DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Dec. 10th, 2021

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/10:

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 Mike 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!

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Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Sac -1.0

We’ll get this slate started with the Kings, De’Aaron Fox is going to continue to be a GPP option for me due to the volatility he’s shown this season, but it is a great matchup for him against a shorthanded Hornets defense. Richaun Holmes has been ruled out here which will open up a good amount of minutes in the Kings frontcourt. We should see more minutes from guys like Chimezie Metu and Marvin Bagley, but I would anticipate Alex Len and Tristan Thompson to take care of the center minutes. Alex Len started for Holmes earlier in the season and makes sense at near min price, but I’ll like whoever starts between the two as a value option. Tyrese Haliburton dropped a 50 burger last time out and is a guy I like going back to here in this matchup, as he’ll continue to play massive minutes. Then Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes make sense as GPP options, Barnes was a guy I liked a lot last time out at his price tag but was worried he may have been on a minutes limit. He went out and played 30 minutes in that game and would think he’s right around there again at a great price tag, he’s going to grade out really well for me tonight. From the Hornets, they’ll be without Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball, Ish Smith, and Mason Plumlee again here meaning we can go back to the usual cast we did last game. We saw Nick Richards get the last two starts against the Sixers, but I think that was more so due to the matchup with Joel Embiid. This is a much different matchup, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw someone else slide into the starting lineup. One of those potential players could be James Bouknight, but it will be hard to like him if he doesn’t start due to the minutes volatility. PJ Washington and Kelly Oubre Jr. are guys I like going back to again here in a great matchup with the Kings, the prices are up but they’ll play big minutes. Cody Martin has seen at least 42 minutes in back-to-back games and would expect that to continue here. Then you can round this team out with Miles Bridges and Gordon Hayward who are going to be guys I’ll want here as well. Bridges had a rough go of it last time out, but if it keeps his ownership down, he’s certainly playable again here.

5-star play: Starting C for the Kings (Alex Len or Tristan Thompson), Harrison Barnes (DraftKings), Kelly Oubre Jr., Miles Bridges

4-star play: De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes (FanDuel), Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Cody Martin

Deeper Value: Nick Richards, James Bouknight

GPP Sleeper: Buddy Hield, James Bouknight

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Dallas Mavericks @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: 213.5

Vegas Spread: Ind -1.5

Starting with the Mavericks, Luka Doncic is going to be a great high-end option tonight. The Pacers haven’t stopped opposing guards at all this season and is a guy I like if you can get to him tonight at this salary. Kristaps Porzingis showed us why he’s more of a GPP guy last time out, but he did get into early foul trouble in that game which hurt his minutes a bit. I don’t mind going back to him in this matchup, but would be tournaments only. Then you can round this team out with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson in tournaments as well, it’s a nice matchup, but I don’t think you’ll need them on this slate. From the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis is a guy I will like in this spot, I like targeting big men against the Mavericks as their frontcourt isn’t exactly elite. Malcolm Brogdon is playing a ton of minutes right now which was to be expected, I have no issue with him in any format. Myles Turner bounced back nicely last time out and is a guy I’ll go back to for similar reasons as Sabonis, I like big men against the Mavericks. Caris LeVert has at least 30 DraftKings points in three straight games and is a solid option again here. Then with Justin Holiday and TJ McConnell out, Chris Duarte is going to continue to play a bunch of minutes and has at least 25 DraftKings points in three straight games and a nice mid-to-low range option. He had a massive game last time out going for nearly 40 DraftKings points.

5-star play: Luka Doncic, Domantas Sabonis

4-star play: Kristaps Porzingis, Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Chris Duarte

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tim Hardaway Jr., Jalen Brunson, Kristaps Porzingis

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Brooklyn Nets @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 224.5

Vegas Spread: Bkn +1.5

Starting with the Nets, Kevin Durant scored 51.75 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season and you get a discount on him compared to James Harden in this one, that being said, they’re both great options if you can find the money. Harden is playing monster minutes right now and is probably my preferred option between the two here if I have the money to get up to him in a matchup with Trae Young to see who can get more bogus foul calls against the other. LaMarcus Aldridge sat out last game but should return here as it was just due to rest on a back-to-back. He’s getting good minutes and is a solid option again tonight. Then you can round this team out with Patty Mills as a GPP mid-range option, he’s going to continue to play big minutes for them. From the Hawks, Trae Young has been in good form with at least 55 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is a guy I’ll go back to here. Clint Capela is finally getting consistent minutes over 30 and is a guy I’ll get to here against this Nets frontcourt. John Collins showed us why he’s a GPP only guy for me over his last two games going for a 50 burger and 25 fantasy points last time out, he can be volatile. Danilo Gallinari has been in good form as of late with Bogdan Bogdanovic out, his minutes are pretty secure right now but has a higher ceiling if Cam Reddish ends up missing again, but sounds like he’ll be probable in this one. Assuming Reddish isn’t on any sort of minutes limit, he is way too cheap and makes a lot of sense as a GPP value. Then you can round this team out with Kevin Huerter as a solid secondary option in all formats.

