NBA

NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Wednesday 3/2/22

Thomas Vecchio  —  @Tom_Vecchio1 Mar 2nd, 2022

One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays. If you're looking to roster a stud player or two, you need to consider squeezing in one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at two players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.

Cameron Payne, PG, Phoenix Suns ($4,100)

Tonight, we spell chalk P-A-Y-N-E.

With both Chris Paul and Devin Booker out for the Phoenix Suns, Cameron Payne is going to be one of the chalkiest options in all formats tonight. When those two players are off the court, Payne is holding a solid 29.5% offensive usage rate while producing 1.09 FanDuel points per minute. That shouldn't come as a surprise since Paul and Booker are the main usage leaders normally for the Suns, so when they are out, there's a ton of usage up for grabs.

Payne is set to make his return to the lineup tonight and projected for 25.00 minutes and 29.4 FanDuel points, making him the top overall value option on the slate.

He'll be going up against the Portland Trail Blazers where the total is set at 224.5-points and carries an 11.0-point spread in favor of the home Suns. While the spread may not be ideal, the increased offensive role is very clear for Payne against a weak defense.

Trey Lyles, PF, Sacramento Kings ($3,600)

With Trey Lyles jumping into the starting lineup for the Sacramento Kings, he is a clear value option to target.

Lyles was traded to the Kings just a few weeks ago and had a very modest role in the first games. That all changed in their most recent out, where he was in the starting lineup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing 31 minutes, which was more than he played in the first four games with the Kings combined. He made the most of that opportunity, posting 33.2 FanDuel points in those 31 minutes, an encouraging sign for a player who is only $100 above the minimum salary.

The Kings are taking on the New Orleans Pelicans with a slate-high 233.0-point over/under and a close 6.0-point spread. All of this gives Lyles a solid projection of 25.85 minutes and 23.8 FanDuel points, making him the third-best value option on the entire slate.