NBA DFS Expert Survey: Monday, December 22nd

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2025-12-22 19:09:22 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 12/22 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 Monday, December 22

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

Notorious: Jalen Williams (FD) / Anthony Davis (DK)
headChopper: Anthony Davis
TJ Zwarych: Anthony Davis

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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 tournaments. The goal for me tonight is to find enough value to fit Nikola Jokic into my lineups. He has the best matchup on the slate (Jazz are dead last in both points allowed per game and defensive rating) and a low ownership projection. We are still waiting on some news according to the NBA injury report, so I’m hoping more value opens up.

headChopper: With the way this slate is spread out, I just want to run a single lineup and stick it into smaller-field GPPs that have limited entries. With only one lineup, you can’t play everyone who projects well, so fades are inevitable. Nikola Jokic is most likely a fade for me, and instead, my spend-up will be either Anthony Davis or Cade Cunningham. When building just one lineup, I’m also looking for reasons to eliminate entire games or teams from my pool. ORL/GS could turn ugly and slow, and MEM/OKC has blowout risk, so those are the types of games I’m likely to remove right away.

TJ Zwarych: I’ll just be playing one lineup in single-entry contests, and I like the idea of fading Nikola Jokic while playing the backup cheap options for the Jazz as salary savers, hoping for a blowout. Isaiah Collier is my first choice, but I’ll also pair him with more of the Jazz if Lauri Markkanen is ruled out. I like taking the same approach with the Thunder against the Grizzlies, as I’ll load up on the bench players, such as Ajay Mitchell, hoping they get extended run in the 4th quarter.

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