Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Tuesday, Dec. 20

FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

December 20, 2022 6:41 PM

Reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic has been on a tear as of late.

This is going to be a strange week of scheduling. We had a ton of games on Monday, and all but eight teams will be in action on Wednesday. That’s leaving us with a small card here, with only five games in total. We have some good matchups and attractive DFS options, so let’s get started.

Injury Report

Collin Sexton (hamstring) OUT
Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
Kelly Olynyk (ankle) Questionable
Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
Kyle Lowry (knee) Questionable
Stephen Curry (shoulder) OUT
Andrew Wiggins (adductor) Questionable
Deandre Ayton (ankle) Questionable
Cameron Johnson (knee) OUT
Cameron Payne (foot) OUT
Desmond Bane (toe) OUT
Michael Porter Jr.(heel) OUT
Jamal Murray (knee) Questionable
Devin Booker (groin) Questionable

Core Plays

Devin Booker (SG – PHX): $9,500 DraftKings, $10,400 FanDuel
Booker was rested on Monday night, and we have to assume it was to have him ready for this game. There’s also a chance Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul will sit here in the second half of a back-to-back set, and that’d be even more beneficial for Booker. The sharpshooter’s scope has been fine recently, scoring 75 DraftKings points in his most recent outing. All of that makes him tough to fade against a 21st-ranked Washington defense.

Jimmy Butler (SF/PF – MIA): $9,200 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Jimmy has been feeling it recently. Butler has at least 38 DraftKings points in 13 of his last 14 games, with the only outlier being shortened due to an injury. He’s also averaging nearly 50 fantasy points in the games he finished, running this offense in the absence of Kyle Lowry. Facing Chicago is the best part of this, allowing 150 points in their most recent game while owning a 26th OPRK against opposing forwards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,800 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
This guy is unbelievable. Jokic is the two-time reigning MVP for a reason, averaging 61 DK points per game over the last three years. The Joker did get off to a slow start this season, but he’s got at least 81 DK points in three of his previous four games. Only a few players have reached that total once this year, making him the safest play on every slate. We also don’t mind that Jokic is averaging 68 DK points per game in his last three matchups with Memphis.

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $10,400 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
Ja has been on another level since Desmond Bane went down. The point guard was ejected in his most recent game, but he had at least 41 fantasy points in each of his previous 15 outings. Ja also generated a 52-point average in that span and should destroy this disastrous Denver defense. The Nuggets rank 28th in defensive efficiency ratings with Ja dropping 57 DraftKings points in their most recent matchup.

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
Poole has always been fabulous when given the opportunity, and he will have plenty of chances with Stephen Curry out for the foreseeable future. Poole always starts in these circumstances, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game as a starter. It’s no surprise because he’s flirting with a 35% usage rate when Curry is off the floor. A flashy player like this will be hungry in Madison Square Garden, especially since they own a 23rd OPRK against opposing guards.

GPP Targets

Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Utah is playing the second half of a back-to-back set, which likely means some of their veterans will be sitting. Mike Conley is the most likely candidate, and that’s huge for Clarkson, with Collin Sexton out as well. That means Clarkson will endure all of the ball-handling duties and could play 40 minutes. We love that with the way Clarkson is playing, averaging a career-high 33 DraftKings points per game. The icing on the cake is the matchup, with Detroit ranked 29th in both defensive efficiency and points allowed.

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
This $5,200 price tag on DraftKings is laughable. The big man has scored at least 26 DK points in 10 of his last 12 games, totaling a 32-point average in that span. The most impactful variable is his minutes, playing 33 minutes a night over his last three games. This guy should be a $7K player in that sort of role because he’s one of the best per-minute producers in the NBA. Golden State is a great matchup, too, ranked 26th in total defense.

Donte DiVincenzo (SG/SF – GSW): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Andrew Wiggins and Curry going down have forced DiVincenzo to become a significant part of this offense. That’s led to him scoring at least 32 DraftKings points in four of his last six games. DiVincenzo is also posting a 29-point average in that span while playing 30 minutes a night. This guy has always been talented, and it’s nice to see him finally play a full-time role.

Value Plays

Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
The Pistons are starting to realize that Duren is one of their best players, starting him at center over the last two weeks. That’s led to Duren scoring at least 24 DraftKings points in six straight games, generating a 30-point average across 29 minutes a night. His last three games have actually been all career-highs in terms of fantasy points, and this 19-year-old kid is only scratching the surface of what he could become. Not to mention, Utah allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Quentin Grimes (SG/SF – NYK): $4,800 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
Tom Thibodeau always finds these random role players that he never wants to take off the floor. That’s Grimes right now, playing over 34 minutes across his last seven games. He’s also averaging 26 DK points per game in that span, and you really can’t ask for any more from a sub-$5K player. Golden State owning a 22nd OPRK against opposing guards isn’t too bad, either.