Full Court Press Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/27:

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!

Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Clippers

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Lac -5.5

We kick off this Sunday slate with an island game between the Mavs and Clippers, which should be a pretty good game. Since it’s not on the main slate I’ll run a quick hitter on this game and move on to the main slate. From the Mavs, it’s really pretty easy. It’s Luka Doncic… he’ll demand all the usage in this offense especially while Kristaps Porzingis continues to be out. Due to it being a showdown slate, it’s hard to say that the rest of the team is just GPP plays but I really don’t love anyone else here. You can make a case for Tim Hardaway, Josh Richardson, and Maxi Kleber for value. From the Clippers, it sounds like Kawhi Leonard is questionable, I would assume this is the case for him most of the season on back-to-backs due to it being a condensed offseason, he’s known for getting rested often through his career. If he plays, he’s a great play and if he’s out I’ll be all over Paul George, Lou Williams, and even guys like Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum. That said, Batum isn’t a big usage guy so I’d be heavier on the first three.

5-star play: Luka Doncic, TBD depending on Kawhi news

4-star play: Tim Hardaway, Josh Richardson, Nic Batum, TBD depending on Kawhi news,

Deeper Value: Maxi Kleber

GPP Sleeper: TBD

***UPDATE: Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out – come jump in our VIP chat for updates on who this impacts the most -> BREAKING NEWS

Brooklyn Nets @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 230.5

Vegas Spread: Bkn -10.5

Now, we move to the main slate, we’ll kick things off with the Nets, who are heavy favorites here. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are very similarly priced and should be in good spots here. Kyrie went bonkers on Christmas with 61.5 DraftKings points against his old team. Durant looked solid as well and makes sense in all formats. The only other player I have much interest in here is Caris LeVert off the bench but that’s GPP only. From the Hornets, Terry Rozier continues to play well and Kyrie defense doesn’t scare me, I’ll get some of him in GPP here. With Cody Zeller now out, the two big men in Bismack Biyombo and PJ Washington performed well yesterday. Biyombo went for 25.75 DraftKings points in 30 minutes while Washington had 37 DraftKing points in 29 minutes. 30 minutes out of Biyombo is big, it was still in the air on how many minutes he’d see, he’s an elite value option on this slate, the Research Station below has him projected to go 6.61x his price tag on DraftKings.

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: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Bismack Biyombo

4-star play: Caris LeVert, Terry Rozier, PJ Washington, Gordon Hayward

Deeper Value: Bismack Biyombo

GPP Sleeper: PJ Washington, LaMelo Ball, Caris LeVert

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San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: No -5.5

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 one of my favorite plays on this team. DeMar DeRozan has continued to look great this season after ending last season on a hot streak. I think he’s in for a huge year and this is a great pace-up spot for him. He has a perfect 100 DFSA Grade here, he’s an elite option. LaMarcus Aldridge has started the season pretty slow, I’ll wait for him to prove it to me before I go back to him especially on a big slate. Lastly, Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker both are looking good this season, I really hope Pop lets these young guys play this year, they’re definitely talented. From the Pelicans, Eric Bledsoe continues to stand out as a good play here. He had a dud of a day on Christmas but still saw 33 minutes, which is a good chunk more than he was seeing consistently last season. Zion Williamson had a huge day last time out going for 53 DraftKings points, this is a pretty good matchup for him as well. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are more GPP options due to their price tags, but even those aren’t too bad, this is a team and a game that I like a good deal.

5-star play: DeMar DeRozan, Zion Williamson, Eric Bledsoe

4-star play: Dejounte Murray, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, Steven Adams, JJ Redick

Orlando Magic @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 230

Vegas Spread: Orl -1.5

We’ve got a back to back set here, as these two teams just played last night so at least we have some nice data to go off. 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. This game got to a total of 250 last night, so there will be plenty of scoring. 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. I ended up getting quite a bit of him last night and didn’t disappoint with a 33.5 point DraftKings night. Lastly, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier are solid GPP options, you can probably make a case for Markelle Fultz as well here who had 37.5 DraftKings points last night. From the Wizards, Russell Westbrook continues his strong start as he had 57.75 DraftKings points in this spot last night. 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. He actually came out and matched Westbrook with a 50 burger of his own, so more of a GPP option. 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 @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Vegas Total: 217.0

Vegas Spread: Phi -7.0

Starting with the Sixers, Joel Embiid is in a great spot here. The Cavs aren’t going to play a ton of defense this season, so targeting teams against them will likely be pretty popular. Andre Drummond’s defense isn’t something to be afraid of. 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 had a bit of a bounce-back yesterday after a dud on opening night. I don’t mind taking a GPP stab at him here. Lastly, Shake Milton looked good on Wednesday in 30 minutes of action but came back last night with just 23 minutes, he’s a fade at this price point. From the Cavaliers, Andre Drummond is someone I was really high on him on Wednesday, but it seems like I was a game too early on him. He came back out last night and dropped 64 fantasy points. His price went DOWN after that performance, he’s a nice play here. Darius Garland is playing some good basketball so far, after a big game on opening night he followed it up with 44 minutes on his way to 53.25 DraftKings points last night. I think we just keep riding this hot streak until it dies. Kevin Love saw a ton of minutes, 38 to be exact, last night. I don’t know if I would expect that every night but he’s a nice price here. Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman round out this team as GPP plays for me.