5-star play: James Harden, Kevin Durant, Trae Young

4-star play: LaMarcus Aldridge, Clint Capela, John Collins

Deeper Value: Cam Reddish

GPP Sleeper: Patty Mills, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter

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New York Knicks @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 209.5

Vegas Spread: Tor -1.5

Starting with the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson came crashing down to Earth last time out as he adjusts to his new bench role. We saw Nerlens Noel miss last game and Taj Gibson got the start in his place, so it seems like this role for Robinson is pretty permanent. I don’t have an issue with Robinson as a GPP flyer, but that’s about it. Julius Randle hasn’t been in the greatest form but has gotten a price decrease on both sites. I would still prefer his FanDuel price tag but he should be able to do what he wants down low against this Raptors frontcourt. Alec Burks has been a little more volatile over his last couple of games and probably not a guy I’ll get much of here, it’s not exactly the most appealing spot against a slow Raptors team. RJ Barrett has been better as of late, but another guy that will be more of a secondary play at best on a big slate like we have tonight. Then you can round the Knicks out with Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose who are in a similar price range. I would prefer Rose in cash games and Quickley in tournaments. From the Raptors, Precious Achiuwa ended up missing the last game along with Khem Birch and OG Anunoby who are both out again tonight. Achiuwa comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. We saw Chris Boucher start in his place last time out and would be a guy I go right back to if that’s the case. Nick Nurse hates to give him minutes for some reason, but over the past two seasons he’s a 1.16 fantasy point per minute guy, so he’ll be productive while he’s out there. Fred VanVleet has been in solid form as of late, I don’t love this game for DFS purposes, but he’s a fine secondary option. The same can be said for Pascal Siakam, he’s a fine option, but not a priority. Scottie Barnes is priced right about where he should be but if you fall on him he’s a consistent option and would be good with whatever exposure I get on him. Lastly, Gary Trent Jr. will continue to see heavy minutes and is a solid price tag for tournaments if he can knock down his shots.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Chris Boucher (if starting)

Deeper Value: Chris Boucher (if starting)

GPP Sleeper: Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickly, Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Gary Trent Jr.

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Milwaukee Bucks @ Houston Rockets

Vegas Total: 225.5

Vegas Spread: Mil -8.5

Starting with the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be able to do whatever he wants down low against this Rockets interior defense, and his price has fallen to under $11k on DraftKings. He’s going to be an elite spend-up option for me tonight. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are solid options here as well, they’re probably more GPP than anything, but I won’t talk you off of them if you want to go there. I just struggle to justify a ceiling for them when Giannis is active. Bobby Portis will continue to start for Brook Lopez and has played at least 30 minutes in four straight and should feast against the Rockets interior. Lastly, the minutes on DeMarcus Cousins are too inconsistent for me to have much interest in here, but if those minutes are ever going to come up, he’s a great point-per-minute guy. He’s essentially taken Bobby Portis’s role from last season with Portis moving to the starting lineup. From the Rockets, they’ll be without Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. again, Christian Wood gets a revenge game against the team that essentially gave up on him and is a solid GPP option here. I don’t love the price tag, but the production is up with Green and Porter Jr. out. Jae’Sean Tate will continue to play heavy minutes with Green and Porter Jr. out, I’m just going to have a tough time paying nearly $7k for him, I think we can do better in that price range, but if you want to go there I won’t talk you off of him. Eric Gordon is a guy I like as well, the Bucks always struggle defending the three-point line and something that Eric Gordon excels in. He’s pretty scoring dependent but a guy you can take a flyer on in tournaments at the very least. Lastly, we saw Armoni Brooks get the start last time out and would expect that to be the case again here, he’s a great value option if that is the case coming off of a 30 point fantasy night last time out.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Armoni Brooks (if starting)

4-star play: Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate

Deeper Value: Armoni Brooks

GPP Sleeper: Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Eric Gordon, Garrison Mathews

