NBA DFS: Studs, scrubs, and duds December 12

Top star players, best value picks, and guys you should stay a way from on December 12 in NBA Daily Fantasy Sports on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Welcome to Studs, Scrubs, and Duds; FanSided’s daily fantasy NBA lineup helper.

Here’s what’s on the slate for tonight:

How this works:

Studs: Top high salary picks that you can build your lineup around.
Scrubs: Value players looking for a big night or consistent options to help fill out your lineup.
Duds: Players to avoid given their high salary and/or poor matchup.

Five players are picked on each slide, positions are not applicable, and both DraftKings and FanDuel salaries are listed.

Studs

Nikola Jokic (vs POR – $9,000 on DK; $8,800 on FD): Jokic has wildly underperformed this season but Portland is weak against the position and doesn’t offer much of anything in their frontcourt. And with Murray potentially being out, more of the offense should run through Jokic. If he’s going to break out of this slump, this would be the game.

Joel Embiid (at BOS – $9,500 on DK; $10,00 on FD): No Horford and no Baynes means Embiid will have a much easier time against Boston. Even though they are good against the position, Embiid is the best center in the league for a reason and he should be able to feast on anyone Boston throws at him.

DeMar DeRozan (vs CLE – $7,300 on DK; $8,200 on FD): DeRozan has been fairly consistent as of late and is the more reliable player on the Spurs between him and Aldridge. The Spurs have the best matchup on the night and DeRozan’s salary helps his case. The scoring and playmaking should be there.

Will Barton (vs POR – $6,300 on DK; $6,600 on FD): If Murray doesn’t play, Barton is going to be the focal point on the outside for the Nuggets. The Blazers still aren’t good against good teams and though the Nuggets are struggling, the extra opportunities work for Barton and he and Jokic get it going in this one.