We have a big eight game NBA slate to start off our weekend, and there are some very interesting options across the board. There are a number of injuries going around, so this should open up some value plays once we get the starting lineups.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 12/9/17. I play both cash and GPP, so I will be looking for both players who have consistency, along with value plays that have upside from a favorable match up, or other factors.

If you have any questions or comments, let me know @DFS_Tom on Twitter. Let's get to it.

DFS Guards to Consider

Damian Lillard - PG, POR vs HOU (DK - $8,700)

With Jusuf Nurkic being already ruled out for tonight's game, which mean Lillard has a 41,9% usage rate with Nurkic off the court. This is massive usage rate, which is a 10% increase from his normal, so we want to take advantage of it. He is averaging 44 DraftKings points for season a mark which he should be able to hit tonight given this bump in usage. He 50 or more DraftKings points in two straight games, so ride the hot hand into some cash tonight.

Josh Jackson - SG, PHO vs SA (DK - $4,400)

Jackson will see a bump in minutes and usage now that Devin Booker is out with an injury. He is cheap and really only 22 DraftKings points in order to reach 5x value for cash games. He is at home against the Spurs who are giving up 38 DraftKings points per game to shooting guards this season. This may not be the best match up for him, but he is cheap, and doesn't need to do a lot in order to reach value.

DFS Forwards to Consider

Jonathon Simmons - SF, ORL @ ATL (DK - $5,700)

With all the injuries the Magic have at forward, Simmons will have a 32% usage rate with all of them off the court, along with averaging 1.07 fantasy points per minute with them off the court. He has 24 or more DraftKings points in four straight games, and is up against the Hawks who are giving up 44 DraftKings points per game, which is second worst in the league. This is a prime match up for him, and with the playing time he should be seeing, he will be one of the chalkier options on the slate.

Kristaps Porzingis - PF, NY @ CHI (DK - $8,400)

Porzingis is back from his injury, and in his first game he really didn't play amazing, but he has a very favorable match up tonight. He is going against the Bulls, who are giving up 48 DraftKings points per game to power forwards, which is ninth worst in the league. This a prime spot for him, and we know the ceiling he has, just given the amount of touches he sees on offense. Great for any format tonight, given the match up, and the usage.

DFS Centers to Consider

Richaun Holmes - C, PHI @ CLE (DK - $3,600)

With Joel Embiid already being ruled our for tonight's game, Holmes should be getting the start, since Amir Johnson will be coming off the bench according to reports. Holmes is averaging 1.16 fantasy points per minute with Embiid off the court, and is super cheap tonight. He allows so much salary flexibility, that if he does get the start, he will be hard to pass up. He is up against the Cavs, who are giving up 52 DraftKings points per game to centers. Really great value with him, and will allow you to jam multiple of the top stars into one lineup.

Also consider: Nikola Vucevic - C, ORL @ ATL (DK - $8,300)

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