December 27, 2015

Demetri highlights the top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for 12/27/15. These are the top value and sleeper plays for your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups.

There are only four games to pick from on Sunday's small card. It's as important to be mindful of a player's price as well as their matchup, simply because it's hard to produce a well-rounded team when you break the bank on only one player. When there are only a few games to select players from, things get a bit more difficult, now under the pressure to pick those that will not only produce but will not be owned by a majority of daily fantasy owners.

Tonight's lineup features inexpensive options at each position, some with very favorable matchups, others who have produced consistently of late, including a rookie that is yearning to once again hear his name chanted inside the famous walls of Madison Square Garden. (Even though he's playing in another Garden on Sunday)

Check out my Daily NBA Picks for DraftKings, 12/27/15.

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DraftKings DFS Point Guards

D'Angelo Russell (at MEM, $5,200)

I'm sticking with the sudden consistency here. In two straight games, Russell has tallied 28 minutes off the bench, scoring an average of 17 points, and draining six threes on 12 attempts. For a while, Lou Williams has been the clear favorite at the guard spot for the Lakers and fantasy owners, but after two straight unproductive games for Williams, Russell is the smarter pick. The Memphis Grizzlies surrender 9.6 threes a night; fourth most in the NBA.

Rajan Rondo (vs POR, $8,400)

Rondo has four triple-doubles and 14 double-doubles this season. Just wanted to throw that out there first. I'm excited for Rondo's matchup against Portland for two very appealing reasons. Damian Lillard has been battling a foot injury and hopes to return Saturday against the Cavaliers. If he plays, it'll be a premier matchup of two of the game's best point guards, resulting in bloated numbers for both in a likely high scoring contest. If Lillard sits, Tim Frazier will inherit the responsibility of guarding Rondo. Need I say much else?

DraftKings DFS Shooting Guards

Courtney Lee (vs LAL, $4,400)

Lee's main appeal here is his matchup against Los Angeles. The Lakers have taken over the top spot of the most points allowed a night in the NBA; 107.2/game. Lee has been a sporadic producer all season for the Grizzlies but could boost past his projection and season average fantasy points. The Lakers also let up 40.0 field goals made per contest, another league high.

C.J. McCollum (at SAC, $7,200)

McCollum's price has also slightly increased, reflecting his recent performances without Lillard beside him in Portland's esteemed backcourt. Whether Lillard suits up or not, it is unclear if he will be 100% or not. McCollum will see plenty of scoring opportunities against the NBA's second most generous defenses in the league. The Kings relinquish 107.1 points and 10.1 threes a game (a league high). McCollum is shooting over 40% behind the arc.

DraftKings DFS Small Forwards

Will Barton (at OKC, $7,000)

It's really hard to stay away from Barton. In about a month his price has increased by almost $2,000. And he comes off Denver's bench. He has scored double-digits in 14 straight, averaged nine rebounds and played 35+ minutes in his last three. He has also drained 11 from long range on 22 attempts in that three game span. The Nuggets will likely be in a catchup game against one of the league's best, so expect Barton to pull the trigger often from behind the arc.

Jae Crowder (vs NY, $5,900)

Crowder is coming off three straight double-doubles (keep an eye out for Saturday's performance against the Pistons) and three straight of 35+ fantasy points; extremely valuable for his low price. He has also shot 50% or higher from the field in that span and attempted 16 from long range. The Celtics face the division rival New York Knicks who have allowed over 100 points in nine of their last 11 games.

DraftKings DFS Power Forwards

Julius Randle (at MEM, $5,600)

Not many are producing on the Lakers theses days, as Los Angeles has been held to 85 and 84 points in their past two. But Randle has continuously sprinkled enough stats across the board to make him a valuable fantasy play. He is also a double-double threat, posting seven so far in the month of December. He's also picked up double-digit rebounds in nine games this month. He heads to Memphis against a Grizzlies team that relinquished 33.9 opponent rebounds a night.

Kristaps Porzingis (at BOS, $7,400)

Despite his recent coming down to Earth, Porzingis is one of, if not the top power forward on Sunday's short list of games. The Latvian Porzingisaurus' price is finally back to where it should be, and is rolling into the weekend on his best performance in weeks. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 38 minutes, Porzingis dropped 23 points and grabbed 13 boards, shooting 4-5 from downtown. It was his first 20-point performance since December 7th, and his first double-digit rebound night since the fourth of the same month. If Wednesday night's performance is indication of anything, it's that the rookie is once again heating up.

DraftKings DFS Centers

Marc Gasol (vs LAL, $7,300)

Gasol is another player on the Grizzlies benefiting from a matchup against the Lakers. I like Gasol at the center position because he is a lot cheaper than the consistently dominant DeMarcus Cousins, and safer than the latest hot waiver wire pickup of Kelly Olynyk, especially with Amir Johnson set to return to the lineup. Gasol has scored in double-digits and has averaged eight rebounds over his last four games. In that span, Gasol has also visited the charity stripe 17 times and has only missed twice.

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