Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DFS DraftKings Optimal Rankings for Dec. 16
The Golden State Warriors finally lost their first game of the season against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. After having Sunday through Tuesday off, a recharged Warriors team will head home to put up huge numbers Wednesday.
What does that mean for DraftKings players? Get Stephen Curry ($10,700) on your team. He's the top-ranked overall player on Wednesday's schedule.
Curry and the Point Guards
| 1 | Steph Curry | $10,700 | Phoenix | 60 |
| 2 | Russell Westbrook | $10,400 | Potland | 58 |
| 3 | Chris Paul | $7,900 | Milwaukee | 42 |
| 4 | Brandon Knight | $7,500 | Golden State | 37 |
| 5 | Reggie Jackson | $7,500 | Boston | 35 |
Sure, Curry is going to cost you nearly $11,000 in DK salary money, but if there's ever a game to splurge on the Chef, it's Wednesday's tilt at home against the Phoenix Suns. Besides the motivation to bounce back from the team's first loss, there's also the fact that the Suns are a great matchup for Curry.
Phoenix allows 105 points per game, and its opponents shoot 37.5 percent from three-point range. That might explain why Curry went for 41 points, six rebounds, eight assists and nine threes for 66 fantasy points in his only meeting with the Suns this season. Yeah, he's special.
Don't think that was a performance in a vacuum. Curry averaged 29.3 points per game against the Suns last season. The 66-fantasy-point outburst is one of eight games Curry has eclipsed the 60 mark. Pray for the Suns.
Dwyane Wade and the Shooting Guards
The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade ($6,800) has been uncharacteristically durable this season. He's played in 22 of 23 games and will come into Wednesday's road game against the Brooklyn Nets averaging 31.4 fantasy points per game.
| 1 | Dwyane Wade | $6,800 | Brooklyn | 50 |
| 2 | Eric Bledsoe | $8,400 | Golden State | 42 |
| 3 | Jimmy Butler | $7,500 | Memphis | 39 |
| 4 | Andrew Wiggins | $6,800 | New York | 37 |
| 5 | O.J. Mayo | $5,700 | Los Angeles Clippers | 33 |
Wade hasn't had many monster performances. He's had just five games with 40 or more fantasy points. His last one came on December 7 against the Washington Wizards when he tallied 47.8 fantasy points.
Brooklyn isn't a good defensive team. It is allowing 102.6 points per game, and opponents are shooting 46 percent from the field. Those numbers are relevant, but this prediction is more about Wade simply being due for a big game.
This feels like a spot for a vintage Wade performance. Considering his modest DK salary, he could be the biggest bargain of the day.
Kawhi Leonard and the Small Forwards
Another player with a great matchup against a bad defensive team is the San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard ($8,600). He and the Spurs host the Wizards and their woeful defense.
The Wiz are allowing 105.6 points per game this season. They are also the worst team in the NBA when it comes to defending the three. Opponents are shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc against them.
| 1 | Kawhi Leonard | $8,600 | Washington | 56 |
| 2 | Paul George | $9,700 | Dallas | 53 |
| 3 | Kevin Durant | $10,200 | Portland | 50 |
| 4 | Nicolas Batum | $7,600 | Orlando | 42 |
| 5 | Carmelo Anthony | $8,000 | Minnesota | 40 |
On the strength of those numbers, you have to think Leonard will get some open looks from deep. His fantasy value goes deeper than that in this matchup.
Washington also turns the ball over 15.3 times per game. Leonard is one of the NBA's most talented pilferers. He averages two steals per game. Playing the Wizards could give him the opportunity to increase that total.
Leonard has every chance to shine against Washington.
Draymond Green and the Power Forwards
It'll take more than Curry to blow away the Suns. Well, maybe it won't, but he'll still get some assistance. Draymond Green ($8,500) is probably the second-most important player to the Warriors' success this season.
| 1 | Draymond Green | $8,500 | Phoenix | 45 |
| 2 | Blake Griffin | $9,000 | Milwaukee | 44 |
| 3 | LaMarcus Aldridge | $6,700 | Washington | 43 |
| 4 | Derrick Favors | $7,600 | New Orleans | 39 |
| 5 | Chris Bosh | $7,200 | Brooklyn | 37 |
Against the Suns, Green should continue his strong play. While Curry was blazing the Suns for 66 fantasy points, Green wasn't far behind with 51 of his own. The high fantasy total was courtesy of a triple-double from the Warriors' versatile star.
He had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He's the emotional leader for the champions. After his team's first loss, Green will look to spark Golden State early with energy on the glass. Expect him to have a big rebounding night.
DeAndre Jordan and the Centers
There are several higher-priced centers to choose from on Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan ($7,000) should feast on the glass against the Bucks. He did as much on December 9 in Milwaukee when he raked down 19. It was his second-highest total this season.
| 1 | DeAndre Jordan | $7,000 | Milwaukee | 49 |
| 2 | Andre Drummond | $9,100 | Boston | 47 |
| 3 | Nikola Vucevic | $6,800 | Charlotte | 40 |
| 4 | Hassan Whiteside | $6,600 | Brooklyn | 34 |
| 5 | Pau Gasol | $7,800 | Memphis | 33 |
The Bucks are routinely out-rebounded. In fact, their minus-4.6 rebounding differential is among the worst in the NBA. Jordan comes into the game second in the NBA with an average of 13.4 rebounds per contest. His greatest strength is one of the Bucks' biggest weaknesses.
Compound that with the fatigue Milwaukee might be feeling after losing 113-95 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, and it's a prime opportunity for Jordan to go bananas on the glass.
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All DraftKings salaries per official website.
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