NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (12/31/25)

Get winning NBA DFS lineup picks and player projections for tonight's games on DraftKings and FanDuel. Jamie's expert analysis helps you build optimal daily fantasy basketball lineups for December 31, 2025.

Happy New Year, RotoBallers! I'm pleased to bring you the last DFS NBA article of 2025, and hope that it's a lucrative one. My biggest DFS hit came on New Year's Eve a few years ago, so I'm hoping the narrative holds for tonight. This article will focus on the main DFS slate starting at 7:00 pm ET, but keep in mind there is afternoon basketball as well. Tune into our RotoBaller Discord channel all day if you're building afternoon lineups, and we'll be there to help.

Injuries have already opened up massive amounts of value this evening. Superstar Nikola Jokic will be sidelined for at least a month, and Bulls guard Josh Giddey is out for a few weeks as well. With the nightly triple-double threat that each of those players brings, the value trickle-down will be massive to their remaining teammates. Ownership trends will tell a lot about how to build your cash and GPP lineups as we get closer to lock.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 12/31/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 pm ET on FanDuel and DraftKings. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where our experts are talking about the slate up until lineups lock!

NBA DFS Core Picks

Jamal Murray, DEN - PG on DK ($9,300), PG/SG on FD ($9,100)

Well, the unthinkable happened for Nuggets fans. The superhuman Nikola Jokic is out for at least four weeks, leaving behind a king-sized void to be filled. While season-long players will be devastated and scrambling to the waiver wire, all we DFS-ers have to manage is a simple pivot to the biggest beneficiaries. That starts and ends with Jamal Murray.

Injury Update: Nikola Jokić suffered a Left Knee Hyperextension injury during last night's game at the Miami Heat. Nikola will be re-evaluated in four weeks. pic.twitter.com/NIDmlKAN81

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 30, 2025

Murray will take the reins as Denver's alpha for the foreseeable future, and this is likely going to be one of the last times we see him under $10K for a while. With Jokic off the court, Murray has a 28.5% usage rate and 41.4% assist rate, and he's been playing regular minutes in the upper 30s.

This is a pace-up game (Toronto and Denver are ranked ninth and 10th, respectively), so the added touches should only boost Murray's ceiling. He's a cash game building block and a core part of game stacks.

Jalen Brunson, NYK - PG ($9,400 DK/$9,300 FD)

Ownership projections will dictate a great deal on how to best utilize Jalen Brunson this evening. He's either going to be a solid spend you do do alongside Murray or be an elite GPP pivot at the same price tag. Right now, early ownerships dictate that the field will be on Brunson as well, so we'll treat him as such.

It's a rematch of the NBA Cup final, as the Knicks will continue their road trip in San Antonio. Last game, Brunson put up 42.5 DK points in 41 minutes against the Spurs while taking 27 shots, and there's no reason to think that volume won't be there again. He gains a modest usage boost with Josh Hart off the court, and the Spurs rank 12th in pace and 25th in overall defensive efficiency.

Jalen Brunson over the last 4 games:

35.8 PPG
6.8 APG
2.5 RPG
48.5% FG
45.7% 3P
91.7% FT
37.7 MPG https://t.co/KwvfiAPzvo pic.twitter.com/Gz2KLqHVWV

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 30, 2025

Nikola Vucevic, CHI - C ($6,900 DK/$7,200 FD)

Suddenly, the Bulls find themselves in dire straits as Josh Giddey has been ruled out for the next few weeks, and Coby White is also out tonight. While they're panicking, we're celebrating the value we have open to us with the remaining Bulls against the Pelicans. Nikola Vucevic should be the primary player, and he's not remotely priced as such. Zach Collins also continues to be out with a sprained toe.

The Pelicans are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, so we need to fully exploit that. They've allowed the third-most PPG, rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and have allowed the fifth-most FPPG to opposing centers. The double-double upside (it's a bonus on DK, remember) should be easily achieved here, and the ability to play two centers on DK makes lineup building easy.

NBA DFS GPP Pivots

Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL - PF ($10,900 DK/$10,600 FD)

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been limited to 25 minutes in each of the two games he's been back, which takes him completely off the cash radar for the time being. He's still in incredible GPP territory, however, as he's averaged his usual 1.69 FPPM since returning.

Tonight, Giannis gets the nuts matchup against Washington, and few will pay for him if they think he's getting 25 minutes again. Washington is 27th in defensive efficiency, 29th in rebounding rate, and has allowed the most FPPG to opposing frontcourts. If his minutes increase to 28-30, Giannis has slate-breaking upside.

GIANNIS MY GOODNESS

PURE DOMINANCE. 🔥🔥🔥

pic.twitter.com/AP6Ja2StMq

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 30, 2025

Shaedon Sharpe, POR - SG on DK ($7,900), PG/SG on FD ($7,200)

Shaedon Sharpe is another player who will have ownership in the low single digits. The matchup against the top-ranked defensive team in OKC will keep the field off, and his price tag is in a weird limbo state that will also keep people away.

Sharpe has quietly been one of the highest-usage players in the NBA this year, ranking fifth in the league with a 31.5% mark in 29 games. This usage rate is tied with Brunson and is higher than that of notables such as Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Devin Booker, and Jokic.

Sharpe is probably best used as a Portland fixture if you're game stacking, but his price tag (especially on FD) has enough juice to be utilized as a one-off in some of the more popular game stacks.

NBA DFS Value Picks

Ayo Dosunmu, CHI - SG/SF on DK ($5,100), SG on FD ($5,000)

Our value game is centered around the Bulls tonight, as Giddey and White leave behind 55% of the team's usage. Ayo Dosunmu likely isn't going to drop 30+ real points, but he contributes in all five categories, and we've seen him thrive with the top dogs out in the past.

Since the beginning of last year, Dosunmu has had a 23% usage rate and 22% assist rate, and his FPPG average has risen by almost six per game. His ceiling is boosted by the matchup against the Pelicans, and his price tag allows you to fit multiple studs in.

Tre Jones, CHI - PG/SG ($4,500 DK/$5,400 FD)

Tre Jones is another Bull who is going to be popular tonight, and his price is especially favorable on DK. Jones should start at PG for Giddey, and he has a 19% usage rate and 30% assist rate in that scenario. He should easily have minutes in the 30s in this one, and the matchup is prime.

The Pelicans have been hemorrhaging points to guards this season and have allowed 122.8 PPG, which is the third-worst mark in the NBA. Jones having SG eligibility on both sites is a bonus to his value, as it gives you the ability to roster additional PGs with assist upside.

Jonas Valanciunas, DEN - C ($5,500 DK/$5,500 FD)

With Jokic out for the next month, Jonas Valanciunas seems to be the most obvious fill-in starter. I wouldn't count on a 30-minute outing, as that's never really been Valanciunas' bag. However, his elite per-minute upside gives him massive appeal at $5,500 on both sites.

The Raptors are an excellent first draw for Valanciunas. They've ranked 28th in rebounding rate over the last five games and have dropped from seventh to 15th in overall rebounding rate in that span. The pace of this game should promote additional rebounding opportunities.

Today's Top Game Stacks

Pelicans at Bulls (247.5 O/U)

Knicks at Spurs (235.5 O/U)

Nuggets at Raptors (228.5 O/U)

My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today

Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.

• My favorite OVERALL play on the slate: Jamal Murray
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Jamal Murray
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Giannis Antetokounmpo
• My favorite VALUE play: Ayo Dosunmu

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis