FanDuel NBA Picks For December 5

Who should you play in your NBA FanDuel lineups tonight?

Feb 11, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; A fan holds a sign referring the Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (not pictured) before a game at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

While much of the focus is on championship Saturday in college football, the NBA still has eight games going on. That leaves plenty of options to build a winning team. Who are the best options? Let’s take a look at how injuries and price can affect your lineups!

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To finish in the money, you need to choose the best high priced players, and the best cheap options to let you afford some high priced players. I will give you some of each option at each position and let you choose from there.

Here are my FanDuel NBA Picks for December 5:

Next: Can Austin Rivers Produce With Paul Out?

Dec 3, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is fouled by Indiana Pacers guard Monta Ellis (11) as he drives to the basket during the first quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Damian Lillard, Trailblazers ($9,500): Lillard’s hot start is not a fluke. Aside from a disaster against the Clippers last week, Lillard has been an automatic 40 points in FanDuel. He even threw in a 60 pointer against the Lakers for good measure. I wouldn’t expect a 60 tonight against Minnesota, but mid to high 40’s is not out of the question.

Rajon Rondo, Kings ($8,000): Rondo has slowed some since his scorching start, but he is still producing at a high level for his price. Aside from getting tossed on Wednesday, Rondo has scored 30 or more FanDuel points in all but one game this year. That was against Golden State, who can do no wrong. Rondo is a really good play against Houston tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Isaiah Thomas, Celtics ($7,600): I get why the Celtics want to play Marcus Smart. I really do. But when he is out and Thomas plays out of his mind like he has, you really must question why they would ever return him to the bench. He has averaged 39.5 FanDuel points per game in Smart’s absence. Expect similar numbers tonight.

Derrick Rose, Bulls ($6,800): Rose is a shadow of his former self, but you can still use him in daily fantasy games. He will no longer take over a game, but he is still good for a solid 25-30 points per night. If you want consistent production, Rose is providing it right now. Just don’t expect 40 or 50 point games from him anymore.

If You’re Cheap:

Patrick Beverley, Rockets ($3,900): He is a starter for under $4,000. His chances of reaching 5x value are incredible. If you want to save money for a stud, the reliable Beverley has little upside, but he has posted at least 5x value in each of his last five games.

Austin Rivers, Clippers ($3,500): Rivers played a staggering 35 minutes with Chris Paul out last game. It still didn’t translate to success, as Rivers had only 11 FanDuel points. His poor shooting really caps his value, but he promises to get an extended run again tonight, and could be worth a dice roll.

My picks: Thomas and Beverley

Next: Is Harden Worth The Money?

Dec 4, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) steals the ball from the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeat the Mavericks 100-96. Harden leads his team with 25 points. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

James Harden, Rockets ($10,800): Harden is the facilitator of the offense, and the leading scorer as well. That makes him almost bust-proof. He needs 45 points to achieve 4x value, but Harden has been over that in each of his last seven games. In fact, he hasn’t been below 49 points in that span. Play Harden with confidence!

Victor Oladipo, Magic ($7,400): Even though Oladipo is not starting, he is still playing 30 minutes per game. The “demotion” is really in name only. He is facing a beat-up Clippers backcourt with Chris Paul and J.J. Redick both likely out again. He has averaged 34 FanDuel points per game since the demotion. Expect at least that number tonight.

Honorable Mention:

C.J. McCollum, Trailblazers ($6,900): McCollum has averaged 29.6 FanDuel points per game this year. He has not been below 22 or above 36, so you know exactly what you are getting from him. That is a consistent 4.5x value. Players like this may not be flashy, but they help you win money.

Avery Bradley, Celtics ($6,000): As with many scorers, Bradley has the occasional off game, but when he is on, he is on. Bradley has had at least 25 FanDuel points in all but two games this year. He has made value far more often than not this year.

If You’re Cheap:

Zach LaVine, Timberwolves ($5,800): The return of Ricky Rubio has not hurt LaVine much. The team wants to play him alongside Rubio more often than not, so LaVine will still see at least 30 minutes nearly every game. The production is still there too. He has only been under 20 FanDuel points once in his last ten games.

Rodney Stuckey, Pacers ($4,900): Stuckey has been on fire over his last three games, averaging 29 FanDuel points per game. Ride him until he cools off!

My picks: Harden and Stuckey

Next: Should You Take Two Studs At SF?

Dec 3, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

LeBron James, Cavaliers ($10,000): The Pistons are the only team that has succeeded in holding him under 40 FanDuel points this year. Tonight he has added incentive, with the Cavs heading to Miami. He could obliterate the 56.5 FanDuel points that he lit up New Orleans for last night.

