DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Dec. 18th, 2021

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/18:

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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New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics

Vegas Total: 210.0

Vegas Spread: Bos -4.5

We’ll get this slate started with the Knicks, we will need some news from the team on the status of Derrick Rose as he comes in as questionable with an ankle injury. It would make for big news as the Knicks will already be without RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Kevin Knox. They’ve been banged up for a few days now and we saw Miles McBride come off the bench last game to play a ton of minutes on his way to 40 DraftKings points. With how shorthanded they are in the backcourt, he will be in play regardless of Rose’s status. Julius Randle would be a guy I have an interest in here as well. He dropped 62.5 DraftKings points on the Celtics earlier in the season, but I like the price tag much more on FanDuel where he’s under $9k. Alec Burks hasn’t been in great form yet his price continues to climb, I would rather go to the other guards on this team. Lastly, I never hate having a sprinkle of Mitchell Robinson in tournaments because of what we saw last game. He was actually my 8x play of the night last time they were on the slate, I wouldn’t expect that kind of performance again, but the upside is clearly there. From the Celtics, Jaylen Brown looked fine last night and got his minutes into the mid-30s which was good to see, I just don’t love the price tag. Jayson Tatum kept it rolling last night and now has at least 49 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. Al Horford won’t play in this one after being missing yesterday as well, while Dennis Schroder comes in as questionable. Watch for updates in the Breaking News Feed, but my assumption would be that Schroder is good to go here. Robert Williams got 37 minutes with Horford out last night and will be the recipe for fantasy gold for him. I love going right back to him in this spot. Then you can round this team out with Marcus Smart, who is always playable in tournaments in my opinion.

***As I’m writing this Miles McBride just got put into Covid protocols, so he will miss this game. Keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed throughout the day for updates as they come but the Knicks are going to be in serious need of back-court help… Looking at you Kemba Walker.***

5-star play: Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker (need news that he’s starting or in the rotation), Jayson Tatum, Robert Williams

4-star play: Julius Randle, Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, Dennis Schroder, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart

Deeper Value: Wayne Selden

GPP Sleeper: Kemba Walker, Wayne Selden, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown

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Orlando Magic @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: 211.5

Vegas Spread: Bkn -4.5

Starting with the Magic, they were incredibly shorthanded last night and then Wendell Carter Jr. got wheeled off in the first half, so I’m expecting he’s out again here as he comes in as doubtful. Cole Anthony comes in as questionable after missing last night’s game, you’ll hear me say it pretty often in this article, but the Breaking News Feed will be your best friend with all the late scratches we’re seeing. I would expect Franz Wagner to play all the minutes he can handle again and is a guy I’ll get exposure to in a good spot. Chuma Okeke had the game of his life putting up 53.5 DraftKings points against the Heat last night. I wouldn’t expect another six blocks from him here, but he’s another guy that will play until his legs give out tonight. Gary Harris looked good as well and comes in at a nice price tag, they’ll need his scoring against this Nets team. With Carter Jr. down it solidifies Robin Lopez’s minutes even more, although we saw him start regardless last night. He’s an elite value option again in this spot, as DraftKings didn’t really have the time to adjust his price tag. From the Nets, yikes… they won’t have any of their main pieces here, as we’re looking at a starting lineup likely consisting of David Duke Jr., Patty Mills, Kessler Edwards, Blake Griffin, and Nicolas Claxton. I say likely because Claxton comes into this one as questionable. Honestly, anyone who is active and playing tonight for the Nets will be someone I have an interest in. Keg and Upperslad called it out last game and he started the game out pretty hot, but if we get an ownership discount on Cam Thomas here due to coming off the bench, take it. This guy looks to score when he’s out there and with Harden and Durant out there won’t be anyone to take that usage away from him.

5-star play: Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, Robin Lopez

4-star play: Franz Wagner, Gary Harris, David Duke Jr., Patty Mills, Kessler Edwards, Blake Griffin, Nicolas Claxton, Cam Thomas

Deeper Value: Chuma Okeke, Robin Lopez

GPP Sleeper: Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, Mychal Mulder

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Golden State Warriors @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 209.0

Vegas Spread: Tor -9.0

Starting with the Warriors, they’ll be without essentially their whole starting five tonight as they try and give some guys rest. This team will be value central, as they currently don’t have anyone available priced over $4k tonight on DraftKings. It’s not like we’ll be short on value by any means with how many guys are out tonight, but if you needed more, look no further. We did see Moses Moody get the start last night and didn’t do a whole lot in his 10 minutes of action. He should see much more than 10 minutes in this spot and is viable at the stone minimum. My favorite guys on the team would be those high-usage guys or the ones close to the hoop that are more than a body… looking at you Kevon Looney. But guys like Gary Payton, Nemanja Bjelica, and Juan Toscano-Anderson would be my favorite pieces here. From the Raptors, we finally have a somewhat healthy team. It sounds like Precious Achiuwa and OG Anunoby will have a chance at playing in this one, but Khem Birch will remain out. Fred VanVleet played a ton of minutes last time out and now has at least 46 DraftKings points in three of his last four games, and should do whatever he wants against this Warriors defense. Pascal Siakam is another guy that should do what he wants in the paint in this one, one of very few spend-up options we have tonight, he’s a good option. Scottie Barnes continues to look great with at least 42 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. I will likely jump off of the Chris Boucher train if Achiuwa or Anunoby is back, Nick Nurse has been really quick to take his minutes away in the past. Then you can round this team out with Gary Trent Jr. in GPPs.

