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

Content Note: Tyler’s DFS & prop videos will return tomorrow!

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and is ready to settle back into the usual routine. Monday brings a hefty 10-game NBA main slate, and with only four games on tap tomorrow -- followed by a rare midweek afternoon/evening split slate on New Year’s Eve -- this shapes up as the final truly massive slate of the 2025 calendar year.

There’s no shortage of appealing game environments, highlighted by four matchups featuring totals north of 240 points along with single-digit spreads. As expected on a slate of this size, the injury report is fairly loaded, though most of the high-impact names have already been ruled out or carry probable tags. At the moment, the biggest true “questionable” designation to monitor belongs to Spurs PG De’Aaron Fox.

Plenty to unpack here, so let’s dive in. Best of luck!

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

Today’s Key Injuries 🚑

^{Note: NBA injury reports can be fickle and often update throughout the day. Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}

^{Additional Note: Players who have yet to play this season will be excluded from the injury report, unless they have either a probable, questionable, or doubtful injury designation, with some amount of chance to make their season debut. Injured players who have been out for an extended period of time and/or are not expected to play for a month-plus will also be excluded.}

• Suns: J. Green – OUT, G. Allen – OUT, M. Williams – OUT, R. Dunn – OUT

• Wizards: K. George – OUT, K. Middleton – OUT, C. Kispert – OUT

• Bucks: G. Trent Jr. – Questionable

• Hornets: K. Knueppel – OUT, R. Kalkbrenner – OUT, S. James – Questionable, M. Plumlee – OUT

• Warriors: J. Butler – Probable, A. Horford – OUT

• Nets: Z. Williams – Probable

• Magic: F. Wagner – OUT, J. Suggs – DOUBTFUL, G. Bitadze – Questionable

• Raptors: RJ Barrett – OUT, J. Poeltl – OUT, C. Murray-Boyles – Questionable

• Nuggets: A. Gordon – OUT, C. Johnson – OUT, C. Braun – OUT

• Heat: B. Adebayo – Probable, T. Herro – OUT

• Timberwolves: T. Shannon Jr. – OUT

• Bulls: Z. Collins – OUT

• Cavs: L. Nance Jr. – OUT

• Spurs: D. Fox – Questionable

• Pacers: I. Jackson – OUT, B. Sheppard – OUT

• Rockets: A. Sengun – OUT

• Knicks: J. Hart – OUT, M. Robinson – OUT, M. McBride – Probable, T. Kolek – Questionable, L. Shamet – OUT

• Pelicans: H. Jones – OUT, J. Alvarado – OUT

• Hawks: J. Johnson – OUT, T. Young – OUT, K. Porzingis – OUT

• Thunder: I. Hartenstein – OUT, A. Mitchell – Questionable, Jay. Williams – OUT, O. Dieng – OUT

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/SG Devin Booker, PHX | DK: $8.7k, FD: $9.1k | at WAS

Devin Booker draws one of the best matchups on the board as he goes up against Washington, who ranks dead last in DvP versus starting guards this season. Phoenix is shorthanded once again, with multiple starters and rotation pieces sidelined, which should leave Booker with even more offensive responsibility than usual. Over his last five games, he’s carried a 33.2% usage rate, which is 4th-highest among all players on the slate. Booker already leads the Suns in both scoring and assists, and Washington’s defensive issues only amplify that role -- they allow the second-most assists per game in the league while giving up efficient shooting across the board. Phoenix (-10.5) is a double-digit road favorite with a 122-point implied team total, so the game script sets up cleanly if things stay competitive. At these price points, Booker stands out as the top ceiling play at shooting guard and a core building block in all formats.

