Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

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NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Shannon & Tyler!

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We’re getting back in the saddle with a modest six-game NBA slate on the board today. This small slate contains a myriad of injury impacts and many of the top players will head into this evening with “questionable” designations. So, as always, it’ll be vital to monitor injury news leading up to each game tipping off. Let’s get into it and best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries

Raptors: None

Wizards: K. Kuzma - Questionable, D. Wright - OUT

76ers: J. Embiid - OUT, N. Batum - OUT

Magic: M. Fultz - OUT, G. Harris - OUT, J. Isaac - OUT, J. Ingles - OUT

Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo - Questionable, J. Crowder - OUT

Nets: S. Dinwiddie - OUT, N. Claxton - OUT, B. Simmons - OUT, C. Johnson - OUT, L. Walker IV - OUT, D. Finney-Smith - Questionable

Knicks: J. Sims - OUT

Thunder: None

Suns: J. Nurkic - Probable, B. Beal - OUT, J. Okogie - Probable

Rockets: T. Eason - Questionable, D. Brooks - OUT

Cavaliers: D. Mitchell - Questionable, D. Garland - OUT, E. Mobley - OUT, C. LeVert - Questionable, S. Merrill - Doubtful

Mavericks: L. Doncic - Questionable, K. Irving - OUT, T. Hardaway Jr. - Questionable, J. Green - Questionable, M. Kleber - OUT

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Top DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Plays

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Tyrese Maxey, PHI | DK: $8.8k, FD: $8.4k | @ ORL

There are a slew of viable guard plays today but we’ll begin by spotlighting the 76ers star point guard. Maxey did not have a star-like performance on Christmas Day, scoring just 12 points on 4-of-20 shooting. That happened to be a game where Joel Embiid was sidelined. But, perhaps the poor shooting performance will keep Maxey’s ownership in check today. Embiid (ankle) will miss a second consecutive game today and Nic Batum (hamstring) is also out. In nearly 300 minutes with those two off the floor, Maxey’s usage is over 33% and he averages +7.72 fantasy points per 48 minutes. Orlando (4th in DEFRTG) is not a team I love to target but this should be another day where Maxey hoists 20+ shots and plays 40+ minutes, barring a blowout.

PG Fred VanVleet, HOU | DK: $8.1k, FD: $8.5k | vs. PHX

VanVleet often profiles as the ultimate GPP play. As we’ve seen in just his last five games, the floor can be very low but the ceiling is sky-high. In any competitive game, as this one should be (HOU +3), FVV is going to flirt with 40+ minutes and bring plenty of scoring/assist potential to the table. VanVleet’s 20% usage rate this season is nothing remarkable but it’s worth noting that he has seen a +5% usage increase when Dillon Brooks (oblique/out) has been off the floor. The Phoenix Suns have also not defended point guards well, ranking 27th versus the position over their last 20 games. I believe we’ll see a good-to-great game out of VanVleet in this spot.

PG Dennis Smith Jr., BKN | DK: $4.7k, FD: $5k | vs. MIL

A ton of value will fall on the Nets today as they will be playing without five key contributors (Dinwiddie, Claxton, Simmons, C. Johnson, and L. Walker IV). Some of those players have been out with injury longer than others, but the main point is that the Nets will need other guys to step up. Right now, I would expect Dennis Smith Jr. to slide into the starting rotation and take on primary ball handler responsibilities. Smith has averaged just under an FPPM on the season so if he’s going to handle mid-30s minutes with the rest of the starters, he’s an obvious bet to return strong DFS value at his current price tags. The backcourt is also the most favorable spot to target the Bucks, who rank 26th versus opposing PGs over their last 20 games.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Luka Doncic, DAL | DK: $11.8k, FD: $12.8k | vs. CLE (Luka is currently questionable)

PG Damian Lillard, MIL | DK: $9k, FD: $9.4k | @ BKN (Sizable boost if Giannis is out)

PG Jalen Brunson, NYK | DK: $8.6k, FD: $8.8k | @ OKC

PG/SG Cam Thomas, BKN | DK: $7.2k, FD: $7.2k | vs. MIL

PG Craig Porter Jr., CLE | DK: $6.5k, FD: $5.5k | @ DAL (Preferred if D. Mitchell is out)

PG/SF Dante Exum, DAL | DK: $6k, FD: $7.1k | vs. CLE (Only if Luka is out)

PG/SG De’Anthony Melton, PHI | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.4k | @ ORL

SG Malik Beasley, MIL | DK: $4.9k, FD: $5.2k | @ BKN (Boost if Giannis is out)

PG/SG Immanuel Quickley, NYK | DK: $4.8k, FD: $5.6k | @ OKC (DK Preferred)

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF/PG Scottie Barnes, TOR | DK: $8.7k, FD: $9.8k | @ WAS

He’s nearing the five-digit threshold on FanDuel but Barnes looks like an excellent play on DraftKings today -- still playable on FD, just not quite as appealing. Barnes has gone for at least 53.0 DKFP in three of his last four contests and the Raptors draw the ever-favorable Wizards match-up (WAS: 1st in pace, 30th in DEFRTG). Toronto is tied for a slate lead with a 123.8 implied team total and, as long as this doesn’t trend toward an early blowout, Barnes brings a high floor/ceiling combo to DFS lineups today… but, again, we’ll mostly prefer him over on DraftKings at his sub-$9k salary.

