DFSGhost 
With the NBA taking Thanksgiving off, we should have relatively clear injury reports across the board. However, a few players remain in question that can still shift the slate around, so we’ll need to be on our toes! It’s a Fajita Friday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
Point Guards
Ja Morant ($9,600 DK / $9,000 FD)
With a matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, Ja Morant is currently on my shortlist for the entire position, let alone at the top of the pricing grid. Even with the return of Dillon Brooks to the Grizzlies lineup, Morant’s volume has remained consistent, and he offers a ton of upside in this matchup; currently leading the NBA in points in the paint per game with 14.9, Morant gets a Hawks defense that ranks 23rd in the category, while also ranking 10th to opposing primary ball handlers in the pick-and-roll.
Dejounte Murray ($9,400 DK / $9,700 FD)
One of my favorite players to watch on a nightly basis and in the league, Dejounte Murray is back in yet another favorable spot for our NBA lineups tonight. With the exception of a blowout loss to Minnesota, Murray has posted these scoring lines in his last four games:
- 22/8/11 on 45% shooting
- 18/10/11 on 40.9% shooting
- 26/12/9 on 57.1% shooting
- 22/10/10 on 45% shooting
The face of the Spurs franchise is a certified hooper, leading the Spurs in usage rate (25.8%), MPG (34.6), PPG (18.4), APG (8.2), SPG (2.1), and is second in rebounding with 8.2 per contest. Facing a Celtics team that simply cannot commit to their team defense, Murray will once again lead the charge here tonight.
Honorable Mentions:
- Steph Curry ($11,400 DK / $10,500 FD)
- De’Aaron Fox ($7,700 DK / $7,300 FD)
- Injury Contingent Play: Jalen Suggs ($5,200 DK / $5,600 FD)
Shooting Guards
Donovan Mitchell ($8,400 DK / $8,100 FD)
With a matchup against the Pelicans, we’re going right back to Donovan Mitchell in a familiar spot. We have been attacking this New Orleans defense from all fronts this season, but most notably in their young, inexperienced backcourt, which had led the team to having the 26th ranked defensive rating in the NBA this season. Sporting a 32.9% usage rate on the season thus far, Mitchell hasn’t topped 20 points in his last two outings, but did have ten of his previous eleven games result in some serious scoring numbers; tonight, he gets back to doing what he does best against a team that is 27th in off-ball defense and 24th in on-ball defense.
Lugentz Dort ($5,200 DK / $5,400 FD)
We need some value at the guard spot for tonight’s NBA slate, and if the dominoes fall our way, there will be a ton in Orlando, should Cole Anthony miss yet another game for the Magic. However, if he does play, I love the idea of going from Jalen Suggs, who is the same price as Dort, to the OKC 2-guard. Scoring in double figures in 15 straight games for the Thunder, Dort has 15 or more points in eight of his last nine, where he’s posted a 21.2/4.8/1.8 scoring line on 48.3% shooting, including 3.2 3PM per night.
Honorable Mentions
- Anthony Edwards ($7,500 DK / $7,900 FD)
- Buddy Hield ($5,800 DK / $5,300 FD)
- Injury Contingent Play: Josh Giddey ($6,500 DK / $6,200 FD)
Small Forwards
Jayson Tatum ($10,000 DK / $10,000 FD)
In addition to Robert Williams and Josh Richardson being ruled out for the Celtics tonight, Jaylen Brown is questionable to suit up. Whether Brown plays or not likely does not factor in my interest in Tatum, who has a great matchup against the Spurs as a point forward. With Dejounte Murray likely defending Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart, Tatum’s ball handling and post game will allow him to dominate against the likes of Keldon Johnson, Doug McDermott (Q), and Devin Vassell. Sporting a 32.7% usage rate on the season, Tatum has posted a 25.2/8.4/3.5 scoring line on 40.6% shooting, making him an intriguing pay up option on tonight’s NBA slate.
Miles Bridges ($7,800 DK / $8,200 FD)
I certainly want to get exposure to this Charlotte/Minnesota game, with both teams being leaders in pace amongst NBA teams this season. With the majority of Minnesota’s defense coming from the perimeter in Pat Beverly and in the paint with Karl-Anthony Towns, wings have been exposing the Timberwolves all season long. Enter Bridges, who has been having a career year with 20.3 PPG.
Honorable Mentions:
- LeBron James ($10,500 DK / $9,900 FD)
- SGs who are listed above that are also SF eligible
Power Forwards
Julius Randle ($10,100 DK / $8,700 FD)
The Knicks starters looked to have regained their form in the last game versus the Lakers, but one game does not tell a whole tale. Nonetheless, the constant to this Knicks roster has been Julius Randle, who leads the team in usage rate, MPG, PPG, RPG, and APG. Getting a friendly matchup versus Deandre Ayton, who has a net defensive rating of 100.8, Randle will be leaned upon to dominate the interior and the glass on both ends of the floor.
John Collins ($7,300 DK / $7,800 FD)
Both Clint Capela and John Collins interest me on this NBA slate, but with the return of Dillon Brooks to the Grizzlies lineup, we’ve been seeing less of Steven Adams as Memphis goes smaller to push the pace with the ball in Ja Morant’s hands. Enter Collins, who can line up on Jaren Jackson Jr. and dominate the matchup, as he has in the past; Collins has been as volatile as ever this season, but has proven to be a walking double-double when he can stay out of foul trouble, mainly through running as the roll man to Trae Young’s pick-and-roll offense.
Honorable Mentions:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,200 DK / $11,700 FD)
- Scottie Barnes ($6,700 DK / $6,500 FD)
Centers
- Nikola Jokic ($11,500 DK / $11,300 FD)
- Rudy Gobert ($8,300 DK / $9,000 FD)
Honorable Mentions:
- Clint Capela ($7,500 DK / $7,500 FD)
- Jakob Poeltl ($5,700 DK / $5,800 FD)
You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life
