NBA

FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 12/10/22

In an underrated spot versus a Warriors' team ranked 14th in opposing true shooting percentage, Boston's Jayson Tatum ranks second overall with 49.0 expected FanDuel points. Which other players are ideal targets on Saturday?

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Team Opp O/U Spread Implied Total Injuries
WSH LAC 220 5 107.5 Morris questionable
OKC CLE 222.5 5.5 108.5 Dort available
DAL CHI 222.5 1.5 110.5 Doncic, Green, Kleber OUT
CHI DAL 222.5 -1.5 112
UTAH DEN 233 8.5 112.25 Conley, Sexton,Clarkson, Markkanen OUT
LAC WSH 220 -5 112.5 Jackson OUT, Mann questionable
MIN POR 231 5.5 112.75
CLE OKC 222.5 -5.5 114 Mitchell, Love OUT
BKN IND 229 1 114 Durant, Irving, Harris, Curry, O'Neale , Claxton, Simmons, Warren OUT
IND BKN 229 -1 115 Haliburton questionable
GS BOS 235 4 115.5 Wiggins OUT
POR MIN 231 -5.5 118.25 Hart probable
BOS GS 235 -4 119.5 Horford OUT
DEN UTAH 233 -8.5 120.75 Murray probable

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,200): Despite a tough matchup versus a Cleveland Cavaliers' defense ranked first in defensive rating and second in point allowed in the paint, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fourth overall with 46.4 FanDuel points at his lowest salary point this month.

Stephen Curry ($9,900): Since his last appearance on December 5th, Curry's FanDuel salary has dropped by 3.8% to his third lowest point this season. The 34-year old is producing 1.38 FanDuel points, 0.25 rebounds, 0.20 assists, and 0.58 shot attempts in 218.0 minutes with today's projected injuries.

Damian Lillard ($9,700): After a monster 67.8 fantasy point performance, Lillard's salary has increased to his highest point versus a Minnesota Timberwolves' ranked 27th in FanDuel points allowed per game to point guards and 25th in opposing three point percentage. Portland's lead guard is averaging 1.20 FanDuel points, 0.12 rebounds, and 0.21 assists per minute in 456.4 minutes this season.

Jaylen Brown ($8,500): In an underrated matchup against a Golden State Warriors' team ranked 26th in fantasy points (44.3) allowed to shooting guards, Brown is ranked fifth with 41.0 expected fantasy points at his second highest salary point this month.

Darius Garland ($8,400): With Donovan Mitchell ruled out again, Garland should be the center piece of Cleveland's offense, producing 1.17 FanDuel points, 0.20 assists, and 0.53 shot attempts in 271.3 minutes sample size.

D'Angelo Russell ($7,100): In 190.9 minutes with today's expected rotation, Russell produces 1.01 FanDuel points, 0.19 assists, and 0.43 field goal attempts per minute and a 24.5% usage rate.

Jamal Murray ($7,100): Denver's guard has not seen his salary change in his last five games despite averaging 1.01 FanDuel points, 0.11 rebounds, and 0.17 assists per minute. In an underrated spot versus a Jazz team ranked 21st in FanDuel points allowed per game to points guards, Murray's projection includes 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.5 rebounds in 33.1 expected minutes.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6,800): The Mavericks' guard sees a 0.13 boost to 1.05 FanDuel points per minute in a 130.2 minutes with Luka Doncic, Josh Green, and Maxi Kleber off the floor since last season.

Marcus Smart ($6,400): Boston's guard increases his fantasy production by 0.07 to 0.97 FanDuel points per minute with Al Horford off the court this season.

John Wall ($5,900): With Reggie Jackson ruled out for rest purposes, Wall should play more minutes at point guard versus a Washington Wizards' team allowing 46.9 FanDuel points per game to his position. The Clippers' guard sees a 0.05 increase to 1.14 FanDuel points per minute in a 137.3 minute sample size this season with today's inactives.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,900): The Mavericks' veteran sees a 0.05 boost to 1.01 FanDuel points per minute with a 33.0% usage rate in 70.7 minutes with today's current rotation.

Bruce Brown Jr. ($5,600): In his last eight starts, Brown is averaging 0.83 FanDuel points, 0.16 rebounds, and 0.12 assists per minute.

Caris LeVert ($5,000): Cleveland's guard is another player expected to play an increased role with today's injuries with a 0.23 boost to 1.00 FanDuel point per minute in a 145.9 minute sample.

