Full Court Press Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/26:

Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Michael aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!

Atlanta Hawks @ Memphis Grizzlies

Vegas Total: 237.5

Vegas Spread: Mem -1.5

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas even though the NBA games were kinda garbage, to be honest, but we’ve got a full slate of games ahead here, let’s get started. This is an island game beginning 5 ET. I’ll just run through this one pretty briefly since it’s not on the main slate, but be sure to hop in our VIP Slack Chat for more insight on it and have any questions you may have answered. From the Hawks, it sounds like Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari are both doubtful while Rajon Rondo will continue to be out. Trae Young is an elite play and makes a lot of sense to pair with Ja Morant. Both of these teams are going to play really fast this season while sacrificing defense, so this should be a fun one and I wish it was on the main slate! John Collins gets a tough matchup with Jonas Valanciunas but with Gallinari and Capela both out his rebound equity should go up, as we should expect him to play the five here. Valanciunas, on the other hand, is someone I’d want to get here. Outside of Collins, who is undersized, there really isn’t much in the way for Valanciunas to have a big game here.

5-star play: Trae Young, Ja Morant, Jonas Valanciunas

4-star play: John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dillon Brooks

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Brandon Clarke, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 217.5

Vegas Spread: Cha -3

Now, we move to the main slate, we’ll kick things off with the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a guy that I’m really high on this season with Paul, Schroder, Gallinari, and Adams all out of town he should lead this team in usage and really be the focal point of this offense. He can stuff the stat sheet and gets a pretty good matchup against Charlotte here. I don’t exactly love the price tag, as it went up $1200 on DraftKings, but he makes sense for GPPs. The Research Station has George Hill projected to hit 7x his price tag on this slate, considering the $1000 dollar price drop I would tend to agree, he’s a top value option on the slate. Lastly, Al Horford makes sense here as well, I wanted to play him on Wednesday night but they ended up getting postponed thanks to Mr. Drama Queen himself in James Harden, but with Cody Zeller now out, this frontcourt for the Hornets is just plain bad. I like Horford a good amount here. From the Hornets, Terry Rozier had a massive opening night and I think you can go right back to him here against a bad defense. The price increase hurts, but he obviously has the upside for GPPs. With Cody Zeller now out, the two big men are they guys popping in the Research Station below, PJ Washington and Bismack Biyombo are both projected to go for at least 5.2x.

Biyombo played 24 minutes on opening night, going for 17 DraftKings points. At just $3.6k I think you can make a case for him today as a value option. PJ Washington is more of a GPP option, he’s got some volatility that rides with him, but the upside is there if he can find his shot. The bunch of Gordon Hayward, Devonte’ Graham, and LaMelo Ball are pretty much just GPP options for me as well, there will be better spots on this slate to attack for cash games.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Al Horford, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Devonte’ Graham

Deeper Value: George Hill, Bismack Biyombo

GPP Sleeper: PJ Washington, LaMelo Ball, Darius Bazley

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons

Vegas Total: 213

Vegas Spread: Det -2.0

Starting with the Cavaliers, the big news we need to keep an eye on here is if Kevin Love is going to play. He’s currently questionable, but if he’ back, it will shake some things up so keep an eye out for that news. For the moment I’m going to operate as if he’s out. Andre Drummond is someone I was really high on him on Wednesday, but he really kind of disappointed give the spot he was in. Now, he saw a big price bump and may get Love back. It’s a revenge game for him as he goes back to Detroit, but he’s more of a GPP play. Larry Nance had the big game for this team on Wednesday with Love out, going for a 50 burger and falling two assists short of a triple-double. Darius Garland was another guy that sort of blew up with little attention on him. He played 33 minutes on his way to 41.5 DraftKings points. I don’t hate him as a secondary option. The rest of this team is probably more gpp options than anything else on a big slate. The Pistons really just aren’t a team I want to get a whole lot of, they are realllllllly bad. That being said, Mason Plumlee grades out really well here. He saw 32 minutes on Wednesday and led the team in DraftKings points. At just $4.8k he’s an awesome play today and one of the better mid-to-low range options. You can probably make a case for Josh Jackson in GPP as well, he played 29 minutes last time out and had 32 DraftKings points, he did see a price increase, however.

5-star play: Mason Plumlee

4-star play: Andre Drummond, Larry Nance (If Love is out)

Deeper Value: Dean Wade

GPP Sleeper: Andre Drummond, Darius Garland, Josh Jackson

Orlando Magic @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 230.5

Vegas Spread: Was -2.0

Starting with the Magic, this is a huge pace up spot for them against a really fast Wizards team that isn’t going to play a whole lot of defense. I like getting some Nikola Vucevic here, I targeted big men against the Wizards all season last year and won’t stop that this season. He’s priced about where he should be but I think that keeps the public off of him, I like him a good deal here. Terrence Ross is a really nice price as well, I like targeting him in these type of game environments where the ball will move up and down the court quickly. Lastly, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier are solid GPP options, you can probably make a case for Markelle Fultz as well here. From the Wizards, we need to keep an eye on Russell Westbrook’s availability as it sounds like he may get rested on some back-to-backs this season. At the moment, I’ll proceed as if he’s playing until we hear otherwise. He’s going to have a big season with this team as we saw on Wednesday with his first triple-double of the season. He had a 34.3% usage rate in that first game which makes me not mind the price increase, he’s an awesome play here. I don’t really love the rest of this team, Bradley Beal is priced where he should be and I’m down on him this season with Westbrook soaking up more usage, although Beal did beat him on Wednesday with a 34.8% usage rate. Thomas Bryant’s price came down, but not enough to where I’d want to go with him.

