X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (12/21/17): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

There are only five games tonight which means I get to be brief. One great thing about tonight is the lack of high-priced options. LeBron James is taking on an easy matchup and the spread is heavily favoring the Cavaliers. With James' price at $12,300, rostering him puts a serious ceiling on the rest of your targets. With all this in mind, I am going to help you find a way to roster King James and help throw out some names to consider along the way.

My big "sleeper" for the day is going to be Ricky Rubio. He had a bad game last night and there is no way the Spurs are putting one of their better defenders in Rubio's face to keep him from lighting it up...chances are the Spurs will let him light it up and shut everyone else down. This game is going to be like a chess match between a seasoned champion and a budding trail blazer. This game will be slow and coached down to the last second, so don't expect a lot of points, but a lot of production from the same few sources.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 12/21/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options, and value plays on FanDuel.

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 30% off using code NEW! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

FanDuel DFS Guards

Tony Parker - PG, @ UTA ($4,200)

I bet you didn't expect this after that whole Rubio spiel but we cannot forget the weak point for the Jazz, whoever Rubio is defending. Rubio has quick hands so this isn't a complete knock on his defense as a whole, but more a knock against his ability to stop guards who can get to the rim easily. Rubio doesn't have the strength to stop someone like Parker from generating in the paint, getting to his floater, all that good stuff that makes Parker a hard player to guard. He might be on the older end but he still produces in DFS given the right situations. Like this one.

Troy Daniels - PG, vs. MEM ($4,800)

I am putting this out there because most people have never heard the name Troy Daniels. Here's a brief history, he played for the Grizzlies last season and had a career-high night last week. He can shoot and is someone I like to categorize under the "emotional shooter" tag. Daniels, like other "emotional shooters" Steph Curry and J.R. Smith have this thing about them. It seems like they hit more in rhythm but highly contested shots, along with making the second or third of a three point barrage. What i'm saying is that Daniels, like other great shooters, tend to show up when it means the more than just a three. This entire game has a "revenge game" label all over it for Daniels so expect him to come out ready to bury the team that buried him with the Suns.

 Dwyane Wade - SG, vs. CHI ($5,400)

What do you know, another revenge game, but this time from Dwyane Wade is more than capable of producing even if he doesn't shoot well. Of most bench players tonight, noone is close to guaranteed production like Wade. We know he is getting the ball as much as he wants and his time of veterans means that shots will fall. With a price that ideal if you want to spend up for James, might as well take Wade as well. Just think, James hits Wade for a three then Wade returns the favor? Thats 10 points in two plays between two players who tend to pass between eachother. (<- fun little tongue twister)

Other DFS Guards to Consider:  Jarrett Jack - PG vs. BOS ($4,900)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Jaylen Brown - SF, @ NY ($5,700)

The Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown are coming off a back-to-back loss to the Miami Heat. Brown did not have a bad game last night, but theres no reason he shouldn't be able to rebound for a much more productive night. The Knicks will not have someone athletic enough to keep up with Brown outside of Courtney Lee, and if Frank Ntilikina given that task, it might be a long night for both of them. Brown is a streaky shooter but get's the hustle stats to make up for it, but if Ntilikina is keeping a hand in his face the entire game, Brown's ceiling is capped. This is a risky play coming off a back-to-back, but also has the potential to be a great mid-range value play because his strengths strongly counter-effect the Knicks defense.

Joe Johnson - SF, vs. SA ($3,900)

Joe Johnson has yet to have a bounce back game, but that doesn't mean he isn't deserving of minutes. Clearly Jazz coach Quin Snyder is willing to give him the opportunities, he just needs to start producing. This is a risky play, but you need to make a note that Johnson is back and close to his full capabilities. He is shooting without hesitation, going after every rebounds, and bringing his usual playmaking to the Jazz rotation. It is going to take away from the stats of players like Rodney Hood and Thabo Sefalosha, but luckily this about Johnson being a value play and hitting from deep against the Spurs.

Josh Jackson - SF vs. MEM ($4,300)

Accidentally keeping it going with the double J's, Josh Jackson is hard not to play as long as Devin Booker is out. His shot is still finding his range but his ability to get shots off has been promising. He will tag-teaming the offensive load every night with the rest of the Suns, but Jackson is physically the most dangerous option they have. He plays defense and has the length to convert easy buckets. Memphis still plays a slow pace, but combine that with the fastest pace in the league and you have a recipe for something. I don't know what, but it is certainly a concoction of some sort.

