Light the money beam! It has begun… The official tank season is open. We haven’t got any updates on the Devin Vassell knee surgery, but it has come at a time where the Spurs have the 4^th best lottery odds. Without Vassell, they’re going to climb that ladder. What does that mean DFS-wise? I would bet that Sochan and J-Rich get a bump and it puts Romeo Langford in an interesting position. They’re playing today! In other news, the Bucks might be sitting Giannis and Jrue, and Middleton is already out, so we could get another wacky box score!

My name is Gonçalo Teiga and I hope we enter the weekend on a good note with this 11-game slate! Let’s get started!

Don’t forget to tune in to our Premium DFS Discord Channel, General DP! I’ll be there before the start of the games with some news and late plays!

Injury Report

Light the beam on Sports Ethos’s LIVE Injury Report and get all your injury news! Bookmark it and never lose out on new information!

Tonight’s Props

Thrive Plays of the Day

James Harden O7.5ASTS (80 PTS) – Last time this line went under? December 5^th. Since then, Harden has racked up 12 games with 8+ assists. I think that this trend continues.

Bam Adebayo O35.5PTS+REB+ASTS (105 PTS) – Bam has been playing well lately, averaging 26 ppg, 10.3 rpb and 2.3 apg over the last two weeks. That is enough to cover only with points and rebounds, and he has just done that in 6 games out of the last 9 over this line.

John Collins O7.5REB (95 PTS) – Love this line. The Hawks are playing the Lakers, who allow the fifth-most rebounds per-game. He has also gone over this line for 6 games in a row and is averaging 9.8 rebounds over the past month.

Writer’s record

34-30

Tonight’s Games Picks (EST)

Pistons (+1.5)

NY Knicks (+3.5)

Nuggets (-6.5)

Writer’s record

26-31

DFS Pillar Plays

Jimmy Butler

Position: PF

Salary: $8,700

I don’t always love to play Jimmy in DFS because of his low shooting games, but he has a great matchup today vs. the Suns. This should be a close one, so he should play plenty, and the Suns allow the 2^nd most points and 5^th most rebounds to opposing PFs.

Brook Lopez

Position: C

Salary: $6,000

With the possibility of the Bucks playing without Giannis, Jrue, and Middleton today, Brook provides a ton of value. The Hornets allow the most rebounds and most threes to opposing Cs and Bobby Portis is $600 more expensive than Brook in a matchup that favors the starting C.

Jeremy Sochan

Position: PF

Salary: $4,600

Wait, why is Sochan on the pillar plays and not on the value plays? I’m that high on him! No Vassell, J-Rich and KBD questionable. I know he had an awful game without Vassell on the 4^th, but I think his surgery means a different approach from the Spurs. They should prioritize his development and give him the ball more, and that should translate to fantasy-value. I could be wrong, but I think Sochan is going to have a great (and inconsistent) 2^nd half of the season. I hope it starts today with this great matchup vs. Detroit.

J-Rich (if he plays), Branham and Romeo Langford are also nice fill-in plays for Vassell.

On Sale / Great Matchup

Tyrese Haliburton/$9,000 – Lowest price-tag since early November and the Blazers allow the 3^rd most points to opposing PGs. Great matchup fantasy-wise and great game to see with this Lillard – Hali clash.

Myles Turner/$6,700 – Nurkic is questionable, and the Blazers allow the 3^rd most points and threes to opposing Cs.

Caris LeVert/$5,800 – If both Mitchell (resting) and Garland (questionable, check closer to lock to see his status) are out. LeVert and his ball-handling duties at this price-tag provide a ton of value.

Darius Garland/$8,000 – But if Garland plays, I will play him. Denver allows the 2^nd most points and threes and most assists to opposing PGs. That means a huge Garland game against them is not only possible, but also probable.

Nikola Jokic/$11,800 – I don’t think that anyone reaches near the value of Jokic today (not even Giannis; if he plays I think it’s a blowout). If you want to spend big, do it with him. There’s a ton of value in the Spurs guard slots, adding to the other value plays I have here.

DFS Value Plays (<$5,000 Salary)

Paul Reed

Position: C

Salary: $3,000

No Embiid meant a ton of Harrel last game. He is going to have a high ownership and I don’t think he has another 28-minute 36 FPTS game soon. I’m fading Harrell and putting my chips on Bball Paul, hoping Doc trusts his defense. He has a ton of per-minute upside.

Jaxson Hayes

Position: C

Salary: $3,700

This is a longshot play. If Hernangomez and Larry Nance Jr. are both out, the Pels are going to have to play Hayes at the backup 4/5 spot. In close to 20+ minutes, I think he has 10x upside (33 and 35 FPTS in 23^rd and 25^th December). Check closer to lock to see if both big men are out, and if they are, I would play Hayes.

Jalen Williams

Position: SF/PF

Salary: $4,900

I just love Jalen Williams today. He has been playing great, with 31.5 FPPG over the past ten days. He’s a joy to watch and that has given him a solid role of 28-32 minutes in OKC, that provides a ton of value on this price-tag.

Daniel Gafford

Position: C

Salary: $4,600

The 5^th Center today. Gafford is playing an OKC team that lacks big men and is averaging close to 28 FPPG over the past ten days. Since starting, he has become a great DFS option.

*If he plays. If not, I like LeVert (and Hali for this PG slot).

2^nd Lineup Suggestion

With so many value-plays today, this lineup allows you to have another player in that $7,000 to $9,000 range to fill the rest of your lineup nicely. Or… Remove the higher priced players (maybe not Garland – $8,000 for him is today’s context is great) and spend big with another C. I don’t think anyone reaches near the value of the Joker today. Jokic and a rotation of a couple of J-Rich/Sochan/Branham/Langford/JWill/LeVert/Other C (Brook, Reed, Gafford) evens out the value and price-tags and is another great way to build your lineup.