DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Dec. 20th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/20:

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 @ Detroit Pistons

Vegas Total: 230.0

Vegas Spread: Uta -2.5

We’ll kick off this slate with the Jazz who will be without Collin Sexton while Kelly Olynyk likely comes in as questionable, but we haven’t received an injury report from them yet, so keep an eye on that news. Lauri Markkanen hasn’t been great relative to his current price tag and just feels overpriced. The matchup is nice and the ceiling is certainly there, but the floor is what gives me hesitancy in cash games. Jordan Clarkson has come down to Earth after his huge game against the Pelicans a few games ago, but the price tag isn’t all that bad in a great matchup against the Pistons. Jarred Vanderbilt has been held under 20 DraftKings points in three straight games and the price tag is tough to get to making him more of a tournament option as well, although he would likely see a boost if Olynyk were to sit. Mike Conley and Malik Beasley are similar plays to me due to their production and price tags, neither of them are priorities, but I wouldn’t have an issue with either on this slate. Then Walker Kessler continues to see good minutes and would be another guy who would benefit from Vanderbilt being out, he’s a solid option in all formats with at least 25 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. From the Pistons, they’re a bit of a mess and I don’t see a ton that I absolutely love here even in a great matchup. Bojan Bogdanovic is the highest price guy on DraftKings while Killian Hayes is $100 more on FanDuel… both guys will look fine here but we have to understand the volatility they both carry. Jalen Duren is a guy I do like quite a bit, the minutes have been trending in the right direction and he’s performed the best of their frontcourt options. He has at least 29 DraftKings points in three straight and looks great at his current price tag. Isaiah Stewart and Marvin Bagley are fine tournament options in the frontcourt too, but Duren is easily my favorite of the group. Then guys like Saddiq Bey and Alec Burks are fine GPP options, we can probably throw Jaden Ivey into that group as well.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Lauri Markannen, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, Kelly Olynyk, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren, Killian Hayes

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Mike Conley, Kelly Olynyk, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Saddiq Bey, Alec Burks, Jaden Ivey

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!

Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: 223.0

Vegas Spread: Mia -4.5

Starting with the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan bounced back nicely against the Timberwolves last time out but gets a tough matchup here in Miami. That said, he dropped 64.5 DraftKings points in this spot earlier in the season, so he can clearly get there and will look like a solid option in all formats. That game did come with LaVine off of the court for what it’s worth. Then I love the price tag on Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine as well, they both bounced back last time out and will make sense in all formats. Outside of these main three guys, it’s tough for me to prioritize a whole lot here, guys like Patrick Williams and Alex Caruso are fine options, but I would hope we get better value open up on this slate. I will throw Andre Drummond’s name out there again, he has 10x upside at this price tag, he’s not a guy I want a ton of, but he’s worth getting 5-10% of if you’re multi-entering. From Miami, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin come in as questionable, but I’ll operate under the assumption they’re both full go’s in this one. Jimmy Butler has been in good form and this is a great matchup against a struggling Bulls team. The price tag is absolutely massive on Tyler Herro which makes me a little nervous to go there, but it’s warranted, he has at least 40 FanDuel points in three straight. Bam Adebayo will look good as well, he’s not someone I’m looking to lock in or go too crazy on, but I’ll certainly have some exposure. Then that trio of Lowry, Martin, and Max Strus are all fine secondary options, if either Lowry or Martin sits, I could open up to Victor Oladipo as well so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed.

5-star play: DeMar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler

4-star play: Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Alex Caruso, Patrick Williams, Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, Max Strus

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Golden State Warriors @ New York Knicks

Vegas Total: 221.5

Vegas Spread: Nyk -6.0

Starting with the Warriors, they’ll continue to be without Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins, while Donte DiVincenzo comes in as doubtful as well. I would expect to see more minutes from Ty Jerome with DiVincenzo out and will make sense at his current price tag. Below is how this team operates with Curry and Wiggins off of the court this season:

• Jordan Poole – 35.1% usage rate; 1.20 fpm
• Jonathan Kuminga – 20.0% usage rate; 0.79 fpm
• Ty Jerome – 14.0% usage rate; 0.74 fpm
• Draymond Green – 14.3% usage rate; 0.83 fpm
• Klay Thompson – 23.2% usage rate; 0.94 fpm

