Bryan Armetta breaks down Wednesday’s eight-game featured NBA slate to find three undervalued players to slot into your lineups.
Tonight’s eight-game featured slate is chock full of big names and must-watch matchups. That makes things tricky for those filling out fantasy basketball lineups. For every star on their roster, managers will need to find a few low-cost, high-upside pieces.
With so many teams taking the court, there’s value to be had in DFS formats. Which lesser-known players should you be targeting on Wednesday?
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C Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics vs. WAS ($4,500)
The biggest question for the Celtics this season is down low. Without Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, Boston lacks quality front court contributors. The team’s de facto starting center so far has been Neemias Queta. At 7’0″ and 245 pounds, the big man can be a difficult matchup for undersized opponents. However, his bruising style of play has only resulted in 23.8 fantasy points per game. That’s not a bad mark, but inconsistent minutes makes it difficult to trust the 26-year-old.
Tonight’s contest presents a golden opportunity for Queta to dominate. The Wizards are a mess in most aspects of the game, especially when it comes to stopping big men. No team allows more fantasy points to opposing centers than Washington. In just under 23 minutes played per game, Queta is averaging 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Anything close to a double-double on Wednesday would make Boston’s center a terrific low-cost fantasy basketball option.
PG/SG Tyrese Martin, Brooklyn Nets at IND ($4,200)
The Nets are basketball’s only team that has yet to pick up a win. As a result, head coach Jordi Fernandez has mixed-and-matched his starting lineup frequently in search of a solution. That’s led to plenty of volatility at several positions, none more so than point guard. Rookies Egor Demin ($4,200) and Ben Saraf ($3,400) have both gotten a crack at the starting job. However, neither youngster has made a lasting impression.
For a team desperately searching for a win, Tyrese Martin might be the best option. Through seven games, he’s averaging 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Those aren’t amazing numbers, but they don’t tell the full story. Over his previous four outings, Martin has logged at least 20 minutes. In three of those appearances, he’s notched double-digit points. Tonight, the 26-year-old will get to go up against an injury-depleted Pacers back court. At only $4,200, there’s a decent chance Martin produces another quality stat line.
PF/C Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans at DAL ($3,700)
Eyebrows were raised when the Pelicans surrendered a future first round pick to select Derik Queen in last summer’s NBA Draft. However, it’s easy to see why New Orleans fell in love with the big man. Few prospects possess his mix of size, strength, and playmaking ability. So far, the team has been reluctant to give the rookie a ton of work. He’s logged more than 20 minutes only twice this season. However, it’s only a matter of time until Queen earns a starting role.
On Tuesday, the Maryland alum dropped 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists (39.0 FPTS). Even more impressive, he did so in just 18 minutes. Queen’s performance should earn him more trust from head coach Willie Green going forward. Wednesday’s matchup against Dallas, without Anthony Davis (calf), appears promising. The Mavericks are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. In addition, they’ve gotten absolutely killed on the boards. Queen doesn’t need to do too much tonight in order to deliver value at his current price tag.