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You ever have that feeling when you look at your DFS lineup after you put it together and it looks like absolute trash? It's like playing rec basketball and you end up with the nerd, the fat guy, the little kid, and the dude with way too many knee braces. Then you go off and win five straight and ask yourself "how did that happen?"

DFS is very similar. Sometimes you look at your lineup and start Mr. Burns-ing your fingers saying, "excellent" and then you subsequently can't even crack the top half in double up games. Sometimes it's your ugly lineup that gives you success...and we're definitely going to put that strategy to test with what the NBA has rolled out on this 9 game card.

Tonight's Headline Games

Elfrid Payton has risen to $8,000 as he astoundingly aims for his sixth straight triple-double when the Pelicans visit the Magic.

The Sixers had a tough win vs. Charlotte last night but they must turn around right away and host Boston (PHI -3).

The Bulls have allowed 4 C's in perfect lineups the last 30 days. Is a matchup with his old team enough to get the Wizards' Bobby Portis ($5,700) out of a mini-slump?

The Heat / Spurs game might be one to stay away from DFS wise, as you have the #27 and #24 teams in pace going at it.

Guards

Khris Middleton (DK: $6,700 FD: $7,600 Y! $28) Ownership: 10.2%

As expected, Khris Middleton went off on Tuesday for 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists but can you go back to the well with him on a back-to-back (answer = yes). Middleton's big night was partly due to Giannis Antetokounmo being out of the lineup (as well as Malcolm Brogdon) but the Bucks are walking wounded again on Wednesday. Brogdon is out for sure, Antetokounmpo, Pau Gasol, and Ersan Ilyasova are all questionable, so Middleton may have no choice but to get steady minutes yet again. Even on a down night he can still give you 30 fp, especially if the Cavs keep this one close.

Elfrid Payton (DK: $8,000 FD: $9,500 Y! $35) Ownership 28.86%

Right now, Elfrid Payton is like scoring a date with somebody way out of your league. Do you sit back and enjoy the ride - or do you worry and fret about when it's going to end? Payton has logged 5 straight triple-doubles, going for over 50 fantasy points in each game. His price is starting to make it hard to hit value, but we may see the best output yet with Payton up against his former team, the Magic. When the Elfrid Payton triple-double train hits stop 12 in a row - you don't want to say you got off at 5 do you?

Mike Conley (DK: $7,900 FD: $9,000 Y! $34) Ownership 12.87%

Mike Conley is on a nice run with 47+ fantasy points in four of the last five games and there's no reason to think that shouldn't continue today vs. Houston. The Rockets are on a B2B after playing in Atlanta last night and struggle with the PG even when fresh. Trae Young had 21 points and 12 assists vs. the Rockets yesterday and Devin Booker (29/7), Steph Curry (24/5) and Kemba Walker (40/10) have all had 40+ point fantasy nights vs. the Rockets over the past 10 days.

Forwards

Al-Farouq Aminu (DK: $4,300 FD: $4,800 Y!: $13) Ownership 3.78%

Portland's Al-Farouq Aminu is one of those reach plays for Wednesday but he does provide some salary relief with a fair amount of upside. The Trail Blazers host Dallas, who has given up at least 43 fantasy points to four straight PF's. Granted, Julius Randle, Kevin Love, Paul Millsap, and Lamarcus Aldridge all have significantly better offensive games than Aminu but there's got to be at least some concerns with Dirk Nowitzki's defense. Aminu hasn't broken 30 fantasy points since January 26th, but he does have a favorable matchup and CJ McCollum is out for Portland, which should boost those chances.

Danuel House (DK: $3,900 FD: $3,900 Y!: $10) Ownership 7.56%

It will be interesting to see what Danuel House does tonight, as he steps into the starting lineup for Eric Gordon. House has put up three solid fantasy nights in a row (25+) in his return to the Rockets (G-League) and has gotten his shot (11,6, and 12 fga). With the Rockets on the back-to-back and possibly some load management for James Harden and Chris Paul, House should approach a 35 point fantasy night vs. the Grizzlies.

Cedi Osman (DK: $5,700 FD: $6,600 Y! $21) Ownership 12.16%

Kevin Love is another GTD Wednesday vs. the Bucks and if he sits again, it gives great value to Cedi Osman. The Cavs SF has gone for 35+ fantasy points in 4 of the last 5 games and has 38 and 40 fp in his last two home games. Osman has scored 20+ points in back-to-back games, one of which came with Love in the lineup. Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance have both been upgraded to questionable for Cleveland but Osman has proven he deserves court time.

Center

Rudy Gobert (DK: $8,200, FD; $9,800 Y!:$38 ) Ownership 9.78%

Rudy Gobert is an iffy play Wednesday up against Deandre Jordan of the Knicks, but New York has allowed 40+ fp to 3 of the last 5 centers they've faced. Utah also goes to Atlanta on Thursday, so Gobert's production tonight depends a lot on if the Knicks can keep the game competitive. The Jazz big man has grabbed at least 12 rebounds in five straight games and had a nice offensive night with 23 points vs. Brooklyn on Saturday.

Utility Player

Damyean Dotson (DK:$5,200 FD:$5,700 Y!: $21) Ownership 5.3%

Tonight's lineup leaves $5,300 for the utility spot, which is just enough to squeeze in Damyean Dotson of the Knicks. It's all about usage for this guy, as he got put on the shelf for the whole second half vs. Toronto on Monday and finished with just 18 minutes. Today is another blowout potential spot as New York hosts Utah but Dotson had gone for 32+ in four straight games prior to Monday, posting field goal attempts of 20, 19, 16, and 19.

There's definitely some ugliness available in tonight's DFS slate but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if not that, the beer holder. There's a plump 6-game slate coming up Thursday which is plenty of time for a makeover. Until then, check out Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports) on Twitter for more NBA betting talk and DFS news.

Freeroll

The NBA freeroll contests will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on DraftKings:

1st Place: $10 via PayPal

2nd & 3rd Places: Your choice of one-month LineStar Premium, a t-shirt, or a coffee mug

Bonus: If you place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the LineStar Freeroll and you are using the LineStar avatar below, you will receive 2x that prize!

Here's a link for today's freeroll contest.

Please Note - While you may enter the LineStar freeroll as often as you’d like, you can only win each prize 1 time.