Daily Fantasy DraftKings and FanDuel NBA Picks - Friday, December 9, 2022

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Point Guard/ Shooting Guard

Trae Young FD - $9700 DK - $10300
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 50.56 DK - 55.43

The Hawks are going to be without Dejounte Murray for a couple of weeks now and that could lead to Trae Young with an even higher usage than he’s already putting up. On the season, Trae is rocking a 34% usage rate, but that number shoots all the way up to 44.5% with Murray off the court. He could be bombing early and often in this game against a Brooklyn Nets team that doesn’t have much in the way of point-of-attack defense and will just be working Ben Simmons back into the mix. Young’s price hasn’t been adjusted enough on FanDuel in particular.

Anthony Edwards FD - $8800 DK - $9000
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 44.99 DK - 48.3

The Timberwolves are still without Karl-Anthony Towns and that’s led to some big time Anthony Edwards upside in the short-term. Over his last six games (not all with KAT out), Edwards is averaging 27 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 steals. That’s elite production and the price hasn’t fully caught up on either site. Now, the Timberwolves will be in a game against the Jazz which has the highest over/under on the slate (236.5). It could be an up-and-down affair and that’s good for Edwards when it comes to volume shooting.

Monte Morris FD - $5500 DK - $5300
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 30.49 DK - 33.01

The Wizards can definitely be tough to trust when it comes to the minutes and this is a game we are going to want to target some. Bradley Beal remains out and last time around, Monte Morris played 37 minutes in a four-point loss to the Bulls. He took the third-most shots on the team behind Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma and finished with 17 points and eight assists. That kind of production at these prices is an easy cash game call. The issue is we just can’t always trust the Washington rotations making this a bit risky.

I do still think D'Angelo Russell (FD 7100 DK 7100) is a value play with Karl-Anthony Towns out though D-Lo’s minutes were cut a bit last game.

Small Forward

Kyle Kuzma FD - $7500 DK - $8100
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 42.96 DK - 47.58

Kyle Kuzma has a 26% usage rate on the season, but that number climbs to 29.5% when Bradley Beal is off the court. Last time out, we saw Kuzma take the most shots on the team (18) in the loss to the Bulls though he was somewhat inefficient, making just eight and finishing with 21 points. I don’t mind going back to the well here with Kuzma against the Pacers. This game has the second-highest implied total on the slate and could be something of a track meet.

AJ Griffin FD - $4600 DK - $4800
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 27.69 DK - 29.28

The Hawks might be in a tougher spot here without Dejounte Murray for a bit, but it is going to open up some other opportunity in their lineup. Last game, when Murray went down early, AJ Griffin finished with the second-most shots on the team (13) though ran bad, making only three of them. He was also just 1-8 from three. In all, I like the usage for Griffin who is starting with John Collins out of the lineup as well. If the game stays close, his minutes should be in the mid-30s and that’s plenty to hit value at these prices.

Also consider Jalen Johnson (FD 4600 DK 3800) if he sticks in the starting lineup.

Power Forward/ Center

Kristaps Porzingis FD - $9200 DK - $9400
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 51.98 DK - 54.19

Much like the other Wizards on this list, we are targeting Kristaps Porzingis with Bradley Beal out of the lineup. With Beal off the court this season, Staps has the highest usage on the team at 30.9%. He got up 17 shots in 35 minutes last game, but did have to leave for a stretch with a minor knee issue. He still totaled 28 points and nine rebounds while also adding four blocks + steals. He has elite production in his range especially if the Wiz are without their primary offensive weapon. The Pacers are a bottom-third defensive efficiency team that also runs the fastest pace in the league. This is such a great matchup for Washington.

Clint Capela FD - $6200 DK - $6500
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 34.55 DK - 36.19

The Nets allow opponents 54.1 rebounds per game, the fifth-highest mark in the league and it sets up well for Capela in this matchup. By and large, he’s playing more minutes with John Collins out of the mix and Brooklyn doesn’t have much in the way of size after Nic Claxton and Ben Simmons, the latter of whom is just returning from injury. Last game Cappella lost minutes to foul trouble and a blowout. But the previous four games saw him playing an average of 30 minutes and averaging a double-double easy.

Jaren Jackson Jr. FD - $7700 DK - $7100
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 43.97 DK - 43.17

It doesn’t always feel great running Jaren Jackson Jr. in cash because the production and even the minutes can be a bit all over the place. For instance, last game he ran just 26 in the blowout win over Oklahoma City, and that could be the case again. But he piled it on with the defense, putting up five blocks and two steals in that timeframe. He has that kind of upside almost unlike anyone else in the game. I still think he’s a relative value here because the upside is tremendous in the right kind of game.

Keep an eye on the Lauri Markkanen situation for Utah. Kelly Olynyk (FD 6300 DK 5900), Walker Kessler (FD 5300 DK 4200), or even Jarred Vanderbilt (FD 5200 DK 4900) could be values here.