DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/19:

Dec 18, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell (0) reacts after being called for a foul against the Chicago Bulls during the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

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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Utah Jazz @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Vegas Total: 222.0

Vegas Spread: Cle -6.0

We’ll kick off this slate with the Jazz, they’ll continue to be without Collin Sexton which is negated by Mike Conley moving back into the starting lineup… who hasn’t exactly been great since returning. Lauri Markkanen is a fine option but I just don’t love the price tag, he almost needs a ceiling game in order to pay off this salary… and the matchup stinks against a good Cavs defense. Jordan Clarkson came down to Earth last time out after a huge game against the Pelicans. The price tag did come down nicely on him, however. Kelly Olynyk comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates regarding him, but he’s in a similar group of guys that are going to struggle with Allen and Mobley down low. Malik Beasley has been fine as of late but the price is up and I’m not sure I’ll want to go back to him on this slate, he’s more of a secondary option for me. Then we can round this team out with Jarred Vanderbilt who came down to Earth last time out, but they’ll need his size in this one especially if Olynyk or Walker Kessler gets into any sort of foul trouble. Speaking of Kessler, he’s been in good form as well and is getting consistent run. From the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell gets a revenge game against his old squad in this one and will be a guy I like getting to even after a down game last time out, that said, he has at least 47 DraftKings points in three of his last five. Darius Garland has been in awesome form as well with a huge game last time out against the Mavs. I have no issue going right back to him here in a nice matchup. Jarrett Allen bounced back nicely last time out and has a nice price tag as well, he’s a guy I like going back to. Evan Mobley has been extremely consistent as of late as well and is a solid secondary option. Then guys like Kevin Love and Caris LeVert are more tournament darts than anything due to the volatility they both bring to the table.

5-star play: Donovan Mitchell

4-star play: Lauri Markannen, Jordan Clarkson, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley

Deeper Value: Kevin Love

GPP Sleeper: Mike Conley, Kelly Olynyk, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kevin Love, Caris LeVert

Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!

Toronto Raptors @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 223.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -7.0

Starting with the Raptors, they’ll be without OG Anunoby yet again while Gary Trent Jr. comes in as questionable after missing their game yesterday, so we’ll have to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. Pascal Siakam hasn’t been in the best form being held under 40 FanDuel points in four straight and gets a tough matchup with Embiid down low in this one. He’s probably more of a tournament option for me, although his price tag is starting to come down, especially on FanDuel. Fred VanVleet has been on a heater with at least 42 DraftKings points in four straight games and makes complete sense in all formats again in this one. Scottie Barnes kept it rolling last time out as well and makes a ton of sense here. The rest of this team would be more GPP darts than anything, but Trent Jr. would be someone who would play a ton of minutes if he’s able to give it a go in place of Anunoby. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid kept it rolling last time out against the Warriors and now has at least 62 DraftKings points in three of his last four… it’s not my favorite matchup, but he’s matchup-proof right now and looks like one of the best spend-up options on the slate. James Harden has been extremely consistent since returning from injury and makes perfect sense yet again here. Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton have been in good form surprisingly enough and are fine secondary options, I never really love prioritizing them when Harden and Embiid are in there, but if you fall on them you could certainly do worse. Then Shake Milton is a fine dart throw, but I can’t imagine I get there much on this slate.

5-star play: Fred VanVleet, Joel Embiid

4-star play: Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, James Harden, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Gary Trent Jr., Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, Shake Milton

