Bryan Armetta breaks down Wednesday’s nine-game featured NBA slate to find three undervalued players to slot into your lineups.
A Thanksgiving Eve feast is upon us, with nine NBA games to choose from. Star power will be on display tonight, with names such as Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic suiting up. Still, building a winning lineup takes more than just high-priced players.
Which lesser known options should fantasy basketball managers target on Wednesday? Here are three names worth consideration in DFS and season-long formats.
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As of Wednesday morning, a slew of wings are listed as questionable to play tonight in Miami. The statuses of Jaime Jaquez Jr. (hip), Andrew Wiggins (hip), and Nikola Jovic (hip) remain up in the air. If just one of the three sits out, the Heat will need someone to take on a larger role than usual. One name poised for more usage is Pelle Larsson. Through 18 games, the Arizona alum is averaging 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. However, on a team filled with quality wings, playing time can be unpredictable.
With that being said, Larsson has logged 26+ minutes over his previous five outings. He’s tallied at least 21.0 fantasy points in each of those games, despite shooting just 35% from the field during that time. Better shooting could be in store for the Swede, especially against a vulnerable Bucks defense. Milwaukee has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards this season. In addition, Giannis Antetokounmpo (adductor) is questionable to play. Given the amount of uncertainty on both sides, Larsson offers value at his current price.
SG/SF Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies at NOP ($4,500)
Speaking of injury-plagued squads, the Grizzlies are an absolute mess. Embattled guard Ja Morant (calf) is sidelined, along with offseason pickup Ty Jerome (calf). As a result, the back court is wide open in Memphis. One of the few bright spots for this roster is Jaylen Wells. Last season, the second-round pick finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. It’s been a bit more of a struggle this year. Over 18 appearances, Wells has notched 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game to go with a 39% field goal percentage.
Still, opportunity means everything in fantasy basketball. Without Morant, the youngster’s path to 30+ minutes is wide open. It helps that the Grizz will be taking on an even worse club in New Orleans on Wednesday. This season, the Pelicans have allowed the sixth-most points (121.9), tenth-most rebounds (55.3) and seventh-most assists (28.3) to opponents. On Monday, Wells notched 36.8 fantasy points vs. the Nuggets. Against a far weaker group, he could replicate that performance tonight.
C Sandro Mamukelashvili, Toronto Raptors vs. IND ($4,300)
A terrific 13-5 start by the Raptors has put plenty of fans and analysts on notice. Toronto’s success has been made possible in part by its depth, a weakness in recent years. One player that remains largely ignored, especially stateside, is Sandro Mamukelashvili. The Seton Hall alum isn’t your traditional center; he doesn’t offer much as a rim protector. However, his floor-spacing skills are invaluable. This season, Mamu is averaging 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 57% from the field (44% 3PT).
Can Toronto’s backup big maintain 57/44/80 shooting splits for an entire season? Probably not, but the fifth-year pro is a career 36% shooter from beyond the arc; his production isn’t a fluke. Over his last three games, Mamukelashvili is averaging just under 30.0 fantasy points. Regardless, his $4,300 price tag doesn’t reflect this recent production. Tonight’s opponent, the Pacers, are quite vulnerable down low. Indiana has coughed up the fourth-most fantasy points to centers this season. Keeping that in mind, Mamu is worth consideration on Wednesday.