Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Despite being $600 cheaper than Cade Cunningham, Kings’ De’Aaron Fox leads all point guards in projected ceiling by a comfortable margin. Fox also has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at this position proving to be both a great pay-up option and value on this three-game slate. Over the last month, Fox has been on a tear. In his last 14 games, the eight-year guard is averaging 28.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 48.7 DraftKings points per game while shooting 50% from the field with a 31.6% usage rate.
The Kings are the only team on this three-game slate that is favored by less than double-digits. They are still 6.5-point road favorites against the Pelicans, implied for 119 points, which is the second-highest on the slate. The Pelicans rank 28th in defensive rating this year, making this a fantastic matchup. With how well he has played in the last month paired with the elite matchup, this is a great spot for Fox.
Value
The biggest news for this three-game slate is the status of Jayson Tatum. Despite the Celtics not playing since last Saturday, Tatum is questionable and in danger of missing his second game of the season. Being 12.5-point home favorites against the Pistons, it would not be surprising if Tatum were to sit tonight. If Tatum is out, that will open the door for Celtics’ value pieces, like starting combo guard Derrick White.
With Tatum off the floor this season, White has played 185 minutes and has posted a +6.15 Plus/Minus (per our Trends tool). Through his 23 games played, White is averaging a career-high 17.3 points per game while connecting on a career-best 3.6 3-pointers per game and 39% shooting percentage from deep. His last game against the Pistons on December 4th, White stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 assists, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. His versatility makes him a strong play in all formats.
Fast Break
Tyler Herro has been cooking for the Heat during their three-game win streak. He is averaging 27.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, six assists, and 47.3 DraftKings points per game while shooting 58% from the field and 51.7% from behind the arc. Jimmy Butler is probable to play, but with trade rumors swirling make sure to keep an eye on his status throughout the day. If Butler is out, that would make Herro an even better option. The 6’5″ guard leads the Heat in scoring and should feast on the Raptors in this matchup.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Since returning from his ankle injury, Malik Monk has been the model of consistency. His $7,300 salary may provide a bit of sticker shock, but Monk has averaged 21.9 points, 7.1 assists, and 41.6 DraftKings points per game in his last seven games. During that stretch, he has a positive Plus/Minus in six of those seven contests. Monk has played so well that he has now been in the Kings’ starting lineup for the last five games. The Kings are riding the hot hand, and it has paid off. Monk is deserving of this price tag.
Monk is known for his scoring, but with his assist numbers skyrocketing, he has been a consistent fantasy producer. Monk is shooting 38.4% from behind the arc and this is a great matchup to lock in from long distance. The Pelicans are allowing 14.3 3-pointers per game, which is tied for the fourth-highest in the league. With only a three-game slate, you can easily play Monk and Fox in the same lineup build tonight.
Value
Projected for a slate-high 43% ownership is Pelicans’ sharpshooter Trey Murphy III. The Pelicans continue to be decimated by injuries. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Jose Alvarado are all out due to injury, which will provide a significant boost for Murphy. In his 12 games played this season, Murphy is averaging a career-high 18 points per game and has scored double-digit points in every game this year.
The Pelicans are a Western Conference worst 5-20 this season, with a loss in 17 of their last 19 games. Despite the poor record, they have been competitive lately, and Murphy has been a valuable asset. He scored a season-high 25 points in his last game with six rebounds and five assists while posting 45.5 DraftKings points. With shooting guard and small forward eligibility, Murphy is easy to fit into all formats.
Fast Break
Sticking with the Pelicans’ backcourt, CJ McCollum has averaged 21 points per game in his last four games. He ranks third in projected ownership at the shooting guard position behind Murphy and Monk at 30%. Targeting the Pelicans and Kings matchup is the best way to attack this three-game slate. The total is a slate-high 231.5 points, so the Pelicans are still implied for 112.5 points. Murphy is the preferred guard to target from the Pelicans, but make sure to get exposure to McCollum, who can also fill it up tonight.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jayson Tatum is the most expensive player on this three-game slate but is still priced under $10,000. If he is unable to play due to injury, then Jaylen Brown will immediately jump to arguably the best play on the slate. In his one game played without Tatum this season, Brown had a near double-double with 28 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and three steals. They will dominate the Pistons regardless if Tatum is in or not.
If Tatum can play, then he is a strong contrarian pay-up option. He continues to lead the Celtics in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game. He has recorded a points and rebounds double-double in four of his last five games. Projected for around 15% ownership, Tatum will be a great way to differentiate lineups on this small slate. There is plenty of value with the Pelicans options to get exposure to Tatum in this spot.
