Sunday's NBA DFS action is centered around Week 16 in the NFL, but still offers some interesting games. FanDuel has omitted the early start and nightcap from their main slate, leaving us with four matchups to choose from starting at 6:00 p.m. EST - an hour earlier than most weekdays.
SLATE OVERVIEW
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I lean toward head-to-heads and other high-percentage cash games when the schedule is light, and it's a path I would strongly endorse on Sunday. Save your GPPs for the NFL and consider the NBA slate as a bankroll-building opportunity.
INJURIES
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Sunday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
MIA Tyler Herro (toe) - OUT
MIA Davion Mitchell (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
MIA Andrew Wiggins (back)- QUESTIONABLE
Mitchell and Wiggins could return tonight, but we should still get a good dose of Jaime Jaquez ($6,300). We saw a start for Kasparas Jakucionis ($4,700) last time out, and he's worth considering if Mitchell is still sidelined.
WAS Bilal Coulibaly (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
If Coulibaly is ruled out again, Justin Champagnie ($4,800) would likely receive a modest bump in production.
ELITE PLAYERS
Victor Wembanyama ($11,700) is the only player above $10k in the shallow player pool. While I certainly wouldn't rule him out against the Wizards, we need to evaluate the other big men before deciding on this elite spend.
A few excellent values stand out between $8k and $10k, but I'll make a call based on back-to-back situations for some of them. It's hard to argue against Anthony Edwards ($9,300) against the Bucks, and it's a great way to begin a build. The Knicks have had more rest, so I'll go with Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,900) and Jalen Brunson ($9,000) without hesitation while rolling with Bam Adebayo ($8,000) on the other end of the matchup as he recorded a 19/13 double-double during their only meeting this season.
Also consider: Kevin Porter, MIL ($8,800) @ MIN
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EXPECTED CHALK AND VALUE PLAYS
Stephon Castle, SAS ($7,500) @ WAS
While I don't think De'Aaron Fox will always be incapable of meeting value relative to his salary, he's currently proving to be far less effective than Castle when it comes to justifying a high cost. I'm confident Castle is the way to go over Fox during the short-term while the matchup against Washington is an excellent opportunity to exploit a weaker opponent.
Kyshawn George, WAS ($6,800) vs. SAS
I'd also consider CJ McCollum ($6,200), though George is better equipped to handle the stresses of the back-to-back against a formidable opponent. I'm reasonably sure Victor Wembanyama will spend most of his time guarding Alex Sarr, leaving Harrison Barnes to handle George. He certainly has youth on his side in this duel, and the youngster is running extremely hot. The 2024-25 ROY blowout by Wembanyama gives George special motivation in this matchup and is also one of the slate's best values.
Rudy Gobert, MIN ($6,200) vs. MIL
Gobert is no stranger to facing the Bucks. And if Nic Claxton can do a number on this frontcourt, Gobert should be able to do the same. I also have confidence in Julius Randle ($8,100), but I'd rather take my chances with Gobert and his reduced salary. There are better options than Randle at his salary point to provide a cheap option to be comfortable with if we choose to keep Wembanyama off our rosters.
Devin Vassell, SAS ($6,000) @ WAS
I expected Vassell's production to sink once the team got healthy, yet the opposite has happened. He looks more productive with a full cast and has handled the adjustment of Stephon Castle's re-insertion quite well. Vassell recorded a solid two-game run, though his minutes were a little low in both. He'll be one of the Spurs' fresher players and ready to take care of business against the Wizards.
Kyle Kuzma, MIL ($5,500) @ MIN
Kuzma was held out last time due to an illness, but he's off the injury report and will be sorely needed in a tough matchup against the Timberwolves. The two clubs have yet to meet this season, though I'm encouraged by some great results from Kuzma last year against a virtually identical Minnesota first unit.
Danny Wolf, BKN ($4,500) vs. TOR
We need some bargain dart throws to stay under the cap. And while I think Terance Mann ($4,200) may be the more sensible Brooklyn option, I also like Wolf's upside in a spot where RJ Barrett's absence is having an adverse effect on Toronto's overall game plan. I'm fine with considering either one where these bargain-bin candidates offer a better chance for success compared to other options at similar salaries.
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