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In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/26/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @DFS_Tom.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
James Harden - SG, vs PHO ($11,900)
James Harden is very expensive as we know, but he has been putting up huge numbers and Monday he is in a great spot to continue on that trend. He is up against the Suns who are giving up 49 points per game to shooting guards which is good for fifth worst in the league. Harden is perfect for a GPP lineup, but you are going to have to look at other positions for some savings since he is so expensive. Over his last five games, Harden has scored over 54 points in four of those five games. Ideally, we would like to Harden score a bit more than 54 points if we are going to be paying up for his price, but he is in a good spot tonight to break through the 60 point level and really carry your GPP roster.
Jamal Crawford - SG, vs DEN ($4,400)
Crawford is an interesting option for tonight. He has seen some more playing time recently as he has played 28 minutes or more in three of his last four games. Now I know that Crawford isn't consistent, but with the absence of Blake Griffin, the Clippers have been changing up their rotation a bit and now this leaves room for someone like Crawford to take advantage of this. In the Clippers game on Friday, Crawford put up 36 DraftKings points. If he can get anywhere near that point production, he will hit value for you and give you the salary relief you need in a GPP roster. Crawford is a classic, high risk, high reward type of player, but that is what you are looking for in a GPP roster.
Nicolas Batum - SG, vs @ BKN ($7,800)
Batum is coming off of a triple double vs the Bulls and he is in an even better spot tonight vs the Nets. The Nets are horrible on defense and it is always a good idea to target players who are playing the Nets. Batum is really playing great this year, and he is a perfect option for a cash game roster. This could be a nice game stack and run the lineup back with some of the Nets players, since this game has the potential to be a shootout. Batum has scored 46 points or more in three of his last four games and is up against the Nets who are third to last in the vs shooting guards giving up 44 points per game. This is right in the wheel house for Batum where he has the potential to hit his season average.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Joel Embiid - PF, @ PHI ($7,500)
Joel Embiid is really surprising some people this year, and it seems that you have to "trust the process". Embiid is solid option for either cash or GPP, since he has shown the 50 plus point upside this year. But the only thing holding him back is that he has a bit of a minutes limit, which is the only thing that is holding him back. He has shown he can be super consistent when he is only the floor, but playing 30+ minutes seems to be a barrier he can't break. And in DFS, minutes equal production, so Embiid does come with a bit of risk since he won't be playing a ton of minutes. It seems that his floor is around 25 DraftKings points with the upside to hit 50 points.
Montrezl Harrell - PF, vs PHO ($4,600)
Harrell is a great cheap option for tonight. He has seen three straight games of 22 minutes since Clint Capela has gone down with injury. This leaves a huge opening for Harrell, and he seems to be taking advantage of it. In his last three games, he has scored 19 DraftKings points or more in all three. He is almost averaging one point per minute, and that is the efficiency you love to see as a DFS player. It doesn't appear that Harrell has the upside that you would want for a GPP, I see him as only a cash option. Cheap, can hit value easily, means he is great for cash games.
DeMarcus Cousins - PF, vs PHI ($10,900)
Cousins has his troubles that we all know about. He gets technical fouls, has trouble with the media, coaches, and so on. But when he is in the zone on the court, he is borderline unstoppable. In his last three games, Cousins has scored 62, 36, and 82 points. The 36 point performance was against Utah who are one of the better defensive teams in the league, so I don't take too much stock in that game. But the other two games have been some awesome performances and those are what we should be keying in on. He has the potential for a double double, nearly every game so that is always a nice bonus. Cousins is a perfect option for a GPP, since he has the ability to put up huge numbers and carry a roster to get you into the money.
DraftKings DFS Centers
DeAndre Jordan - C, vs Den ($7,300)
Jordan is a cash option all the way. He is so, so, so consistent, and seems to go over looked by some. He has put up 32 points in three of his last four games. Now with Blake Griffin out with an injury, it leaves a bit of an opening for him to have some more looks on offense. He is up against Denver who are only giving up 45 points per game to centers, which is good for sixth bes in the league, but the rebounds, and almost guarantee of a double double, he is basically an auto lock for cash games. I always look to Jordan when the Clippers are in action, because I know what I will be getting every game.
Marcin Gortat - C, vs MIL ($5,800)
Gortat offers you a bit of savings at the center position, but still gives you the consistency you would need for a cash game. Gortat has scored 34 points or more in two of his last three and he is up against the Bucks who are giving up 48 DraftKings points per game to centers. Gortat certainly isn't flashy by any means but he should give you exactly what you need for his price point. You could consider stacking him with John Wall, to get the double dip on points from his assists.
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