Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: April 12

FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS for Wednesday's Play-In slate.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

April 12, 2023 3:40 PM

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to New Orleans for the second game of Wednesday’s Play-In Tournament.

That Tuesday card was awesome. It’s different watching meaningful games because these elite athletes showcase things we never see. This is a different sport when everyone is playing 100% on every possession. We will have another two teams eliminated here, so let’s get started!

Injury Report

As of 8:30 a.m. ET:

Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
Kenrich Williams (wrist) OUT
Chet Holmgren (foot) OUT
Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
Jose Alvarado (tibia) OUT

Core Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
This first-time All-Star is averaging 50 DK points per game this season, scoring at least 40 DK points in 42 of his last 44 games. Those totals should be easy to reach in this elimination game, with Shai looking at 40 minutes and at least 20 shots. We don’t expect New Orleans to slow him down, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring at least 45 fantasy points in all four of their matchups his year en route to a 55-point average.

Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $9,400 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
The versatile big man scored at least 44 DK points in 10 of his final 12 games, reaching 53 or more fantasy points in six of those. That absurd form should carry over into this elimination game because Siakam might not even come off the floor.

Cash Game Considerations

Brandon Ingram (SF/PF – NOP): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
Ingram has been among the best players in the NBA over the last month. He’s had to step into a more prominent role with Zion Williamson sidelined, scoring at least 37 DK points in his final 14 games. Ingram is also generating a 49-point average in that span, providing 28.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. He’s doing everything for this New Orleans team, and he’ll face a 19th-ranked OKC defense tonight.

Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Vucevic has scored at least 31 DK points in 15 of the final 17 games of the regular season, posting a 38-point average in that span. That’s all you can ask for from a player in this price range, and he’s had success against Toronto all year. Vucevic has at least 34 DK points in all three of their matchups, averaging 40 fantasy points per game.

GPP Targets

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
Valanciunas scored at least 28 DraftKings points in 12 of his final 13 games, averaging 14.9 points and 13.4 rebounds per game in that stretch. That’s brilliant in just 28 minutes of action, and New Orleans needs it with Zion sidelined. Oklahoma City is an outstanding matchup, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Jaylin Williams (C – OKC): $4,300 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
Williams has been starting at center for OKC, and they need him to swallow up 25 minutes to oppose Valanciunas. That’s all the playing time he needs at this price tag, averaging 20 DK points per game across 21 minutes a night over his last 14 games. If he keeps that per-minute rate going in a 25-minute role, Jaylin will be one of the best values on the board.

Value Plays

Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Poeltl has been phenomenal since joining the Raptors. The big man was limited in the final three games of the regular season but had a 37-point average in his first 21 outings in Toronto. The boost in playing time is what made him so valuable, with Poeltl providing some of the best per-minute rates in the NBA. He’s also crushed against Chicago all year, averaging 37 DK points per game in their three matchups.

Jalen Williams (SG/SF – OKC): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
This youngster should get some consideration for Rookie of the Year because he was phenomenal in the final months of the season. Williams had at least 30 DK points in 17 of his final 21 games, totaling a 37-point average in that span. Two of those were against this pitiful Pelicans defense, with Williams scoring 73 combined DraftKings points in those two matchups.

Advantageous Pricing