FanDuel & DraftKings NBA Cheat Sheet 12/31/19

By Jason Guilbault | Dec 31, 2019, 1:42pm

Welcome to the wild world of NBA DFS. The final hour to lock can be a tiring with the injury news, but we hope to have you prepared with fill-in options and what to do when scenarios occur. The cheat sheet will fill you in on the top games to target, values, tournament picks, cash game options, and much more. Prices are set for DraftKings and FanDuel, and the focus will be on whatever the main slate is listed as for each site. Pricing is listed (FD/DK). Players with no designated listing are playable in cash and tournaments. Players with designated game styles are for those only.

Vegas Numbers

Highest Implied Team Totals

Rockets (114)
Spurs (114)
Raptors (113)
Mavericks (111)
Nuggets (109)

Lowest Implied Team Totals

Warriors (103)
Cavaliers (104)

Potential Blowouts

Spurs -11
Raptors -9.5

Analysis: There are just four games on the slate tonight, and two have blowout concerns The Raptors take on the lowly Cavaliers, while the Spurs welcome Golden State as double-digit favorites. I am not worrying much about blowouts tonight, and most of the time I don’t let it impact decisions too much. If D’Angelo Russell was playing in this game, it would be a closer spread. However with him out, it grew to double-digits. Toronto without Pascal Siakam will win against Cleveland, but this might be a bit closer at least until the end. The Rockets-Nuggets game has the highest total on the board, and just a four point spread. The Mavericks-Thunder is projected to be a close game as well and high scoring.

Injury Report

Luka Doncic – Probable
James Harden – Probable
D’Angelo Russell – Out
Dennis Schroder – Questionable
Norman Powell – Out
Tim Hardaway Jr – Out
Garry Harris – Questionable
Danilo Gallinari – Questionable
Paul Millsap – Questionable
Clint Capela – Questionable
Willie Cauley-Stein – Out

Analysis: The Warriors situation is the most intriguing as far as injuries go. D’Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein have been ruled out. Alec Burks is going to start at point guard and is a strong value. We should also see minutes for Ky Bowman who is extremely cheap. As far as the front court goes, Eric Paschall, Marquese Chriss and Draymond Green will get most of the minutes. For Denver, Paul Millsap was listed as doubtful and is now questionable. If he sits out, Jerami Grant is a solid value, and should see 30+ minutes. Gary Harris was probable and dropped to questionable. Tim Hardaway Jr is out tonight, which puts Seth Curry and Delon Wright in a good spot for value. The more time consuming news will be the Oklahoma City names, both take up higher usage and would open the door for a few others. I like targeting the back court here regardless.

Point Guards

Luka Doncic $(10,800/$11,600)
Kyle Lowry ($7,800/$8,800)
Chris Paul ($7,400/$7,200)
Jamal Murray ($6,600/$6,800) – GPP
Dejounte Murray ($5,700/$5,900)
Collin Sexton ($5,100/$5,800)

Analysis: Luka Doncic comes in as the top option tonight. He is projected for 50 fantasy points, which is slightly higher than Russell Westbrook. Doncic is averaging 46 fantasy points over the last ten games. Kyle Lowery has the blowout factor to him, but is averaging 41 fantasy points in his last ten, and Cleveland ranks 26th against point guards. There are some cheaper guards for value. The Spurs guards are in a good spot against a bottom five defense against point guards. Murray is averaging 29 fantasy points over his last ten. If you need to steep lower for value, Derrick White is fine, but his upside is capped for tournaments.

Shooting Guards

James Harden ($11,500/$10,500)
Fred VanVleet ($8,200/$8,400)
DeMar DeRozan ($7,600/$7,100)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($7,400/$7,000)
Damion Lee ($6,000/$6,200)
Delon Wright ($4,900/$4,600)
Patrick McCaw ($4,300/$4,200)

Analysis: While I don’t find James Harden to be a must play on this slate, even though he could always break it, I will build a more balanced lineup and find some names cheaper. Fred VanVleet is one of them averaging 38 fantasy points per game over his last ten. He also gets a weak Cavaliers defense. DeMar DeRozan has found a nice groove as well, and both him and SGA have averaged 35 fantasy points in their last ten games. They are at a similar price tag in two of the more higher scoring games projected. Patrick McCaw is projected for upper 20s in minutes tonight, and will fill in with all the injuries. I won’t talk too much about the Cavs matchup, as we already know it is one of the better ones.

Small Forwards

Will Barton ($6,300/$6,400)
Alec Burks ($5,600/$5,300)
OG Anunoby ($4,900/$5,000) – GPP
Glenn Robinson ($4,600/$4,400)
Eric Gordon ($4,300/$4,700)

Analysis: There are not a ton of small forward options this slate, but Will Barton stands out as the more attractive option, averaging the most fantasy points at the SF position over the last ten games. Houston also ranks 30th against SF. Danilo Gallinari is questionable tonight, but if he plays I like him. Dallas ranks 29th against small forwards, and his role within the offense is solid. Alec Burks is in a prime spot, and will be a popular building block tonight. While I don’t expect him to stay in Golden State, he has shown plenty of upside, and is averaging over 30 points in the last ten games. OG Anunby has 30+ fantasy point upside, but a ten fantasy point floor that is hard to tryst in cash games. I would much rather use Glenn Robinson, who is shooting 46% from the field over his last ten.

Power Forwards

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,400/$7,800) – GPP
LaMarcus Aldridge ($8,200/$7,600)
Serge Ibaka ($7,000/$7,300)
Draymond Green ($6,700/$6,100)
Chris Boucher ($4,800/$4,800) – GPP
Jerami Grant ($4,200/$4,600)
Marquese Chriss (4,000/$4,100) – GPP

Analysis: If you want consistent play, you are going to have to pay up here. Kristaps Porzingis has fallen back down a bit in terms of a ceiling, but he should drop in ownership a bit. LaMarcus Aldridge has been strong, The Spurs big names will only fall flat if they see limited minutes due to a blowout, but the floor is still safe for cash games. Serge Ibaka has soaked up a lot of front court minutes due to the injuries, and now toss in the matchup against the Cavs. Chris Boucher has a solid ceiling, but a single digit floor. In tournaments he is fine, but do not trust in cash games. As long as Paul Millsap is ruled out, Jerami Grant is a safer floor play. Marquese Chriss is the cheap upside play with Willie Cauley-Stein out.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($9,300/$9,300) – GPP
Clint Capela ($7,900/$7,400)
Steven Adams ($6,200/$6,600)
Jakob Poeltl ($3,800/$3,600)

Analysis: Nikola Jokic is always a firm GPP play, but I will dive down in cash games. Clint Capela is on the probable side, and Denver ranks just 19th against opposing centers. Steven Adams is averaging 35 fantasy points per game in his last ten games, and I rather go here for a safer floor that doesn’t cost too much. Cheaper options don’t have much appeal, but Jakob Poeltl is a strong value. Golden State ranks 24th against centers, and he is averaging 23 fantasy points per game over his last ten.

Jason Guilbault

Jason Guilbault is the Brand Content Manager for Lineups.com, powered by Catena Media. He has worked 10+ in the sports betting & iGaming space as a writer and content manager. Jason has also written for DailyFantasyCafe, NBAMockDraft, & FantasyPros. He aims to bring the best sports data & insight to the industry for both novice & advanced users.