DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (12/23/20): NBA DFS Lineups

After a quick taste Tuesday, the second day of the 2020-21 NBA season comes roaring in on Wednesday. Every team that was kept sidelined for the first day of the year is on the floor come Day 2, leading to a slate jam-packed with star power.  There are numerous faces in new places, so be […]

Ty Jerome Unavailable For Wednesday’s Season Opener

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Ty Jerome (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest against the Rockets. Jerome's absence will work against the Thunder's PG depth, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to serve as the team's starting point with George Hill pitching in off the bench. The Thunder acquired Jerome this off-season from Phoenix, […]

D.J. Augustin Unlikely To Make Team Debut Wednesday

Milwaukee Bucks point guard D.J. Augustin (calf) has been tagged as doubtful to suit up for Wednesday's season opener against Boston. Augustin was brought aboard to backup Jrue Holiday, but the role will likely shift to Donte Divincenzo should Augustin not be cleared in time. Whereas the veteran had some DFS upside last year as […]

Thaddeus Young Will Miss Wednesday’s Season Opener

Chicago Bulls small/power forward Thaddeus Young (leg) has been listed as out for Wednesday's contest versus Atlanta, and he could miss much more time than that, as he is without a timetable to return to game action. Young was unlikely to reprise a considerable role in the frontcourt out of the gates in 2020, but […]

Knicks Pass On Offering Frank Ntilikina An Extension

New York Knicks point guard Frank Ntilikina has had a much-maligned start to his NBA career since having been selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Over 178 games, he has averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 assists per game, all while shooting just 36.6 percent overall, including 31.1 percent from long […]

Tomas Satoransky Earns Questionable Tag For Wednesday

Chicago Bulls point guard Tomas Satoransky (personal) is questionable to play in Wednesday's season opener against Atlanta. Satoransky has been away from the team, which likely puts his availability trending on the wrong side of suiting up. Coby White is set to take over starting point guard duties for the Bulls this season, with Satoransky […]

Anfernee Simons Draws Questionable Tag For Wednesday

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Anfernee Simons (hamstring) has been listed as questionable to play in Wednesday's season opener versus Utah. A hamstring ailment has slowed Simons throughout the pre-season, and an absence Wednesday could funnel additional minutes in the direction of Damian Lillard. Having taken on a sizable bench role last year, Simons still […]

Keldon Johnson Says He’ll Play In Wednesday’s Opener

San Antonio Spurs shooting guard/small forward Keldon Johnson (foot) said Tuesday that he would be ready to take the floor for Wednesday's season opener against the Grizzlies. Johnson saw action in just 17 games last season, but averaged 9.1 points across 17.7 minutes per contest. The Spurs have distributed minutes plentifully across their backcourt over […]

Dennis Schroder Draws Start For Season Opener Tuesday

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Dennis Schroder (ankle) has been given the thumbs up to play in Tuesday's game versus the Clippers and will draw the start at point guard. Schroder is expected to share ball-handling duties with LeBron James in the first unit, although the new member of the Lakers has been vocal about […]

Kevin Porter Jr. Headlines Cavs Bench Players Out Wednesday

The Cleveland Cavaliers' second unit will be severely short-handed during Wednesday's season opener versus Charlotte as shooting guard/small forward Kevin Porter Jr. (personal) and point guards Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) and Dante Exum (hip) will all miss the contest. Darius Garland and Collin Sexton will be the team's only active point guards, meaning that the duo […]

Ben McLemore Will Sit Out At Least Wednesday’s Contest

Houston Rockets shooting guard/small forward Ben McLemore has been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener against Oklahoma City. McLemore is self-isolating under the league's COVID-19 protocols, making his return to action uncertain. His absence should give Eric Gordon an uptick in potential usage among the second unit, while Danuel House Jr. could also absorb some looks […]

Norman Powell Draws Questionable Tag For Wednesday’s Game

Toronto Raptors shooting guard/small forward Norman Powell is questionable to play in Wednesday's contest versus the Pelicans because he is set to undergo further COVID-19 testing before tip-off. Fantasy managers can prepare for this to be a continuous cycle for most of the regular season, with little knowledge able to be gleaned as to Powell's status […]

Clint Capela Unlikely To Play In Wednesday’s Season Opener

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (Achilles) is listed as doubtful to play Wednesday versus the Bulls as he continues to battle Achilles soreness. The Hawks are set to be fraughtfully thin at the center spot if Capela cannot play with Onyeka Okongwu (foot) listed as out, leaving Bruno Fernando to draw a likely start at […]

Kevin Love Will Miss Wednesday’s Season Opener

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (Achilles, calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener against Charlotte. Love has been banged up during the preseason, with Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman as the likely favorites to enter the starting five in his place. With Love not around to help clean up the glass, […]

Rajon Rondo, Kris Dunn Ruled Out For Wednesday’s Game

Atlanta Hawks point guards Rajon Rondo (personal) and Kris Dunn (knee) have been listed as out for Wednesday's contest against Chicago, leaving Trae Young to likely receive a lion's share of the minutes at the point guard spot. The defensive-minded duo of Rondo and Dunn were added in the off-season as both PG depth and […]

