Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter/X & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

_{Terms: Must be 18+ (some states may require 21+) and be present in an eligible state; if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.}

NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Tyler Wiemann

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

We’ve got a busy midweek slate on tap, with nine games on both DraftKings and FanDuel this Wednesday. There are no late West Coast games, so every matchup tips off within roughly a 90-minute window. Translation: injury news, starting lineups, and late-breaking updates are all going to hit fast. Be ready!

It’s a fairly balanced slate across the board -- a mix of competitive games, a few heavier spreads, and several totals hovering in that mid-230s range. As usual this season, the injury report is loaded with impactful names. And a couple of teams (Portland and Chicago) are dealing with particularly impactful questionable lists.

With all nine games clustered early and so many questionable tags floating around, expect value to open quickly as news drops -- and be prepared to adjust on the fly. Let’s dive in. Best of luck!

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Today’s Key Injuries 🚑

^{Note: NBA injury reports can be fickle and often update throughout the day. Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}

^{Additional Note: Players who have yet to play this season will be excluded from the injury report, unless they have either a probable, questionable, or doubtful injury designation, with some amount of chance to make their season debut. Injured players who have been out for an extended period of time and/or are not expected to play for a month-plus will also be excluded.}

• Spurs: V. Wembanyama - OUT, S. Castle - OUT

• Magic: P. Banchero - OUT

• Trailblazers: D. Avdija - Questionable, J. Holiday - OUT, D. Clingan - Questionable, R. Williams - OUT, K. Murray - Questionable

• Cavs: J. Allen - OUT, L. Ball - Probable, S. Merrill - OUT, L. Nance Jr. - OUT

• Nuggets: N. Jokic - Probable, J. Murray - Questionable, A. Gordon - OUT, C. Braun - OUT, J. Strawther - OUT

• Pacers: A. Nesmith - OUT, Q. Jackson - OUT

• Clippers: B. Bogdanovic - OUT, D. Jones Jr. - OUT, J. Miller - Questionable, C. Paul - OUT (waived)

• Hawks: T. Young - OUT, K. Porzingis - OUT

• Hornets: L. Ball - Probable, B. Miller - OUT, T. Mann - OUT, P. Connaughton - OUT

• Knicks: OG Anunoby - OUT, L. Shamet - OUT, M. Robinson - OUT

• Nets: C. Thomas - OUT, T. Mann - OUT

• Bulls: C. White - OUT, T. Jones - Questionable, K. Huerter - OUT, J. Smith - Questionable, P. Williams - Probable, I. Okoro - Doubtful, J. Phillips - Probable, Z. Collins - Questionable (would be season debut), D. Terry - Questionable, L. Olbrich - Probable

• Kings: D. Sabonis - OUT, D. Schroder - Questionable, M. Monk - Probable

• Rockets: T. Eason - OUT, S. Adams - Questionable

• Pistons: D. Robinson - Questionable

• Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo - Probable, K. Porter Jr. - Questionable, B. Portis - Questionable, G. Harris - Questionable

• Heat: N. Powell - OUT, P. Larsson - Questionable

• Mavs: PJ Washington - Questionable, D. Gafford - Questionable, D. Lively II - OUT

Top DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Plays

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG James Harden, LAC | DK: $9.6k, FD: $9.8k | at ATL

Harden has been one of the few stable pieces for the Clippers in an otherwise awful start to the season, averaging 26.9 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 boards per game, which adds up to a stout 1.46 FPPM. His last game was a throwaway performance in a blowout, but prior to that, he had posted strong DFS lines in five of his previous six and continues to carry a heavy offensive workload whenever games stay competitive. This matchup with Atlanta is a good spot for a rebound. The Hawks have struggled to contain guards, ranking 22nd versus opposing backcourts this season. And the last time Harden faced off with the Hawks, about three weeks ago, he smashed for a 35/10/11 triple-double with 72.5 DKFP. The pace isn’t ideal, and this game carries the lowest total on the slate, but Harden’s minutes and usage remain extremely secure, and his ceiling remains one of the strongest at the position. As far as the pace goes, it’s really the Clippers (28th in pace) bringing it down, as Atlanta plays at the 8th-fastest pace, which benefits Clippers DFS options far more than Hawks players. At these price points on both DK and FD, he’s firmly in play as a top-end guard option.

