Free Player Lab TrialUncategorized Daily Fantasy Expert Advice
DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Thursday 12/22
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Guards
CJ McCollum FD - $8500 DK - $7500
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 39.52 DK - 42.73
McCollum has been getting all the usage he can ask for recently with Brandon Ingram out since late November. Over his last six games, he has taken over 20 shots per game and has made the most of that averaging 24.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game which has been a very impressive fantasy average of over 40 points a game. Adding to that form is a great matchup against the Spurs who rank dead last in defensive efficiency while running a Top 10 pace. Not only does Ingram remain out but Zion will also sit out Thursday which puts McCollum near the top of our projections and our top guard tonight.
Bradley Beal FD - $9000 DK - $8100
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 39.83 DK - 42.5
After missing two weeks with a hamstring injury Bradley Beal returned to action and has stepped right back into his high-usage role. He has taken 17 and 20 shots, dropped 29 and 27 points and has added some secondary scoring to give us solid fantasy returns in both games(34.5/46.5 DK points). The Wizards are underdogs(+6.5) tonight but this game has a high total(230) and should stay close enough that Beal can take advantage of this plus matchup against the Jazz who rank 26th in defensive efficiency. Fire up Beal in all formats, especially on DraftKings where we are getting a bit of a buy-low.
Also Consider: Tre Jones(SA) who isn't getting a ton of volume which caps his upside but he contributes with rebounds and assists to give him a solid floor for cash games
Small Forward
Trey Murphy III FD - $5200 DK - $4800
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 25.71 DK - 27.57
With Zion entering health and safety protocols, there is going to be some minutes and usage to fill down low for the Pels tonight. Trey Murphy is one player who should get more run and add to the already solid floor he has bene providing at these prices. He has started each of the last 11 games putting up double-digit points seven times, adding five or more assists six times, and providing us with 20 or more fantasy points in nine of those games. I feel that is his floor tonight in this plus matchup with lots of room for upside. If starting again, I will have exposure in all formats.
Power Forward/Center
Jonas Valanciunas FD - $6600 DK - $6000
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 34.2 DK - 37.76
One a two-game slate it is going to be hard not to build your lineup around the Pelicans who are not only missing Brandon Ingram but will also be without the red-hot Zion Williamson on Thursday. Enter big Val who is coming off a ceiling game where he put up 37 points and 18 rebounds and that was with Zion on the floor. That performance kind of snuck up on us as he has been fairly inconsistent in the short term averaging just 27 DraftKings in his previous nine games. I am not too worried as this is another great spot to smash a double-double and meet and exceed value for fantasy.
Daniel Gafford FD - $5300 DK - $5000
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 30.04 DK - 30.11
For a small slate, there is starting to be a lot of injury news we are going to have to monitor and the Wizards Kristaps Porzingis is one of them as he is questionable and appears likely to miss his second consecutive game. If was Gafford who got the start in his place on Tuesday and while he did;t light the world on fire, he has solid with 12 points and nine rebounds giving us 26.3 DraftKings points. If he starts again here tonight, he will most definitely pop as one of our top PTS/$ value plays. Stay tuned.