SF/SG Khris Middleton, MIL | DK: $6.4k, FD: $6.8k | @ BKN

Middleton is finally playing low-30s minutes with more consistency after facing some restrictions for most of the early season. He’s averaging 1.15 FPPM on the season so low-30s minutes is enough time on the court for him to post up a quality DFS score. It’s also a great match-up against the Nets, who rank dead last versus opposing small forwards (L20Games). Middleton will be playable regardless of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s (calf/questionable) status… but, if Giannis were to sit, it would only bode well for Middleton’s upside. In 110 minutes played with Giannis and Jae Crowder off the floor this season, Middleton has handled a team-leading +13.3% usage boost and has seen a +13.4 fantasy points per 48 minutes increase.

PF/C Trendon Watford, BKN | DK: $3.4k, FD: $4k | vs. MIL

Watford has been out of the rotation for a few games but the Nets are going to need to elevate several guys from their bench to expanded roles based on how short-handed they are today. In the Nets’ current scenario, Watford has handled the third most minutes on the team. He’s a fairly productive player when he does get some minutes off of the bench, averaging 1.06 FPPM on the season. If he can earn about 20-24 minutes this evening, he’s likely going to return value on these low-end salaries.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF/C Pascal Siakam, TOR | DK: $8k, FD: $8.6k | @ WAS

PF Jabari Smith Jr., HOU | DK: $7.5k, FD: $7.3k | vs. PHX (Boost if T. Eason is out)

SF/PF Mikal Bridges, BKN | DK: $7.4k, FD: $7.5k | vs. MIL

SF/PF Tobias Harris, PHI | DK: $6.4k, FD: $7k | @ ORL

SF/SG OG Anunoby, TOR | DK: $5.9k, FD: $5.9k | @ WAS

SF/SG Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI | DK: $5.7k, FD: $5.9k | @ ORL

PF/C Bobby Portis, MIL | DK: $5.5k, FD: $5.9k | @ BKN (Massive boost if Giannis is out)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Alperen Sengun, HOU | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.7k | vs. PHX

There are quite a few value centers to choose from on this slate so very little ownership is going to land on the more expensive centers on this slate. Sengun should be viewed as an upside GPP play and is coming off of two massive performances -- 65.0 DKFP/64.7 FDFP (vs. IND) and 64.75 DKFP/63.2 FDFP (@ NOP). The Rockets are on the second leg of a B2B and Sengun logged 37 minutes yesterday. It’s also not a great match-up (PHX: 7th vs. Centers L20Games). But you are getting that 60+ FP ceiling from Sengun at < 10% ownership on this slate.

C Day’Ron Sharpe, BKN | DK: $4.7k, FD: $5.1k | vs. MIL

Sharpe is one of those value centers that will command significant ownership tonight, but he’s a tough dude to avoid on this slate. The Nets are likely going to run around an eight-man rotation and, whether or not he starts, Sharpe should be in line for roughly 28-32 minutes. And Sharpe is just one of those players who pours in fantasy points when he’s on the court. He’s averaging 1.26 FPPM this season but he has really stepped it up a notch recently. Sharpe has scored at least 33.75 DKFP/33.5 FDFP in three of his last four games, and he played 22 minutes or fewer in each game. So, just imagine what he can do with the sizable minutes bump tonight.

Other Centers to Consider

C Jarrett Allen, CLE | DK: $7.3k, FD: $8k | @ DAL

C Jusuf Nurkic, PHX | DK: $7.2k, FD: $7.9k | @ HOU

C Brook Lopez, MIL | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.7k | @ BKN (DK Preferred)

C Isaiah Hartenstein, NYK | DK: $5.7k, FD: $6.5k | @ OKC (DK Preferred)

C Dereck Lively III, DAL | DK: $5.5k, FD: $6.1k | vs. CLE

C Mo Bamba, PHI | DK: $4k, FD: $5.7k | @ ORL

PrizePicks NBA Power Play ⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's NBA action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these bets so I don't just lightly throw these out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Isaiah Hartenstein MORE than 20.5 Points/Rebounds/Assists

Jusuf Nurkic MORE than 13.5 Points/Rebounds/Assists (1st Half)

🔥 Props AI 🔥

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Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing up for PrizePicks (Promo code: BETFULLY) or Underdog (Promo code: LINESTAR). You'll receive a 100% match on first deposits up to $100 PLUS a free two-month subscription to LineStar Premium. Many people may not realize that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em, and it’s incredibly easy.

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!