PG/SG Anthony Black, ORL | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.9k | at SAS

Black has become a major spark for the Magic while Paolo Banchero remains out. He has now met or exceeded salary-based expectations in nine straight games, including three consecutive outings with 34.0 DKFP or more. His most recent game was his best yet of the 2025-26 campaign, popping for 42.25 DKFP, and he’s boosted his per-minute production to 1.13 FPPM over his last five. With his role settling into roughly 30 minutes per night, the floor has become much safer, and the ceiling is steadily rising. Until Banchero returns, Black should continue to see elevated usage and playmaking chances. At first glance, the matchup doesn’t look great, as the Spurs have been stout against reserves/bench players. But, in a more recent sample size, the Spurs have ranked 27th versus bench guards over their last five games. In the sub-$6k range on both DK and FD, he remains a strong mid-range option.

PG Ryan Nembhard, DAL | DK: $4.4k, FD: $4.6k | vs. MIA

Ryan Nembhard has stepped into the Mavericks’ starting point guard role and has immediately injected some life into their offense. His last outing was easily the best game of his young career, as he torched the Nuggets’ defense for 28 points on an absurd 12-of-14 shooting while dishing out 10 assists without a single turnover. That outing pushed him over the 50 DKFP mark, and it’s the type of performance that keeps a player locked into the starting lineup, especially when that team is 7-15 and looking for answers. He’s projected for around 30 minutes tonight, and Nembhard has produced 1.06 FPPM on the year, which is a strong rate for someone out of this salary range. Nembhard won’t match the same shooting efficiency that he displayed a couple of nights ago, but the combination of minutes, ball-handling responsibility, and his ability to contribute across multiple categories gives him a very attainable path to beating value again. The younger Nembhard brother will be a popular option today, but for good reason. Starting point guards playing ~30 minutes at these salaries rarely come around, and he remains one of the most straightforward values on the slate.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Cade Cunningham, DET at MIL

PG Josh Giddey, CHI vs. BKN

PG De’Aaron Fox, SAS at ORL

SG Desmond Bane, ORL vs. SAS

PG/SG Tyler Herro, MIA at DAL

PG Jalen Suggs, ORL vs. SAS

SG Cooper Flagg, DAL vs. MIA

SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ATL vs. LAC

PG/SG Shaedon Sharpe, POR at CLE (Boost if Avdija is out)

PG Kevin Porter Jr., MIL vs. DET (Currently questionable)

PG/SG Reed Sheppard, HOU vs. SAC

PG Davion Mitchell, MIA at DAL

PG Egor Demin, BKN at CHI

PG TJ McConnell, IND vs. DEN

SG/SF Drake Powell, BKN at CHI

PG Dru Smith, MIA at DAL

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF Anthony Davis, DAL | DK: $8.8k, FD: $10.4k | vs. MIA

Anthony Davis has looked like his old self when he’s actually been on the floor. Of course, availability has been the main issue -- he’s appeared in only seven games for Dallas this season -- but when he suits up, the production has been elite. He’s averaging a massive 1.56 FPPM and just reminded everyone of his ceiling with a 32-point, 13-rebound double-double for 62.75 DKFP in an upset win over Denver, logging 32.4 minutes in the process. He projects to land right around that 31-minute mark again tonight, and that makes his $8,800 DraftKings tag stand out in a big way. That price is simply too low for someone producing at this level when healthy. The FanDuel number ($10,400) is much less forgiving, but on DK in particular, AD is one of the best high-upside spends on the slate and carries true 60-plus FP potential again tonight. This matchup is a good one -- both teams rank top-six in pace (MIA: 1st, DAL: 6th), there’s a hefty 239.5 over/under pinned here, and the spread (DAL +5.5) isn’t too wide. The Heat have also struggled against opposing bigs this season, ranking 24th in DvP versus centers and 25th versus power forwards. So, whether he plays the four or the five, AD will be in an advantageous spot. We just have to hope he doesn’t exit the game in the first quarter with a hangnail or scraped knee.

SF Michael Porter Jr., BKN | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.2k | at CHI

After a two-game absence, Porter returned to the Nets’ lineup in the last game and immediately picked up where he left off, dropping 35 points and finishing with 56.25 DKFP in a win over Charlotte. He carried a strong 32.3% usage rate in that game, and with Cam Thomas still out, MPJ continues to operate as Brooklyn’s primary scoring option. That’s helped push him to career highs in both usage and scoring this season, and he’s only gotten more assertive as his role has grown. He’s averaged an impressive 1.28 FPPM on the year and projects for around 34 minutes tonight in what sets up as a favorable matchup. The Bulls (2nd in pace) represent an enormous pace-up boost for the Nets (29th in pace), and Chicago also ranks 25th in DvP versus starting forwards. Realistically, Porter should be around a $9,000 price point, so we’ll keep rolling with him at his current low/mid-$8k salaries.

