Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Lineups For December 22nd

Three nights in a row in the money! It’s nice to have a bit of mojo back!

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There are seven games in the NBA tonight once again, with a great mix of bargains and studs. That said, I have put together three lineups, and they are almost exactly the same.

Here are my FanDuel lineups for December 22nd:

Dec 15, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) brings the ball up court during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs beat the Hornets 97-88. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Point Guards:

Bargains:

Cory Joseph, Spurs ($5,100): Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Tony Parker will not play on (insert day here). That is the case tonight as well, which means that Joseph is a good bargain again. 25 points for 5K is a fair price.

Dennis Schroder, Hawks ($5,000): Obviously, this only applies if Jeff Teague is out again tonight. Since he still has a doubtful tag, and was doubtful on Saturday, there is a good chance he is out. I give Schroder the slight nod over Shelvin Mack because Schroder is the starter. That said, Mack has higher upside.

Worth The Cost:

Stephen Curry, Warriors ($10,500): Curry has kind of flown under the radar with the recent hot streaks put together by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Curry has quietly averaged 50 fantasy points per game over his last four games. He is one of the best options of the night.

Kemba Walker, Hornets ($8,000): Walker has been over 35 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games. That makes him a low risk play at a higher price.

Risky Play:

Derrick Rose, Bulls ($7,000): The theme in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was that a name is just a name. What’s in a name? In the case of Derrick Rose, a lot. He has missed a lot of games over the last three years, and the mere mentioning of his name is polarizing even for Bulls fans. To those of us that aren’t, the theme is to always stay away. That he can’t be trusted. That said, Rose was putting up some pretty good numbers before his most recent injury. Earlier this year against the Raptors, he went for over 30 fantasy points. He is a risk, but there could be a good payoff for the risk. He definitely feels like he has something to prove.

My Lineups:

A: Walker and Schroder ($13,000)

B: Beverley and Schroder ($11,200)

Next: The Butler Did It

Dec 13, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis (11) tries to fire up the crowd during the second half against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. The Warriors defeated the Mavericks 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Shooting Guards:

Bargains:

Gary Neal, Hornets ($3,800): Neal will continue to see a lot of minutes with Lance Stephenson out. With the news that Stephenson is out until after Christmas, Neal and Gerald Henderson will be great values for the next week or so.

Ben McLemore, Kings ($4,700): McLemore has 59.4 fantasy points in his last two games. He has played more than 30 minutes in each of his last five games, so it appears as though the Kings are going to let him play so long as he produces. He has been over 20 fantasy points in five of his last six games. He is a fairly low risk option right now.

Worth The Cost:

Jimmy Butler, Bulls ($8,900): Butler has averaged 46 fantasy points per game over his last four games. He might see a dip in production because of the return of Derrick Rose, but I wouldn’t expect a big drop off. I also wouldn’t bet against him right now. He seems a lot safer than a James Harden with an aching hamstring.

Monta Ellis, Mavericks ($8,100): Ellis had one of his best fantasy games of the season starting along side Rajon Rondo on Saturday. Expect more of the same tonight against Atlanta.

Risky Play:

James Harden, Rockets ($11,000): Harden is probable for tonight, but hamstring injuries for jump shooters make me nervous. I would expect around 40 fantasy points for Harden, which is very good. That said, I highlighted two guys above who are dropping 40’s all over the place for two thousand cheaper.

My Lineups:

A: Butler and Neal ($12,700)

B: Ellis and Butler ($17,000)

Next: All Other SF's Are Green With Envy

Dec 13, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson (9) drives past Brooklyn Nets forward guard Joe Johnson (7) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Nets won 114-87. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forwards:

Bargains:

Gerald Henderson, Hornets ($3,900): Henderson started over Gary Neal in Lance Stephenson’s latest missed game. He put up 27.4 fantasy points, so there is a good chance that he will remain the starter. Both him and Neal are great bargains for the price though. However, if you only want to gamble on one of them, Henderson is your man.