5-star play: Nikola Vucevic, Russell Westbrook

4-star play: Terrence Ross, Bradley Beal

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Bradley Beal, Markelle Fultz

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Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks

Vegas Total: 216.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -8.5

Starting with the Sixers, Joel Embiid is in a great spot here. The Knicks aren’t going to play a ton of defense this season, so targeting teams against them will likely be pretty popular. He averaged 52.6 DraftKings points per game in two games against New York last season. Ben Simmons feels a bit overpriced, but in a good matchup, I think you can make a guess as a low owned GPP guy. Tobias Harris was bad on Wednesday, I was pretty high on him but he was just straight-up bad. I don’t hate going back to him here if the public is going to see that game and jump ship, but I kind of want him to prove it to me first. Lastly, Shake Milton looked good on Wednesday in 30 minutes of action. I really don’t like the price, but a deep GPP option is in consideration. From the Knicks, the pricing on Julius Randle seems about right here, he has 40 points upside every day of the week. No, it’s not a great matchup, but I’m not backing down on a play because of Embiid, he’s a pretty average defender. RJ Barrett was the highest DFS scorer on this team on opening night with 44.5 DraftKings points. He did get a price bump but should see a ton of minutes this season, I don’t hate him here for GPPs. Lastly, Reggie Bullock is popping a bit in the Research Station as a value option. He played 26 minutes last time out and went for 18.75 DraftKings points, I guess you could do worse, but not someone I think I’ll be very high on.

5-star play: Joel Embiid

4-star play: Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett

Deeper Value: Reggie Bullock

GPP Sleeper: Shake Milton

Indiana Pacers @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: 222.5

Vegas Spread: Ind -5.0

Starting with the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis went bonkers last time out going for 58.25 DraftKings points. He gets another great matchup here and I still think the price is just a little low on him. He should be closer to $9k on DraftKings in my opinion. Myles Turner is in a similar spot, but we kind of know what we’re getting with him, if he gets hot from three he’ll have a solid night. I wish they would just trade Victor Oladipo and get him a second start while freeing Malcolm Brogdon and TJ Warren a bit, he’s a bit of a usage hog. That said, he did lead the team on Wednesday with a 26.8% usage rate on his way to 35.5 DraftKings points. Maybe there’s a chance he got healthier in the offseason and will take that usage and slam the Bulls poor defense. But the price tag is just too much for me. It feels like just yesterday that TJ Warren was taking the bubble by storm and dropping 70 point fantasy performances, but those days seem to be long gone, he’s a fine GPP option but nothing more. From the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the team with a 32.3% usage rate on Wednesday but really underperformed. He also saw his price shoot up, he’s more of a fade for me than anything against a tough Pacers D. Colby White is another guy that underperformed on opening night, but the price on him is a little more friendly to where you can make a case for GPPS. DraftKings fixed the price on Lauri Markkanen, who was way too cheap on opening night, as he went for a team-high 40.75 DraftKings points. People may chase him here but I still think he’s a fine play at this price point. Otto Porter was fine on Wednesday but only played 23 minutes as rookie Patrick Williams drew the start and looked really good. Lastly, Wendell Carter ruined everyone’s lineup on Wednesday, he’s still probably too cheap here if you have the stones to go back to him.

5-star play: Domantas Sabonis

4-star play: Malcolm Brogdon, Wendell  Carter, Coby White, Lauri Markkanen

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams

Toronto Raptors @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 227

Vegas Spread: Tor -2.0

Starting with the Spurs, Derrick White will continue to be out here which will open things up for Dejounte Murray again. With Derrick White and Bryn Forbes off the court last season, Murray averaged one fantasy point per minute and a 22% usage rate. He looked great on opening night and is my favorite play on this team. DeMar DeRozan gets a revenge game here against this old squad, and I think he’s in for a really nice year. He played 35 minutes on his way to 56.25 DraftKings points last time out. LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t fare quite as well but I still think you can get to him in GPP even in a tougher matchup. Lastly, Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker both looked good on opening night for this team. I really hope Pop lets these young guys play this year, they’re definitely talented. From the Raptors, it seems like Nick Nurse is going to run these guys heavily similar to last year as Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam both saw 39 minutes last time out. I don’t love the price on Pascal Siakam here, but I do think he has a massive bounce-back season on the horizon. Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet are going to be really nice options for me today. I targeted point guards against the Spurs all year last year and it looks like it’s going to be a big weakness for them again this season. They gave up 66 DraftKings points to Ja Morant on Wednesday. Neither of these guys is Ja Morant, but they’re both capable of putting up big games. I like them both in all formats and should be lower owned. Lastly, Aron Baynes started and saw 28 minutes last time out. He fell just short of the double-double bonus and makes sense as one of the better value options on the slate.

