NBA

3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 12/17/19

Brett Oswalt  —  @bRo14thekid Dec 17th, 2019
The Nets and Pelicans boast the kind of high total elite players thrive in. Can Brandon Ingram provide a big return on Tuesday night?

While building a daily fantasy basketball lineup, it's important to make sure you find the right studs to anchor your team. As the most expensive players in your lineup, they need big-time production to match their high price tag.

You may find it hard to fit some of these guys in while staying under the salary cap, but you can check out our projections to find value players for your rosters. Let's take a look at the top high-priced DraftKings plays of the day.

LeBron James, PG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers

DraftKings Price: $10,900

For a six-game bill, Tuesday's slate sure is lacking the usual top-end star-power we are accustomed to seeing. Only one healthy player will cost more than $10,000, and that's LeBron James. Kyrie Irving remains out and Anthony Davis is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. That points us right in the direction of James as the unquestioned number one play on the board.

According to NBA.com, LeBron is using 31.6% of his team's possessions, but in his 295 minutes sans AD, he's upped that to a 39.9% usage rate and 1.69 DK points per minute (compared to 1.56), per NBA Wowy. If he plays 30 minutes and produces at that same clip, you're already looking at more than 50 DK points. And all he needs is 54.5 to pay off at five-times value.

The Indiana Pacers are not the easiest of opponents, in both real life and fantasy. Thanks to the league's 5th-best defensive rating and 20th-fastest pace, they give up just 104.3 points per game and -- per Fantasy Pros -- 31.5 DK points to small forwards -- the lowest mark in the Association.

But as we know, James is no average small forward. In fact, he's a point forward. And as such, we project him for 51.6 DK points with upside for more in the event Davis sits.

Brandon Ingram, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans

DraftKings Price: $8,100

Indiana probably won't allow that Pacers-Lakers game to blow up for 220-plus points, but the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets face off in what should be the most fantasy-friendly game of the night. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, this contest carries a slate-high 230-point over/under with the visiting Nets favored by two. That leaves both teams with at least a 114-point implied total, including 116 for the home Pels.

With that in mind, Brandon Ingram should be at the top of your wish list versus the Nets' very average defense. A 102.62 pace (ninth) should only help to ensure the kind of game New Orleans loves to play (they're sixth in pace), while Ingram searches for another giant performance against the boys from Brooklyn. Earlier this year, in 37 minutes, he went off for 40 points on 17-of-24 shooting, ending the evening with 56.3 DK points.

Ingram is averaging over 40 a game and has managed to put together 16 games of 40-plus and 4 with at least 50. We could be in for a fifth here tonight. The game script will likely push Ingram past his projected 36.1 DK points.

Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets

DraftKings Price: $7,500

If you thought Ingram and the Pelicans' outlook was good, Spencer Dinwiddie and his Nets are in even better shape. As we noted, New Orleans puts them in a pace-up spot, and their 114.9 defensive rating is better than only one other team. And over the last five games, they're being hit up for 119.7 points per 100 possessions and 121.6 points per game (mind you, without any overtimes).

Can you say big value? Well, that's what you're getting in a guy like Dinwiddie. He's stepped up in the place of Irving, averaging 32.9 minutes and 38.7 DK points in his 15 starts to date. He owns a 29.9% usage rate in that span.

Dinwiddie has a really solid floor, but the ceiling is there to complete the combo. On three occasions he has accounted for 50-plus DK points and maxed out with 65.25 less than three weeks ago. That is undoubtedly in play against the Pels, who are -- ya, know -- just giving up the single most fantasy points (54.2) to the point guard position. Get him in your lineups.

Brett Oswalt is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Brett Oswalt also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username BrettOswalt. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.