Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DFS DraftKings Optimal Rankings for Dec. 23
Oftentimes, the higher-priced stars aren't worth their DraftKings salaries. That won't be the case on Wednesday in the NBA.
The New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis ($10,300) is the superstar to tab for DraftKings players on Wednesday. Davis and the Pels host the Portland Trail Blazers. In two games this season, Portland hasn't found an answer for the Unibrow.
Davis is averaging 26.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and a steal in those contests. That stat line has been good for an average of 50 fantasy points per game (FPPG). Portland is allowing 102.7 points per game, so the Pelicans shouldn't have trouble scoring.
With Davis as the team's No. 1 option, that should lead to several prime scoring opportunities. Also, the Blazers are 5-13 on the road, which makes a Pels win more likely. Davis is averaging 23.5 points and 12.9 rebounds per game in victories.
The rebound numbers are plus-3.3 in wins over losses. Expect a huge day for Davis. Here's a breakdown of the top five fantasy producers for Wednesday.
| 1 | Anthony Davis | Portland | 59 | $10,300 |
| 2 | Brandon Knight | Denver | 56 | $7,300 |
| 3 | Russell Westbrook | L.A. Lakers | 53 | $10,400 |
| 4 | Marc Gasol | Washington | 49 | $7,500 |
| 5 | Draymond Green | Utah | 47 | $9,000 |
Brandon Knight ($7,300)
The last two point guards to face the Denver Nuggets averaged 20 points, six assists and eight rebounds against the fledgling squad. With Brandon Knight and the Phoenix Suns hosting the Nuggets on Wednesday night, there's every reason to expect another big game from the No. 1 position.
Knight has already faced the Nuggets twice this season. He's produced 40.5 FPPG in those contests. He hasn't exploded as a fantasy performer since he came away with 50.75 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 13.
Knight's next big game will be on Wednesday night.
Russell Westbrook ($10,400)
You're not going to be able to draft Davis, the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook and respectable players at other positions. This means you'll likely have to determine which guy is in line for the bigger game: Davis or Westbrook.
Davis is the pick here because his game seems the least likely to turn into a blowout. Even though Westbrook and the Thunder are on the road at the Los Angeles Lakers, he and Kevin Durant throttled L.A. 118-78 on December 19 in Oklahoma City.
Westbrook only played 28 minutes in that game and produced just 32.3 fantasy points. The Lakers should be a little tougher at home, but they are so poor defensively that there's a chance the Thunder could pull away again.
We're banking on Westbrook receiving major minutes for three-plus quarters but not as much burn as Davis. Thus, Westbrook is No. 3.
Marc Gasol ($7,500)
The Washington Wizards are consistently out-rebounded, and their defense is pretty bad, too. As a team, the Wizards are minus-4.2 on the glass against their opponents, and they give up 105.5 points per game.
Marc Gasol has already pounded the Wizards on the inside once this season. On December 14, the Memphis Grizzlies big man produced 56 fantasy points with 24 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and a steal.
It was the third-biggest fantasy performance of the year for Gasol. You have to like him to shine again in the second meeting with the Wizards.
Draymond Green ($9,000)
Draymond Green torched the Utah Jazz without even shooting the ball well in the Golden State Warriors' first meeting with them. Despite making just 38 percent from the field—and shooting 0-of-4 from beyond the arc—Green still just missed a triple-double.
He had 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. That was good for 46 fantasy points. Green has been on a tear in December. Through eight games, he's averaging 16.9 points, 10 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
Those numbers are higher than his October and November numbers. He should continue to roll with another strong game against Utah.
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All DraftKings salaries per official website.
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