Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best DFS NBA DraftKings Daily Values for Dec. 26
DraftKings players should have their eyes on the Chicago Bulls' Bobby Portis ($3,500) on Saturday night. The rookie has been getting a spike in minutes over the last three games, and he's done pretty well with the extra burn.
After accruing 19.75 fantasy points in the Bulls' 105-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road, Portis is averaging 24 fantasy points per game over that stretch. His increase in minutes has a good deal to do with the injury Joakim Noah suffered to his shoulder.
Noah is expected to be out for two to four weeks, per Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin. Because Saturday's game is the second half of a back-to-back sequence for the Bulls, Portis should see even more minutes than the 20 he played on Friday.
Portis has an active body, and he's hungry to contribute. He'll be the biggest value pick on Saturday. Here's a look at three other players who will also prove to be worth more than their DK salaries would indicate.
Kelly Olynyk ($5,000)
Speaking of young big men making the most of more minutes: Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics fits that description. The Celtics have been without Jared Sullinger and Amir Johnson at times over the past three games.
In that time, Olynyk has ramped up his production in a major way. In his team's 102-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, Olynyk scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
In total, he produced 38.75 fantasy points. Sullinger returned to the lineup in that game, and there's a chance Johnson could be coming back sometime soon, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
Even with the chance that Johnson returns, you'd have to believe Olynyk would still receive a good number of minutes in light of the way he's played.
Olynyk and the Celtics are in Motown to take on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Olynyk could be used to draw Andre Drummond away from the basket, or to create a mismatch against a smaller Pistons defender. In any case, you've got to like his opportunity to continue to shine.
With Johnson potentially at less than 100 percent, it would be wise to ride Olynyk at least one more game.
Cody Zeller ($4,600)
The Hornets are still without Al Jefferson, and Cody Zeller has been receiving valuable minutes as the big man heals. Zeller is not a serious threat to explode for a game that renders 40-plus fantasy points, but he can be counted on for a steady 22-24.
In fact, in his last five games, he is averaging 22.5 FPPG. In the aforementioned meeting with the Celtics, Zeller stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, 10 rebounds, a block and two steals in 33.5 minutes.
That equated to 28 fantasy points. On Saturday night, the Hornets host the Memphis Grizzlies. Zeller will have an athleticism edge against the Grizzlies' big and plodding frontcourt. Expect his activity to generate a double-digit scoring game and a solid all-around fantasy performance
Trey Lyles ($3,200)
The Utah Jazz have struggled to find a consistent replacement at center for the injured Rudy Gobert. Jeff Withey, rookie Trey Lyles and Tibor Pleiss have all seen their minutes increase with Gobert out.
On Saturday, the Jazz host the Los Angeles Clippers, and Lyles is the guy to watch. He hasn't been able to find himself just yet—despite getting 11 starts this season. The matchup against the Clippers is probably a good one for the rookie.
DeAndre Jordan is an excellent rim protector, but Lyles has the ability to knock down mid-range jump shots. That skill could provide him some openings against Jordan and the Clippers. In his lone previous game against the Clips, Lyles took just two shots in three minutes—but he made them both.
Quite honestly, it's a matter of knocking the shots down that the Clippers are likely to give him—especially in pick-and-pop situations. For just $3,200, Lyles isn't going to cost you much, but based on his talent and the minutes he's been getting of late, he's due for a breakout performance.
There's a good chance it happens on Saturday.
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All DraftKings salaries per official website.
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