Terrence Ross, Raptors ($4,400): Ross is mostly a scorer – he has just three rebounds and an assist with his 18 points yesterday – so there is a bit of risk involved. That said, if the Raptors keep giving him 30 minutes, he will drop some buckets, making him a good cheap option.

Worth The Cost:

Rudy Gay, Kings ($8,700): He keeps showing up as probable on the injury reports, but he is playing as if nothing is wrong. Gay has played at least 33 minutes in every game since his return, and has scored at least 34 fantasy points in those games as well. Shy away if you want, but his production suggests that he is fine.

Draymond Green, Warriors ($7,800): I know that David Lee is coming back tonight, but I have a feeling that the Warriors are going to let Green run his course. He may get a few less minutes, but for a guy that is averaging 38 fantasy points over his last eight games, he shouldn’t experience much, if any, of a drop.

Risky Play:

Harrison Barnes, Warriors ($5,400): Barnes has been somewhat inconsistent all year, and I have a feeling that he is the one that will be taking the biggest hit with David Lee returning. Monitor this situation closely.

My Lineups:

A: Gay and Henderson ($12,600)

B: Green and Henderson ($11,700)

Next: Injuries Hit Hard At PF

Dec 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) dunks the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Power Forwards:

Bargains:

Jon Leuer, Grizzlies ($3,600): This only applies if Zach Randolph is forced to miss tonight’s game as well, so monitor this situation if you are going with Leuer. Last night, he scored 31.4 fantasy points with Z-Bo out, so if he plays again, he could be the best value of the night.

Taj Gibson, Bulls ($6,500): Taj is back tonight, and he was getting around 30 minutes a game before his injury. He had averaged 31.5 fantasy points a game in his last four games, so expect him to be around that level again tonight.

Worth The Cost:

Blake Griffin, Clippers ($10,200): Blake is the cream of the crop at PF tonight with LaMarcus Aldridge possibly missing tonight’s game. Griffin is averaging 51 fantasy points per game over his last three games. Look for a slight dip from that tonight against the Spurs, but he should still be in the 40’s.

Tim Duncan, Spurs ($9,300): Father Time has 115.2 fantasy points in the last two games he has played. When he is on the court for the Spurs, he should be for you as well.

Risky Play:

David Lee, Warriors ($7,000): That is a big chunk of change to offer up for a guy that will be on a minute limit, and a guy trying to crack a rotation that is playing better than anyone else right now. Stay away. Stay far, far away.

My Lineups:

A: Griffin and Leuer ($13,800)

B: Duncan and Gibson ($15,800)

Next: Three Player Monty At C In Portland

Nov 28, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Kaman (35) fouls Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter of the game at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Center:

Bargain:

Chris Kaman, Trailblazers ($4,200): Joel Freeland has been starting, but doing nothing with his minutes. The old reliable Kaman is putting up the better numbers in his 20 minutes than Freeland does with his 25-30. The dark horse is Thomas Robinson, especially if Aldridge sits out. For my money, I am going with the consistent option in Kaman.

Worth The Cost:

DeMarcus Cousins ($10,100): Cousins abused the Lakers to the tune of 56.8 fantasy points last night. He likely won’t do the same to the Warriors, but he should at least be in the 40’s

Marc Gasol, Grizzlies ($8,700): Gasol did not miss a beat with Randolph out yesterday, so he is a great play regardless of the rest of the frontcourt. He has been between 32.5 and 47.2 fantasy points in each of the last seven games.

Risky Play:

Jonas Valanciunas, Raptors ($6,200): Jonas has bee all over the board in his last ten games. He has four games of under 20 fantasy points, and two over 30 in that span. Is it worth that kind of a risk?

My Lineups:

A: Al Horford ($7,700): Horford is flying under the radar lately, but has put up 30 or more fantasy points in six straight games now.

B: Kaman ($4,200)

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