3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 3/22/18

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

DraftKings Salary: $9,900

With lots of near-minimum value available on this slate, it shouldn't be too hard to fit in one of Anthony Davis ($11,700) or James Harden ($11,600), who stand out as clearly the top two studs. If Chris Paul ends up sitting, Harden is the preferred cash-game option. If Paul suits up, Davis is the safer play.

Instead of debating Davis versus Harden, let's focus on the secondary studs available today. Finding the right stud from this tier to pair with one of Davis or Harden will be essential in creating successful lineups.

We'll begin with Joel Embiid, whose Philadelphia 76ers have a slate-leading implied total against the Orlando Magic. Embiid comes into this one $1,100 cheaper than he is on FanDuel and on the heels of some unreal play. He had a streak of four-straight 50-burgers going on DraftKings heading into last night's game, but the blowout nature of the contests limited him to just 20 minutes. He was still able to pile up DraftKings points in a hurry, though, finishing with 32.25 in 20 minutes. The limited playing time is great news for tonight, because Embiid should see a full complement of minutes as long as this game remains competitive.

Embiid's first meeting with Orlando this season was a blowout, but he put up 51 DraftKings points in his most-recent matchup with the Magic. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given Orlando's bottom-10 rank against centers this season. They're tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the league's worst rebounding rate and should have no answer for Embiid. He should thrive in this matchup and is a strong play in all formats, if you're fine assuming a little bit of blowout risk.