NBA DFS Picks For FanDuel 12/8/21

We have a massive slate tonight! With 13 games, there probably won't be any slates with more games than today. Since there are so many games tonight, there are plenty of intriguing player options to choose from. As on most slates, we have a lot of prevalent injury news that we are waiting on which could shake up the slate when released. Be sure to keep on eye on these injury situations as we approach roster lock. Since there are so many games tonight. Let's dive in to the breakdown of the NBA main slate on FanDuel tonight!

REMINDER: RTs on the article post on twitter at @SportsVerseHQ are appreciated, as well as following my personal Twitter @cobioconnell. If you would like to see my lineup package for the NBA and NFL seasons, message me there. Thank you!

Top Play:

James Harden (SG/PG - $10200) -

For the first time all season, James Harden is my top play of the slate. To start the season, although still productive, James Harden was a little disappointing from a fantasy perspective as he wasn't putting up the usual 50+ FD point games that we are used to seeing from him, but he has come to form as of late. He hasn't scored less than 40 FD points in nine consecutive games, including two games over 50 and two games over 60 in that span. Tonight, the Nets will be resting Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge, which opens up the floor entirely to Harden. Tasked with being more of a distributor first with KD on the floor, he will need to return to his scoring self tonight with his absence. When KD is not playing alongside Harden, Harden has a 35.4% usage rate and is averaging 1.51 FD points per minute, which only trails Nikoka Jokic on this slate. With a price of $10200 and against his former team that is the worst in the league at defending the point guard position, everything is in line for a James Harden boom game tonight.

Best Value:

Cody Martin (SG/PG - $5000) -

I was very close to giving this spot to Nicolas Claxton as he should draw the start with Aldridge out at the minimum salary, but I decided to edge it to the safer option in Cody Martin. Martin is at the edge of my value play cost threshold with a price tag of $5000, but leads the way as the top projected return on value play across multiple models. With injuries to all of the backcourt starters, Martin has been heavily utilized in the Hornets last two games, playing 42 and 32 minutes, and scoring 23 and 37 FD points. Playing 42 minutes and only scoring 23 FD points should be an anomaly for Martin, as he is not just a scorer, but can pick up rebounds and assists as well. On the season so far, he is scoring almost 1 FD point per minute, which is excellent for his price in relation to the minutes he is expected to play. This massive slate is littered with terrific plays at all price tiers so I wouldn't label any one player as a lock, but Cody Martin is my favorite cheap play tonight.

Main Player Pool:

Point Guard:

Malcolm Brogdon (PG/SG - $7400)

Kyle Lowry ($6500)

Tyus Jones ($5900)

Anfernee Simons (PG/SG - $5200 - if he plays)

Other great plays: Steph Curry ($10700), Luka Donic (PG/SG - $9900 - if he plays), Fred VanVleet ($7900), Lonzo Ball ($7700), Cade Cunningham (PG/SG - $7000), Tyrese Maxey (PG/SG - $6300), Dennis Schroder (PG/SG - $6300), Jalen Brunson (PG/SG - $5800 - if Luka is out), Dennis Smith ($5500), Reggie Jackson ($5500), Spencer Dinwiddie ($5400), Devonte' Graham (PG/SG - $5200)

Shooting Guard:

James Harden (SG/PG - $10200)

Tyler Herro (SG/SF - $6800)

Caris LeVert (SG/SF - $5100)

Cody Martin (SG/PG - $5000)

Other great plays: Zach LaVine (SG/PG - $9100), Paul George (SG/SF - $8900), Donovan Mitchell (SG/PG - $8400), Alec Burks (SG/SF - $6500), Dillon Brooks (SG/SF - $5900), Gary Trent (SG/SF - $5900), Desmond Bane ($5800), Marcus Smart (SG/PG - $5800), Josh Giddey ($5500), Patty Mills (SG/PG - $4900), Ayo Dosunmu ($4800), DeAndre' Bembry (SF/SG - $4500), Derrick Jones (SG/SF - $4400), Bruce Brown ($4200), Armoni Brooks ($4100)

Small Forward:

Miles Bridges ($8400)

Kelly Oubre (SF/SG - $6800)

Norman Powell (SF/SG - $5200)

Saddiq Bey ($4800)

Other great plays: Jayson Tatum (SF/PF - $9700), Anthony Edwards (SF/SG - $8300), Gordon Hayward (SF/SG - $7800), Brandon Ingram ($7700), Harrison Barnes (SF/PF - $6000), Kyle Kuzma (SF/PF - $5800), Andrew Wiggins ($5600), RJ Barrett (SF/SG - $5300), Bojan Bogdanovic (SF/PF - $4800), Chris Duarte ($4800), Malik Beasley (SF/SG - $4500), James Johnson (SF/PF - $4300)

Power Forward:

Wendell Carter (PF/C - $6500)

Jaren Jackson (PF/C - $6300)

Isaiah Stewart ($5300)

Precious Achiuwa (PF/C - $4900 - if he plays)

Other great plays: Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/SF - $11200), Damontas Sabonis (PF/C - $8800), Julius Randle (PF/C - $8700), Christian Wood (PF/C - $8200), Pascal Siakam ($8000), Tobias Harris (PF/SF - $7600), PJ Washington (PF/C - $7200), Jarred Vanderbilt ($5900), Aaron Gordon ($5600), Lauri Markkanen (PF/SF - $5300), Marcus Morris (PF/SF - $4600)

Center:

Nikola Jokic ($11000)

Joel Embiid ($10400)

Jusuf Nurkic ($6300)

Nicolas Claxton (C/PF - $3500)

Other great plays: Jarrett Allen (C/PF - $8500), Jonas Valanciuans ($7500), Myles Turner (C/PF - $6300), Dewayne Dedmon ($5900), Montrezl Harrell (C/PF - $5500)

Cover Picture Attribution: All-Pro Reels, JamesHardenWSH, CC BY-SA 2.0