NBA DFS Picks for DraftKings and FanDuel 12-21-24

Special Offer: Sign up for Outlier.Bet and receive one month free of FTA+ with the regular package, or three months free with the Outlier Pro version.

For slates with 5 or more games, we provide 3 Top, 3 Mid, and 3 Value Picks at each position. For slates with fewer than 5 games, we offer 5 Plays at each position with our projections.

 

Point Guards (PG):

 

Trae Young: 50 FP

James Harden: 48 FP

Cade Cunningham: 47 FP

Dejounte Murray: 41 FP

Jordan Poole: 38 FP

Tyler Herro: 37 FP

Carrolton Carrington: 26 FP

Mike Conley: 25 FP

Scoot Henderson: 22 FP

 

Shooting Guards (SG):

 

Kyrie Irving: 43 FP

Small Forwards (SF):

 

Jayson Tatum: 50 FP

Paul George: 43 FP

Jaylen Brown: 41 FP

Mikal Bridges: 35 FP

Desmond Bane: 33 FP

Norman Powell: 32 FP

De’Andre Hunter: 27 FP

Royce O’Neale: 25 FP

Tristan da Silva: 22 FP

 

Power Forwards (PF):

 

Giannis Antetokounmpo: 60 FP

Kevin Durant: 45 FP

Jalen Johnson: 45 FP

Julius Randle: 38 FP

John Collins: 37 FP

Jaren Jackson Jr: 36 FP

Bobby Portis: 28 FP

Herbert Jones: 28 FP

Dorian Finney-Smith: 23 FP

 

Centers (C):

 

Victor Wembanyama: 55 FP

Karl-Anthony Towns: 51 FP

Bam Adebayo: 42 FP

Nikola Vucevic: 41 FP

Kristaps Porzingis: 40 FP

Deandre Ayton: 38 FP

Nic Claxton: 30 FP

Andre Drummond: 30 FP

Wendell Carter Jr: 29 FP

 

Make sure to check out the rest of our Projections and Simulations, which are part of FTA+.

NBA Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Overview: NBA DFS is a fantasy game where you create a lineup of real-life NBA players who will play in upcoming games. Your goal is to select players you think will perform well, as each player’s performance translates into fantasy points. Here’s a rundown on the essentials:

1. Salary Cap & Lineups:
   • In DFS platforms like DraftKings or FanDuel, you’re given a virtual budget (e.g., $50,000) to build a lineup.
   • Each NBA player has a specific salary, typically based on recent performances, matchup, and expected minutes.
   • You must pick a set number of players (usually around 8–9) while staying within the budget.
2. Positions:
   • Typical lineups include specific position requirements: Point Guard (PG), Shooting Guard (SG), Small Forward (SF), Power Forward (PF), Center (C), and sometimes “Utility” or “Flex” spots for any position.
   • Balancing positions is crucial, as you need players in each position to have a complete team.
3. Scoring:
   • Scoring varies by platform, but common categories include points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
   • Players lose points for turnovers.
   • Certain platforms offer bonuses for double-doubles and triple-doubles (games where players achieve double digits in two or three statistical categories).
4. Player Selection Strategy:
   • Studs and Value Plays: “Studs” are high-priced, high-output players, while “value plays” are cheaper players who may have higher potential due to a favorable matchup or increased playing time.
   • Matchup Consideration: Study opposing teams’ defensive stats; weaker defenses or faster-paced teams generally allow for more points, making them prime targets.
   • Injury News: Injuries can open up value opportunities if backups step into larger roles.
5. GPP vs. Cash Games:
   • Cash Games (e.g., 50/50s, Double-Ups): Half the field wins the same amount of money, so you want a “safe” lineup with high-floor players.
   • GPPs (Guaranteed Prize Pools): Only a small percentage of entries win large prizes, so you want a “ceiling” lineup with high-upside players who could outperform expectations.

Tips:

• Minutes & Usage: Look at recent minutes and usage rates; higher minutes and usage generally lead to more points.
• Pace of Play: Faster-paced games lead to more possessions, and thus, more fantasy points.
• Late-Swap Strategy: Some platforms allow changing players after games start, which can help if there’s last-minute injury news.

DFS requires a combination of research, game theory, and a bit of luck! It’s a fun way to enjoy NBA games, as you’re rooting for individual performances rather than just teams.

You can find even more plays we like at each position on our cheat sheet as part of FTA+ memberships. Make sure to check out the memberships for DFS+ Sportsbetting, which includes cheatsheets and our FanDuel and DraftKings Trends. Use these to build the best optimal NBA DFS lineup every day.