5-star play: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet

4-star play: DeMar DeRozan, Dejounte Murray, Pascal Siakam, Aron Baynes

Deeper Value: Aron Baynes

GPP Sleeper: Pascal Siakam, LaMarcus Aldridge, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Utah -9.0

Starting with Minnesota, this is a tough spot for them and the prices on these guys don’t really line up for me to get many of them in a bad spot. Karl-Anthony Towns is matchup proof but this Jazz defense is smothering and at this price tag there are just going to be better options. D’Angelo Russell is probably the best option on this team and should continue to own the usage in this backcourt even with Ricky Rubio in the mix now. I just won’t get much if any of the Wolves here. From the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell had a bit of a dud on opening night, but this is an elite matchup for this team, I like him for GPPs, we know his massive upside that he showed off in the bubble. Rudy Gobert had a big game last time out and I don’t think the price is high enough yet, Towns defense doesn’t scare me, he’s a nice cash option. Mike Conley is priced about right here, in a fast-paced game he makes sense in GPPs. Finally, Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Ingles are fine GPP plays but not someone that I’m prioritizing by any means

5-star play: None

4-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert

Deeper Value: Royce O’Neale

GPP Sleeper: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell

I also want to give out a shoutout to all the winners we had last season. DFSArmy took home a $200k, $25k, $20k, $10k, a SuperDraft $4k winner, and Kevin even took down the mini-max all within a few week time-span. Keep following your process and taking advantage of the tools that are here to make you successful, hell of a season fellas!

Research Station

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Houston Rockets @ Portland Trailblazers

Vegas Total: 226

Vegas Spread: Por -7.5

We’ll start with the Rockets, they’ll be without John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins here due to Covid tracing. What does that mean? Fire up James Harden and don’t look back. He may see close to a 40% usage rate against a bad defensive team in the Blazers, don’t get cute here. Christian Wood is another guy that I may just force into my lineups, he’s close to an all-in type of play at this price on DraftKings. Even Sterling Brown is popping and should see nearly 30 minutes with these guys out, he’s an awesome value option. The Rockets will be your friend tonight, just play them. From the Blazers, I’ll likely get a bunch here just to have some run back pieces to all the Houston ownership I’ll have. That said, they’re all priced about where they should be. Jusuf Nurkic grades out as the best point per dollar option on the team and should be able to own the pain against Christian Wood, who’s defense is atrocious. Damian Lillard is probably the only other guy on the team that I’ll have exposure to but he makes for an excellent run back option with the Rockets, if they can keep it close a shootout between Harden and Lillard would be a fun one for DFS purposes.

5-star play: James Harden, Christian Wood, Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic

4-star play: Sterling Brown, Danuel House

Deeper Value: Sterling Brown

GPP Sleeper: CJ McCollum

Phoenix Suns @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 227

Vegas Spread: Pho -3.5

Starting with the Kings, De’Aaron Fox should see around a 30% usage rate this season with Bogdanovic now gone. However, this is a tough individual matchup with Chris Paul on the other end. I like him more as a GPP option due to his upside, but likely won’t get a ton of him. Buddy Hield is always in play in GPPs for me due to his upside but the price tag just is too high for me here. Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica, and Marvin Bagley feel really similar here, they’re more of secondary GPP options here than anything. Tyrese Haliburton saw 30 minutes last time out and is a guy they’re going to use a bunch, if you need a sleeper value option for GPPs he makes a lot of sense. From the Suns, yet another guy that tore up the bubble in Devin Booker. His price seems a little high especially with the addition of Chris Paul who will take some of his usage away. I don’t love the price tag on Paul either but he’s playable as a secondary option for cash games. DeAndre Ayton should be able to do whatever he wants against a bad frontcourt in the Kings, I like him as a GPP center option.

5-star play: None

4-star play: De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Chris Paul

Deeper Value: Tyrese Haliburton

GPP Sleeper: Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox, DeAndre Ayton, Devin Booker

NBA Lock of the Day: Christian Wood (DK – $5.9k; FD – $6.7k)

As I mentioned above, I’m going all-in on that Houston/Por game, as will a lot of people honestly. Christian Wood may be a lock button play for me today with DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Gordon, and John Wall all out. His price went DOWN $2200 since they’re game got PPD on Wednesday, and he was going to be popular even then. This is just a misprice by DraftKings and really even FanDuel today. The Research Station has him projected for 7.29x his price tag giving him a 40 point fantasy projection. I just don’t see how you don’t get to him here, don’t get cute, he should be one of the first players into your lineup. Tweet me (@MadnessDFS) your lock predictions and if your player gets over 5x tonight I’ll give you a shoutout on Twitter, let’s have some fun with this!

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