NBA Fantasy Projections & Optimizer Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel 12/3

Friday presents a nine-game slate, and with 18 teams competing, NBA fantasy lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel will be flush with high-level talent and value plays. The Awesemo NBA Starting Lineups page will provide breaking news when starters are announced as well as a full injury report on players who might be missing in action. Below are some NBA daily fantasy options that stand out for tonight’s slate using Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool and NBA DFS projections.

NBA Fantasy Projections & Optimal Lineup Picks Tonight

Boom: Cole Anthony: $8,200 DraftKings/$8,300 FanDuel

24% DraftKings Boom/14.8% FanDuel Boom

In his return from a six-game absence Wednesday, Anthony was not limited in anyway and posted 44.5 DraftKings in 36.5 minutes in the win over the Nuggets. This game marked the second time Jalen Suggs (thumb) has been inactive this season. On the first occasion, Anthony tore the Hawks up for 53.75 DraftKings points. Suggs will be unavailable again Friday, and when he has been off the floor Anthony’s usage has increased 2.2 percentage points to a team-high 28.7%. Furthermore, his assist rate rises 5 percentage points, and he contributes 1.25 DraftKings points per minute. Tonight Anthony faces a Rockets club that ranks second in pace. This matchup’s total is the third highest on the slate (217.5 points), and Houston is only a 3-point favorite.

Anthony has eclipsed 40 DraftKings points in more than half his starts this season and is rating as the best value above $8,000 on DraftKings tonight, via Awesemo’s projections.

Terry McBride likes Anthony as one of the best leverage plays on the entire slate tonight and goes over how frequently he’s popping up in the NBA DFS Lineup Optimizer Picks & Optimal Lineup article.

Boom: Dwight Howard: $3,600 DraftKings/$5,200 FanDuel

27.2% DraftKings Boom/5.5% FanDuel Boom

With DeAndre Jordan struggling to make an impact, the Lakers opted to give Howard more playing time Tuesday. While Jordan only logged four minutes, Howard received a season-high 35 and delivered a double-double worth 36.25 DraftKings points in the convincing 25-point win over the Kings. Howard has already been named the Lakers’ starting center for Friday’s matchup against the Clippers, which presents the second-highest total on the slate (218.5 points). Furthermore, the Lakers’ implied team total is the fourth highest on the board (110.25 points), and the spread of this games is only 2 points in favor of the Lakers.

Given that Howard saw 12.3 minutes in the first half on Tuesday, he should handle around 25 minutes against a Clippers defense that is giving up the fifth-most points in the paint. Howard is scoring 1.05 DraftKings points per minute this season and 29.7 DraftKings points per game in the last 10 he has seen at least 20 minutes. While his price has been adjusted on FanDuel, Howard is at a near-minimum $3,200 on DraftKings. For that site, he is rating as a top-five value on the slate and is also projecting for single-digit ownership, according to Awesemo’s projections.

Boom: Dewayne Dedmon: $4,800 DraftKings/$5,500 FanDuel

31.5% DraftKings Boom/17.7% FanDuel Boom

Dedmon is another standout value on DraftKings tonight. Bam Adebayo (thumb) has been ruled out, and with him absent Wednesday, Dedmon got the spot start and recorded a double-double of 39.25 DraftKings points across 30.4 minutes against the Cavaliers. He saw 14.5 minutes in the first half, so 28 to 30 minutes a fair projection for Dedmon this evening, particularly in this matchup with the Pacers that requires his size against Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. In addition to Adebayo, Jimmy Butler (tailbone) will be inactive, and Dedmon has produced 1.02 DraftKings points per minute in 324 minutes he has played without those two this season.

On BetMGM Dedmon’s player prop prop lines are set at a near double-double of 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, and he should have no issues exceeding 5x value at his low salary on DraftKings. Not only is Dedmon rating as a top-five DraftKings value, but he has the second-highest boom score in Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool.

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Bust: Anthony Edwards: $8,500 DraftKings/$8,100 FanDuel

48.1% DraftKings Bust/45.3% FanDuel Bust

While Edwards is tempting given he is competing in the highest total of the night against the Nets (222 points), he is overpriced right now. First, given that the Timberwolves and Nets both rank inside the top 10 in defensive efficiency, this game has a strong chance to go under its total. Plus, Edwards has been a weaker fantasy asset on the road this season, scoring 3.1 DraftKings points per game less than when at home. He is listed as probable, but he has been dealing with an illness.

At his current salary on DraftKings, Edwards needs 42.5 fantasy points to meet 5x value, which is something he has only accomplished in three of his last 10 games. Additionally, this is a feat Edwards has only reached three times in nine road starts this season. With him projecting for decent ownership on both sites, fading Edwards in large tournaments is the right move.

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