DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Dec. 3rd, 2021

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/3:

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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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 207.5

Vegas Spread: Was -4.0

We’ll get this slate started with the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley busted loose last time out going for 49.2 FanDuel points, and gets a great matchup here against a weak frontcourt. The same can be said for Jarrett Allen who is in great form with at least 41 DraftKings points in five straight games, they’re both really nice options here. Darius Garland has cooled off slightly over his last couple of games, but we know the minutes are going to be massive and a guy that I’ll get to here again. Ricky Rubio has been kind of meh over his last handful of games. If you want to get there I wouldn’t have an issue with it but on a bigger slate, I don’t think we’ll need him. Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love are both solid options but I would use them in completely different formats. Markkanen will be your cash guy, even after a dud last time out. Whereas I would hold Love for GPPs only, but he’s coming off a big game last time out. Love is a really nice per minute guy, but the issue is the minutes, he hasn’t seen more than 22 minutes in over a month. From the Wizards,  Bradley Beal hasn’t been anything special relative to his price tag as of late and I can’t say I love this matchup. The price tag feels about right on him considering we haven’t seen those massive 60 point fantasy nights from him yet this season, but the minutes are there to make it within the realm of possibilities. Spencer Dinwiddie has been better over his last handful of games and feels more appropriately priced now that it’s adjusted to Beal being back in the lineup, he’s a solid option here as well. Montrezl Harrell is another guy that seems pretty fairly priced to the point where I don’t know that the GPP upside is there with a healthy-ish frontcourt. in fact, we probably saw it last game with 36 DraftKings points. He’s in the same boat as Love where the minutes just aren’t all that great on him. Then the only other viable options for me on this team are Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford as secondary GPP options. Gafford is intriguing to me even in a tougher matchup here against a couple of good defenders for the Cavs, he has at least 31 DraftKings points in four straight games to go along with 27 minutes in three of those four.

5-star play: Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

4-star play: Darius Garland, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Daniel Gafford

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Love, Lauri Markkanen, Ricky Rubio, Montrezl Harrell, Spencer Dinwiddie

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Miami Heat @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting this one with the Heat, we’ve got some things to go over here… Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are both out in this one. Here is how this team operates with these two off the court this season and would be the guys I have the most interest in:

• Dewayne Dedmon – 15.8% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
• Tyler Herro – 32.3% usage rate; 1.18 fpm
• Kyle Lowry – 19.2% usage rate; 1.05 fpm

These three would be my main focal points in a great matchup with an Indiana team that hasn’t played much defense this season. You can make a case for Duncan Robinson as well for GPPs but is a bit too scoring-dependent for my liking in cash games. From the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis has been in better form as of late and this matchup isn’t as daunting with Bam and Butler out, I wouldn’t have a huge issue going back to him here although I think he’s priced right about where he should be. Malcolm Brogdon comes into this one in great form with at least 46 DraftKings points in back-to-back games but finally got that price boost we’ve been waiting for. He’s more of a secondary option at this price tag for me. Myles Turner returned last game had a really nice night, but we kind of know what we’re getting with him at this point, I’ll save him for GPPs. Then we get to the wing where they’ll be without TJ McConnell and Justin Holiday which opens up a ton of minutes for guys like Caris LeVert and Chris Duarte. We saw Duarte get the start last game and played 35 minutes and would be a guy I go like going right back to here. LeVert has been less than impressive over his last couple of games but with the minutes security, I’m going to like the spot again.

5-star play: Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Chris Duarte

4-star play: Dewayne Dedmon, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Duncan Robinson

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Philadelphia 76ers @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 213.5

Vegas Spread: Atl -1.5

Starting with the Sixers, I just want to start by talking a trade into existence… there were rumors today that the Nets were going to start listening to trade offers for Kyrie Irving. Wouldn’t a Ben Simmons for Kyrie straight-up swap make a hell of a lot of sense for both franchises? Let’s get that rumor going, but anyway, let’s get back to DFS! Joel Embiid bounced back nicely last time out against Boston and even had a bad shooting night. I have no issue going right back to him here, we know the ceiling is there with him as we saw a few games ago. Tobias Harris is more of a secondary option for me at this price tag, he’s priced as if 40 fantasy points is around his median outcome, and that’s not the case when Embiid is back. He will lose some production with Embiid back in the lineup. Tyrese Maxey has been the model of consistency up until the last game, I’m not going to look too much into it, however. The minutes will still be there for him and this is a nice matchup against a banged-up Hawks team. Then you can round this Sixers team out with Seth Curry as a tournament option. From the Hawks, Bogdan Bogdanovic will be out for this one and Cam Reddish comes in as questionable. With Bogdanovic out it at least opens up around 25ish minutes not to mention the additional minutes that would open up if Reddish were to miss. We’ll likely see an increase in minutes for guys like Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari while Kevin Huerter’s role becomes even more locked in, he may even slide over and take that Bogdanovic role as a whole. Gallinari got the biggest boost as he saw 29 minutes last time out and didn’t look too bad in those minutes. I think he’s interesting here depending on what sort of value opens up on this slate. Clint Capela had a rough go of it last time out and gets a tough matchup here against Embiid down low, I’ll probably leave him for GPPs at this price tag. John Collins is probably more of a GPP guy, but he’s been consistent as of late as well. Then we’ll round this team out with Trae Young who had a monster game last time out against the Pacers, this is a more difficult matchup but we know the upside is there with him.

