NBA Fantasy Projections & Optimizer Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel 12/21

On tap for Tuesday is a five-game slate, and even with 10 clubs in action, 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 & Lineup Optimizer Picks Tonight

Boom: Jaylen Nowell: $3,300 DraftKings/$4,000 FanDuel

50.7% DraftKings Boom/33.5% FanDuel Boom

With Anthony Edwards (health protocols) missing the last two games, Nowell has been great off the bench for the Timberwolves, scoring 25 DraftKings points per game. He has done all this damage in only 18.6 minutes a night, and now not only will Edwards remain inactive, but Patrick Beverley (health protocols) has also been ruled out for Tuesday’s matchup with the Mavericks. Nowell has been Beverley’s direct backup in these past two games, making him the top candidate to enter the starting lineup. Nonetheless, starter or not, Nowell should see more than enough playing time tonight to beat both his price tags on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

In the 97 minutes Nowell has played with Edwards and Beverley off the floor this season, Nowell has posted a 25% usage rate and produced 1.24 DraftKings points per minute. Awesemo is projecting him for 26.7 minutes tonight, and in the five career games Nowell has cracked 25 minutes, he has contributed 30.4 DraftKings points per game. In Awesemo’s projections, Nowell is a top-three value on the slate for both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Boom: Josh Hart: $5,700 DraftKings/$6,600 FanDuel

29.5% DraftKings Boom/12.4% FanDuel Boom

Hart is criminally underpriced at only $5,700 on DraftKings. Albeit with an extra overtime period, Hart is coming off a near triple-double of 43.75 DraftKings points against the Bucks this past Friday. He is averaging 0.9 DraftKings points per minute this season and has topped 30 DraftKings points in seven of his past 10 starts. On the menu for Tuesday is a matchup with the Trail Blazers, who rank second-to-last in defensive efficiency.

New Orleans has the second-highest implied team total on the slate in this spot (109.75 points), and this game’s total is also the second largest on the board (218 points). Furthermore, the Pelicans are only 1-point favorites, and Hart is averaging 32 DraftKings points per game in spreads of 3 points or less this season. For DraftKings, Hart has a top-five boom score on the slate in Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool.

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Boom: Jonas Valanciunas: $8,300 DraftKings/$7,800 FanDuel

21.6% DraftKings Boom/23% FanDuel Boom

Valanciunas is another target from the Pelicans that Awesemo’s projections love tonight. Heading into this plus matchup with the Trail Blazers, Valanciunas has scored at least 40 DraftKings points in five of his last six starts. This season Valanciunas has a 25.7% usage rate and is contributing 1.3 DraftKings points per minute. Additionally, he has recorded a double-double in 23 of 31 starts and is averaging 45.4 DraftKings points per game in spreads of 3 or less. Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool is giving him a top-10 ceiling on the slate, making Valanciunas one of the most optimal high-end spends available.

Bust: Cade Cunningham: $8,600 DraftKings/$7,700 FanDuel

69.9% DraftKings Bust/60.3% FanDuel Bust

Cunningham is egregiously overpriced on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Facing a Knicks team that ranks 25th in pace, the Pistons’ implied team total is the low mark of this five-game slate (100.5 points). Cunningham is coming off an ugly 24.75-DraftKings-point outing against the Heat on Sunday, which marked his sixth effort under 40 DraftKings points in his last 10 starts. Cunningham saw a season-low 12.2% usage rate in Sunday’s loss, and tonight’s matchup will be on the road, where he has been 5.3 DraftKings points per game worse than when at home.

Lastly, Cunningham’s props for tonight on BetMGM are 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists, which is only 32 DraftKings points before defensive stats and bonuses are credited. Particularly on FanDuel, where Cunningham is slated for over 20% ownership according to Awesemo’s projections, he needs to be avoided.

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