NBA DFS Expert Survey: Wednesday, December 17th

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2025-12-17 23:15:06 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 12/17 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 Wednesday, December 17

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

tcsmith031: Donovan Mitchell
Dean78904: Donovan Mitchell
ncorfield8k: Donovan Mitchell

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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?

tcsmith031: I’ll play both single-entry and 20-max GPPs. I think setting lineup rules is crucial on a small slate like this one, especially for managing ownership. With Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Lonzo Ball all likely to come in as popular plays, setting a max-2 for that group makes sense. I doubt we’re getting GPP-winning ceiling performances from all 3 of them in the same game, and the rule helps to lower the overall ownership product of lineups. I also don’t mind rolling the dice on some of the cheap Memphis value, especially if Ja Morant winds up sitting out.

Dean78904: I only make a few main lineups and mostly focus on single-entry and smaller-field type contests. We only have 4 teams playing, and as things stand right now, there are little to no value plays, so I’ll likely gravitate to making game stacks with the hope I land on a game that is tight and dodge a blowout. CLE/CHI is my preferred game, so I’ll likely be stacking it up in my main lineup with a greater emphasis on the Cavs. Cleveland is my favorite team to target. I expect to roster at least one of Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland in most, if not every, lineup I make.

ncorfield8k: Large-field tournaments — It’s easy to load up on all the best plays since there is decent value and no very expensive options. I will lean into game-stacking. There is also no late swapping since both games start at the same time. I’m more inclined to use our NBA DFS sims when I don’t need to worry about late swap.

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

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