Daniel Theis - PF @ NY ($3,500)

One of the Celtics core "glue guys," (that makes sense right?) Daniel Theis has been doing the dirty work every night and it honestly looks like he enjoys it. It isn't glamorous or fancy but Thies doesn't look like that fancy of a guy. He eats up boards, sets hard picks, and likes to bump around in the paint. Because of his total lack of concern for stats and fantasy players, his performances do not always turn up promising results. That being said, his minutes are guaranteed and he is always good for some rebounds. The Knicks frontcourt is splotchy when it comes to interior defense so expect Enes Kanter and Daniel Thies to be locking in on every rebound possible.

Other DFS Forwards to Consider: Bobby Portis - PF @ CLE ($5,000)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Al Horford - C, @ NY ($7,600)

Al Horford does to much for the Celtics not to be played in a matchup like this. The Knicks may have solid stats against opposing centers, but stats also cannot account for Horford being a stretch center with a knack for hitting perimeter shots. His ability to stretch defenses will be evident tonight and he has increased upside for assists. The Celtics might be tired on the second night of a back-to-back, but if Horford plays, he'll have a good game. The team works around him so his floor is always high and his ceiling is ever-extending. Horford is on triple-double watch starting.....now.

Other DFS Centers to Consider:  Kevin Love - C vs. CHI ($8,000)

 

NBA DFS News & Injury Alerts





POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jacksonville Jaguars6 hours ago

Jaguars Hire James Gladstone As New General Manager
Donald Parham Jr.7 hours ago

Steelers Sign Donald Parham Jr. To One-Year Deal
Philadelphia Eagles7 hours ago

Nolan Smith Has Surgery For Torn Triceps Muscle
George Kittle7 hours ago

Discussing Extension With 49ers
Matthew Stafford7 hours ago

Rams Give Permission To Matthew Stafford's Agent To Talk To Other Teams
Patrick Williams7 hours ago