Orland Magic @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 229.5

Vegas Spread: Atl -7.5

Starting with the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr., Chuma Okeke, and Jalen Suggs are all nearing a return and come in as questionable here. I’ll operate under the assumption that they’re either out or have a minutes restriction that will keep me off of them regardless until we see the minutes there for them. Paolo Banchero had a nice game last time out and has been in good form as of late with at least 42 DraftKings points in three of his previous four, I wouldn’t have an issue going right back to him here. Franz Wagner is fine, but not a guy I feel the need to prioritize. Moritz Wagner, on the other hand, continues to play good minutes and makes plenty of sense in the mid-range. Bol Bol is more of a GPP option due to the volatility we’ve seen from him as of late. Then guys like Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz are more tournament options than anything, but I love the matchup with this Hawks backcourt that I’ve been targeting with opposing guards all season long. From the Hawks, Clint Capela will remain out in this one but Dejounte Murray and John Collins come in as questionable after missing a good chunk of time. I’m going to operate similarly to those Magic guys and assume they’re out until they’re not anymore (seems pretty obvious hey?). Onyeka Okongwu should continue to start for Capela and is a guy I like going right back to here, he has a 14.7% usage rate and 0.95 fantasy points per minute with him off of the court this season. Trae Young has been in good form as of late as well and is a guy I like again here, the Magic don’t exactly have a shutdown defense. Bogdan Bogdanovic has at least 42 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and although I don’t expect him to shoot 7-10 from three-point range again, I still like going right back to the well in this one. Then De’Andre Hunter should continue to play all the minutes he can handle and makes sense as a secondary option.

5-star play: Paolo Banchero, Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu

4-star play: Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Bol Bol, Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz

Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 224.0

Vegas Spread: Por -8.0

Starting with the Blazers, Damian Lillard bounced back nicely last time out against the Rockets and now has at least 48 FanDuel points in four of his last six games. Anfernee Simons is priced a bit too high for me with Dame back in the rotation, so he’ll be more of a tournament guy even coming off of a nice game last time out. Jerami Grant has been much more volatile as of late relative to his price tag. We know the minutes will be there but I just don’t love the price, so he’s more of a secondary option for me… he also comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on him. Jusuf Nurkic has cooled off a bit as of late, but again, this is a great bounce-back spot for most of this team. He should do whatever he wants down low in this one against this Thunder frontcourt. Josh Hart comes in as probable, he will look like a nice mid-range option to round out this team. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey will be out along with Jeremiah Robinson-Earl which will open up a ton of minutes and opportunities tonight. I would imagine we see guys like Isaiah Joe and Eugene Omoruyi stick in the starting lineup while Jalen Williams probably moves up to the guard position. Joe and Omoruyi have looked solid and make sense at their respective price tags. We need to figure out what Aleksej Pokusevski did to warrant not getting a ton of minutes with how shorthanded they are… obviously he got an eye/face injury that hurt his minutes last time out but there’s no reason he shouldn’t see 30 minutes tonight. The price tag is still low and he’ll be a guy I go back to in a nice matchup. Jalen Williams struggled last time out but he’s a guy that has seen consistent minutes and would be someone I like going right back to. Then Lu Dort has a 28.3% usage rate and 1.12 fantasy points per minute with Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey off of the court this season and will look like a nice option again in this one.

5-star play: Damian Lillard

4-star play: Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic, Isaiah Joe, Eugene Omoruyi, Aleksej Pokusevski, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams

Deeper Value: Eugene Omoruyi, Aaron Wiggins

GPP Sleeper: Josh Hart, Eugene Omoruyi, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams

Milwaukee Bucks @ New Orleans Pelicans

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Mil -1.0

Starting with the Bucks, they’ll be without Khris Middleton again in this one as we saw on Saturday. Below is how this team operates with Middleton off of the court this season:

Giannis Antetokounmpo –38.9% usage rate; 1.70 fpm
Jrue Holiday – 26.4% usage rate; 1.26 fpm
Bobby Portis – 22.2% usage rate; 1.19 fpm
Brook Lopez – 18.3% usage rate; 1.01 fpm
Grayson Allen – 15.6% usage rate; 0.81 fpm

I would expect Jevon Carter sticks in the starting lineup with Middleton out as we saw last time out, but it will open up more minutes for Pat Connaughton as well. Anytime we get a competitive game I’m going to have interest in the main guys on the Bucks due to the minutes they should see that they normally don’t in blowouts, particularly on a guy like Giannis. I will mention, Joe Ingles is expected to make his debut here, but no real interest for me, he’s been out a while and isn’t a huge DFS producer in the first place. From the Pelicans, they’ll continue to be without Brandon Ingram. We’ll continue to see Herb Jones and Trey Murphy in the starting lineup with him out. Below is how this team operates with Ingram off of the court this season:

