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Happy Friday RotoBallers! As usual, we have a jam-packed Friday night slate, filled with some juicy matchups. These articles focus on the overall best plays, which are typically more suited for cash games. However, with larger slates like this one, you don't have to worry about ownership getting steamed up too hard usually, so consider these suggestions GPP viable as well (some exceptions may apply).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/31/21. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@Maxadelphia), to keep up to date with NBA news and for my nightly NBA bets if you're into that sort of thing. Let's go!
Guards - DraftKings, FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Ja Morant - PG, MEM vs SAS ($9,600 DK, $9,300 FD)
Morant has been incredible in his last two games against the Suns and Lakers, respectively. He's averaging over 25 PPG in the 5 games he's played since returning from injury, and next up on his schedule is the Spurs. The Spurs rank 26th against point guards in fantasy, and also the Spurs defensively are 28th in the NBA in points allowed in the paint (48.7 per game). Morant is at his best when he's able to attack the rim and he should continue to keep rolling in a favorable matchup.
Jalen Green - PG/SG, HOU vs MIA ($4,900 DK, $5,700 FD)
After missing a full month with a hamstring injury, it appears Green may have turned a corner of sorts. Green, who was one of the most inefficient players in the league through the first 20-25 games, has returned from injury and has posted back-to-back 20+ point games. Even more impressively, he's done so shooting 50% from the field and going 10-18 from 3 in those two games. Green's price is a bit too low for someone who's posted 30+ DK points in back-to-back games and should see another 30+ minute run of game time.
Austin Reaves - SG, LAL vs POR ($3,000 DK, $3,900 FD)
The Lakers' roster construction issues have been well documented throughout the course of this year. Simply put the Lakers' guard rotation outside of Russell Westbrook is a crapshoot on most nights. Before Reaves was placed into Covid protocols he had a nice 3 game stretch (including his game-winning 3 against the Mavericks), and if his conditioning is sufficient enough, it feels like I would bank on him seeing the court more than either Isaiah Thomas or the freshly un-retired Darren Collison.
Others to consider: Damian Lillard ($10,900 DK, $9,100 FD), Derrick White ($6,800 DK, $8,000 FD) Malik Monk ($4,500 DK, $5,300 FD)
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Forwards DraftKings, FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Edwards - SG/SF, MIN @ UTA ($7,800 DK, $8,400 FD)
Edwards returns from the Covid list in an absolute dream scenario (for fantasy): missing the two other highest scoring players on the team, and playing against the highest-scoring team in the league. In the past, Edwards has commented that he doesn't exactly "fear" multi-DPOY, Rudy Gobert, and for Minnesota to have a chance against the Jazz, he will need to walk the walk to the fullest extent possible. Edwards is developing into a superstar, and I'm very much willing to bet on talent over all other factors involved.
Marcus Morris Sr. - SF/PF, LAC @ TOR ($6,300 DK, $6,900 FD)
In his two games back from injury, Morris seems to have stepped into Paul George's role in the Clippers' offense. With back-to-back 40+ DK points games, Morris should continue to see his production increase as he works his way back from Covid and adjusts to his temporary new role. Based on his usage and scoring in these two games, it shouldn't be long until Morris is sitting more in the $7-7.5k range, so look to take advantage of this mispricing.
Kyle Anderson - SF/PF, MEM vs SAS ($5,000 DK, $4,900 FD)
Anderson shapes up as more of a GPP play due to the fact his price has increased while his production has remained mediocre. I don't have any life-changing stats here, just simply willing to bet on the game environment that the #4 and #5 scoring offenses in the NBA can provide. Anderson should represent a solid leverage option off some of the other, more popular, plays from this game.
Others to consider: LeBron James ($12,000 DK, $11,200 FD), Serge Ibaka ($3,200 DK ,$4,000 FD)
Centers - DraftKings, FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Omer Yurtseven - C, DEN @ ATL ($5,800 DK, $6,100 FD)
Yurtseven has made waves in the fantasy basketball universe over the last few weeks, primarily due to his exceptional rebounding abilities. The Rockets are always a great matchup for any position due to their high pace and bad defense across the board, and they are actually dead last in the NBA in Opponent's 2-pt FG%. Yurtseven has posted 12+ rebounds in 6 straight games, which gives him an extremely high floor, and any game environment involving the Rockets' defense can provide the ceiling.
Mitchell Robinson - C, NYK @ OKC ($4,900 DK, $5,500 FD)
With All-Star forward Julius Randle being placed in Covid protocols, and still missing Nerlens Noel, Robinson seems poised to carry the load. Robinson has started the last few games for the Knicks since Noel went into health protocols to mixed reviews. For a player who has shown flashes of big games (like his 43 DK point game against the Wolves on Tuesday night), the fact that he is almost assured 30+ minutes of game time makes him a very interesting lower-cost option.
Others to consider: Jaren Jackson Jr. ($6,600 DK, $6,700 FD), KJ Martin ($4,200 DK, $4,800 FD)
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