Wednesday brings six NBA games, and there is no better place to win some money than on Sleeper Fantasy. The slate tips off at 7 p.m. ET in Orlando for 76ers-Magic, with no Joel Embiid. There are three games with totals over 240 points, and the night will close out in Dallas for Cavaliers-Mavericks, with several players questionable, including Donovan Mitchell and Luka Doncic. Let’s start tonight’s card with De’Anthony Melton. Selecting the right projections may be challenging, but with the assistance of OddsShopper’s Sleeper Fantasy NBA Optimizer and thorough research, we have you covered. Let’s dive into the best Sleeper Fantasy NBA picks and player projections for Dec. 27.
Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Predictions: De’Anthony Melton
De’Anthony Melton M/L 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (PRA)
It’s not often I highlight a card with a role player, let alone title the article after him, but here we are. De’Anthony Melton averages just 19.4 PRA on the season but 21.4 on the road. However, without Joel Embiid, he gets a massive 7-point usage bump from 17.4% to 24.4%. This creates lots more shot opportunities.
In the four games without Embiid, Melton is averaging 15.3 field goal attempts and five free-throw attempts, leading to 17.3 points per game, all on just 32.8% shooting from the field. He’s due for some positive regression in the efficiency department, as he is a career 41.1% shooter. For added assurance, OddsShopper’s Positive EV Bets tool shows us that all other operators have this projection at 22.5.
Best Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Prediction: De’Anthony Melton More Than 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
Franz Wagner M/L 5.5 Assists
Sticking with the best tool in the business, OddsShopper tells us the best NBA value on the board right now is Franz Wagner less than assists. Wagner is averaging just 3.6 assists per game at home compared to 5.2 on the road. He’s averaging just seven potential assists in the last two games since having Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs back in the lineup.
As you can see, all other operators have this juiced to the under with odds between -150 and -177. PrizePicks has already dropped this to 5.0.
Best Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Prediction: Franz Wagner Less Than 5.5 Assists
Daniel Gafford M/L 7.5 Rebounds
Another pick with positive EV is Daniel Gafford‘s rebound projection. Most operators have the over juiced between -120 and -130; however, one of the sharper books, Pinnacle, has this at -152. PrizePicks has already bumped this to 8.0, so we are getting good value here.
Gafford is averaging 7.9 rebounds on 15.6 chances this season, and over the last 10 games, he’s grabbed 8.5 rebounds. Toronto ranks 19th in field goal percentage and 27th in 3-point percentage. The Wizards lead the NBA in pace, which should create a few more shots for the Raptors, and if they stay true to their percentages from beyond the arc, we’ll get more rebound opportunities for Gafford.
Best Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Prediction: Daniel Gafford More Than 7.5 Rebounds