Malik Beasley ($5,000): With several important pieces of Utah's rotation ruled out, Beasley is now ranked seventh overall in value with a 6.26 rating and 31.3 expected fantasy points against a Denver Nuggets' unit ranked 22nd in opposing three point shooting percentage and 27th in defensive rating.

Jordan Goodwin ($4,100): After scoring a season-high 19 real-life points on Friday night, Goodwin could see an expanded role versus a Los Angeles Clippers' unit ranked fifth in defensive rating. At his lowest salary point in December, the second-year guard is ranked third in value among guards with a 5.39 rating and 22.1 FanDuel points.

Cameron Thomas ($4,000): With eight Nets ruled out including all of their usual starting five, Thomas is projected for an increased offensive role while also ranking third overall in value with a 6.95 rating and 27.8 expected FanDuel points.

Edmond Sumner ($3,800): Brooklyn's 26-year old guards is another viable low salary option with a 7.75 value rating and 29.5 expected FanDuel points in 31.5 projected minutes.

Forwards

Jayson Tatum ($10,600): In a matchup against a Warriors' unit ranked 11th in FanDuel points (20.4) allowed to small forwards and 14th in opposing true shooting percentage, Tatum stands second overall with 49.0 expected fantasy points. Among Boston's starting lineup, Tatum ranks first in fantasy output (1.34 FanDuel points per minute), usage (33.9%), and shot attempts (0.70).

Kristaps Porzingis ($9,100): Even at his highest salary point in December, Porzingis provides underrated value with a 4.91 rating and 43.7 expected FanDuel points against a Clippers' team allowing 21.9 real-life points and 54.0 FanDuel points per game to his position. The Wizards' big man has been putting up impressive metrics this month, averaging 1.35 FanDuel points, 0.27 rebounds, and a 30.6% usage rate.

Anthony Edwards ($8,800): After recording just 14 real-life points on Friday night, "Ant-Man" will attempt to bounce back versus a Portland Trail Blazers ranked 17th in opposing true shooting percentage and 24th in defensive rating at his highest salary point this month. In his last four games, Edwards is averaging 1.35 FanDuel points, 0.14 rebounds, 0.13 assists, and 0.49 shot attempts per minute.

Paul George ($8,600): Since his return on December 5th, George is producing 1.17 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.20 assists per minute in a 92.7 minutes sample size. In a matchup versus a Washington Wizards allowing 23.3 real-life points and 43.1 FanDuel points per game to small forwards, George is projected for 42.2 FanDuel points.

Kyle Kuzma ($8,000): Washington's versatile forward is averaging 1.02 FanDuel points, 0.21 rebounds, and 0.12 assists per minute with a 28.1% usage rate in 181.9 minutes with today's injuries.

Evan Mobley ($7,300): In 106.3 minutes with Cleveland's current inactives, Mobley is producing 0.89 FanDuel points, 0.29 rebounds, 0.27 shot attempts per minute. The second-year forward is ranked fourth among his position with 37.7 FanDuel points against a Thunder team ranked 27th in points allowed in the paint.

Draymond Green ($6,000): After two lackluster offensive performances, Green's FanDuel salary has moved down to his lowest point this month against a Celtics' team ranked first in FanDuel points (38.2) allowed per game to the four position.

Kawhi Leonard ($5,800): "The Claw" is recording 0.83 FanDuel points, 0.22 rebounds, and 0.52 shot attempts per minute and a 28.6% usage rate in two appearances since December 5th.

Kyle Anderson ($5,100): In his last two starts, "Slow Mo" is averaaging 1.00 FanDuel point, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.21 assists per minute with a 15.4% usage rate.

Kessler Edwards ($3,500): With only nine active players expected to suit up on Saturday night, Edwards is projected to record 23.9 FanDuel points in 31.5 expected minutes.

Day'Ron Sharpe ($3,500): The 21-year old is numberFire's top value option with a 9.91 rating and 34.7 expected fantasy points against an Indiana Pacers team ranked eighth in FanDuel points (40.8) allowed to power forwards.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($11,500): Despite scoring 33 real-life points in his last appearance, Jokic's FanDuel salary did not move versus a Jazz team allowing centers to record 25.0 real-life points and 58.5 FanDuel points per game. In two previous encounters against Utah, "The Joker" is averaging 19.5 real-life points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 29.5 minutes.

Jarrett Allen ($6,900): Cleveland's big man ranks third among centers in value with a 5.41 rating and a 37.3 fantasy point projection against a Thunder team allowing 57.4 FanDuel points to his position.