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We have a big nine game NBA slate to start off our weekend, and there are some very interesting options across the board. There are a number of injuries going around, so this should open up some value plays once we get the starting lineups.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/13/17. I play both cash and GPP, so I will be looking for both players who have consistency, along with value plays that have upside from a favorable match up, or other factors.
If you have any questions or comments, let me know @DFS_Tom on Twitter. Let's get to it.
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DFS Guards to Consider
Kyle Lowry - PG, TOR @ PHO (DK - $8,300)
Lowry is up against the Suns tonight, who are giving up 51 DraftKings points per game to point guards, which is dead last in the league. Anytime the Suns are on the slate, you want to roster players up against them, since they are so weak defensively and play at a high pace. Lowry has a 22% usage rate and averaging 1.12 fantasy points per minute, which has plenty of upside tonight given this match up. He has scored 41 or more DraftKings points in three of his last four games, so a bit of a hot hand, so ride him against this weak defense.
Jonathon Simmons - SG, ORL vs LAC (DK - $6,400)
Simmons is in a spot to see a ton of usage since the Magic are dealing with a ton of injuries, and he is one of their only healthy wing players. In his last game, he put up 47 DraftKings points in 33 minutes, and should be in for much of the same in this game. He is up against the Clippers, who are giving up 45 DraftKings points per game to shooting guards, which is dead last in the league. If all of the injuries stay as they are, Simmons should be one of the chalkier options on the slate tonight.
DFS Forwards to Consider
Paul George - SF, OKC @ IND (DK - $7,700)
If you like a good revenge narrative, then this is the spot for you. Paul George is up against his former team the Pacers, and he is looking like an auto lock tonight. He was traded this past offseason to the Thunder, and as most things with the NBA, it was filled with plenty of off the court drama. I personally love playing players in narratives spots, so I will have a ton of him tonight. First off, he is simply way, way to cheap tonight and that is enough reason to roster a player of his skill, since he has a high ceiling. George has a 27.5% usage rate, and is averaging 1.04 fantasy points per minute, both of which we should see a slight bump in tonight, given the circumstances. He has scored 41 or more DraftKings points in four of his last 10 games, and has seen his price drop $1,200 since 11/25.
Jayson Tatum - PF, BOS vs DEN (DK - $6,100)
With both Horford and Morris already being ruled out for this game, Tatum will get the start as usual, and see a 6% increase in usage. Tatum has impressed as a rookie, but has been a bit inconsistent. He has scored everywhere from 13 DraftKings points to 35 DK points in his last 10. That variance in points certainly isn't great, but with the increased usage he should be in a good spot. He is averaging over one fantasy point per minute with this rotation, and should be able to hit that against the Nuggets who are giving up 50 DraftKings points per game to power forwards, which is fifth worst in the league.
DFS Centers to Consider
DeMarcus Cousins - C, NO vs MIL (DK - $11,000)
With Anthony Davis listed as questionable yet again, the DFS injury circus will be going all day long. So this puts Cousins in a good spot to have a monster game. He has a 39% usage rate when Davis is off the court, and averaging 1.61 fantasy points per minute. He has one of the highest floors out of any DFS player, and a legit 70 points ceiling. He is very expensive, so getting up to his salary, will require finding plenty of savings. He is up against the Bucks who are giving up 55 DraftKings points per game to centers, which is fifth worst in the league.
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