DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Monday 12/19

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Guards

Trae Young FD - $9800 DK - $10300
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 50.89 DK - 55.77
Bogdan Bogdanovic FD - $6000 DK - $6500
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 35.86 DK - 40.73

The Hawks are at home tonight and could be without Dejounte Murray for a sixth straight game and that turns our attention to their guard situation as a starting point for fantasy tonight. It starts with Trae who has been very consistent in Murray's absence having dished out at least nine assists with at least 19 points in all four games while tallying 42 or more DraftKings points in each of those. That consistent return is something he has provided all season so whether Murray sits out or not, I am on board with Trae in this matchup.

The biggest beneficiary of Murray's absence has been Bogdanovic who made his season debut at the beginning of December. He got off to a slow start upon his return but over the last four without Murray in the lineup, he has been on fire shooting nearly 55% on an average of 17 shots a game and with the help of some excellent rebounding is averaging over 40 fantasy points per game, as well. The price is on the rise but the matchup and opportunity meet head-on if Murray is out making Bogdan a top PTS/$ guard for me tonight.

De'Anthony Melton FD - $6300 DK - $6400
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 27.86 DK - 29.82

After Tyrese Maxey injury, it didn't take long for Melton's price to pop up to the high $7K/low $8K range as he stepped into the starting lineup. Great news here as the price has slowly adjusted back down into the mid $6k range on both sites and that has me very interested from a PTS/$ perspective. It has been night and day with Melton in his new role as he is playing nearly 35 minutes a game, taking just over 13 shots, and has provided a solid floor averaging around 35 fantasy points and has also flashed massive upside a few times, as well. He now gets a matchup against a Raptors defense that has struggled in the short term and fallen to 20th in defensive efficiency overall. I will have exposure to Melton in all formats Monday.

Isaiah Joe FD - $4200 DK - $4000
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 33.89 DK - 37.5

It's always a bonus writing these articles where we get early news and that is the case with OKC who will once again be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey. That should make way for Isaiah Joe and Jalen Williams to enter the starting lineup for the second straight game. With Williams not able to make a shot from the field on Saturday, I am deferring to Joe here as my top guard value as he looked decent in that spot start making 7 of 12 shots and ending up with 30 fantasy points. The floor is probably closer to 20 fantasy points here but I will take that at these prices, especially knowing there is upside seeing as he provided practically zero secondary stats in that game. All things considered, Joe is my top PTS/$ value on this slate.

Small Forward

Paolo Banchero FD - $8400 DK - $7700
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 38.87 DK - 41.88

After a red-hot start to his rookie season, Banchero hit a bit of a rookie wall in late November but the good news here is that he is not only back in form but the price is also back down in the $7K range on DraftKings. Since the game in Toronto where he was held to just nine points(18 Fpts), he has exploded averaging 22.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and has dropped at least 35 DraftKings points in seven straight while averaging 42.1 in that stretch. The matchup isn't sticking out like a sore thumb but the Hawks have been slightly worse in the short term(24th in def eff last five games) and run a Top 10 pace overall. While Banchero is priced out of cash games on FanDuel, I am very interested on DraftKings at these prices.

Power Forward/Center

Christian Wood FD - $7500 DK - $7900
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 43.21 DK - 47.8

The price is on the rise fast and will continue to climb with the news Maxi Kleber is out for an extended period of time. In his absence over the last three games, it has been Christian Wood seeing a huge increase across the board starting with playing time as he has played 35, 30, and a season-high 43 minutes in those games. He is getting volume and making the most of it with 20+ points in each of those games while going beast-mode on the boards adding 33 and with double-doubles the last two games, he has dropped 50+ fantasy points in each. He also gets a plus matchup against the Timberwolves who are 18th in defensive efficiency and 3rd in pace. Fire up Wood in all formats.

Zion Williamson FD - $10100 DK - $10200
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 48.15 DK - 50.62

My guess is there probably isn't a ton of exposure to this game between Top 10 defense's but what draws me to Zion is the extreme consistency he has shown as he morphs into a superstar in front of our eyes. After showing some chink in the armour in late November with duds against Memphis and Golden State, Zion has gone on a run. Over his last 10 games, he is shooting a whopping 65% on 17.3 shots per game while adding an average of 8.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists allowing him to score 40 DraftKings points in each of those and 50+ seven times while averaging 52.5 per game. The price is on the rise but he is playing like a $11K player at the moment so I have no issue using him in all formats.

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