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DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Monday 12/20
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Point Guard
Lonzo Ball FD - $7700 DK - $7700
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 39.29 DK - 40.85
The Bulls are playing on a back-to-back here but it comes after a week break thanks to health and safety protocols. They looked good in their return to the court yesterday beating the Lakers and Ball was a big part of that win dropping 19 points. For fantasy, the price is going up but he has been consistent averaging 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists while adding some defensive upside with 1.5 blocks and steals. Put it all together and he is averaging over 35 fantasy points per game in that stretch which is a solid floor for tonight and in a matchup vs. the Rockets who rank 24th in defensive efficiency and 1st in pace, there is also a ton of upside here.
Reggie Jackson FD - $6100 DK - $7600
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 33.49 DK - 37.35
The price is on the rise here, especially on DraftKings where he has hit a season-high but I am not too concerned on this smaller slate. He comes in hot dropping 15 or more points in eight straight games and has averaged over 30 fantasy points per game over his last 10. He and the Clippers now get a plus matchup on Monday as the Spurs come to town ranked 19th in defensive efficiency and also run the 6th fastest pace. While still in play, Jackson isn't a must on DraftKings but on FanDuel, at a price in the low $6K range, he is in play in all formats.
Shooting Guard
Donovan Mitchell FD - $8500 DK - $9700
Opponent - CHA
Proj Pts FD - 46.5 DK - 49.93
Like Jackson, this is another huge price differential as Mithcell's price has taken a huge jump on DraftKings to almost $10K making him GPP only, at best. This play is much more about FanDuel tonight as the price remains in the mid $8K range. This game does have blowout potential but making me feel better about is the fact Utah has been involved in five blowout wins(20+ points) in the last 10 games and Mitchell has put up at least 37 fantasy points in each of those and is averaging over 43 over his last 10. All things considered, he will be in my FanDuel player pool in all formats.
Tyrese Haliburton FD - $7700 DK - $7000
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 41.06 DK - 43.09
Buddy Hield FD - $5100 DK - $5800
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 31.7 DK - 35.73
This game probably has the biggest chance of a blowout but almost every game has risk today. I pair these two together as Fox, Mitchell, and Davis are all in health and safety protocols which has provided a ton of extra run for Haliburton and Hield. Let's start with Haliburton who has put up a season-high 16 and 19 shot attempts in the last two games and been very productive, as well, with back-to-back double-doubles and has 40+ fantasy points in three straight. For Hield, he does come cheaper but is much more shooting-reliant but the good news is he put up 18 shots last night totaling 29 points and his best fantasy performance of the season. I hate chasing points but the price is right if the Kings are once against short-handed. Stay tuned for breaking news later in the day.
Small Forward
Dillon Brooks FD - $6700 DK - $6400
Opponent - OKC
Proj Pts FD - 33.4 DK - 35.82
We finally got the ceiling game from Brooks on Sunday as he dropped 37 points on the Trail Blazers. I am, in no way, chasing that performance but rather chasing the consistency in the short term. Since back-to-back duds at the start of December, Brooks has been terrific in his last seven games shooting 45% on 19 shots per game which works out to an average of 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and over 35 fantasy points per game. Another game with a chance of blowout but all things considered, Brooks is one of my favorite PTS/$ plays tonight.
Garrison Mathews FD - $4800 DK - $4800
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 23.36 DK - 25.17
While the Rockets have been lucky in terms of covid protocols, they are dealing with some injuries to Kevin Porter, Armani Brooks, and Jalen Green which has helped spread the usage around to other players. Matthews is one of the players who has seen an uptick lately as he has put up double-digit shots in five of his last seven games. He has been at his best most recently playing 30+ minutes in back-to-back games while averaging 30 fantasy points. The Bulls present a tough test here as they rank 7th in defensive efficiency but Mathews should once again get all the minutes he can handle and with a price sitting below $5K, is one of my favorite values on the slate.
Power Forward/Center
Draymond Green FD - $7200 DK - $7100
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 37.83 DK - 38.98
The Warriors' big guns took a "rest day" when they flew North of the border to take on the Raptors but are back home tonight and should be well-rested. Yes, like almost all the games on this slate, there is blowout risk so we have to just try and find the best values and hope for the best. As it has in the past, the system loves Draymond from a PTS/$ perspective as his price never really gets too high. He has very little usage in the offense but more than makes up for it with secondary stats as he is averaging 7.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game on the season. This is also an elite matchup as the Kings rank 29th in defensive efficiency and third in pace. Fire up Green in all formats.
Keldon Johnson FD - $6400 DK - $5400
Opponent - LAC
Proj Pts FD - 26.4 DK - 28.74
Another price differential play here but this time in favor of DraftKings as Johnson's price sits in the mid $5K range. The usage has been great in the short-term as he has put up 12 or more shots in four straight and been productive with them averaging 19.5 points and has also added an average of 6.5 rebounds in that time. It is also promising that on a slate with tons of blowout potential, this game is projected to be one of the closest and is a plus matchup in terms of rebounding as the Clippers rank 23rd in that category. I will have a ton of exposure on DraftKings as one of my favorite value plays.
Robert Williams III FD - $5600 DK - $5700
Opponent - PHI
Proj Pts FD - 33.9 DK - 34.72
As of writing this article, there is no Vegas line set for this game with 4-5 players sitting with a questionable tag but my gut says this will be a closer game. You can definitely pay up at the position but will start getting into more blowout risk so I prefer going the value route at this point. Enter Robert Williams who the system is quite high on as he has been consistent averaging just over 25 fantasy points per game over the last four. He is only putting up 5-6 shots a game but has been productive with them shooting over 70% lately but his best value comes in the form of rebounds and the great news there is that Philly ranks dead last in that category. Fire up Williams in all formats.