PG/SG Collin Gillespie, PHX | DK: $6.7k, FD: $6.7k | at WAS

Sticking with the Suns’ backcourt, Collin Gillespie shapes up as one of the most popular plays on the slate and for good reason. He opened the season in a reserve role but has since moved into the starting lineup due to injuries, starting in 12 of Phoenix’s last 13 games. That role has come with secure minutes and steady production, as Gillespie has averaged 34.4 DKFP in his starts. His all-around contributions stand out, as he’s also averaged 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in that span, while scoring 16+ points in nine starts and shooting 43.5% from three. His per-minute production has ticked up recently as well, climbing to 1.16 FPPM over his last five games. Gillespie draws the same elite matchup as Devin Booker, facing a Washington defense that ranks dead last in DvP versus starting guards. As long as this game stays competitive, rolling with one or both of Phoenix’s starting guards sets up as a strong path to both floor and ceiling production.

SG/SF Tim Hardaway Jr., DEN | DK: $4.5k, FD: $4.7k | at MIA

Injuries to Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson (all out again tonight) have pushed Tim Hardaway Jr. into the Nuggets’ starting lineup over the last two games, resulting in workloads of 41 and 33 minutes. He had been operating in the mid-to-upper 20s off the bench, but this temporary starting role puts him more in line for 32–36 minutes. While his season-long production sits at a modest 0.76 FPPM, Hardaway has still reached at least 27.5 DKFP in four straight games while scoring 19+ points in each. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray commanding most of the defensive attention, Hardaway continues to see a steady diet of open looks and can get hot in a hurry. Denver also draws the largest pace boost on the slate, carrying their pace ranking of 19th into a matchup with Miami, who continues to lead the NBA in pace. Hardaway has been notably more efficient from deep on the road, knocking down 45.5% of his threes away from home compared to 36.2% when playing in Denver. That could just be statistical noise, but I felt it was worth mentioning. He doesn’t bring much peripheral upside, but at these price points, he can pay off largely through scoring alone… especially in a strong game environment such as this one, which carries a 244.5 total and a tight 2.5-point spread.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Jalen Brunson, NYK at NOP

SG Anthony Edwards, MIN at CHI

PG LaMelo Ball, CHA vs. MIL

PG Amen Thompson, HOU vs. IND

SG Stephon Castle, SAS vs. CLE (Boost if Fox is out)

PG/SG Anthony Black, ORL at TOR

SG/SF Norman Powell, MIA vs. DEN

PG Immanuel Quickley, TOR vs. ORL

PG/SG Dylan Harper, SAS vs. CLE (Preferred if Fox is out)

PG/SG Jordan Goodwin, PHX at WAS

PG/SG Tre Johnson, WAS vs. PHX

PG/SG Bruce Brown, DEN at MIA

SG/SF Vit Krejci, ATL at OKC

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF Michael Porter Jr., BKN | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.5k | vs. GSW

Michael Porter Jr. continues to thrive in Brooklyn, carrying a massive offensive role and putting together the most productive season of his career. He’s averaging career highs across the board at 25.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 3.2 APG, and his usage has remained elevated at 31.4% over his last 20 starts. Porter has been remarkably steady, topping 40 DKFP in 13 of his last 15 games and averaging 43.1 DKFP on the season. Cam Thomas’ return does introduce some usage competition, but Thomas is still working back under limited minutes and can also draw defensive attention away [from Porter] when they share the floor. Brooklyn is only a 6.5-point underdog here, keeping Porter’s minutes secure in what Vegas expected to be a competitive game. Paying up at forward isn’t overly appealing on this slate, but Porter still brings legitimate 50+ fantasy-point upside at reasonable mid-$8k price tags.

PF OG Anunoby, NYK | DK: $7.2k, FD: $6.5k | at NOP

OG Anunoby has been a volatile option of late, but his ceiling gets a boost with Josh Hart (ankle) set to miss a second straight game. With Hart out on Saturday, Anunoby delivered a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double while adding five assists, three steals, and a block across 38 minutes. He’s now produced 45.0 and 54.0 DKFP in two of the three games Hart has missed this season. The matchup couldn’t be much better, as New Orleans ranks 27th in defensive rating and has allowed the most fantasy points per game to starting small forwards over their last 20 contests. Even with New York shorthanded, the Knicks lead the slate with a 128.0 implied team total, so getting exposure to this lineup makes plenty of sense. Anunoby doesn’t offer the safest floor, but he’s a strong tournament option with clear 45+ DKFP upside.