To Miss At Least Two Weeks
Jarrett Allen7 hours ago

Won't Return On Friday
Fred VanVleet7 hours ago

Nearing Return
Nick Kurtz7 hours ago

Unlikely To Make Opening Day Roster
Josh Giddey7 hours ago

Considered Probable For Saturday
Cole Young7 hours ago

Likely To Begin At Triple-A
Jalen Smith8 hours ago

Unavailable Saturday
Jabari Smith Jr.8 hours ago

Will Come Off The Bench On Friday
Nikola Vučević8 hours ago

Nikola Vucevic Probable For Saturday
Bubba Chandler8 hours ago

Could Break Camp With Big-League Club
DaQuan Jeffries8 hours ago

Remains Out On Saturday
Mike Conley8 hours ago

Back In Action Friday
Mark Williams8 hours ago

Removed From Injury Report
Rudy Gobert8 hours ago

Will Not Play Against Rockets
LaMelo Ball8 hours ago

Expected To Play On Saturday
Anthony Edwards8 hours ago

Good To Go Friday
St. Louis Cardinals8 hours ago

Drew Rom Shut Down From Throwing
Ayo Dosunmu8 hours ago

Questionable To Play On Saturday
Aaron Gordon8 hours ago

Labeled As Probable For Saturday
JoJo Romero8 hours ago

Throws Live Batting Practice
Jamal Murray8 hours ago

Likely To Play Against Lakers
Jarred Vanderbilt9 hours ago

Available On Saturday
Erik Swanson9 hours ago

Throws Off The Mound
LeBron James9 hours ago

Considered Probable For Saturday
Evan Sisk9 hours ago

Dealing With Illness
Nikola Jović9 hours ago

Nikola Jovic Active Against Raptors
Dwight Powell9 hours ago

Remains Out Against Pelicans
Travis Jankowski9 hours ago

Signs Contract With Cubs
P.J. Washington9 hours ago

Available Friday
Jacob Misiorowski10 hours ago

Is One To Watch
Kyle Teel10 hours ago

On The Cusp Of The Big Leagues
Aaron Schunk10 hours ago

Outrighted To Triple-A
Ernie Clement11 hours ago

Expected To Open The Year At Third Base
Ricky Tiedemann11 hours ago

Encouraged With His Progress
Brett Baty11 hours ago

Getting Work At Shortstop
CJ Abrams11 hours ago

To Stick In Leadoff Spot
Chase Hampton11 hours ago

Has Tommy John Surgery
Akil Baddoo11 hours ago

Undergoes Hand Surgery
Mike Clevinger11 hours ago

Could Pitch In Relief Role
Skyy Moore12 hours ago

Could Be Salary Cap Casualty
Luis Garcia12 hours ago

Throws Bullpen Session
Arizona Cardinals12 hours ago

Cardinals Plan To Be Active In Free Agency
JT Brubaker12 hours ago

Exits After Getting Hit By Comebacker
Adrian Del Castillo12 hours ago

Dealing With Arm Fatigue
Carolina Panthers12 hours ago

Panthers Release Dane Jackson
New Orleans Saints12 hours ago

Saints Officially Hire Brandon Staley As Defensive Coordinator
Aaron Rodgers12 hours ago

Looking To Join A Contender
Gerald Everett12 hours ago

Bears Releasing Gerald Everett
Henry Cejudo16 hours ago

Set For Bantamweight Clash
Song Yadong16 hours ago

Faces A Legend At UFC Seattle
Anthony Hernandez16 hours ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brendan Allen17 hours ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Jean Matsumoto17 hours ago

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Rob Font17 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Seattle
Melsik Baghdasaryan17 hours ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Christian Kirk17 hours ago

Jaguars To Cut Christian Kirk?
Jean Silva17 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Seattle
Indianapolis Colts17 hours ago

Colts Likely To Go In Another Direction With Braden Smith
Alonzo Menifield17 hours ago

Opens Up UFC Seattle Main Card
Julius Walker18 hours ago

Makes His UFC Debut
Houston Texans18 hours ago

Denico Autry An Obvious Cut Candidate
Detroit Lions18 hours ago

Lions May Be Forced To Cut Za'Darius Smith
Denver Broncos18 hours ago

Alex Singleton Could Be Let Go This Offseason
Dallas Cowboys18 hours ago

Donovan Wilson A Potential Salary Cap Casualty?
Cleveland Browns18 hours ago

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo A Cut Candidate
Cincinnati Bengals18 hours ago

Sheldon Rankins Likely To Be Let Go
New England Patriots1 day ago

Patriots Re-Sign Ben Brown, Demontrey Jacobs
Cleveland Browns1 day ago

Dawand Jones Undergoes Knee Surgery
Jeremy Lauzon1 day ago

Ruled Out For Rest Of Season
Kyle Connor1 day ago

Scratched On Thursday
Josh Morrissey1 day ago

Will Not Play On Thursday
Igor Shesterkin1 day ago

May Be Available Against Sabres
Bryan Rust1 day ago

Ready To Return To Penguins Lineup
Evgeni Malkin1 day ago

On Track To Return Saturday
Seth Jarvis1 day ago

Rejoins Canada's Lineup Thursday
Brady Tkachuk1 day ago

Good To Go Thursday
Jared Spurgeon2 days ago

Battling Illness
Nico Hischier2 days ago

Targeting Saturday Return
Thatcher Demko2 days ago

Deemed Week-To-Week
Kirill Marchenko2 days ago

Could Return On Saturday
Adam Lowry2 days ago

Set To Return On Saturday
Charlie McAvoy2 days ago

Develops Shoulder Infection
PGA3 days ago

Kris Ventura A Strong Value Pick At The Mexican Open
Sam Ryder3 days ago

A Player To Watch At The Mexican Open
Aldrich Potgieter3 days ago

An Intriguing Option At The Mexican Open
Mac Meissner3 days ago

Looking To Regain Form At The Mexican Open
PGA3 days ago

K.H. Lee A Player To Avoid At The Mexican Open
Stephan Jaeger3 days ago

Aims For Consistency At Mexican Open
Nicolai Hojgaard3 days ago

Poised For Strong Performance At Mexican Open
Joel Dahmen3 days ago

Difficult To Trust At Mexican Open
Michael Thorbjornsen3 days ago

Looks To Get Things Going In The Right Direction At Mexico Open
Davis Riley3 days ago

An Unlikely Candidate For Success At Mexico Open
Luke List3 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At Mexican Open
Carson Young3 days ago

A Volatile Option At Mexican Open
Ryan Fox3 days ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Play At Mexican Open
Alex Smalley3 days ago

