NBA Fantasy: Boom Bust Tool Projections for DraftKings + FanDuel Lineups | Christmas Day

Christmas Day presents a five-game slate, and 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: James Harden: $10,700 DraftKings/$10,200

44.2% DraftKings Boom/37.5% FanDuel Boom

Harden (health protocols) will make his return Saturday against the Lakers, but the Nets will still be without a slew of players, most importantly, Kevin Durant (health protocols) and Kyrie Irving (health protocols). When these two stars have been off the floor since the start of last season, Harden’s usage and assist rates have jumped 7.6 and 11.9 percentage points, respectively. Thanks to this godly role, the former MVP generates 1.7 DraftKings PPM in this situation. Furthermore, in the two tilts that Harden has played without Durant and Irving this season, he has supplied 62.1 DraftKings PPG.

On top of the huge workload, this an excellent spot for Harden, with the Lakers leading the league in pace. By a wide margin, this contest presents the highest total on the slate (226 points) and the Nets are only one-point favorites, which is the smallest spread on the board. Harden is extremely underpriced for his upside in this elite environment and is easily best value above $8,000 for both DraftKings and FanDuel, according to Awesemo’s projections.

Boom: Onyeka Okongwu: $3,300 DraftKings/$3,800 FanDuel

70.1% DraftKings Boom/65.3$ FanDuel Boom

Getting the spot start for Clint Capela (health protocols) Thursday, Okongwu recorded 35 DraftKings points in 34 minutes against the Sixers. Given Atlanta picked up the win with this effort, he should remain the starting center on Christmas Day with Capela remaining unavailable. Since the start of last season, Okongwu is producing 0.93 DraftKings PPM and Awesemo is projecting the big man for 28.7 minutes of work against the Knicks. New York ranks 22nd in defensive efficiency and in the five career contests Okongwu has logged at least 20 minutes, the 21-year-old has been very efficient with 32.1 DraftKings PPG.

At near minimum salaries on both sites, Okongwu is not only rating as a top-three value, but he owns a top-three Boom score on the slate for both DraftKings and FanDuel, via Awesemo’s Boom Bust Tool.

Update: Unfortunately, Okongwu has now also been ruled out due to health protocols. Gorgui Dieng should get the start at center and automatically becomes an elite punt play. With his team so thin, Awesemo’s projections have the veteran slated for 29.1 minutes against the Knicks. This season, Dieng is scoring 1.12 DraftKings PPM. Additionally, in the last 10 contests he has cracked 25 minutes, Dieng is contributing 35.6 DraftKings PPG. The center is priced under $4,000 on both sites and is the highest rated player on the slate in terms of Boom score for both DraftKings and FanDuel. 

Update No.2: Now, Capela has been upgraded to available. Instantly, this makes Dieng a GPP flier at best. As for Capela, the center is a viable target that should come with should come with somewhat depressed ownership. Before this recent absence, Capela was scoring 40 DraftKings PPG in his previous five and when he faced this Knicks’ club back in late November, the big man finished with a huge double-double of 53.25 DraftKings points. 

Boom: Robert Williams: $5,800 DraftKings/$5,600 FanDuel

25.1% DraftKings Boom/34.7% FanDuel Boom

With Al Horford (health protocols) remaining out Wednesday, Williams seized the opportunity and erupted for a season-high 53.75 DraftKings points in 34 minutes against the Cavs. The center is now averaging 38 DraftKings points in 30.6 regulation minutes per game with Horford out of the lineup this season. Along with Horford, Grant Williams, Josh Richardson and Enes Freedom are expected to miss Saturday’s matchup against the Bucks due to health protocols.

The latter has been Williams’ direct backup as of late, which should open up a few more minutes for the center. Overall, in the 188 minutes Williams has played with these four off the court, his usage, assist and rebound rates have increased 1.8, 5.4 and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. Williams provides 1.2 DraftKings PPM in this situation and while he is a terrific value on both sites, the 24-year-old is a must-have for GPPs on DraftKings, where Awesemo is projecting him to come with sub 10% ownership.

Update: Horford has been upgraded to questionable. If the veteran is active, Williams would see a hit to his value and become a GPP play only. 

Boom: Gary Payton II: $4,300 DraftKings/$4,700 FanDuel

47.3% DraftKings Boom/46.2% FanDuel Boom

With Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Damion Lee out due to health protocols Thursday, Payton entered the starting lineup for the Warriors and produced 30 DraftKings points in a season-high 33 minutes against the Grizzlies. All three of those players are expected to remain sidelined Saturday against the Suns, and in 180 minutes Payton has played with those players off the floor this season, the wing has seen his usage increase 3.2 percentage points and he has scored 1.04 DraftKings PPM. Payton should handle over 30 minutes again and while this Suns’ defense he is facing ranks second in efficiency, both these clubs rank inside the top-12 in pace.

Payton is averaging 24.3 DraftKings PPG when he has eclipsed 20 minutes this season and the 29-year-old should have zero issues beating his low price tags in this up-tempo setting. Via Awesemo’s projections, Payton is a top-10 value for both DraftKings and FanDuel.

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