FanDuel NBA Lineup Advice: Wednesday (12/20)

We have an 11-game slate to work with as we grind towards Christmas weekend. As always, there are plenty of injury situations worth monitoring as the day unfolds, as this could play a big role in the direction you take in regards to lineup construction. Let’s look at a tournament lineup for FanDuel tonight.

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Point Guard

Jamal Murray (DEN): $5,600 vs. MIN
This is a good individual matchup for Murray, who should continue to see extended minutes especially with Emmanuel Mudiay doubtful to play tonight. This contest features a projected total of 216 points with the Nuggets favored by just two, so look for a full workload from Murray this evening.

Dejounte Murray (SA): $4,300 @ POR
Tony Parker is being rested tonight, so I look for Murray and Patty Mills to absorb most of the workload void being left behind tonight against Portland. I’m going to side with utilizing Murray, who has been the better fantasy producer on a per minute basis this season. While this contest isn’t overly appealing in that it features two strong defenses, it should be a close game which likely will afford Murray enough chances to hit value tonight.  

Other Notables:

• Russell Westbrook (OKC): $11,400 vs. UTA
• Chris Paul (HOU): $10,200 vs. LAL
• Kyrie Irving (BOS): $8,000 vs. MIA
• Kris Dunn (CHI): $7,900 vs. ORL
• Austin Rivers (LAC): $5,800 vs. PHO

Shooting Guard

Tyreke Evans (MEM): $7,500 @ GS
This is a boost in pace for the Grizzlies and despite this being a tougher matchup for Evans, I think the game flow should make up for any efficiency concerns. As long as Mike Conley remains sidelined, Evans will continue to be a prime tournament target as he can get hot at any time. One look at his game log shows how low his floor is, but he possesses 50 FPD upside on any given night.

Justin Holiday (CHI): $5,100 vs. ORL
Holiday and Kris Dunn are manning the ship well right now for the Bulls’ backcourt and I like Holiday’s price in particular tonight. This is a great matchup for Holiday, who is a good bet for 30 minutes of run while possessing fantasy upside of six times his current salary.

 Other Notables:

• James Harden (HOU): $11,100 vs. LAL
• Victor Oladipo (IND): $9,600 @ ATL
• Will Barton (DEN): $6,200 vs. MIN (if Gary Harris out)
• Buddy Hield (SAC): $4,900 @ BKN

Small Forward

Kevin Durant (GS): $11,900 vs. MEM
Wash, rinse, repeat. Durant needs 52 FDP to hit value at this price and with him scoring at least 60 FDP in four out of the last five games, I’d say he’s a good bet to continue crushing that number. His is not an appealing matchup, but I think we can throw that out the window with Stephen Curry still on the shelf. In short, your lineup construction should start with Durant this evening.

Stanley Johnson (DET): $3,800 @ DAL
I’m hoping this is a bit of a zag when others zig play, as Reggie Bullock could garner some extra attention after his latest outing. That’s not to say Bullock is a bad play, but rather this could be a lower-owned option tonight. Johnson has helped to absorb some of the available minutes created by the absence of Avery Bradley and that’s a trend that should continue. Johnson hasn’t set the world on fire the last two games, but the 26 FDP he’s scored in two straight is more than enough at this price if we can get that again tonight.

 Other Notables:

• Jimmy Butler (MIN): $9,400 @ DEN
• TJ Warren (PHO): $7,600 @ LAC
• Brandon Ingram (LAL): $7,200 @ HOU
• Jonathon Simmons (ORL): $6,600 @ CHI
• Kyle Anderson (SA): $5,300 @ POR (check status)
• Mario Hezonja (ORL): $4,800 @ CHI

Power Forward

LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): $7,900 @ POR
Kawhi Leonard is being rested tonight, so I look for the attention to be squarely on Aldridge tonight as he faces his old team. As I noted earlier, this isn’t the most ideal game environment from a possession standpoint as it features to slow-paced, tough defenses. However, I expect it to be close and that should afford Aldridge a full complement of minutes as well as a full offensive workload.

Montrezl Harrell (LAC): $3,800 vs. PHO
This is a phenomenal situation for Harrell, who continues to be a strong per minute fantasy producer (1.07 FDP/min). Unfortunately, he rarely sees more than 15 minutes of playing time. That being said, an output of six times his current salary isn’t totally out of reach, as he’s hit eclipsed number (22.8 FDP) twice in the last five games. The salary relief he provides is meaningful and while this is a high-risk play, the reward is certainly there as well.

 Other Notables:

• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (BKN): $7,400 vs. SAC
• Nikola Mirotic (CHI):$ $7,100 vs. ORL
• Thaddeus Young (IND): $6,100 @ ATL
• Taj Gibson (MIN): $5,700 @ DEN
• Julius Randle (LAL): $5,500 @ HOU
• Trey Lyles (DEN): $4,800 vs. MIN

Center

Andre Drummond (DET): $9,700 @ DAL
Dallas ranks 28^th in team rebounding rate, which puts Drummond firmly in elite GPP play territory tonight. He’s been all over the place production-wise lately, but this appears to be a great spot to try and capture one of his monster games on the glass. I expect this game to be close and provided he stays out of foul trouble, a 20-rebound outing could be within reach for Drummond tonight.

 Other Notables:

• Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): $10,300 @ DEN
• Nikola Vucevic (ORL): $10,000 @ CHI
• Nikola Jokic (DEN): $8,700 vs. MIN
• Bam Adebayo (MIA): $4,900 @ BOS

My Lineup

 PG- Jamal Murray (DEN): $5,600 vs. MIN
PG- Dejounte Murray (SA): $4,300 @ POR
SG- Tyreke Evans (MEM): $7,500 @ GS
SG- Justin Holiday (CHI): $5,100 vs. ORL
SF- Kevin Durant (GS): $11,900 vs. MEM
SF- Stanley Johnson (DET): $3,800 @ DAL
PF- LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): $7,900 @ POR
PF- Montrezl Harrell (LAC): $3,800 vs. PHO
C- Andre Drummond (DET): $9,700 @ DAL

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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net