Daily Fantasy Basketball: DraftKings Cheat Sheet – December 23

Dion Waiters

Daily Fantasy Basketball is back, which means each day XN Sports will have a column detailing advised plays and lineups for the remainder of the NBA season. For those familiar with DraftKings, their daily fantasy basketball is formatted differently this season. There is no multi-position eligibility, which makes it a bit harder to set your lineup.

For those unfamiliar with DraftKings, you are given $50,000 in cap space to select a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center, a guard, a forward, and a utility player. There are no points deducted for missed shots, which changes the strategy from other sites. To read the full scoring, click here. Keep in mind that a double-double awards a bonus, which can be the difference between cashing in and winning nothing.

Generally, the goal for value is at five times a player’s salary, plus five points. That brings a lineup to 290 fantasy points, which will cash each day.

Give DraftKings a shot, as there will be a few freeroll opportunities each night in Daily Fantasy Basketball. Click here to play.

Rather than value plays and lineups tonight, XN will give you a cheat sheet with the best plays at each position.

For those who frequent this column: if you like this idea let us know. If you prefer the other format, let us know as well.

Each position will have a few guys that we like for each night, ranked from top to bottom. To find these players, tools like usage rate, defense vs. position, injuries, minutes, and more are used.

There is a lot of news that will affect lineups tonight, stay informed before tip.

Point Guard

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder $11,900

Brandon Knight, Milwaukee Bucks, $6,800

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors $10,900

Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat $6,100 (if Wade is out)

Jarrett Jack, Brooklyn Nets $5,000 (if Deron Williams is out)

Cheap Plays:

Mo Williams, MIN $4,700

Marcus Smart, BOS $4,600

Norris Cole, MIA $4,000 (if Wade is out)

Shooting Guard

Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls $7,700

Nick Young, Los Angeles Lakers $4,800 (if Kobe is out)

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat $8,400 (if he is active)

Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors $7,800

Cheap Plays:

Dion Waiters, CLE $4,100

Small Forward

Tobias Harris, Orlando Magic $7,500

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors $7,400

Luol Deng, Miami Heat $6,500

Cheap Plays:

C.J. Miles, IND $4,400

Jared Dudley, MIL $3,700

Power Forward

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers $10,600 (if he plays)

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks $6,300

Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers $5,200

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers $9,600

Cheap Plays: 

Marreese Speights, GSW $4,500

Kevin Garnett, BKN $4,000

Center

Tyson Chandler, Dallas Mavericks $6,700

Omer Asik, New Orleans Pelicans $5,600

Cheap Plays:

Lavoy Allen, IND $3,700

Kyle O’Quinn, ORL $4,300

Alex Len, PHX $3,600

Notes

With Kevin Durant out, Russell Westbrook becomes the top play of the evening with a usage rate of close to 50 (!) percent without KD on the floor. The problem is that Westbrook is very expensive. Luckily, there is some value likely to be released with Durant, Nicolas Batum, and likely Kobe Bryant out.

If Kobe is indeed out, Nick Young should be in cash games and GPP lineups as a big-time play.

Tonight’s debate of Gary Neal or Gerald Henderson will not be easy, as both are the same price. Henderson should see more minutes, but if you can fade that situation, it is a good idea.

Some cheap plays can free up room for Westbrook, as Lavoy Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Dion Waiters are underpriced on DraftKings, giving you leeway to create a top lineup for cash and in GPP.

If you have any questions or concerns leading to tip, let me know on Twitter @JoshCollacchi.

*Keep an eye on the inactives, as things in the NBA change at the last second. Good luck tonight.

author avatar
Josh Collacchi
In addition to writing here at XNSports, my fantasy content can be seen at Pro Football Focus Fantasy, eDraft, and Project Roto. Member of the FSWA and the FWAA and can be reached on Twitter @JoshCollacchi