5-star play: Gary Payton, Nemanja Bjelica, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam

4-star play: Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damion Lee, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr.

Deeper Value: The Warriors

GPP Sleeper: Chris Chiozza, Gary Trent Jr.

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Los Angeles Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 209.5

Vegas Spread: Lac -5.5

Starting with the Clippers, Paul George comes into this one as questionable but I will operate under the assumption that he’s a go so we have some spend-up options to pair with all of our value tonight. He would probably be a guy you’ll land on even at this price tag simply because we have so much value. If everyone were healthy on this slate, I probably wouldn’t get to this price tag but he’s firmly in play tonight. Reggie Jackson is a fine option as well, I’m just not sure how much we’ll need him if we can get similar value out of guys that are $4k cheaper. The same can be said for these mid-range guys on the Clippers like Marcus Morris, Eric Bledsoe, Luke Kennard, and Terance Mann. That would change if George were ruled out, but assuming he plays I don’t think we need to look much further on this team. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a nice game last time out and will be a guy I get exposure to in this one in a revenge game against his old squad. Josh Giddey and the rest of the Thunder are much like the Clippers, they’re fine options in a vacuum, but I just don’t see a reason to get to them tonight with all the value we have on this slate.

5-star play: Paul George, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

4-star play: Josh Giddey, Reggie Jackson

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Reggie Jackson, Josh Giddey, Marcus Morris, Eric Bledsoe, Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac

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!

Washington Wizards @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 223.5

Vegas Spread: Utah -10.0

Starting with the Wizards, Bradley Beal had a rough go of it last time out but again, he’s a high-priced guy and we will have the money for him tonight, so he’s firmly in play. It is a difficult matchup however and scored just 34 DraftKings points against the Jazz earlier this season. Kyle Kuzma has been held under 20 fantasy points in back-to-back games and this isn’t exactly a great bounce-back spot in a tough matchup. Spencer Dinwiddie is in a similar scenario and a guy that I don’t think we’ll need on tonight’s slate. The same can be said for the rest of this Wizards team in anything other than MME. From the Jazz, they’re the one team that doesn’t have any sort of Covid issues or injury issues, and the one team where it would generally make the biggest impact. This team is always priced right where they should be, but I think we can get to some pieces tonight especially on the high end. Donovan Mitchell has been in pretty solid form as of late and gets a great matchup with the Wizards here. He’ll be a guy I get a good deal of exposure to in this spot. Rudy Gobert has at least 41 FanDuel points in four of his last six games and should be able to do whatever he wants against this Wizards frontcourt. Guys like Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Jordan Clarkson are fine options, but I just don’t know that we’ll need them on this slate unless someone from this team gets ruled out.

5-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert

4-star play: Bradley Beal

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma, Spencer Dinwiddie

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks

Vegas Total: 214.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -2.5

We’ll round this wild slate out starting with the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley comes in as questionable so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. Jarrett Allen is coming off of a bad game last time out but was due to losing minutes in a blowout. I have no issue going right back to him and Mobley here against a shorthanded Bucks frontcourt. Darius Garland is another guy that lost minutes due to the blowout last time out and is someone I like going back to again here especially in tournaments. Then guys like Ricky Rubio, Lauri Markkanen, and Kevin Love will be strictly MME guys for me. From the Bucks, we’ll need news on Khris Middleton, he looked like he was on track to play last night but got ruled out just before lock. If he plays tonight he’s a great option, if not, I would expect Jordan Nwora to slide into the starting lineup again. Nwora has back-to-back games of at least 32 DraftKings points and is a great point-per-minute guy when this team is shorthanded. If he starts again, he will be a guy I go right back to. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis off the court this season, Middleton has a 36.6% usage rate and 1.29 fantasy points per minute while Jrue Holiday is at a 37.2% usage rate and 1.44 fantasy points per minute. Holiday is pretty clearly an elite option again here, he has at least 50 fantasy points in back-to-back games with these guys off the court. We saw DeMarcus Cousins get the start last night with Portis out and I would expect more of the same tonight especially against a bigger Cleveland frontcourt. The only issue I had with him was the minutes still aren’t going to be there all that much. Maybe he sees a few more tonight to help with the size of the Cavs, but that being said he’s an elite per-minute guy. Then you can round the Bucks out with tournament guys like Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton.

*** The below is assuming Khris Middleton is active***

5-star play: Jarrett Allen, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday

4-star play: Evan Mobley, Darius Garland

Deeper Value: Jordan Nwora, DeMarcus Cousins

GPP Sleeper: Ricky Rubio, Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Love, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, DeMarcus Cousins, Jordan Nwora

NBA Lock of the Day: Cheat Sheets/Coaches Notes

I’m going to keep the lock of the day for our VIP Members on this fine Saturday due to all the last-minute changes we’ve had this week because of Covid protocols, so go get signed up using promo code MADNESS and get yourself 10% off!

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