.7% usage the past two weeks, and he's seeing great minutes; he's exceeded 32 minutes in each of his last five games. He's cleared 30 FanDuel points seven times already this season. The return of Joel Embiid has left so many 76ers over-salaried that I can't see myself using another Sixer besides Curry.

Others to Consider:
Luka Doncic ($10,600): Porzingis off the floor has lifted him up 0.05 FanDuel points per minute this season, so his ceiling increases just enough if he sits.
D'Angelo Russell ($7,900): Salary is way too high if Edwards plays considering his floor, but he will see 20-plus shots tonight if Edwards sits. A core play in that event.
Jrue Holiday ($7,500): The massive total in this game makes his salary easier to justify. Eclipsed 40 FanDuel points just 3 times in his last 13 games.
Josh Okogie ($3,800): Saw 33 minutes starting for Patrick Beverley on Monday, and Edwards is questionable. A punt salary seeing starters' minutes.

Wings

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200): With Khris Middleton back, his floor has decreased, but he's still exceeded 59 FanDuel points in four of the seven games. Both Milwaukee and Charlotte are top-five teams in pace, and there's only an 8.5-point spread in this game with a 231.5-point total. It should be a popular one tonight, but most of the salaries were increased on both sides to account for that. The notable exception is Giannis, who's down $400 in salary from last Wednesday. He's a phenomenal one-off stud option.

Caris LeVert ($5,400): I honestly whiffed on LeVert Monday. He had played 26 or fewer minutes in six of his seven contests entering that game, but he spiked to 34 minutes with no Myles Turner. I had no lineups with him, but I should have. LeVert -- through all his flaws -- posted 1.15 FanDuel points per minute a season ago, and in a 30-plus minute role, he's grossly under-salaried in this spot. Brogdon and LeVert are so under-salaried that I have no issues playing both together.

Malik Beasley ($4,300): Beasley might be a better DFS play if Edwards is active for Wednesday's game. He still saw 28 minutes as the sixth man as Josh Okogie started the game, Beasley, though, is the bonafide scorer with upside, whereas Okogie is more of a low-ceiling cash play. He posted 29 points off the bench just one week ago against Miami, and he's capable at what is a salary that doesn't carry many risks. He'll be popular without Edwards, but he's projected well by numberFire even with Edwards still a factor.

Others to Consider:
Paul George ($8,600): I refuse to believe George is just now bad at basketball. Still has a 34.7% usage rate the past two weeks as the clear top option. He should rebound soon.
Chris Duarte ($4,800): Likely starts for Justin Holiday and sees 30-plus minutes. Clearly not the top option in the offense, but over 25 FanDuel points in seven games this season.
Kevin Huerter ($4,800): Locked into a monster minutes load with all the injuries. Low usage and FanDuel points per minute, but a value plug in game stacks.
Marcus Morris ($4,500): Sat Monday for rest, but at least 29 minutes in all games since returning from injury. Too low of a salary for his scoring ceiling.

Bigs

Nikola Jokic ($11,000): The goal of the day is to get to Giannis and Jokic as often as possible. Any salary over $8,000 can't touch the floor and ceiling combination of those two. Jokic returned from his wrist injury to a ho-hum 54.5 FanDuel points in a tough matchup with Miami. Jokic is still averaging 1.90 FanDuel points per minute this season without Michael Porter Jr. on the floor, and that will now not change dramatically until Jamal Murray returns. He will be routinely $12,000 before too long, so get in here while it lasts.

Domantas Sabonis ($8,500): Sabonis, thankfully, pairs fine with Jokic as a forward. He pulled down 25 rebounds on Monday as Turner sat with his illness, and his counting stats likely don't mind if the Pacers' center rests again Wednesday. Sabonis averages 12.67 rebounds per 36 minutes -- and rising -- without Turner on the floor this season, so he's a tremendous bet for another lofty double-double if he sits. Unlike his teammates, he's probably not viable if Turner plays because he's been so volatile in that situation.

PJ Washington ($4,900): Giannis and P.J. Washington are a perfect mini-stack that amounts to just $8,050 on average for the favorites to lead each team in rebounding during the Hornets' high-totaled contest with Bucks. That definitely works. Washington is numberFire's top value of the day despite his dud last game. At 0.96 FanDuel points per minute this season, Washington will not be quiet like Monday if he keeps seeing 30-plus minutes at center. Fade at your own risk.

Others to Consider:
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,800): Salary has dropped wildly and he should see a boost if Edwards sits. The only problem is Jokic is a better option at the pivot.
John Collins ($7,700): Salary is rich, but I'll be stacking this game a lot, and he's the clear second-best option for the Hawks.
Richaun Holmes ($6,700): Returned to a full, 31-minute workload Tuesday. The Clippers are sixth-worst in estimated rebounding, so he can have a monster day on the glass.
Bobby Portis ($6,500): The second-best Milwaukee option, but he needed six threes to hit a 6.00 value score at this salary. His upside could be better.