5-star play: Joel Embiid

4-star play: Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Clint Capela, Trae Young, John Collins, Kevin Huerter

Deeper Value: Cam Reddish, Danilo Gallinari, Delon Wright

GPP Sleeper: Seth Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Delon Wright, John Collins

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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Wolves, Karl-Anthony Towns comes into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. For the time being, I’ll operate under the assumption that he plays and is a nice option here against this Nets frontcourt. Then we get to D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards who are producing extremely well right now which is why we’re not seeing those massive games from Towns. They’ve both seen price bumps as of late but would be guys that would directly benefit from Towns being out if he were to miss this one. With Towns and Beverley off the court this season Edwards has a 29.3% usage rate and 1.23 fantasy points per minute while Russell is at a 29.6% usage rate and 1.26 fantasy points per minute. Another guy that has really emerged as of late is Jarred Vanderbilt, he has at least 28 DraftKings points in five of his last seven and gets a good matchup here. Lastly, Patrick Beverley will continue to be out here, so we will have a bunch of minutes open up in the backcourt. Malik Beasley figures to see the increase in minutes, but I have a feeling we’ll have some better value open up as we get closer to lock. From the Nets, James Harden has seemed to found his legs going for at least 51 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and is a nice play here if you can find the salary for him. The same can be said for Kevin Durant, he’s not in quite the same form as Harden but they’re similarly priced. The matchup is great with the Wolves but at these price tags, I’m not sure how much meat is left on the bone for a GPP ceiling. LaMarcus Aldridge has struggled over his past couple of games but the frontcourt is his right now with Blake Griffin essentially out of the rotation. I’ve been targeting big men against this Wolves team all season long and would actually prefer Towns to be in due to how bad of a defender he is. Then you can round this slate out with Patty Mills as a GPP option.

5-star play: Karl-Anthony Towns, James Harden, Kevin Durant

4-star play: D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, LaMarcus Aldridge

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Patty Mills

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Orlando Magic @ Houston Rockets

Vegas Total: 216.5

Vegas Spread: Hou -2.5

Starting with the Magic, they got Cole Anthony back last time out and he played 37 minutes, so it’s pretty evident that he won’t be limited moving forward. This is a nice matchup for him and we know the upside is there, he’s been great all season. Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. are guys I’m going to like here as well, I love targeting big men against this Rockets frontcourt. Carter Jr. would probably be my cash option whereas Bamba I would save for GPPs due to his volatility. Franz Wagner has his role pretty locked in right now with Jalen Suggs now out, he’s played at least 33 minutes in four of his last five games and has been in great form. If he keeps producing like this, he’s pretty heavily underpriced. We’ll see guys like Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and Terrence Ross take over the Suggs minutes, but the obvious option for DFS is Harris at the moment, Hampton and Ross have been too volatile. Lastly, it’s worth noting that Chuma Okeke is slowly getting more minutes, I don’t think he’s playable yet but just keep an eye on him. From the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. comes into this one as questionable, so we’ll need to keep an eye on Breaking News Feed regarding his status. If he were to be out it would open up a bunch of minutes and usage for this team. Both Porter Jr. and Christian Wood got injured last game but it sounds like Wood will be good to go at the very least. This is a great matchup for him but the price has come all the way up to over $9k. He’s probably only a guy I would get to at that price in tournaments and if Porter Jr. were to sit. With these guys leaving early last game, Jae’Sean Tate had the game of his career going for 69.5 DraftKings points against the Thunder. I wouldn’t expect that again due to the seven steals/blocks he got, but would take on a big role in this offense should Porter Jr. sit. Eric Gordon is going to continue to play solid minutes but he’s a tournament-only guy due to the scoring volatility. We’ve seen Garrison Mathews play at least 32 minutes in three straight games, I wouldn’t have an issue with him here either while Jalen Green continues to be out. Lastly, Armoni Brooks had a big game last time out as well and will see minutes regardless but would become an elite value if Porter Jr. were to sit.

5-star play: Cole Anthony

4-star play: Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood

Deeper Value: Armoni Brooks

GPP Sleeper: Gary Harris, Mo Bamba, Chuma Okeke, Jae’Sean Tate, Eric Gordon, Garrison Mathews, Armoni Brooks

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New Orleans Pelicans @ Dallas Mavericks