Chicago Lists Patrick Williams As Probable Starter Wednesday

Chicago Bulls small/power forward Patrick Williams took first-team reps during Tuesday's practice and has since been listed as a starter among the team's game notes for Wednesday's contest versus Atlanta. Williams was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and has quickly ascended the depth chart due to his impressive athleticism. […]

Spencer Dinwiddie Starts Tuesday; Caris Levert Leads Bench Unit

Brooklyn Nets point/shooting guard Spencer Dinwiddie will start at the two-guard spot for Tuesday's season opener versus Golden State with Caris Levert set to come off the bench. The move stays in line with how head coach Steve Nash had been deploying his group during the preseason, but is a pivot away from years past […]

Russell Westbrook Faces No Minutes Cap Wednesday

Washington Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook will be a full-go for Wednesday's game versus Philadelphia and will not face a minutes ceiling. Westbrook isn't scheduled to play in back-to-backs to begin the year, which is set to cloud his season-long fantasy appeal as soon as the first weekend. But for Opening Night, Westbrook will be […]

James Wiseman Draws Start In First NBA Game Tuesday

Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman will be tabbed as the team's starting center Tuesday against Brooklyn despite not having logged a minute of preseason action. The plan calls for Wiseman to play in spurts of minutes in the frontcourt, so it's unlikely that he receives a massive minutes allotment, but that shouldn't limit his […]

FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (12/22/20): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

In many ways, it feels as if the Lakers just wrapped up their 2020 NBA Finals victory over the Heat days ago. For other teams -- namely teams playing meaningful games somewhere outside the bubble -- it’s felt like eons. Now, we’re back. The ‘20-21 NBA season kicks off Tuesday with a splendid two-game tilt, […]

Broncos Defense Not Expected To Get Von Miller Back In 2020

Denver Broncos linebacker/defensive end Von Miller (ankle) had been holding out hope that he could return for the final two games of the 2020 season, but head coach Vic Fangio was "not optimistic" about that possibility as of Monday. Miller has not yet returned to practice after having undergone surgery to correct damage done to […]

Buffalo Not Overly Worried About Stefon Diggs’ Foot Ailment

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (foot) exited Saturday's win over Denver due to a foot injury, one that head coach Sean McDermott deemed "not overly worrisome" as of Monday. The team does plan to still monitor Diggs when he returns to practice Wednesday, but with two additional days of rest, it sounds as if […]

Leighton Vander Esch Unlikely To Play In Week 16

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (ankle) is highly unlikely to participate in Sunday's game versus Philadelphia due to a sprained ankle that he sustained in Week 15 against San Francisco. Head coach Mike McCarthy believes that it will be a multi-week injury for Vander Esch, which now puts the remainder of his season in […]

Randy Bullock Ruled Inactive For Monday’s Game

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Randy Bullock was named as an inactive prior to kickoff Monday against Pittsburgh, paving the way for Austin Seibert to serve as the team's kicker. Bullock has struggled mightily as of late, having made just two of his last five field goal attempts. With six missed kicks on the year (which includes […]

Greg Olsen On Track To Return To Action In Week 16

Seattle Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen (foot) is trending toward being active for Sunday's contest against the Rams, provided that he makes it through the week without any setbacks during practice. Olsen sustained a tear in his plantar fascia during Week 11, which seemed destined to end his 2020 season at the least. But the […]

Carolina Hopes To Have Christian McCaffrey Practice Wednesday

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (thigh) has been through the injury gamut in 2020, but that hasn't stopped head coach Matt Rhule from eyeing a possible return to practice Wednesday for the All-Pro rusher. Should the Panthers get their lead back on the field for Wednesday, the plan will be to ramp him up […]

Tyler Conklin Notches First Career TD Grab In Week 15

Minnesota Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin logged the first touchdown of his three-year career Sunday against Chicago, a 20-yard score in the fourth quarter. Conklin saw an increase in usage with Kyle Rudolph (foot) out of the mix, as he hauled in three receptions (on four targets) for 57 yards. Having been sparingly used for […]

Willie Snead IV Held Without Reception During Win

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead IV did not log a catch during Sunday's convincing victory over the Jaguars, the second time this season that he has delivered a goose egg in the catch column. Baltimore had its full allotment of receivers at its disposal in Week 15, as eight different players hauled in a […]

Lynn Bowden Jr. Notches Team-High Six Receptions

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. compiled a team-high six receptions during Sunday's win over New England with DeVante Parker (hamstring) and Jakeem Grant Sr. (hamstring) unavailable. Bowden crash landed on the scene last week with a nine-target, seven-reception performance, but despite serving as the Dolphins' No. 1 WR versus the Patriots, was held […]

Jakobi Meyers Racks Up Team-High 111 Receiving Yards

New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers found himself in a familiar position during Sunday's loss to Miami: racking up receiving yards (111) without a touchdown to show for it. Despite being matched up against a stout Dolphins Defense, Meyers exceeded the 100-yard total for the second time this season. He brought in seven of […]