A Solid Play At Mexican Open
Kevin Yu3 days ago

A Risky Play With Upside At Mexican Open
Taylor Moore3 days ago

An Intriguing Option At Mexican Open
Rasmus Hojgaard3 days ago

Eyeing A Major Bounce-Back At Mexican Open
Michael Kim3 days ago

Looks To Keep Momentum Going At Mexican Open
Sam Stevens3 days ago

Continues His Excellent 2025 Season At Genesis Invitational
Patrick Rodgers3 days ago

Finishes Tied For Third At Genesis Invitational
Thorbjorn Olesen3 days ago

Makes First PGA Tour Start In 2025 At Mexico Open
Nathan MacKinnon4 days ago

Pots Two Goals In Monday's Win
Sam Reinhart4 days ago

Dishes Out Three Assists Against Finland
Lucas Raymond4 days ago

Tries To Extend Point Streak Against USA
William Byron4 days ago

Trusts His Instinct To Win Second Straight Daytona 500
Jake Guentzel4 days ago

Looks To Extend Multi-Point Streak Monday
Jimmie Johnson4 days ago

Has Unexpected Emotions After Podium Finish At Daytona 500
Jake Oettinger4 days ago

Starts Against Sweden
John Hunter Nemechek4 days ago

Gets First Career Top-Five Finish At Daytona 500
Jake Sanderson4 days ago

Slots Into Team USA Lineup
Matthew Tkachuk4 days ago

Ruled Out Monday
Gregory Rodrigues5 days ago

Gets TKO'd At UFC Vegas 102
Jared Cannonier5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Nazim Sadykhov5 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Ismael Bonfim5 days ago

Suffers Fifth Career Loss At UFC Vegas 102
Rodolfo Vieira5 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 102
Andre Petroski5 days ago

Extends His Win Streak
Ryan Blaney5 days ago

Strong Daytona 500 Performance Falls Short Of Victory
Kyle Larson5 days ago

Continues To Struggle At Daytona After Underwhelming Result
Chase Briscoe5 days ago

Scores First Top-Five Finish With Joe Gibbs Racing At Daytona 500
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

Quietly Finishes The Daytona 500 As The Runner-Up
Ross Chastain5 days ago

Daytona 500 Effort Ends In An Early Crash
Connor Matthews5 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 102
Jose Miguel Delgado5 days ago

Jose Delgado Gets Quick Win In Debut At UFC Vegas 102
Dylan Budka5 days ago

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss At UFC Vegas 102
Edmen Shahbazyan5 days ago

Gets Knockout Win At UFC Vegas 102
Calvin Kattar5 days ago

Suffers Fourth Straight Loss At UFC Vegas 102
Denny Hamlin5 days ago

Fights For The Win But Gets Eliminated In Last-Lap Crash
Austin Cindric5 days ago

Has Best Run At Daytona 500 Until Last-Lap Crash
Justin Allgaier5 days ago

Earns First Top-10 Finish Since 2015
Martin Truex Jr5 days ago

.'s Sour Luck Continues With Early Daytona 500 Crash
Helio Castroneves5 days ago

Eliminated From Daytona 500 In Crash With Teammate
Joey Logano6 days ago

May Be A Favorite To Find The Front At Daytona, But What About For DFS?
Denny Hamlin6 days ago

Is Denny Hamlin Worth Rostering For Daytona Lineups?
Chase Elliott6 days ago

Could Chase Elliott Be Worth Rostering At Daytona This Week?
Ryan Blaney6 days ago

Should DFS Players Trust Ryan Blaney This Week At Daytona?
Alex Bowman6 days ago

Will Be One Of The Best DFS Plays Of The Week For Daytona
Brad Keselowski6 days ago

Is A DFS Lock For Daytona Lineups
Ross Chastain6 days ago

Has A Real Shot Of Winning But Should Be Avoided For DFS
Chris Buescher6 days ago

Undervalued For The Win At Daytona
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: Early 2025 Fantasy Football Mock and Draft Takeaways!

