NBA DFS Picks Today (12/16): DraftKings & FanDuel Top Plays, Sleepers
There’s an exciting 9-game slate on both FanDuel and DraftKings on Saturday night. Unfortunately, there are still a plethora of injuries we’re waiting on updates for, so this will definitely not be the type of night you can set and forget about your lineup. We’re currently waiting on questionable tags for Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George, as well as multiple Hawks and Jazz. It’ll be important to tune into Crunch Time tonight with Tim Buell and me to help break down the last-minute injury news.
Top NBA DFS DraftKings Lineup Optimizer Value
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PG/SG – Donovan Mitchell ($9,400)
In all formats, on all sites, give me as many Cleveland Cavaliers as possible tonight. Donovan Mitchell is the clear priority against a Hawks team that is one of the fastest and worst defensive teams in all of basketball. The Cavs have an implied total over 10 points higher than their season average while also being without Evan Mobley and Darius Garland tonight. Mitchell is heavily underpriced on DraftKings for the role he’s getting tonight, and there’s a legitimate chance he ends up as the highest raw fantasy point scorer of the night at a massive discount from players like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid.
Top NBA DFS FanDuel Lineup Optimizer Value
PF/C – Jarrett Allen ($7,100)
Sticking with the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen is one of the very best plays on the slate. While I also like him on DraftKings where he’s even cheaper, FanDuel is where he’s my preferred target. The additional positional flexibility that comes with Allen on FanDuel makes it incredibly easy to get him in as many lineups as possible. He projects for just under 40 fantasy points tonight, making him the best RG Value on the slate cheaper than $10,000. The Hawks have a legitimate center on the court for almost the entire 48 minutes, and Allen could push for a season-high in minutes without Mobley if this game stays close.
NBA DFS Sleepers
PF/C – Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,600 FanDuel, $8,700 DraftKings)
As much as I just raved about the matchup for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Minnesota Timberwolves are actually in an even better spot. The Pacers play at the fastest pace in basketball and are the 3rd-worst defensive team in the league. Towns currently projects for single-digit ownership on both FanDuel and DraftKings, and as everything stands right now, he’s a great, sneaky tournament play. However, if Anthony Edwards is out, Towns becomes maybe the best play on the entire slate. This game comes an hour after lock tonight and there’s a legitimate chance we don’t get Anthony Edwards news before lock. On a night that features 9 games, NFL, NHL, and MMA, there’s a good chance people aren’t as quick to their late swaps as usual. Towns is a fantastic low-risk, high-reward play in a great spot.
PG/SG – Stephen Curry ($8,700 FanDuel, $9,200 DraftKings)
Speaking of players with a low projected ownership and a lot of upside, enter Stephen Curry. The Warriors are in the midst of an uncomfortable transition as Draymond Green is suspended and their veterans aren’t playing up to the caliber the team is used to. Outside of Curry, that is. He’s still the leader of this team playing mid-30s minutes in a strong matchup against the Nets. This team is on the outside looking in regarding the playoff hunt at the moment and needs to up their play as soon as possible to have a shot. Their poor play has dropped Curry’s price significantly on both FanDuel and DraftKings. He has the potential to break the slate anytime he gets hot, and tonight may be the lowest owned we see him with this affordable of price.