RADIO
Monday starts off the week on a significantly more modest note compared to the weekend, with just five games on the entire slate. James Harden once again reigns supreme as the must-play option, but any Rockets updates will give us a clearer picture of what exact tools he will be working with heading into gametime. There will be no objections to a historically high-usage game, so look for Harden to be a key player in winning lineups.
Both Trae Young and LeBron James offer plenty of upside at a cheaper price, meaning don't be afraid to pivot away from the highest priced player in the pool. With Christian Wood available and certain to produce, you can still invest in this game without going all-or-nothing for Harden. Some of these games might appear to be blowouts statistically, but this early in the season, anything can happen and anyone can have a tournament-changing game.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 12/28/20. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out DraftKings lineup picks and injury news before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers.
FanDuel DFS Guards
C.J. McCollum, SG - @ LAL ($7,800)
After going shot-for-shot in a win against the Houston Rockets, C.J. McCollum faces a Lakers defense that has lost key defensive pieces that make it easier for both McCollum and Damian Lillard to produce. They have faced tougher guards than Dennis Schroder, so while defensively they still need to step up, it won't be nearly as difficult once they get to the paint. His upside remains high against the Lakers despite the defense still looking intimidating on paper.
Jamal Murray, PG - vs. HOU ($7,100)
Jamal Murray might not have the trust of DFS players after his first two games, but at least he was able to break 20-points right after tossing up a dud. What was starting to seem like a slump has been upgraded to just a slow start, and since the Nuggets have decided not to force the Murray issue on offense, it's going to help him ease into more productive games. There is literally no one on the Houston team available to really play defense on Murray so while a field-day might be an understatement, there have been crazier instances than Jamal Murray not producing when he absolutely should have.
Kevin Huerter, SG - vs. DET ($4,500)
The addition of Bogdan Bogdanovic hasn't ruined Kevin Huerter's upside, so until it becomes a fact, there is no reason to really fade Huerter because of the Hawks dynamic. They are more than capable of playing alongside each other and from the first two games, their spacing has been more positive than negative. There are other options at this price range, but none are offering upside like Huerter. Jordan Clarkson and Luguentz Dort will produce, but the Pistons defensive backcourt is Delon Wright. That's it.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Michael Porter Jr., SF - vs. HOU ($5,900)
There are plenty of mid-level options available at small forward and that actually causes a problem for crafting lineups. Michael Porter Jr. might be one of the most inconsistent options, naturally, but we can't fade him simply for that reason. With this matchup versus the Rockets, Houston is already down players and won't be able to gameplan or situate themselves to stop a lengthy playmaker like Porter Jr.
Yes, the chances of other Nuggets having great games are high as well, but Denver's offense is arguably stagnant without players risking shots and Porter Jr. has that trigger.
Joe Harris, SF - vs. MEM ($4,300)
Young teams struggling early in the season are easy targets, and this case it means the Nets are going to produce as a whole and Ja Morant will have incredibly high usage. While Morant is another beast in itself, Joe Harris has had a tough go of it, especially to start the season. He is posting rookie numbers in advantageous situations so already, this pick doesn't have a ton of momentum. With that, expect the Nets to rebound after a loss to the Hornets, starting with a better performance from Harris, who still is force-fed the ball on the wing. Until he isn't getting the same looks and the Nets start to look elsewhere for outside scoring, Harris will have upside.
John Collins, F - vs. DET ($7,000)
Blake Griffin being out opens the door for multiple Hawks players to thrive, but none more than John Collins. He is a double-double machine and now that the Hawks added a few more shooters to help with the spacing, Collins has even more freedom to roam the paint and even extend his range at times. The Pistons rely on Griffin for offense and without him, the frontcourt rolls out Jahlil Okafor, Mason Plumlee. Lastly, Pistons big-man Sekou Doumbouya is also dealing with a foot injury.
FanDuel DFS Center
Jarrett Allen, C - vs. MEM ($5,700)
With how the Grizzlies struggled to handle the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, it's only a matter of time before Jonas Valanciunas becomes an obvious, nightly target, if he hasn't been painted that way already by most DFS players. The Nets are still a force and the bench is the cornerstone of where their success stops. It might not win them games, but the amount of talent they have at their disposal makes it easier for them to adapt to specific, veteran teams, while also having the numbers and energy to run with younger, more on-the-fly teams.
Jarrett Allen fits the mold as an athletic young center that needs nightly minutes behind a veteran big. His role will remain consistent and he might even steal a few minutes here and there from DeAndre Jordan, so look for everyone including Allen to produce against Valanciunas and the Memphis squad that desperately needs Jaren Jackson Jr. back.
Also consider: (Al Horford vs. UTA - $5,700), (Jusuf Nurkic @ LAL- $8,400),
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