SF/PF Tari Eason, HOU | DK: $4.8k, FD: $4.8k | vs. IND

Houston will be without star center Alperen Sengun (calf) tonight, which opens up additional usage across the frontcourt. Tari Eason is a clear beneficiary, seeing a +4.3% usage bump with Sengun off the floor this season. After starting in each of the last two games, Eason is expected to remain in the starting lineup and has been highly productive in that role, averaging 1.25 FPPM over his last 20 starts. Eason is only four games into his return from a leg injury, so it’s unlikely he pushes past 30 minutes, but he currently projects for 27 minutes tonight, which should be enough time for him to pay off his $4,800 salary on both sites. The matchup is also serviceable, with Indiana ranking 25th in DvP versus starting forwards over their last five games.

Other Forwards to Consider

SF/SG Kevin Durant, HOU vs. IND

PF Chet Holmgren, OKC vs. ATL

SF Brandon Miller, CHA vs. MIL

PF Zion Williamson, NOP vs. NYK

PF Jabari Smith Jr., HOU vs. IND

PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili, TOR vs. ORL

PF Andrew Wiggins, MIA vs. DEN

SF Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs. PHX

SF/PF Royce O’Neale, PHX at WAS

SF/PF Justin Champagnie, WAS vs. PHX

SF/SG Pelle Larsson, MIA vs. DEN

PF/C Jalen Smith, CHI vs. MIN

PF/C Asa Newell, ATL at OKC

PF/C Mouhamed Gueye, ATL at OKC

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK | DK: $8.9k, FD: $8.9k | at NOP

Karl-Anthony Towns is coming off a big outing against Atlanta, piling up 36 points and 15 rebounds en route to 58.2 DKFP. The matchup sets up well for him again, as New Orleans continues to struggle inside, allowing the third-most PPG in the paint while ranking 25th in Rebounding%. The Pelicans have also been vulnerable to opposing centers, giving up the third-most fantasy points per game to the position over their last 20 contests. Towns remains a focal point of New York’s offense and is a clean way to gain exposure to the slate’s top implied team total (NYK: 128.0 implied points). If you’re not paying all the way up for Nikola Jokic (DK: $13k, FD: $12.9k), Towns stands out as a strong pivot who still brings ample 50+ fantasy-point upside.

C Oso Ighodaro, PHX | DK: $4k, FD: $4.3k | at WAS

With Mark Williams serving a one-game suspension, Oso Ighodaro stands out as one of the clearest value pieces on the slate and makes it much easier to fit in a high-end spend like Nikola Jokic. He logged 29 minutes last time out and came close to a double-double, finishing with 10 rebounds, eight points, four assists, and 27.5 DKFP. Ighodaro is projected for 29.0 minutes again tonight, and that level of run is more than enough at his near-minimum price tags. The matchup is ideal, as Washington continues to struggle inside, ranking 28th in Rebounding% and 25th in PPG allowed in the paint. With Phoenix leaning on a thin frontcourt rotation, Ighodaro should remain active on the glass and as a finisher around the rim. He has a straightforward pathway to 6x (or better) value tonight.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Jokic, DEN at MIA

C Alex Sarr, WAS vs. PHX

C Rudy Gobert, MIN at CHI

C Nic Claxton, BKN vs. GSW

C Moussa Diabate, CHA vs. MIL

C Steven Adams, HOU vs. IND

C Day’Ron Sharpe, BKN vs. GSW

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we have rolled out Props AI for NBA – available for LineStar Premium users! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks, UnderDog Fantasy, and other prop apps/sites!

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