FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (12/31/20): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

Happy New Year, everyone. As we close out 2020, we have some great matchups that will take place throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Although the injury-front has been relatively quiet for the most part, there are still a few concerns as Lauri Markkanen may be out with a calf issue. Joel Embiid is also listed on the injury report with a back ailment but he should be good to go against the Magic.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 12/31/20. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel.

You can also check out DraftKings lineup picks and injury news before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers.

FanDuel DFS Guards

Buddy Hield, SG - @ HOU ($5,400)

Hield was a topic of discussion during the offseason after his name came up in rumors and trade discussions. However, he is still in Sacramento and has put together an impressive 2020-2021 campaign thus far.

He has logged over 33 minutes in each of his first four games on the year and has hit at least 24.1 fantasy points three times. Hield should continue to see a generous amount of time on the floor while arguably serving as the team’s No. 2 option on the scoring end behind De’Aaron Fox.

Seth Curry, SG - @ ORL ($4,600)

After the Sixers lost Marco Belinelli and J.J. Redick, the team was desperately in need of a player who could pose a threat on the shooting end. While they did obtain the services of Josh Richardson, his numbers, especially from deep, dwindled from his days in Miami.

After several seasons in the league with six different teams, Curry appears to have found a home in Philadelphia. He is averaging a career-high 13.8 points per game and shooting 45 percent from behind the three-point line. With Doc Rivers leaning heavily on his starting unit so far, look for Curry to get plenty of opportunities to put up a beneficial amount of fantasy points.

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Larry Nance Jr., SF - @ IND ($6,600)

Kevin Love will be sidelined for the next three weeks—at least—due to a right calf straight, which will open the door for Lance to enter the starting unit. While starting for the oft-injured veteran, the 27-year-old has received a noticeable increase in minutes in addition to a small bump in both usage and +/- differential.

While Nance isn’t know to consistently be a force on the scoring end, his defensive prowess and class-cleaning tendencies can usually make up the difference in the games he goes cold. Although his rostering cost is far from the bargain it was on opening night, it is still reasonable when you consider the potential output.

Otto Porter, SF - @ WSH ($4,300)

Fantasy managers have witnessed a considerable drop in Porter’s rostering cost with the emergence of No. 4 overall pick, Patrick Williams. However, with Lauri Markkanen in danger of sitting out Thursday’s matchup against the Wizards, there is a chance the veteran may slide into the starting rotation.

Nonetheless, even if Porter comes off the bench, the generous DFS asking price is low enough for him to hit his value—and possibly beyond—in a fast-paced matchup with Washington. Markannen will test things before tip-off, but if the calf issue causes him to sit, feel free to add Porter to your lineup as he should receive a boost in minutes, usage, and +/- differential.

FanDuel DFS Centers

Andre Dummond, C - @ IND ($10,000)

Fitting Drummond into your lineup is more challenging than ever, primarily due to his $10,000 rostering cost. That price is warranted, nonetheless, as the veteran is playing better now than he has in years.

His resume in 2020 has been impressive. He currently ranks first in the league in rebounds, third in blocks, and second in steals. He has also hit at least 59.3 fantasy points in each of his last three games. As a result, it is strongly recommended fantasy managers figure things out as Drummond has a favorable matchup against Indiana on Thursday.

Mitchell Robinson, C - @ TOR ($5,200)

Robinson appears ready to make the jump for a Knicks team that can desperately use some answers to put them back into the playoff picture. Despite a convincing showing from Nerlens Noel at times during the preseason, Robinson has started all four games for the Knicks this year.

Throughout that span, the third-year big man has racked up over 30 rebounds while also ranking fifth in the league in blocks with eight. Robinson may continue to get around 30 minutes per contest in Tom Thibodeau’s restricted rotation, but that’s more than enough time for him to make a dent on the fantasy end.

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis