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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on December 15, 2022. Mike Marteny provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have four games for our Thursday slate this week, which is kind of nice. When you look at the injuries and the Heat and Clippers on a back-to-back, it becomes somewhat less enticing. Kawhi will probably sit or at least be limited. I'm going to write this with the assumption that he is out. Jimmy will be back and so will John Wall, so that's good.
With both FanDuel and DraftKings having multi-position eligibility players, we'll have to attack slates accordingly to make our lineups as optimal as possible. That's where I come in! I'll look to find my personal top plays and values for tonight's slate. Things can change during the day as well, so I'll do my best to update as news comes out!
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 12/15/22. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Ja Morant - vs. MIL (FD: $10,800, DK: $10,400)
I whiffed on Dame last week, so I'm going with the high-priced guy tonight. It doesn't hurt that Jrue Holiday is out. Morant hasn't been under 40 DraftKings points since November 4 and has cleared 50 six times since then. I'm paying for the upside here in a game that should remain competitive. Morant has averaged 53 DraftKings points per game this month.
Jalen Green - vs. MIA (FD: $7,100, DK: $6,600)
Green is pouring in the points for the Rockets lately. He has at least 25 actual point in three of the last four games, going over 40 fantasy points in each. That makes Green a really nice bargain and I believe in this since those outbursts came against Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Philly. Yes, all of them are missing guards right now, but the Heat will be on a back-to-back. Give me the young guy with fresh legs.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker - at UTAH (FD: $5,500, DK: $4,900)
The price differential between the sites has me leaning towards Beastley on FanDuel and NAW on DraftKings. They are both in the same situation, being thrust into a starting role with Collin Sexton and Brandon Ingram out, respectively. Both are averaging right around 30 fantasy points since their new roles opened up at the beginning of the month. If you need some value, use both!
Also consider: Devin Booker (FD: $8,900, DK $9,300); Kevin Porter Jr. (FD: $7,300, DK $7,000); Tyus Jones (FD: $5,600, DK: $6,300); Luke Kennard (FD: $4,500, DK: $3,800)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Zion Williamson - at UTAH (FD: $10,200, DK: $9,800)
Zion has thrown hit has in the MVP candidate ring with Ingram out. He has at least 50 DraftKings points in six of the eight games and hasn't been under 40. There is almost no bust potential here and the ceiling is just as high as Giannis...except he is more than $2k less. Want more reason to use Zion? Even in a blowout loss to Utah on Tuesday, he racked up 46.75 DraftKings points in just 26 minutes.
Lauri Markkanen - vs. NO (FD: $8,100, DK: $8,100)
Is it possible that the Bulls just didn't know what they had in Markkanen? Since being freed from the NBA purgatory known as the Bulls, Markkanen is averaging nearly 40 DraftKings points per game even though he started the season a little slowly. He has at least 38 DraftKings points in the last six games Markkanen has played at least 28 minutes in every game this season. He has a nice floor and pretty good upside, especially if the game stays close.
Naji Marshall - at UTAH (FD: $4,700, DK: $3,600)
In case you haven't noticed, I love the Utah-New Orleans game. Marshall has at least 22 DraftKings points in five of the last six games. He has been picking up some of the slack with Ingram out. Marshall is a very active player and doesn't rely heavily on points to hit his fantasy value. That's the kind of guy I want for a value play. He's way too cheap on DraftKings.
Also consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo (FD: $12,000, DK: $12,200), Jaren Jackson Jr. (FD: $8,000, DK: $7,600), Mikal Bridges (FD: $7,200, DK $6,500); Santi Aldama (FD: $5,400, DK: $4,700)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Walker Kessler - vs. NO (FD: $6,000, DK: $,4,900)
I don't see a slam-dunk at center tonight, so I'm content punting center on FanDuel. If Jimmy Butler sits again, I'll flock to Bam, but so will everyone else. You can get both Zion and Ja easily with a center punt. I wouldn't suggest this in cash games, but this is a chance worth taking in GPP formats. Kessler has been steadily stealing minutes from Olynyk and/or Vanderbilt. He has at least 24 DraftKings points in five of the last six games, clearing 35 in three of those. That's a hell of a bargain!
Also consider: Bam Adebayo (FD: $9,200, DK: $8,600); Steven Adams (FD: $6,100, DK: $5,200)
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