After a huge Friday slate, we have to settle for a smaller Saturday slate. There is one extra game if you're looking to play with the early game, but I would recommend avoiding that, as Russell Westbrook hasn't been playing well enough to use, but it's only a matter of time before he goes off again.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/17/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @BalesSJustin.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

Nicolas Batum – SG/SF, @ATL ($7,400)

Batum has been on fire recently, and he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He has the ability to contribute in multiple categories, as he has flashed triple double potential. He gets a great matchup against the Hawks, who have struggled against the shooting guard this season. Batum dominated them with 24 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in their only matchup, and he can be used in all leagues tonight.

Dennis Schroder – PG, vs CHA ($6,500)

Schroder has been one of the hotter point guards in the NBA over his last few games. He has been consistently scoring 40 or more fantasy points per game, and he comes with a low price tag. He has been scoring extremely well, but he can also contribute in other categories. He gets a tough matchup against the Hornets, but Schroder is far too cheap tonight. He can safely be used in all leagues.

J.R. Smith – SG, vs LAL ($3,800)

Smith is a cheap option that comes with great upside. He’s playing big minutes for the Cavs, and he’s a player that can heat up in a hurry. He does come with a ton of risk because he is extremely reliant on points, though. He gets a great matchup against the Lakers tonight, and they are a team that has been playing at a fast pace this season. Smith should see plenty of opportunities tonight, and he’s a good tournament option.

 

DraftKings DFS Forwards

LeBron James – SF/PF, vs LAL ($9,800) 

LeBron James has looked elite since talking to the media about the Cavs struggle. He is averaging 30.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game over the last 10 days. He gets a good matchup against the Lakers, in what should be a fairly fast paced game. The Cavs players should have plenty of opportunities to score fantasy points, and James is a triple double threat on any given slate. He can be used in all leagues tonight.

Wilson Chandler – SF, vs NY ($6,100)

Chandler recently started at power forward for the Nuggets, but it hasn’t been announced as to whether he will keep the starting job or not. Regardless, he has been playing big minutes for Denver this season, and he’s a huge part of their offense. He’s a player that possesses elite upside, especially for his price tag, although he does come with quite a bit of risk. He gets a good matchup against the Knicks tonight, and Chandler can be used in tournaments on this slate.

Evan Turner – SG/SF, @GS ($4,800)

Turner has been playing well recently, as he’s averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steal in 26.3 minutes per game. He has been playing consistent basketball over his last few games, and he also comes with quite a bit of upside. He gets a good matchup against the Warriors, and this game will feature a ton of points. Turner can be used in all leagues, as he’s still fairly cheap, and he will see plenty of opportunities in this game.

 

DraftKings DFS Centers

Andre Drummond – C, vs IND ($7,600) 

Drummond is a double double waiting to happen on a nightly basis. He can also add assists, blocks, and steals to his line, but he gets the majority of his fantasy points from points and rebounds. He has been a significantly better option at home this season, and he gets a great matchup against the Pacers. Indiana has been pushing the pace this year, and Drummond is a great tournament option tonight.

Nikola Jokic – C, vs NY ($6,800)

Jokic has been one of the hottest centers in the NBA on a per minute basis over the last 10 days. Over that span, he’s averaging 17.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 block in only 24.1 minutes per game. He gets a decent matchup against the Knicks tonight, and Jokic has been locked into solid minutes when he isn’t dealing with foul troubles. He can be used in all leagues tonight, as his price has yet to reach his production.

 

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