Kawhi Leonard, Spurs ($8,900): Leonard is consistently the most reliable producer fantasy-wise for the Spurs. Why? Because he doesn’t have his minutes limited. If the game turns into a blowout, they may reign him in like they did against the Bucks earlier this week, but I tend to think this stays close long enough for Leonard to get close to 40 FanDuel points.

Honorable Mention:

Paul George, Pacers ($9,700): George had far and away his worst game of the year against Portland on Thursday, and he faces another tough matchup against Utah tonight. That is the only reason that he is not shoulder to shoulder with the King like he has been all year. His chances of getting 4x value are very low tonight, but from what we have seen from George so far this year, I wouldn’t count him out.

Nicolas Batum, Hornets ($7,100): Batum is not a flashy player, but he stuffs the stat sheet everywhere. He is a poor man’s Draymond Green, which makes him golden in daily fantasy games. When you don’t need points to put up big numbers, like Batum, that means he has a higher floor than most of his peers. He also has a lower ceiling, but sometimes sure things are the way to go.

If You’re Cheap:

Jae Crowder, Celtics ($5,200): Crowder is another guy that is seeing more of a run with Marcus Smart sidelined. Crowder has averaged 27 FanDuel points per game with Smart out. You don’t need me to tell you what a great value that is.

Doug McDermott, Bulls ($3,500): With Nikola Mirotic sidelined with a concussion, Dougie McBuckets has played 59 minutes over the last two games. Mirotic is still listed as a game time decision. If he is out again, McDermott could be a very nice bargain play.

My Picks: James and Crowder

Next: Is There Love For Love?

Oct 30, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) takes a shot against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (arm) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win in overtime 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Power Forward:

Best Bets:

Blake Griffin, Clippers ($9,100): Griffin struggled against a strong Indiana frontcourt last night, but it also could be because of the absence of Chris Paul. Expect the Clippers to attack the middle against Orlando tonight in an effort to relieve some of the pressure off of the guards. That could lead to a nice game for Griffin.

Pau Gasol, Bulls ($8,100): Gasol has abused Denver and San Antonio for over 100 FanDuel points in his last two games. Next up is a beat up Charlotte interior who is missing Al Jefferson. Frank Kaminsky will get his real christening to the NBA tonight, Kung Pao style!

Honorable Mention:

Derrick Favors, Jazz ($7,900): Favors has had two of his better games of the season with Rudy Gobert out. He has definitely picked up some of the slack, and is currently a value for the type of numbers that he can put up. Play him before his salary gets out of control.

Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks ($7,300): The rookie has taken the Big Apple by storm lately. Porzingis has averaged 39.6 fantasy points over his last seven games, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Rookies are always a bit of a gamble, but when Porzingis has played at this high of a level, it’s hard not to play him.

If You’re Cheap:

Marvin Williams, Hornets ($4,900): Williams should get all of the minutes that he can handle while Jefferson is out. He has done a good job with them so far. Williams is never going to be the guy dropping 40 point bombs everywhere, but he has consistently been in the mid to high 20’s. That is solid 4.5x value, which you need from this price range to have a shot.

Frank Kaminsky, Hornets ($3,600): Frank the Tank has done well with his new found playing time. With Al Jefferson set to be out at least another week, Kaminsky could be a very sneaky daily play until then. He has played 34 minutes and scored 36.5 FanDuel points in the two games since Jefferson went down. He is not all that consistent, and he has a tough matchup against Pau Gasol and the Bulls, but he only needs 16 points for 4x value. He should be at that mark on defensive stats alone!

My picks: Gasol and Kaminsky

Next: Who Is The Best At C?

Nov 15, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts against the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Center:

Best Bet:

DeMarcus Cousins, Kings ($10,300): When Cousins is on the court, he has been a force. Even when he had a rough shooting night against Boston on Thursday, he still got 28.4 FanDuel points. Don’t expect that low output to be the norm. Cousins has topped 50 fantasy points in four of his last six games.

Honorable Mention:

Greg Monroe, Bucks ($7,500): I don’t trust D12 against Cousins, and Whiteside has not logged 30 minutes in his last three games, so I’m going Monroe against the Knicks. The Knicks still aren’t strong up front, and Monroe has been over 30 FanDuel points in seven of his last nine games.

If You’re Cheap:

Ian Mahinmi, Pacers ($5,300): Mahinmi has been an absolute steal for most of the season. He has averaged 28 FanDuel points over his last five games. Against a Utah team that is without Rudy Gobert, I like Mahinmi’s chances to produce at that level again.

My Pick: Mahinmi

Next: Five Players To Have On Your Daily Teams For Week 13

Good luck to you FanDuelers!