5-star play: Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond

4-star play: Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Darius Garland, Kevin Love

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman

Milwaukee Bucks @ New York Knicks

Vegas Total: 222.5

Vegas Spread: Mil -12.5

Starting with the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo has started a bit slow in his standards but the Knicks will have no answer for him here, I love his upside in this spot. Khris Middleton has started the season on fire, and he honestly looks like one of the better scorers in the league outside of the paint. I like him in GPPs, it’s tough for him just because of the usage that Giannis demands. Jrue Holiday’s price went down and is around a 25% usage rate on the season, I don’t mind him in all formats, he can stuff the stat sheet. Lastly Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo make sense for GPPs. You can make a case for Bobby Portis as well in a revenge game off the bench. 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 it is a pace up spot for them and he should see a ton of minutes, probably in the 35 range. I don’t love the price on RJ Barrett, but he’s going to be right there with Randle racking up minutes this season, it’s a tough matchup for him but you can make a case for GPPs. Lastly, Reggie Bullock makes sense as a value option at sub $4k.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo

4-star play: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday

Deeper Value: Reggie Bullock

GPP Sleeper: Donte DiVincenzo, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis

Golden State Warriors @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: 227.5

Vegas Spread: GS -3.5

Starting with the Warriors, it sounds like Draymond Green may have a chance to play here, so keep an eye on that news. We found out this morning that Marquese Chriss will be out for the season due to injury so if they’re down Green and Chriss there will be some good minutes open for guys like Eric Paschall. Steph Curry’s price went down $900 and is looking like a really nice play here. He has a DFSA Grade of 91 against a defense that will have no answer for him. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre both saw much-needed price drops as well and make sense for GPPs. James Wiseman looks like the real deal but would like him a lot more if he was going to consistently see minutes around that 30-minute mark. From the Bulls, Zach LaVine looks like a really nice option here, his price went down $1000 on DraftKings, and is at a 32.2% usage rate on the season. The Warriors defense is non-existent making him a nice play in this one. Colby White is another guy that I’ll look to here, a little less so than LaVine, but he has the ability to take over an offense in a good matchup. 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: Steph Curry, Zach LaVine

4-star play: Wendell Carter, Coby White, Lauri Markkanen, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kelly Oubre, James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins

Boston Celtics @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: 220.5

Vegas Spread: Bos -2.5

Starting with the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis continues to play well, dropping 50 burgers in his first two games on the season. You can attack Boston with big men, this is another nice spot for him. 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. Oladipo has actually looked pretty good thus far. 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 Celtics, it’s really the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown show here now with Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward out. That is really the extent of my interest in the Celtics, Jeff Teague was chalk last time he was on a slate and came out and dudded. I guess you can make a case for a GPP value play on him, but I would rather go elsewhere, it’s a tough matchup for this team all around.

5-star play: Domantas Sabonis

4-star play: Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

Deeper Value: Jeff Teague

GPP Sleeper: Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren, Victor Oladipo

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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers

Vegas Total: 227

Vegas Spread: Lal -11.0

Starting with the Timberwolves, they looked pretty good against the Jazz last night but nobody really stood out from a fantasy standpoint. I do like Karl-Anthony Towns here in what should be a fun matchup against Anthony Davis. D’Angelo Russell gets a revenge game here against the Lakers, that said, the prices on these guys don’t leave much meat on the bone for value. Ricky Rubio and Malik Beasley are fine GPP options if you need someone in that range. From the Lakers, it’s really just Anthony Davis and LeBron James for me, they’ll command all the usage in the offense. However, it is a good matchup against a team that won’t play any defense so you can make a case for Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell.

5-star play: LeBron James, Anthony Davis

4-star play: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder, Ricky Rubio, Malik Beasley

Phoenix Suns @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 226.5

Vegas Spread: Pho -3.5

This is another game we saw last night, it ended up going under at a total of 209, but stayed close as expected. 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. 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, he had a big game last night going for 54.75 DraftKings points. 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 even with a dud last night.

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: Eric Bledsoe (DK – $5.8k; FD – $5.6k)

Eric Bledsoe is someone that I’ll get a lot of tonight. I’ve been targeting point guards against the Spurs for about a year and a half now and it’s been a very profitable move. The thing I love about Bledsoe is he’s finally getting good minutes now that he’s not trapped under Mike Budenholzer. The Research Station has him projected for 5.69x his price tag giving him a 33 point fantasy projection. I’ll have a hard time avoiding him here. 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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