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 213.0

Vegas Spread: Min -1.0

Starting with the Cavaliers, both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are playing big minutes right now and will be guys I love in this matchup with the Wolves. I’ve been targeting big men against the Wolves for about two years now and it continues to work. I would expect both Allen and Mobley to make our Top 5 By Position on tonight’s Coaches Notes/Cheat Sheets as great plays against a poor defense, so go check those out! Darius Garland has been in much better form as of late and gets a nice price tag tonight, he’s a solid option in all formats. Lauri Markkanen has been a little more volatile than usual over his past couple of games. That said, the minutes will be there for him and a guy I don’t mind falling on. Then you can round this team out with Ricky Rubio, I don’t think we’ll need him on this slate but the price isn’t too bad on him in a revenge game against his old squad. From the Wolves, it sounds like D’Angelo Russell is going to come into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. I’m going to operate under the assumption that he’s in, but if he does get ruled out, we’ll have the impacts broken down in that feed. Patrick Beverley returned last time out to play 23 minutes, I would expect those to come up here and is a fine option at his price tag, he’s been more productive in terms of DFS this season. Anthony Edwards would be a guy I want with Russell out but hasn’t really been in the greatest form relative to his new price tag. I’ll save him for tournaments right now but is playing a ton of minutes. Jarred Vanderbilt came down to Earth last time out as well, he’s been in great form as of late, however, so I don’t hate going back to him. Karl-Anthony Towns followed up back-to-back 50+ fantasy point nights with a 39 point night against the Jazz in a tough matchup. This is a sneaky tough matchup as well down low with Allen and Mobley, he’s more of a GPP guy for me.

5-star play: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley

4-star play: Darius Garland, Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Lauri Markkanen, Ricky Rubio, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, D’Angelo Russell

I wanted to give a quick shoutout to VIP member “GhostfaceKillaa” on his $30k win earlier in the season. A pivot to Curry off the chalky Doncic was the key for him, congrats man!

Los Angeles Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 215.5

Vegas Spread: Lal -5.5

Starting with the Lakers, I would not be shocked if we saw one of LeBron James or Anthony Davis rest tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back against a terrible Thunder team. Keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed just in case, but I would say it’s more likely one sits than doesn’t. If all three play, I’ll likely just fade this team as a whole, but the fact that they’re just -5.5 in this spot is real fishy… so wait for news on this team and we’ll break down the impacts then, but if they all play it makes the Lakers a pretty easy fade. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a nice night last time out and has been in great form as of late, he’s a solid option in all formats. Josh Giddey had a nice bounce-back game last time out and is a guy that stuffs the stat sheet and someone I don’t mind getting to in any format. Then the rest of this Thunder team is pretty much a wasteland on a 13-game slate, other than maybe Lu Dort if you want to get to him in tournaments.

5-star play: Lakers TBD

4-star play: Lakers TBD, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey

Deeper Value: Lakers TBD

GPP Sleeper: Lakers TBD, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley

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Detroit Pistons @ New Orleans Pelicans

Vegas Total: 212.0

Vegas Spread: Nop -5.5

Starting with the Pistons, Jerami Grant has been in pretty good form as of late and gets a nice matchup here. We know the minutes are going to be big on him and is a guy I have no problem going right back to. Cade Cunningham is going to be a guy that I’m going to be good with getting whatever exposure I land on when optimizing lineups in the Domination Station. He’s got a massive ceiling due to the minutes he plays and can do it all on the court. Isaiah Stewart has at least 32 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is priced at a fair price point. Saddiq Bey is just not a guy I get to all that often, he’s a fine GPP option but you never know what you’re going to get out of him. From the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram fell back down to Earth last time out after going for 57 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. The price is up on him which makes me hesitant to go back to him, but we’ve obviously seen the ceiling and this is a nice matchup. Jonas Valanciunas was a guy I liked a lot last time out due to the minutes he would see if he could stay out of foul trouble against Jokic… and he did. I don’t mind going right back to the well on him as his price continues to fall. Josh Hart returned last game and the Pelicans clearly didn’t care to put him on any sort of minutes limit as he went out and played 42 minutes, you can go right back to him here.. Then you can round this team out with Devonte’ Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in tournaments at nice price tags.

5-star play: Jonas Valanciunas

4-star play: Jerami Grant, Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Saddiq Bey, Devonte’ Graham, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Use the 2021-22 NBA DFS Sim Model and build stronger lineups for cash games and/or large-field tournaments! Run the slate 1000 times and see who comes out on top most often, who creates value, and who is most likely to post that gpp-winning outlier…

NBA Lock of the Day: Evan Mobley (DK – $6.8k; FD – $7.3k)

I love this spot for Evan Mobley as I mentioned above in the Cavaliers game breakdown. The Timberwolves have been brutal against opposing big men for a couple of years now and Mobley has the upside to blow his price tag out of the water. We know the minutes are going to be there and he’s coming off a big game last time out. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!

As always, watch Twitter for updates throughout the day, and stay updated in our VIP Coaching forums as news breaks throughout the day!

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