Zion Williamson – 29.7% usage rate; 1.38 fpm
CJ McCollum – 26.7% usage rate; 1.04 fpm
Trey Murphy – 16.0% usage rate; 0.78 fpm
Jonas Valanciunas – 24.5% usage rate; 1.13 fpm
Dyson Daniels – 11.9% usage rate; 0.77 fpm
Herb Jones – 16.5% usage rate; 0.82 fpm

I like the pace we should see in this one, as both teams will look to run and gun a bit, and seeing Giannis and Zion on the court at the same time is going to be appointment television. I’m kind of sick of riding the Jonas Valanciunas train, so I can’t say I love him here even as his price tag continues to fall. That said, he does produce nicely on a per-minute basis if he can stay out of foul trouble and get the minutes. The Pels will be without Larry Nance Jr. in this one as well which may help secure the minutes on Joe Val.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson

4-star play: Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, Jonas Valanciunas

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Dyson Daniels, Herb Jones, Jonas Valanciunas

Dallas Mavericks @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 228.0

Vegas Spread: Dal -3.5

Starting with the Mavs, Luka Doncic comes in as questionable after missing their last game while Spencer Dinwiddie should return here. I’ll operate under the assumption that Luka is a go here, but obviously, keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. Doncic will be right up there with the other spend-up options as a viable play assuming we can find some value to get up to these guys, he’s going to look great again. Christian Wood has at least 50 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and is starting to see more consistent minutes with Maxi Kleber out. The matchup with Gobert down low isn’t the best but he’s a solid option again here even at an elevated price tag. Assuming Doncic is back I think we can jump off of the Kemba Walker train now that his price tag has doubled, Dinwiddie being back will hurt him as well. Speaking of Dinwiddie, he’s a fine GPP option but not a guy I’m forcing in by any means. Then Tim Hardaway is a fine tournament option as well, he’s been in pretty good form as of late. From the Wolves, they’ll continue to be without Karl-Anthony Towns while Rudy Gobert comes in as questionable again. We saw Naz Reid get the start in their last two games before leaving the game early last night. Assuming he starts again for Gobert, I have no issue going right back to the well with him. Anthony Edwards had a massive game last night going for 67 DraftKings points, he’s going to be a strong option again in this one. Guys like Kyle Anderson and Jaylen Nowell aren’t sexy plays by any means, but they’ve both produced nicely as of late and make sense in all formats. Then D’Angelo Russell kept it rolling last night as well and makes sense in all formats.

5-star play: Luka Doncic

4-star play: Christian Wood, Spencer Dinwiddie, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell, Kyle Anderson

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Christian Wood, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jaylen Nowell

San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets

Vegas Total: 227.0

Vegas Spread: Hou -4.0

Starting with the Spurs, Keldon Johnson comes in as questionable, so we’ll need to watch the Breaking News Feed for updates regarding him, but the rest of this team comes in fairly healthy, at least the guys that are DFS relevant. Johnson feels a bit overpriced right now, but the matchup is nice, so I’ll consider him a tournament guy if he does end up playing. Devin Vassell hasn’t been in the best form over their last few games either, but again, this is a great bounce-back spot. Jakob Poeltl returned last time out but only played 21 minutes, so he’s going to be more of a GPP guy moving forward until we see those minutes return to usual. Tre Jones feels overpriced as well, this team just feels hard for me to get to on this slate. From the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. came down to Earth last time out and has shown some volatility as of late. That being said, I love attacking the Spurs with opposing guards, so he’s going to look like a nice option in all formats. Alperen Sengun has been a lot more volatile as of late and gets a tougher matchup down low with Poeltl in this one, he’ll be more of a tournament guy for me. Jalen Green is similar to Porter Jr., he has at least 40 DraftKings points in two of his last four and I love the price tag in this matchup. Jabari Smith Jr. has shown some volatility on the season, which is to be expected from a rookie, but he has a 17.8% usage rate and 0.83 fantasy points per minute on the season. Then Eric Gordon should continue to see all the minutes he can handle and looks like a good option as a value piece here.

