3 NBA FanDuel Studs to Target on 1/1/18

Jimmy Butler, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Price: $9,300

After a slow start with his new team, Jimmy Butler has settled in and is the most consistent offensive weapon for the Timberwolves, averaging a team-high 21.3 points per game. His fantasy output has followed suit. He scored at least 45 FanDuel points in 10 of 15 games in December, topping 50 FanDuel points five times. As mentioned with Towns, there is some blowout potential here, but Butler should be able to produce even in limited minutes.

One of the reasons for this is because Butler is arguably having the most efficient season of his career. His 47.2% field goal percentage, 50.8% effective field goal percentage, and 87.7% free throw percentage are all career highs. He has supplanted Andrew Wiggins as Minnesota's offensive focal point, and he should be looked to often tonight as the Wolves go for their seventh win in eight games.

Butler played only 27 minutes in last night's blowout of the Pacers, so his legs should be fresh going into a game that should be a track meet with an expected total of 214 against a Lakers team he has dominated in the past. He has scored at least 45 FanDuel points against in four of their past five meetings, including three 50-plus fantasy point efforts. Last night is the only night he's been below 30 minutes on the season, and he hasn't played fewer than 30 minutes in back-to-back games since October of 2016, so don't let a potential blowout scare you off using him.