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December has arrived, but don't let the cold stop you from playing the game that you love.
It's a long season, so warm up with a little DFS.
1 pick from every position today. (Likely my new format - as I'd rather focus on less players for better quality picks.)
We start.
D'Angelo Russell, LAL, PG ($5100)
Double digit scoring 4 of the last 6 games - with lots of assists & boards. Eventually, Russell is going to be a mammoth Fantasy asset, but for now he's a volatile one. I'm still waiting for his big explosion game - that could happen any moment - but for the price, i like the upside here. Pretty steady combo of points, assists and rebounds. Percentages fluctuate wildly from day to day, but I'm really starting to like this guy... Give him a whirl.
Nik Stauskas, PHI, SG ($3800)
Call this one a hunch. There are many reasons NOT to take Nik today: Robert Covington's beasting, Stauskas' recent minor injury, etc. But Nik has quietly improved quite a bit this year. He's now a trusted part of the rotation - albeit still an emerging talent. He's been quiet lately, but had a 15-point outburst only a handful of games ago. He's due for a good game, and if healthy, that could be tonight. Very risky play, but there is upside here. If you're in a cash crunch, he's a decent option to take a flier on...
T.J. Warren, PHX, SF ($4400)
Firmly underpriced, Warren is a beast right now. Averaging just under 20 PPG the last 4 games, T.J. Warren set a career high for boards (11) and blocks (3) last game. This dynamic performer is getting better and better... It's boring, but I'm gonna keep throwing his name at you. For $4400, there isn't a better deal today.
Andrew Nicholson, ORL, PF ($3900)
Another under-the-radar player having a strong season, Nicholson is a fantastic play tonight. Fresh off a 14 & 8 on 6/9 shooting (with 3 blocks), Andrew Nicholson is starting to make strides. The upside isn't huge, but for $3900 you could do far worse... He's been pretty solid the last few games, and getting around 25 MPG the last 4 games. He's volatile, but he's been a very solid contributor. There could be more here tonight...
Roy Hibbert, LAL, C ($5200)
Lost in the many Laker stories about Kobe's disintegration - and the ascension of Julius Randle & D'Angelo Russell - is the play of Roy Hibbert. He hasn't been spectacular, but he's been pretty solid in limited minutes. Pretty much at his career averages (a little lower on scoring, a little higher on FT %), Roy is underrated. He's not a high upside option, but he gets those big man stats you need in the C slot - and he's always a nightly threat for a huge blocks game (think 5+). I'd have no problem grabbing Hibbert with my last $5200...
So there's a guy at every position that could help you tonight in the cold, pre-winter night.
It's obviously difficult to predict which players will perform on a particular night, but following short term trends is the best way to approach DFS...
Don't believe me?
Kevin Garnett is still available.
Good luck with that one.
Bobman