Value
After missing 18 straight games with a shoulder injury, Herbert Jones has played each of his last three games looking better than ever. During that stretch, Jones has averaged 16 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 32.5 DraftKings points per game with six steals and three blocks. Priced at $5,000 with dual forward eligibility, Jones is a superb value. He will be popular with the third-highest projected ownership.
Jones has posted a double-digit positive DraftKings Plus/Minus in two of his last three games and was priced over $5,000 in both games. Not always known for his offensive ability, Jones has attempted double-digit field goal attempts with an average of a 17.4% usage rate in each of his last three games, which is rare for him. This is a great price and matchup for Jones to be one of the best values on the slate.
Fast Break
With Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley out, expect the Raptors to run their entire offense through leading scorer RJ Barrett. Barrett scored 30 points last game and is averaging a career-high 23.6 points per game this season. He is also averaging career-highs for rebounds and assists per game. Barrett is projected for a slate-high 33.8% usage rate tonight. Despite a difficult matchup against a slow-paced Heat team, Barrett’s usage rate is impossible to ignore. Expect 20+ field goal attempts again tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The power forward position has plenty of question marks at the top of its pricing tier. With Jimmy Butler in trade talks and Tatum questionable, DeMar DeRozan may be the best pay-up option at this position by default. Projected for less than 10% ownership, DeRozan is an easy way to differentiate lineups. He has been a boom-or-bust fantasy producer recently. He has four straight games with a negative Plus/Minus, but then had two consecutive games before that, scoring 28 and 30 points with a booming ceiling.
With so much ownership going to the rest of the Kings’ pay-up options, DeRozan will be an under-the-radar play. He is a strong option in tournaments with his boom-or-bust tendencies. He is still averaging 22.5 points per game while shooting 50.2% from the field this season. Monk entering the starting lineup has taken the biggest hit on DeRozan, but in a one-game sample size, he can have a great game tonight.
Value
After four straight games with over 20 DraftKings points per game, Heat’s forward Haywood Highsmith posted a dud last game with only 6.75 DraftKings points in his 24 minutes played. Looking for a bounce back, Highsmith has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position and is projected for over 25% ownership. With a median projected of 19 DraftKings points, Highsmith is a fantastic value.
His salary may not be needed with a lack of pay-up options, but Highsmith is only $3,800 tonight. He fits great into a stars and scrubs lineup build and is cheap way to get exposure to the Heat, who have the third-highest implied total at 117.5 points. The Raptors rank 22nd in defensive rating, while their rating drops without Barnes. Highsmith is risky, but worth the risk to get a cheap value piece in your lineup.
Fast Break
Another cheap value option that is worth getting exposure to is the Raptors’ power forward and center-eligible Jonathan Mogbo. Despite being projected for only 21 minutes, Mogbo does not have to do much to pay off his $3,900 salary. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his last 10 games while averaging 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds. and 18.2 DraftKings points per game during that time. The Heat are an average interior defensive and rebounding team this season, making this a good matchup for Mogbo.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Leading this three-game slate in projected ceiling is Kings’ center Domantas Sabonis. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last seven games. Throughout this season, Sabonis has seen a decrease in his assists numbers from last season, but he is averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game. Sabonis has been more aggressive offensively this season but is still leading the team with 6.2 assists per game.
After leading the league with 26 triple-doubles last season, Sabonis only has four in his 23 games played. He does have a double-double in all but two games while ranking third in the league with 12.7 rebounds per game. The Pelicans are an incredible matchup for opposing big men. They rank 24th in defensive rating and 29th in points allowed in the paint at 54.7 points per game. Sabonis is the best pay-up option on the slate. This is the best game environment to target and he has the highest projected ceiling tonight.
Value
Yves Missi is yet another Pelicans value option that looks fantastic on this slate. Missi is coming off a massive 18-point, 14-rebound double against the Spurs, where he recorded 43 DraftKings points. At $5,000, that is difficult to come by. It was not Missi’s first ceiling game either. He has four huge double-doubles, recording over 40 DraftKings points in his last eight games. Missi is a top-tier value play tonight.
With Ingram, Williamson, and Alvarado off the floor this season, Missi leads the Pelicans with a +3.68% usage rate boost. He leads the slate by a wide margin in projected Plus/Minus and draws a favorable matchup that will force him to play heavy minutes against Sabonis. Expect Missi’s projected ownership to rise throughout the day. He is a staple in cash games and an elite value play in tournaments in this spot.
Fast Break
After a relatively slow start to his season, Bam Adebayo is finally playing at an elite level recently. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last six games while averaging 16.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, with four double-doubles and one triple-double during that time. He has also posted 50+ DraftKings points in three of those six games and draws a matchup against a weak interior Raptors defense tonight. At $8,100, given his recent play, Adebayo is a strong play in all formats with this matchup.
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