DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (12/31/16): NBA DFS Advice

8 years ago by Justin Bales

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TESTING NEW WIDGET hide

It's the final slate of the year. It isn't a big one, but Happy New Year, everyone!

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/31/16. 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 @BalesSJustin.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

Giannis Antetokounmpo – PG, at CHI ($9,800)

Antetokounmpo is an elite option any time he’s priced under $10k. He has been on fire recently, as his floor sits around 45 fantasy points with a ceiling significantly higher. He gets a great matchup against the Bulls, who he’s nearly averaging a triple double against this season. Chicago hasn’t found a way to stop Antetokounmpo thus far, and it would be surprising if he doesn’t dominate again tonight. He can safely be used in all leagues on this slate.

Kyrie Irving – PG, at CHA ($7,900)

Irving suffered a cramp in his hamstring to end the game against the Celtics, but he’s expected to play tonight. He has been playing on another level recently, as he’s averaging a healthy 51.9 fantasy points per game over the last 10 days. He has scored at least 60 fantasy points in three of his last five contests, and he’s still priced entirely too cheap. He gets a tough matchup against the Hornets, but Irving is an elite option in all leagues tonight, as long as it’s announced that he’s healthy.

Derrick Rose – PG, at HOU ($6,500)

Rose has looked outstanding since returning from injury, and he has been able to contribute in multiple categories on a nightly basis. He is a huge part of the Knicks offense, and he recently took 28 shots from the field against the Hawks. He gets a matchup against the Rockets, who will likely be pushing the pace in this game. Rose still comes with a moderate price tag, and he has been playing well enough to be used in all leagues tonight.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

LeBron James – SF, at CHA ($10,400)

James has been one of the best fantasy options in the NBA recently, as he has scored at least 50 fantasy points in seven of his last nine games, including games with 66.5 and 79.75 fantasy points. His price tag is finally up, but it still isn’t high enough for his recent production. He gets a great matchup against the Hornets, who he’s averaging 62.1 fantasy points per game against this season. James is an elite option on a nightly basis, and tonight is no different. He can be used in all leagues.

Nicolas Batum – SG/SF, vs CLE ($8,000)

Batum is another player that has been on fire recently, and he’s still too cheap for his most recent production. He’s averaging 20.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.8 steals over the last 10 days. He’s a player that has displayed triple double potential recently, and he gets a great matchup against the Cavs tonight. Batum is locked into big minutes, and he can safely be used in all leagues, as his price does not match his most recent production.

Dragan Bender – SF/PF, at UTA ($3,300)

Bender is an interesting player. He has seen his role increase for the Suns recently, but he has dealt with a small amount of foul troubles. He’s a player that can fill the stat sheet, and he recently scored 41.25 fantasy points in only 27 minutes against the Rockets. He’ll likely play around 25 minutes tonight, which is more than enough time for him to exceed value. He does get a tough matchup against the Jazz, but he’s a great tournament option tonight.

DraftKings DFS Centers

Marc Gasol – C, at SAC ($8,100)

Gasol has been an elite option with Mike Conley out this season, and he has scored 49.0 and 54.5 fantasy points in his last two games without Conley. Conley is once again listed as questionable tonight, and he’s a player to keep tabs on up until lock. Gasol can score in multiple categories, and he’ll be the focal point of the offense. He also gets a great matchup against the Kings, who have struggled against centers this season. Gasol can be used in all leagues if Conley is out, but he’s best suited for tournaments if Conley is able to play.

Derrick Favors – PF/C, vs PHO ($4,300)

Favors scored 21 points in his last game, but more importantly, he played 25 minutes in that game. His minutes have been on the rise, and he’s a player that can score fantasy points in a hurry. He does come with quite a bit of risk because of his limited minutes, but he’s extremely cheap and has more than enough upside to be used for his price tag. He also gets a good matchup against the Suns, who have been pushing the pace this season. Favors is best suited for tournaments, though.

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