NBA DFS Picks
Every Wednesday, I’ll be diving into a loaded NBA schedule to find you some legitimate difference makers for the DraftKings main slate — with the help of our NBA Advanced Metrics, NBA Optimizer and NBA DraftKings Projections pages.
What you’ll see when you come to this weekly column are our four favorite values of the night. Whether that’s an All-Star that is priced too low and is bound to explode or an absolute bargain that is capable of supporting your high-scoring studs, this is where you’ll want to look before submitting your lineups.
Last week, we lost Coby White to the COVID-19 health and safety protocols, but the three other picks we made with him absolutely balled out. Kevin Love ($5,700), Gary Harris ($5,100), and Darius Bazley ($4,100) combined to put up 109.75 fantasy points on DraftKings, and they did so at very reasonable prices. If you had them in your lineups, you likely did pretty well on the evening — especially considering how much money you would have had leftover to spend on a superstar.
With last week of the way, check out our best values for the 9-game NBA slate on Wednesday, December 29, when the Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks face the Sacramento Kings in an NBA TV doubleheader:
Frank Jackson, Detroit Pistons (vs. New York Knicks) – $5,300
Until Cade Cunningham returns for the Pistons, Frank Jackson is going to be a large part of what Detroit does. Over the last two games, Jackson is averaging 18.0 points per game and he has added a total of six rebounds, six made threes, three assists, two steals and a block over those two contests. The 23-year-old guard has also put up a total of 56.5 fantasy points in DraftKings in his last two games, and he’ll now look to keep it rolling against the Knicks.
New York currently made the move back to Kemba Walker at the point guard position — mostly out of necessity — and that is a big boost for the Knicks offense, but it’s also a negative change for the team’s defense. Walker is a miserable point-of-attack defender, and he just might be the one that ends up defending Jackson in this game. If that’s the case, look for Jackson to once again flirt with 18 or so points, and don’t be surprised if he fills up the stat sheet in other ways, too. Jackson is a good outside shooter and has the ability to rack up steals.
Coby White, Atlanta Hawks (vs. Toronto Raptors) – $4,500
We had Coby White in this column a week ago and he ended up being forced out of action due to COVID-19 — which is something you need to be monitoring at all times if you’re playing daily fantasy during these dark days. The reality is that the Bulls need White now more than ever, as the team is depleted by injuries and the league’s health and safety protocols.
White comes into this game after having played 29.0 minutes per game over the last two games, and he has taken at least 10 shots in each of those two contests. Sure, the point guard is no longer viewed as one of the team’s franchise cornerstones anymore, but White has a role as Chicago’s sixth man right now. He’ll have the green light to fire away every time he’s on the court, and he’s more than capable of knocking down some shots while also chipping in with assists and steals.
The matchup for the Bulls is also a solid one, as the Raptors are just 20th in the league in defensive rating. There’s not much preventing White from having a good game, and his price is extremely reasonable here.
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers (vs. Utah Jazz) – $5,000
Nassir Little was once a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school, but he is now getting a chance to play big minutes in the pros. At the moment, Little finds himself as a key member of Portland’s rotation and he has been taking advantage of his extended minutes recently.
On Monday, Little had 20 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and two assists in 33 minutes of action against the Dallas Mavericks. Little had 45.0 fantasy points on DraftKings in that one, marking the second game in a row in which he broke the 30-point mark — which is really all you can ask for when taking somebody at this price.
Expectations are now a little higher for Little, who is likely in for another 30 or so minutes of action against the Jazz. Utah plays excellent defense on most nights, but that doesn’t mean Little can’t produce against them. He should be able to get himself all over the box score simply because of how hard he plays on a nightly basis.
Jalen Smith, Phoenix Suns (vs. Oklahoma City Thunder) – $3,400
With Deandre Ayton in the health and safety protocols for the Suns, the popular play at center will be going with JaVale McGee. The veteran big man has had a great season for Phoenix thus far, and he is the one that is starting in Ayton’s absence. However, Jalen Smith is arguably the better bang for your buck in daily fantasy right now.
On Monday, Smith played 29 minutes in Phoenix’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, and the young big man had 15 points and nine rebounds in that game. It ended up being a 28.25-point night for the former Maryland center in fantasy and there should be plenty of minutes on the table for him in this game.
With the Suns playing against the Thunder, there aren’t many matchups that Smith won’t be able to handle in this game. He’s an energetic big that likes to shoot the three, and he has what it takes to hold his own against everybody Oklahoma City can throw at him.
Also, if the Suns end up blowing out the Thunder in this contest, it is Smith that will end up playing the minutes later in this contest. Phoenix wants the youngster to get as many game reps as possible, as it’d only benefit this team if Smith is able to add anything off the bench later in the season. With that in mind, Smith might be able to impact this game in garbage time.
