Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Wednesday's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's Kyle Soppe and fantasy basketball experts Jim McCormick and Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Jim McCormick -- Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves
Jimmy's back, y'all. Butler is averaging 22.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.1 steals and 37.4 minutes over the past 11 games after averaging 15.3 PPG in his first 12 starts of the season. He just posted 53.5 fantasy points on DraftKings against the Clippers on Sunday and faces their decimated roster again tonight. The Clippers have allowed 64 fantasy points per game to shooting guards over the past 10 games, most in the NBA. L.A. has also ceded the sixth-most fantasy points to small forwards over this sample, revealing a sublime setup for this resurgent star.
Renee Miller -- Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
Holiday is just one of several Pelicans with increased usage as Anthony Davis continues to miss time with a groin injury. For instance, Holiday has taken 20 or more shots in three of his last five games, scoring an average of 23 PPG in that span. His salary remains reasonable, while his production has been old-school Holiday with ample peripheral stats across the board, too. He gets a top point guard matchup versus Denver in what should be a high-scoring game. With Denver turning the ball over nearly 16 times per game, Holiday could further boost his line with a couple extra steals.
Kyle Soppe -- Thaddeus Young, Indiana Pacers
Young has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in seven of his last 10 games, so if we consider that a production floor, Young is a winning investment tonight against the least-efficient defense in basketball. Young continues to get good shots at the rim (his field goal percentage inside of 8 feet is set to rise for a third straight season) and his defensive tenacity gives you a few sneaky points nightly (multiple steals in five of his last seven games). Do I think Young continues to make 66.7 percent of his shots like he has over his last three games? No. But do I think Chicago is the defense to cool him off? Nope.
Players to fade
Jim McCormick -- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Tatum's highest usage rate over the past 13 games is 14 percent. Usage rate is a measure of the team plays an individual player consumes in the course of a game. This isn't an indictment of Tatum's game; he has been brilliantly efficient and claims an awesome offensive rating of 120 points per 100 possessions when on the court, but I am concerned that a bigger offensive workload earlier in the season has inflated his price too much. The Celtics have a deep and dynamic rotation; thus Tatum doesn't need to carry the offensive load in order to positively contribute. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are 25th in pace for the season and have the fourth-best defensive rating over the past 10 games, so this matchup doesn't appear ideal for Tatum to return value.
Renee Miller -- Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
Everyone is waiting for Porzingis to rejoin the Knicks' starting lineup and it sounds like tonight will be the night. I'm always too cautious with players returning from injury -- if the team thinks he's ready, he's no doubt ready. However, there can be some rust after a week or so away from the game and a matchup with Memphis is hardly a walk in the park for any power forward. The Grizzlies rank best in the league in fantasy points allowed to power forwards (FanDuel scoring). Overall, I'm excited that Porzingis is back, but I won't be paying up for him tonight.
Kyle Soppe -- Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets
Walker (shoulder) missed a pair of games prior to returning to action Monday night and he looked good (29 points and seven assists), but now he faces a tough matchup in the Warriors. I'm sure you've heard that Stephen Curry will miss this game and your instant reaction is probably to think that means a bump for his opposite number, but is that really that case? Shaun Livingston currently grades out as the 11th-best defensive point guard this season and I fully expect his 6-foot-7 frame to give the 6-foot-1 Walker fits. Walker would need to essentially reproduce his performance from Monday night to achieve value tonight, and while that is certainly in the range of outcomes, I'm not spending top dollar on a player whose ceiling I believe to be value.