SF/PF Jerami Grant, POR | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.2k | at CLE

Grant looks a bit underpriced on both sites, especially given the kind of ceiling he’s flashed recently. He’s popped for 48.5+ DKFP in two of his past seven games, and there simply aren’t many players in this salary range who can match that kind of upside. The floor also hasn’t been too bad, as he’s posted 32.8+ DKFP in five of his last eight … but there is still some volatility there. Portland’s injury report is one to keep a very close eye on. The Blazers are on the second half of a back-to-back, and both Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan enter the day questionable. If either sits -- and especially if Avdija is ruled out -- Grant would take on an even larger offensive role. The Cavs check in at 24th versus starting power forwards over their last 10 games, and we’ve got a slate-high 240.5 over/under in this one. With his ability to contribute points, rebounds, and defensive stats, and with his path to extra usage potentially widening pending injury news, Grant profiles as one of the more appealing forward options in this range.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. DET

PF Deni Avdija, POR at CLE (Currently questionable)

PF/C Evan Mobley, CLE vs. POR

SF/SG Kevin Durant, HOU vs. SAC

SF Kawhi Leonard, LAC at ATL

SF/SG Josh Hart, NYK vs. CHA

SF Mikal Bridges, NYK vs. CHA

PF Andrew Wiggins, MIA at DAL

SF/SG Ayo Dosunmu, CHI vs. BKN

SF/SG Jaylon Tyson, CLE vs. POR

PF Noah Clowney, BKN at CHI

SF Toumani Camara, POR at CLE (Boost if Avdija is out)

SF/PF Jarace Walker, IND vs. DEN

SF/PF Spencer Jones, DEN at IND

PF/C Danny Wold, BKN at CHI

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nic Claxton, BKN | DK: $6.4k, FD: $6.8k | at CHI

Unless you’re paying the premium for Joker (DK: $13.4k, FD: $12.8k), you can likely get away with saving some salary at center today. Claxton is a fairly volatile option, but he is in a nice spot as a mid-range alternative who still carries real upside. He isn’t priced like a true stud, but he’s shown the ability to deliver stud-level games, topping 41 DKFP in two of his last six, and he has multiple 50+ DKFP explosion games this season. He’s sitting at a solid 1.06 FPPM on the year, and with around 32 projected minutes, that’s enough runway for him to pay off these mid-$6k price tags. The matchup also works heavily in his favor. Chicago plays at an extremely fast pace and has had trouble containing opposing centers all season -- they check in at 29th in DvP versus starting centers and have allowed a huge 1.41 FPPM to the position. The Bulls have given up the most PPG in the paint (55.9) and are a subpar 19th in Rebounding%. They’ve also allowed the most blocks per game (6.4), including 10.3 blocks/gm over their last three. Claxton isn’t a premier rim protector, but don’t be surprised if he picks up multiple shot rejections tonight.

C Goga Bitadze, ORL | DK: $3.5k, FD: $4.2k | vs. SAS

We don’t have a “Marvin Bagley III free square” like last night, but if you need a cheap center to throw a dart at, Goga Bitadze is one of the better options available. He’s only projected for around 17 minutes this evening, but he’s been clearing value under a similar minutes load in most recent games, supplying at least 22.8 DKFP in four of his last five while averaging 17.4 minutes during that stretch. Bitadze has long been a strong per-minute producer, sitting at 1.14 FPPM on the season and bumping that up to 1.33 FPPM over his last five. The floor is still low given the limited playing time, but at these price points, he’s unlikely to burn you and carries legitimate 6x-8x upside.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Jokic, DEN at IND

PF/C Alperen Sengun, HOU vs. SAC

C Ivica Zubac, LAC at ATL

C Bam Adebayo, MIA at DAL

C Onyeka Okongwu, ATL vs. LAC

C Moussa Diabate, CHA at NYK

C Hansen Yang, POR at CLE (Major boost if Clingan is out)

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we have rolled out Props AI for NBA – available for LineStar Premium users! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks, UnderDog Fantasy, and other prop apps/sites!

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter/X or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!