FanDuel daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-December 26
High Salary SG
James Harden-Houston Rockets (11,600): Harden had just 16 points in Houston’s last game before Christmas but had 17 assists against Memphis to still end up with 42.9 fantasy points. He’ll need to do better tonight against Phoenix to be worth this price, but he did have 27-5-14 for 54 fantasy points against the Suns last week. He had over 50 fantasy points in four straight and six of his last seven before the Grizz slowed him down a bit. His best game over that stretch came against Brooklyn when he had 36-8-11 with a pair of steals for 62.1 fantasy points. That is his only game with over 60 fantasy points since December 1, though, so he hasn’t quite produced the same about of fantasy points he did earlier this season. I think he’s a little over-priced to return full value with so many other good options, but the potential for a monster-game is always there.∗∗
Giannis Antetokounmpo-Milwaukee Bucks (10,600): “The Alphabet” went into Christmas with one of his best runs of the season posting at least 46 fantasy points in seven straight including five games over 50 fantasy points and a capping 39-8-6 with two steals and a block for 62.6 fantasy points against the Wizards on Friday. He faces Washington again tonight as the Bucks and Wizards complete their home-andh-home, and I think he has a good shot at being a better points-per-dollar option than eve “The Beard” tonight.∗∗∗
Nicolas Batum-Charoltte Hornets (7,500): Batum has been excellent for the Hornets over the last couple of weeks with over 40 fantasy points in four of his last five games. Like Antetokounmpo, he’s coming off his strongest game during his string of success after he posted 50.2 fantasy points against the Bulls with a triple-double of 20-11-20 on Friday. Batum and the Hornets get a great matchup against the Nets tonight who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing SG in the NBA this season.∗∗∗∗
C.J. McCollum-Portland Trail Blazers (7,100): McCollum is a tricky player to consider tonight because he and the Blazers are in a tough spot hosting the Raptors who usually play good defense against opposing backcourts. However, if Damian Lillard is out (as expected, although he’s still listed as doubtful), McCollum gets a ton of usage and has posted monster games when given that chance. The matchup makes him less-than-a-lock, but I love his upside in what should be a high-scoring game in Portland. McCollum has over 35 fantasy points in two of his last five games, but he has also been held under 20 fantasy points in two of those five contests. McCollum makes sense if Lillard is out, but he’s still going to be a boom-or-bust play with potential for a huge “boom” if he carries the full weight of the Portland attack. No Lillard-∗∗∗∗ With Lillard-∗∗
Dwyane Wade-Chicago Bulls (6,700): Wade has his best game in the last couple of weeks in the Bulls’ Christmas Day defeat in San Antonio. Wade only played 28 minutes but had 24-3-6 for 38.6 fantasy points. He had been held under 30 fantasy points in three of his previous four games, but I think he’ll have another solid game tonight as the Bulls take on the Pacers who are short-handed in the backcourt due to injuries to Monta Ellis and Rodney Stuckey.∗∗
Devin Booker-Phoenix Suns (6,200): Booker has at least 38 fantasy points in three of his last four games as he heats up for the Suns. He had a very nice 28-6-7 for 44.7 fantasy points against the Rockets last week, and he’ll face Houston again tonight this time as he and the Suns hit the road. Booker followed that game with another good game on Friday totaling 23-6-6 for 39.2 fantasy points against the 76ers. He has been filling up the non-scoring categries in his last ew games which makes him even more valuable in a great matchup tonight against the Rockets who allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing SG. ∗∗∗∗
Next: High Value SG