5-star play: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green

4-star play: Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Alperen Sengun

Deeper Value: Eric Gordon

GPP Sleeper: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Jakob Poeltl, Jabari Smith, Eric Gordon

Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns

Vegas Total: 231.0

Vegas Spread: Pho -9.5

Starting with the Lakers, they’ll be without Anthony Davis for the near future, I would expect to see Thomas Bryant start in his place, and his price tag hasn’t really budged on DraftKings… he’s going to look like an elite option yet again. Below is how this team operates with Davis off of the court this season:

LeBron James – 33.9% usage rate; 1.52 fpm
Russell Westbrook – 30.4% usage rate; 1.29 fpm
Thomas Bryant – 19.7% usage rate; 1.15 fpm
Dennis Schroder – 20.7% usage rate; 0.88 fpm

These would be my favorite options on the Lakers, but it’s mostly LeBron, Westbrook, and Bryant for me. I would imagine Bryant is a guy I get a bunch of on this slate on DraftKings, but he’s firmly in play on FanDuel as well. I do think Schroder and Lonnie Walker are viable as well at their current price tags. From the Suns, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton come in as questionable here, I’m going to operate under the assumption that they’re good to go… but Ayton has missed their last few games, so he’s the name I’d focus in on. Booker had an absolutely massive game last time out and would be a guy I go right back to here. Any time Chris Paul matches up with LeBron on the other end I’ll have interest due to the relationship these guys have, they’ll be looking to play well against each other which sounds like an odd narrative but Paul averaged 38.5 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Lakers last season. I’ll never have an issue playing Mikal Bridges, he’s going to play all the minutes he can handle and will look great again here. Then, Bismack Biyombo is going to become extremely interesting if Ayton is forced to sit with Jock Landale already ruled out… he would see a ton of minutes and would look like an elite value option.

5-star play: LeBron James, Thomas Bryant (DraftKings), Devin Booker

4-star play: Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker, Thomas Bryant (FanDuel), Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges

Deeper Value: Thomas Bryant (DraftKings)

GPP Sleeper: Torrey Craig

Charlotte Hornets @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 240.5

Vegas Spread: Sac -10.0

Starting with the Hornets, LaMelo Ball kept it rolling last time out and hasn’t really been restricted since returning from injury. I love going right back to him here, he has legit triple-double upside at a nice price tag… huge implied total in this one as well. Guys like Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre are a bit overpriced for me as this team begins to get healthy with Ball and Gordon Hayward re-entering the rotation. Speaking of Hayward, he saw 35 minutes last night and will look good again here if he can give it a go on the back end of a back-to-back. Mason Plumlee has been sneaky consistent as of late and is a solid mid-range center option on this slate. Then I think PJ Washington is interesting as well due to the upside he brings at a nice price tag in a fast-paced game. From the Kings, Domantas Sabonis has been in elite form and has at least 55 DraftKings points in three of his last four games… he’s going to look like a great option against a Hornets frontcourt that has been destroyed by opposing big men this season. De’Aaron Fox has been solid as well and makes plenty of sense at this price tag. Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes have been in good form and are seeing all the minutes they can handle again, the matchup is awesome, so they’ll look like great mid-range options. Malik Monk would be more of a tournament option due to the volatility he’s shown as of late but is firmly in play regardless. Then Keegan Murray will continue to see big minutes but has volatile production making him more of a tournament guy as well. There will be plenty to get to in this late hammer game!

5-star play: LaMelo Ball, Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox

4-star play: Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray

NBA Lock of the Day: Thomas Bryant (DK – $4.2k; FD – $5.8k)

I’m going right back to the well on Bryant, he was my lock of the day yesterday and his price hasn’t moved. The DraftKings price tag is just wrong while FanDuel is much better it should help limit his ownership but is still firmly in play at this price tag. Anthony Davis is going to be out for the near future meaning Bryant will start and has averaged around 1.2 fantasy points per minute with Davis off of the court this season. 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!

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