We have a nice seven game slate tonight, and personally, these are my favorites size slates. There are enough studs and value plays out there where you can build a solid cash or GPP roster. Also we should have some high paced, high scoring games, which means tons of fantasy goodness to go around. So sit back, read up and let's win some contests!
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/12/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have questions, come to the chat room and ask me yourself. I understand the importance of an outside opinion so feel free to come by and talk basketball, @DFS_Tom.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
James Harden - PG, vs BKN ($11,400)
Harden is a great GPP as always and tonight he has a fantastic match up. He is at home vs the Nets who are dead last in the league at guarding point guards, giving up 55 DraftKings points per game. That is shockingly bad and this is premier spot for Harden. Over his last four games, Harden has put up 52 or more DraftKings points. His usage rate is currently 33%, which is fifth in the the league and he on triple double watch almost every night. Great for GPPs, not for cash.
Tyler Johnson - PG, vs WAS ($5,500)
Tyler Johnson is turning out to be an extremely consistent point guard. At only $5,500, he is hitting value nearly every night. He doesn't have a high ceiling, but his floor is super strong, as he has scored 27 or more DraftKings points in five of his last seven games. He could be the definition of a cash point guard over the last two weeks. A lock to get you 25 points, with some potential to inch closer to 30, but not needed since his low price offers you some salary flexibility. He is up against the Wizards who are in the top half of the league in defense vs point guards, but you don't need too much from Johnson to hit value.
Lou Williams - SG, @ SAC ($7,400)
Lou Williams has been on some kind of streak lately. Last Monday, his salary was $5,800, and now it is $7,400. An almost two thousand dollar jump in a week is kinda crazy. But he is putting up the points to back it up. He has put up 48 DraftKings points or more in three of his last four games. Some people would want to get off the bandwagon now since his price has jumped, but he hasn't reached a top tier price and still has good upside. That upside comes from his match up vs the Kings who are giving up 42 DraftKings points per game to shooting guards.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Paul George - SF, vs CHA ($8,300)
Paul George is coming off a season high game off 37 real points. He is often over looked at small forward due to bigger names such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard among others. A lot of the offense for the Pacers runs through George, so he will get plenty of looks. He has scored 40 DraftKings points or more in three of his last four games and is up against the Hornets who give up 43 points per game to small forwards. George could be used in cash or GPPs.
Danilo Gallinari - SF @ DAL ($5,700)
Gallinari is a really solid cash play for tonight. He isn't expensive and is averaging 27 DraftKings points per game. For his price point, he is a really solid option. Gallinari has a strong floor with some decent upside since he likes to shoot threes. His match up vs the Mavericks is good but not great. The Mavs give up 41 points per game to small forwards which is right in the middle of the league. Gallinari has put up 20 or more points in three of his last four games.
DeMarcus Cousins - PF, vs LAL ($10,900)
DeMarcus Cousins is a beast for DFS and he has a great match up vs the Lakers tonight. The Lakers are fourth worst in the league vs power forwards, giving up 48 points per game. Cousins is very expensive, but he is the kind of player you can build your GPP roster around. He did have a bit of a dud in his last game out, but in his previous three, he put up 59 or more points in all three. I really like him in this spot tonight, and you should try to have some exposure to him if you are a GPP player.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Clint Capela - C, VS BKN ($5,300)
Clint Capela might be the cash game center of the night. He is only $5,300, and is up against the Nets who are dead last in the league vs centers, giving up 55 points per game. He has scored 27 or more points in three of his last four games. At his price, all he has to do for you is hit his season average and the value will be there. Capela could be a nice little GPP stack with Harden, since the Nets are so weak defensively. He is also very capable of putting up a double double, which will get you the bonus on DraftKings.
DeAndre Jordan - C, vs POR ($6,500)
DeAndre Jordan might be over looked tonight since there are some big name players and some decent value options. But his match up vs the Trail Blazers should be high scoring and leaves him in a good spot for some points. As I've mentioned before, Jordan doesn't really create his own offense for himself, and is the benefactor of having Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on his team. He does get a bunch of rebounds and easy put backs, which makes him a double double threat almost on a nightly basis. He has scored 28 DraftKings points or more in five straight games. Love him in cash games and has some sneaky upside in GPPs, if he can hit his free throws, but good luck to him on that.
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