These would be my favorite options on the team in a great matchup against the Knicks. Poole, Thompson, and Draymond all feel like they’re priced right about where they should be, so I don’t know if there’s a ton of meat on the bone with them, but they’re still firmly in play here. Kevon Looney has been in great form with at least 30 FanDuel points in three of his last five and is another guy that makes sense as a mid-range option. From the Knicks, the price tag on Julius Randle continues to climb, but for good reason. He’s averaging 49.4 DraftKings points per game over his last five and will look great again here against an undersized Warriors frontcourt. Jalen Brunson has been better as of late as well with at least 40 DraftKings points in three straight and is a guy I like going right back to here. RJ Barrett has been more volatile than we’re used to seeing this season, but has been better as of late and makes perfect sense in a pace-up game. Then Mitchell Robinson continues to outproduce his price tag as well and is another guy I like going back to… the Knicks look pretty good here as a whole.

5-star play: Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson

4-star play: Jordan Poole, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson

Deeper Value: Ty Jerome

GPP Sleeper: Jonathan Kuminga, Ty Jerome, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes

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Washington Wizards @ Phoenix Suns

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Pho -7.0

Starting with the Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis bounced back nicely last time out against the Lakers but gets a tougher matchup in this one. He’s probably more of a tournament option for me at this price tag, but I won’t talk you off of him in cash on a shorter slate. Kyle Kuzma continues to look great and is playing all the minutes he can handle, he’s a solid secondary option as well as his price tag continues to hang in the upper-$8k range. I really like the price tag on Bradley Beal here, he returned to play 32 minutes last time out, so I don’t imagine he’ll be restricted moving forward. He has a 27.1% usage rate and 1.11 fantasy points per minute on the season. Deni Avdija came down to Earth with Beal back last time out and lost a good chunk of minutes, I’ll probably be off of him until his price adjusts. Jordan Goodwin and Monte Morris are fine options in the mid-range, but not guys I’m prioritizing by any means. From the Suns, we don’t have an injury report on them quite yet but I would imagine Devin Booker returns on the back end of a back-to-back here. He’s coming off of an absolutely massive game against the Pelicans and would be a guy I like going right back to in this one. Chris Paul has at least 50 DraftKings points in two of his last three games and makes sense in all formats as well. Deandre Ayton returned last night and played 26 minutes, partially due to a blowout, I expect he gets back to his full minutes in this one, and makes sense in all formats. Then Mikal Bridges and Torrey Craig are fine mid-range options as well.

5-star play: Devin Booker

4-star play: Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma, Bradley Beal, Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jordan Goodwin, Monte Morris, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig

Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 234.0

Vegas Spread: Mem -1.5

Starting with the Grizzlies, Ja Morant was ejected last game, so don’t let that game log block you from how great he’s been. He has at least 57 DraftKings points in three of his previous four and will continue to look great again in this spot. Jaren Jackson has been a bit more volatile as of late and gets a tougher matchup with Jokic and this Nuggets’ frontcourt, but we know the upside is there for tournaments. Dillon Brooks had a nice game last time out and has a 27.7% usage rate and 0.97 fantasy points per minute with Desmond Bane off of the court this season. I can’t pay this price tag for Tyus Jones, I just don’t love paying that kind of salary for a backup point guard who generally sees 20-25 minutes. I do like Steven Adams here, they’ll need his size down low and hast at least 27 DraftKings points in three straight games. Then Brandon Clarke will make sense as a tournament option. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic has at least 80 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is just steamrolling opposing teams, he’s an elite spend-up option once again. Jamal Murray comes in as questionable so we’ll have to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on him as we get closer to lock, but he’ll make sense in all formats if he’s able to give it a go. Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown will continue to benefit from Porter Jr. being out as well and should keep playing all the minutes they can handle. Then Bones Hyland is more of a GPP dart than anything, but on a short slate, he definitely has the upside.

5-star play: Ja Morant, Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, Jaren Jackson, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, Bruce Brown, Bones Hyland

NBA Lock of the Day: Jalen Brunson (DK – $7.2k; FD – $7.8k)

Brunson has been in much better form with at least 40 DraftKings/38 FanDuel points in three straight games and the price tag hasn’t really moved. The thing I love about him tonight is the matchup against a Warriors team that has struggled as of late but is still playing extremely fast. This is a +3.3 pace-up spot for the Knicks as they matchup with the fastest team in the league. 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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