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NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets – Monday, December 31st

By Chris Aliperto

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors mishandles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at ORACLE Arena on March 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors mishandles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at ORACLE Arena on March 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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DENVER – NOVEMBER 16: A detail photo of the ball as it falls through the rim as the Denver Nuggets face the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center on November 16, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 120-118. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) NBA FanDuel
DENVER – NOVEMBER 16: A detail photo of the ball as it falls through the rim as the Denver Nuggets face the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center on November 16, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 120-118. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) NBA FanDuel /

Do you play NBA FanDuel cash games? In this article, my goal will be to give you some targets at each position for tonight’s NBA action. I hope you find this informative, and I also hope I can help build your bankroll by helping you build a winning cash lineup.

For those new to daily fantasy sports or DFS, NBA FanDuel cash games are simply the games in the Fanduel lobby that are 50/50 or close to that to win. These are basically all of the games other than the tournaments, and guaranteed prize pool tournaments (GPP’s). Head-to-Head’s (H2H), 50/50, and double-ups would best summarize cash games.

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18

Happy New Years Eve everyone! Considering it is sort of a Holiday, the NBA decided to have a couple of early games today. Atlanta will face the Pacers at 3PM E.T. and Orlando will travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets with a 6PM start. That leaves us a five-game main slate, which will lock at the normal 7PM start time.

If you are finding this piece for the first time, here is a quick breakdown of what will happen here. I will give one target at each of the guard and forward positions, and one center. Following the picks, will be the ever popular “sample lineup” we like to do here at FantasyCPR.  All targets in this article will be safe floor, cash games plays.

With NBA DFS, I can’t stress enough how important it is to not just plug-and-play these sample lineups. There is so much info that will drop over the course of the day for NBA, and you never truly know what to expect.

If you want to be a consistent winner for NBA, lock starts at 7PM ET on most week nights. Plan on being ready to tinker those lineups last second, accounting for all of that fabulous NBA news that nobody was expecting five minutes before, or even AFTER lock. It happens all of the time, so if you set your lineup now and forget it, it’s probably not going to work out for you in the long run.

DraftKings NBA
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 01: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 01, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18

PG – Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors – $10,100

I was up in the air for a bit on this pick, as I really also like Kyrie Irving tonight as the Celtics will battle the Spurs in San Antonio. Irving may end up a more popular pick tonight because this is a fantastic match-up, but Chef Curry is heating up, with three 50+ FDP games in the last four.

If this game was in Golden State, and the Warriors were playing as dominant as they normally do, I would probably stay away from Curry here, as I would fear the blowout. But the Suns are playing somewhat competitive with Devin Booker healthy, and I think they can keep this game close.

In fact, with a five-game slate loaded with studs and not much value, the Warriors are looking like my go to stack today. The pieces are always too cheap, as the fantasy goodness gets spread around between Curry, Klay , Dray, and KD.

***Value Plays: Tyus Jones $4,500 (If Rose and Teague remain out) – Bryn Forbes $4,400***

DraftKings NBA
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets dunks against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18

SG – James Harden – Houston Rockets – $12,600

Well we have Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook in action today on a short slate, and we also have The Beard. I tried to keep it as simple as possible when deciding between these studs, and what it really comes down to for me today is who is simply unfadeable at the moment. With the Rockets still without Chris Paul, and Harden with three straight 40+ actual point games, the answer was easy.

This may seem like a tough match-up as the Rockets will battle the defensive minded Grizzlies, but Harden seems to have the safest floor of all of the studs today. The last time Harden has failed to reach 50 FDP was December 11th, which gives him nine straight games of doing so. I doubt we will see a ceiling game from Harden and would maybe go elsewhere for tournament play, but I am going with The Beard for cash games today.

***Value Plays: Andre Iguodala $3,800 – Austin Rivers $3,800***

FanDuel NBA
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 16: Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to being called for a foul against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on November 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves are debuting their City Jerseys honoring the late artist Prince. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 112-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18

SF – Robert Covington – Minnesota Timberwolves – $6,500

Now that we have our two top studs figured out, It is time to find some mid-tier plays. The Wolves had been struggling on the road, but now have won three straight road games after beating the Heat in Miami, behind a ridiculous performance by Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota will now face the Pelicans tonight in New Orleans, who they have beaten five straight times.

Covington is a stat-sheet stuffer, which is why he is always in play for me. He is one of the best defensive players in the league, and is becoming a key part of this Wolves offense as well. Normally we don’t target guys on a back-to-back if avoidable, but RoCo played somewhat reduced minutes last night due to early foul trouble. For that reason along with how busy Towns was, I look for Covington to pick up a larger offensive role tonight at another tough position to find value.

***Value Plays: Mikal Bridges $4,700 – Darius Miller $3,800***

FanDuel NBA
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 01: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors complains to Mike Callahan during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 1, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18

PF – Draymond Green – Golden State Warriors – $7,000

Talk about limited plays at a position. Power forward is ugly today from about $6K and below, so it will be really interesting to see how this plays out. Granted, it isn’t even 5 AM here yet and there will be news later today, but I see zero viable value plays. Therefore, it makes sense to target another defensive minded player in Green, and hope he can rack up stats other than scoring points, which is what he usually does anyways.

Green is really all over the place in terms of FDP, as a quick peek at his game log will tell you the story. In the last four games, he has eclipsed 40 FDP twice, which I would certainly take tonight. But, he also failed to reach 25 FDP in the other two. There is risk up and down this entire position today, so you may see a high-owned Anthony Davis by default. That may end up the smarter way to go as lock approaches later this afternoon, but for now I will take my chances with Dray.

***Value Plays:  Maxi Kleber – $4,000 (If Wes Matthews remains out!)***

DraftKings NBA
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 24: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a play during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on November 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18

C – Julius Randle – New Orleans Pelicans – $8,300

Center will more likely than not be a position I spend down at, but I like what Randle offers at this price. He will stay in the starting unit with Nikola Mirotic not ready to return, and this should be a favorable match-up against Minnesota tonight.

Randle has played 37+ minutes in three straight, and has notched back-to-back 20+ point, 10+ rebound games. He is currently averaging almost 36 FDP per game, and he is coming off of his best FDP game in almost three weeks. Randle posted 47.2 FDP against the Rockets on Saturday, and I am expecting him to be right in that 40-45 FDP range again tonight.

***Value Plays: Kevon Looney – $4,200***

DraftKings
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter of Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs during at TD Garden on April 15, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Targets: 12/31/18 – Sample Lineup!

The line-up below is meant to be illustrative only to further back-up the logic laid out in previous slides. It is not an optimal line-up. It is in fact, just a “Sample Lineup.” 

PG – Stephen Curry – $10,100
PG – Bryn Forbes – $4,400
SG – James Harden – $12,600
SG – Andre Iguodala – $3,800
SF – Mikal Bridges – $4,700
SF – Robert Covington – $6,500
PF – Draymond Green – $7,000
PF – Jayson Tatum – $6,700
C – Kevon Looney – $4,200

Next. DraftKings Early NBA Plays December 31. dark

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