NBA DFS Expert Survey: Friday, December 26th

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2025-12-26 20:03:12 Premium Content Part of the product NBA DFS

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on NBA DFS today for the 12/26 main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. They’re ready to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial lineup-building decisions. Curious to know headChopper’s favorite tournament play? Or perhaps you’re wondering about Noto’s favorite salary saver? Read their thoughts below!

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Friday, December 26

Who is your favorite player to spend up for in cash games?

Notorious: Paolo Banchero
Dean78904: Cade Cunningham (FD) / Jalen Johnson (DK)
ncorfield8k: Trae Young (FD) / Brandon Ingram (DK)

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What is your preferred tournament format (e.g. large-field, single-entry) to play on this slate? How do you plan to beat that field of opponents? What tactic or strategy will set you apart?

Notorious: I prefer small-field and single-entry tournaments, which means I can eat a lot of chalk. Like most of the field, I will be loading up on the Heat against the Hawks. They are without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, yet they still have a team total that’s higher than their season average. I love Norman Powell, Kel’el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez. I’ll look to differentiate at the center position on both sites.

Dean78904: I only make a few main lineups and mostly focus on single-entry and smaller-field-type contests. I expect to shrink the slate and really zoom in on my favorite teams. My main lineup will almost definitely be an MIA/ATL stack that features Jalen Johnson and/or Onyeka Okongwu and up to 3-4 Heat players. I expect to surround this team with at least one player on Toronto and Orlando, who are two of my favorite targets outside of the MIA/ATL game.

ncorfield8k: Large-field tournaments – There’s not a lot of great value on the slate, so I’ll be playing a lot of mid-price plays rather than stars-and-scrubs. As usual, I’ll lean into players on teams in pace-up spots, like the Sixers against the Bulls and the Heat against the Hawks.

Who is your favorite play (when considering price, matchup, roster construction, etc.) on the board and why?

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