FanDuel daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-December 14
High Salary PG
Russell Westbrook-Oklahoma City Thunder (12,000): Westbrook may be (gasp) cooling off a little bit. He did only play 27 minutes last night but his 33.2 fantasy points were a huge letdown to his investors as he finished with just 20-6-6 (points-rebounds-assists) in the Thunder loss to Portland. Westbrook has racked up at least 52 fantasy points 12 straight games, but he has now been held under 60 in four of his last five. Since he still costs 12K and is playing the second night of his back-to-back tonight at altitude, I see him as a high risk play, but tonight could e a good chance to catch his with a low ownership percentage.∗∗
Chris Paul-Los Angeles Clippers (9,600): CP3’s statistical success sometimes gets buried under Westbrook, Harden, and the shooting greatness of Golden State, but Paul is having a great ear for the Clippers. He has put up at least 50 fantasy points in each of his last two games and at least 45 fantasy points in four of his last seven. He had 20-5-20 for 62 fantasy points on Saturday and followed that up with 21-5-14 for 50 fantasy points on Monday. Paul and the Clippers continue their week as they face the Magic who are allowing the tenth-most fantasy points per game to opposing PG. Barring a total blowout early, look for Paul to post his fifth double-double in his last six games and turn out another big night. ∗∗∗
Goran Dragic-Miami Heat (7,400): Even with the Heat starting to get healthier, Dragic is continuing his good fantasy production. He has at least 38 fantasy points in each of his last two games and in six of his last nine. He had 46.5 fantasy points in his last game on Monday against the Wizards when he had 34-5-5 with a steal. Tonight, Dragic and the Heat take on the up-tempo Pacers who are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing PG. He’s a solid play at his 7K salary as he faces Jeff Teague.∗∗∗
Jeff Teague-Indiana Pacers (6,800): Teague should be in for a usage bump with Monta Ellis out the next few games. He had 16-5-11 for 36.5 fantasy points on Monday without Monta and has been consistently solid when asked to step up. He has a high ceiling, but he also should be good for around a double-double tonight even aginst the Heat. ∗∗∗∗
Deron Williams-Dallas Mavericks (6,300): Williams had 17-2-8 against the Nuggets for 34.4 fantasy points on Monday giving him at least 27 fantasy points in six of his last seven contests. He is back to his full 30+ minutes and getting plenty of usage in Dallas. Tonight, he and the Mavs host the Pistons, and he’ll go head-to-head with Reggie Jackson.∗∗∗
D’Angelo Russell-Los Angeles Lakers (6,000): If you’re looking for a high-risk play with a ton of upside, D’Angelo Russell is back and listed as probable for tonight’s A+ matchup against the Nets who have allowed more fantasy points per game to opposing PG than any other team in the NBA. Russell lit up the Nets for 32-8-4 and three steals for 50.6 fantasy points before he missed 12 of the next 13 games with a knee injury. He returned on Sunday and played 17 minutes followed by 20 minutes (and 17 points) the next night in Sacramento. Russell may not be ready to carry the load for LA like he did in that matchup earlier in the season, but he has the potential to be a beast at just 6K if he can find that same level of production he had before his injury.∗∗
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