Vegas Total: 218.0

Vegas Spread: Dal -7.5

Starting with Pelicans, Brandon Ingram is a fine option here but hasn’t been a guy that I’ve gotten to much this season, he just hasn’t been all that great relative to his price tag. Jonas Valanciunas put up a dud in this matchup last time out after going for 70 DraftKings points the game before. I love targeting big men against this Dallas team as well, so I have no issue going right back to him here in hopes his minutes stay over 30 again. Devonte’ Graham will be a guy I go back to as well, he’s not a $4.7k player like his DraftKings price indicates and he has 30 minutes in back-to-back games. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a fine tournament play given his upside, but not someone I would touch in cash games. I’ll have some interest in Josh Hart as well, but his volatility will keep him as strictly a tournament guy coming off a big game last time out, keep an eye on his status as well, he comes into this one as questionable. From Dallas, Luka Doncic has been fine as of late with at least 54 DraftKings points in seven straight games. However, with the price tag he has, I’d like to see him more consistently over that 60 point marker. That said, he’s still a great play here if the value on this slate opens up to a point where we can comfortably afford him in a great matchup with the Pelicans. He gets an even further boost if Kristaps Porzingis ends up sitting. Kristaps comes in as questionable, so we’ll keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on that ankle injury. Jalen Brunson is probably only a guy I would get to if Kristaps were to sit, he hasn’t looked the same since his injury a few games ago. Then you can round this team out with Maxi Kleber and Tim Hardaway Jr. as GPP options, Kleber would see a boost if Porzingis were to miss as well.

5-star play: Luka Doncic

4-star play: Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham, Kristaps Porzingis

Deeper Value: Maxi Kleber

GPP Sleeper: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Kristaps Porzingis, Jalen Brunson, Maxi Kleber, Tim Hardaway Jr.

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!

Boston Celtics @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 213.5

Vegas Spread: Utah -82.5

Starting with the Celtics, we get some definitive news on Jaylen Brown for once, he comes into this game ruled out which will open up some things on this offense. Jayson Tatum had a nice game last time out and has a 34.2% usage rate and 1.3 fantasy points per minute with Brown off the court this season. It’s a tough matchup but he’s a guy I think you can get to pretty easily here. Robert Williams had to deal with Embiid down low last time out and now he gets Rudy Gobert in the paint, it’s obviously a tough matchup, so I’ll leave him for GPPs. The same can be said for Al Horford who has back-to-back 30 point fantasy outings. Then lastly, Marcus Smart and Dennis Schroder are both guys that will see a boost with Brown out and become solid options in this spot. From Utah, Donovan Mitchell has been in pretty good form as of late, he has at least 44 FanDuel points in back-to-back games and gets a nice matchup here. Rudy Gobert finally bounced back last time out and gets a good matchup here against a Celtics team that has struggled on the boards this season. Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson are both fine options but I’m not sure how much we’ll need to get to them on this slate. Clarkson comes in in good form however with at least 29 DraftKings points in three of his last four. Then you can round this team out with tournament flyers in Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’Neale.

5-star play: Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell

4-star play: Robert Williams, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Dennis Schroder, Rudy Gobert

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Robert Williams, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale

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Phoenix Suns @ Golden State Warriors

Vegas Total: 217.5

Vegas Spread: Gsw -7.0

Starting with the Suns here, Devin Booker will be out again which will open up quite a bit in this offense. Chris Paul was a guy I liked a lot last night with Booker out but had a pretty average game with just 35 DraftKings points. With Booker off the court this season Paul is looking at a 22.2% usage rate and 1.29 fantasy points per game. I have no problem going right back to him here against the Warriors. We saw Landry Shamet start in his place and play 31 minutes on his way to 20 DraftKings points. He’s a fine option but is just so scoring dependent that I won’t be all that high on him at an increased price tag. Cam Johnson and Cameron Payne were guys that filled in nicely for Booker as well, both going for over 30 fantasy points and are guys you can make a case for as value options. Deandre Ayton dropped 47 DraftKings points on the Warriors last time these two teams played and gets an elite matchup as long as the Warriors don’t run him off the court by going small. Then you can round out the Suns with Mikal Bridges who has played a ton of minutes as of late, 41 to be exact in three straight games and is a solid option in all formats, although the price is coming up on him. From the Warriors, Steph Curry had a tough go of it against the Suns last time out but look for him to bounce back here. The Suns have a great defense, but Curry is matchup proof. The price is tough but he’s always in play for GPPs. Draymond Green is a fine option as well, he’ll have his hands full with Ayton down low but does enough all over the court to warrant this price tag. Andrew Wiggins has played some good basketball this season, he’s had a down game over his last two but I have no issue going back to him in GPPs. The same can be said for Jordan Poole who picked up some of Curry’s slack last time out going for 45 DraftKings points. Lastly, Otto Porter Jr. has been getting solid run pretty much out of nowhere and has at least 31 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, he’s an interesting dart throw in tournaments.

5-star play: Chris Paul, Steph Curry

4-star play: Landry Shamet, Cam Johnson, Cameron Payne, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins

Deeper Value: Cam Johnson, Cameron Payne

GPP Sleeper: Landry Shamet, Cam Johnson, Cameron Payne, Jordan Poole, Otto Porter Jr.

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NBA Lock of the Day: Tyler Herro (DK – $7.5k; FD – $7.0k)

The cover boy! As I mentioned in the breakdown of the Heat, they’ll be without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo today. With these guys off the court, Herro has a 32.3% usage rate and 1.18 fantasy points per minute. He also gets a great matchup which sets him over the top for me. The price tag is probably right where it should be, but the Pacers haven’t stopped any guards this season, so I love me some Tyler Herro tonight. 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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