Small slates mean fewer options. Today there are seven games total, six being on the main slate. With so few games, stacking will prove to be an effective strategy, so don't be afraid to plug multiple players from the same team into your lineup. There are plenty of options tonight and I predict an unhealthy amount of buckets in every game. There are some heavy-hitters in play Saturday and you need to make sure you pick the right ones.

Read on for the best daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for FanDuel (12/17/16). The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers.The players I advise are the players that are in my lineup so if it all goes downhill, I'll be tumbling down right next to you. Let's get rolling…

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FanDuel DFS Guards

Kemba Walker - PG, vs. ($7,400) 

The Hornets lost to the Celtics without Kemba Walker Friday night and against the Hawks, Walker will need to carry most of the workload. Assuming the rest of the Hornets will be a little tired, Walker will be fresh and has a favorable matchup against Dennis Schroder. Walker should willingly carry the team and is likely to go off against a defense that has been fairly weak against opposing backcourts recently. It does help the Hawks are on the second night of a back-to-back as well, and Walker will be the freshest player on both squads. I'm hoping he makes a ‘All-Star-esque’ statement and drops the angriest of buckets out of everyone while in Atlanta. Walker shines in the spotlight and has some of his higher scoring games on the road. For his price, he should exceed value and then some.

Brandon Jennings - PG, @ DEN  ($5,000) 

Depending on who draws the start, both Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose have upside. Surprisingly, Brandon Jennings is the better option here, simply because he has played well as the starter and will not be dealing with an injury. Rose has been doing well when he plays but it's hard to comfortably throw $6,300 into a player that might not play more than 15-20 minutes. Jennings should start and the Nuggets backcourt is bad. Playing a Knicks point guard wouldn't be the worst idea.

Zach Lavine - SG, vs. HOU ($6,300)

Going against teams that are on the second night of a back-to-back allow usually unlikely plays to have enough upside to make them worth their price tags. In this case, the Timberwolves should run all over a Rockets team that is coming off a 22-point win against the Pelicans. Zach Lavine covers the court better than any player and has an engine unlike anyone else. Expect plenty of breakaway dunks while the Timberwolves cruise to a victory. James Harden and the Rockets will keep it decently close but the Timberwolves, especially Lavine should have a great fantasy game.

Also Consider:  Eric Gordon - SG, @ MIIN ($5,600)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Gorgui Dieng- PF, vs ($5,800) 

I had to choose between writing about Gorgui Dieng or Andrew Wiggins, so I went with the cheaper pick. Like I said before, stacking the Minnesota / Houston game wouldn't be a bad idea and it should be a really close game. When the Timberwolves play well, their starters play well. The starting five easily gets 30+ minutes and all take plenty of shots. Dieng has been shooting well lately and has been great for the spacing of this team. I'm just saying, I don't think anyone would blame you for taking four ‘Wolves with tonight's slate.

Kevin Durant - SF, vs. POR ($9,900) 

You could go go either Kevin Durant or LeBron James here, but I have to give the advantage to Durant. He's usually good for at least 40 FPS on a bad night and this should be a type of bounce-back game after only scoring 15 on 7-18 shooting against the Knicks. (Even though he only scored 15, Durant still had a solid fantasy outing by grabbing plenty of rebounds) Speaking of the Knicks, now that Durant admitted he is a 7-footer, he is a must-play, just like...

Kristaps Porzingis - PF, @ DEN ($8,000)

Kristaps Porzingis got SHUT DOWN but Draymond. As a Knick fan, every shot was worse than the one before it and I'm just happy he kept going at him. It was a moral victory. Anyway, this should be a major bounce-back matchup for Zingy and the Nuggets are exploitable, defensively. While Carmelo Anthony struggles, Porzingis has taken the reigns of the offense recently and before the Warriors game, went for 34 against the Suns before fouling out. He has been tearing it up and it should start back up against Denver.

Also Consider: Andrew Wiggins - SF, vs. HOU ($6,400)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Tristan Thompson - C, vs. LAL ($4,900) 

Using the Center spot for value is an effective strategy because the right pick can rack up points and rebounds. In this case, I assume Timofey Mozgov didn't dominate Tristan Thompson in practice while in Cleveland so Thompson should have the upper hand. With the Big 3 in Cleveland returning, Tristan can assume his role as, rebound-hog / put-back machine. I'll gamble on Thompson but I feel confident that a double-double is in his immediate future.

Also Consider:  Karl-Anthony Towns- C, vs. HOU ($8,900)

 

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