3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 3/2/18

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

DraftKings Salary: $11,800

Russell Westbrook is the most-expensive player on the slate by a wide margin, but it's for good reason. He gets a Phoenix Suns team that was already one of the league's worst against point guards -- and then they added Elfrid Payton, a player Russ has torched. Westbrook averaged a ludicrous 91.6 DraftKings points in two matchups with Payton last year, which brought his average to 84.1 in four games versus Payton over the past two seasons. He put up 69.8 DraftKings points against him in their first meeting this season.

All of those games took place with Payton as a member of the Orlando Magic. While the Magic are by no means a strong defensive team, they also don't provide as positive of a matchup as this Suns squad does. Payton now is the starting point guard for the league's fourth-quickest-paced team, who also just happens to rank dead last in defensive efficiency.

No player stands to benefit from uptempo matchups more than Westbrook, who leads the league in both fast-break opportunities and points scored in transition. Westbrook put up 61 DraftKings points the first time he faced off with the Suns, and that was without the added bonus of being defended by Payton.

Westbrook's upside is through the roof in this one, with the potential blowout being the only concern. As long as it stays close, he should have no issue reaching the 59 DraftKings points required of him at this salary.