Michael F. Florio participated in a way too early 2025 mock draft and is bringing his lessons to you! How did the first two rounds shake out? Where did QBs and TEs go? Are rookies already being pulled up? Florio discusses all of this and many more of his takeaways to get you thinking ahead […]


Dylan Sampson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Dynasty, Rookie Prospects

NFL Combine (2025): NFL Draft Rookies to Watch and Target for Fantasy Football

The 2025 NFL Combine is coming up soon. It's strange to think it happens not long after the Super Bowl, but the league never sleeps. And it's a time of excitement for teams, incoming rookies, and most importantly for us, dynasty fantasy football managers. How every player who attends performs is important, but you should […]


Chuba Hubbard - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Dynasty Fantasy Football: Top NFL Quarterbacks And Running Backs To Target in Drafts (2025)

If you play dynasty fantasy football, then you know how difficult winning a dynasty title is. A lot more goes into it than a standard redraft league. Injuries happen, players disappoint, and finding viable replacements on waivers is a lot harder. Depth becomes very important. Running backs are always in demand in dynasty leagues. We […]


Chase Brown - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Five Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets - 3rd Year Players To Buy

The dynasty fantasy football world is focused on the upcoming class of rookies. Yet, let’s look to the past. The 2024 class was one of the best in recent memory, with Jayden Daniels, Bucky Irving, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey, and Brock Bowers having massive fantasy value as rookies. However, the 2023 class […]


Josh Allen - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team, PPR, Superflex Dynasty Leagues (2025)

Are you looking to take part in a start-up Superflex dynasty fantasy football league? Know that quarterbacks are kings but those early selections push the best running backs and receivers down the board, allowing a wide variety of drafting strategies. Today, we're going to do a two-round mock draft. It's a 12-team, full PPR, Superflex, […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football NFL Wide Receiver Age Cliff: When Should You Fade Aging WR Veterans?

The age cliff comes for all players, but importantly, what age it arrives is very dependent on the position played. While running backs rely heavily on raw athleticism and explosive bursts, wide receivers can also win with nuance and subtlety in their games. Naturally, this would lead you to believe that the age cliff for […]


Matthew Stafford - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

The Quarterback Age Cliff: When Should You Fade Aging Fantasy Veterans?

No human on earth can avoid the aging process. For athletes, especially those in the NFL, one of the most competitive sports leagues on earth, we get to see it play out in real-time and how it affects different position groups differently. The most famous position group is obviously quarterback. Part of the reason QBs […]


Shedeur Sanders - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Quarterback Rankings - Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers, Will Howard, Dillon Gabriel

Rookie draft season in fantasy football is almost here, and while the 2025 quarterback class isn't necessarily loaded, there are a few signal callers who have significant upside. To help your rookie draft efforts, our NFL team has released its early 2025 fantasy football rookie quarterback rankings before the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. Navigate the […]


Tyler Warren - College Football Rankings - NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Tight End Rankings - Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, Elijah Arroyo, Harold Fannin Jr., Mason Taylor, Gunnar Helm, more

A handful of rookie tight ends have had productive seasons over the last few years, and the 2025 group of rookie TEs is promising at this point in the pre-draft process. To help you prepare for your rookie drafts, our NFL team has released its early 2025 fantasy football rookie tight end rankings before the […]


Jaxson Dart - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Draft QB Prospect Comparisons: Which 2025 Rookies Resemble Today’s Fantasy Stars?

It never hurts to compare the best college prospects at each position to pro players who are similar in many respects. Unfortunately, it might not be the most useful thing to do in a weak quarterback class, but I'll try my best either way. There is one gem that's being underrated, though, and he'll be […]


Marvin Mims Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football: Top Wide Receiver (WR) Sleepers For 2025

Wide receivers are in high demand in dynasty fantasy football leagues. They come off draft boards early and can be difficult to acquire in trades. Even with many pass-catchers available, values and sleepers still exist in this position. Identifying a few can give you a nice advantage over the rest of your league. They might […]


Travis Hunter - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Draft Prospects, NFL Rookies

Early 2025 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers and Draft Targets

As any manager in an IDP league can tell you, adding defensive players to a fantasy draft changes the math. IDP formats not only require wider knowledge of league-wide rosters, it asks managers to create value systems like the real NFL Draft.  Managers having wildly different value systems are often part of the fun. Is […]


Shedeur Sanders - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Fantasy Football QB Rookie Rankings (Pre-NFL Draft) - Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxon Dart, and more

It's time to get excited. The NFL Combine is just weeks away; the NFL Draft will be here before we know it. Even rookie fantasy drafts have been slowly popping up all over the place. If you have a draft coming up or you're looking for some additional information about a player your favorite team […]