FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 12/30/23

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Luka Doncic ($12,600): After sitting out one game with a quad contusion, Doncic's status remains in question against a Golden State Warriors' team allowing 51.6 FanDuel points per game to his position. If he is active, the Mavericks' superstar is ranked as today's top option with a 59.0 fantasy projection.

Tyrese Haliburton ($10,900): Despite a recent 2.8% salary increase, Haliburton is third overall with a 49.7 fantasy projection versus a New York Knicks' defense giving up 49.1 FanDuel points per game to point guards. In 310 minutes with today's injuries, the 23-year old is averaging 1.39 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.8% usage rate.

Anthony Edwards ($9,800): At his highest salary this season, "Ant-Man" is fifth among guards with a 41.0 fantasy projection after he averaged 48.9 FanDuel points per game in his last eight appearances. Edwards has played well in this matchup, recording 27.0 real-life points and 49.9 FanDuel points in their last meeting.

Jalen Brunson ($9,000): In a great spot versus an Indiana Pacers' unit ranked 28th in defensive rating, New York's star point guard is eighth overall with a 41.1 fantasy projection. After today's blockbuster trade with the Toronto Raptors, Brunson is averaging 1.66FanDuel points per minute and a 34.0% usage rate in 48 minutes with today's rotation.

Tyrese Maxey ($8,800): Even after a 4.7% salary jump, Maxey is seventh among guards in value with a 4.63 rating and a 40.7 fantasy projection versus a Chicago Bulls' defense giving up the least amount of fantasy points (43.1) per game to his position. With Joel Embiid off the floor this season, Maxey leads his team's starting unit in fantasy production (1.28 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (33.4%).

Stephen Curry ($8,300): At his lowest salary this season after consecutive lackluster performances, Curry is today's top value option among guards with a 5.48 rating and a 45.5 fantasy projection. Golden State's top offensive option leads his team in usage (30.6) and fantasy production (1.18 FanDuel points per minute) with today's injuries.

Coby White ($7,900): Among Chicago's expected starting five, White is third in fantasy production (0.98 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (26.7%).

De'Anthony Melton ($7,000): After recording 0.95 FanDuel points per minute in his last three games, Melton is fourth in value among guards in value with a 4.71 rating and a 33.0 fantasy projection even at his highest salary this season.

Klay Thompson ($6,700): Despite his recent struggles, Thompson has elevated his play in his last eight appearances, producing 1.03 FanDuel points and 0.70 real-life points per minute during this time period.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($6,600): If Doncic is ruled out, Hardaway Jr.'s production would see a noticeable spike to 1.23 FanDuel points per minute and a 37.4% usage rate with today's other injuries.

Brandin Podziemski ($6,500): Since Golden State promoted their rookie into their starting lineup, Podziemski has averaging 0.96 FanDuel point per minute and a 16.6% usage rate.

Buddy Hield ($6,300): Even in a second unit role, the Pacers' three-point specialist is second in value among guards with a 4.83 rating and a 30.4 fantasy projection.

Chris Paul ($6,100): The Warriors' veteran is third among guards in value with a 4.79 rating and a 29.2 fantasy projection at his lowest salary this season. Since December 12th, Paul is averaging 0.86 FanDuel points per minute and a 14.5% usage rate while his salary has decreased by 3.1%.

Alex Caruso ($6,000): At his highest salary this season, Chicago's reliable perimeter defender still ranks eighth among guards in value with a 4.6 rating and a 27.6 fantasy projection. The 29-year old is averaging 0.94 FanDuel points per minute and a 15.3% usage rate with today's expected rotation.

Andrew Nembhard ($5,200): In his last three games, Indiana's young guard has averaged 0.65 FanDuel points per minute while logging 31.2 minutes per contest.

Forwards

Anthony Davis ($11,500): Even in a difficult matchup versus a Minnesota Timberwolves' team ranked fifth in FanDuel points (49.9) allowed per game to his position. "AD" is second overall with a 50.8 fantasy projection. In their last matchup, Davis was a beast against Minnesota, accounting for 31 real-life points and 54.6 FanDuel points.

LeBron James ($9,700): At his lowest salary this month, James is eighth among forwards in value with a 4.76 rating and a 46.2 fantasy projection against a Minnesota defense allowing 37.5 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Julius Randle ($8,900): In a mouth-watering spot against a Pacers' team giving up the most fantasy production (53.3 FanDuel points per game) to power forwards, Randle is seventh overall with a 43.2 fantasy projection. New York's two-time All-Star is producing 1.27 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.3% usage rate with today's expected rotation.

DeMar DeRozan ($8,600): After a 2.2% salary decrease, DeRozan is third among forwards in value with a 5.14 rating and a 44.2 fantasy projection. The 34-year old is averaging 1.25 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 29.8% usage rate with today's injuries.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,000): At his second lowest salary this season, KAT is fourth in value among his positions with a 4.91 rating and a 39.3 fantasy projection against a Los Angeles Lakers' unit ranked 13th in fantasy production (46.0 FanDuel points per game) allowed to power forwards this season.

Tobias Harris ($7,700): Philadelphia's veteran has provided underrated production with today's injuries, recording 1.04 FanDuel points per minute and 24.1% usage rate.

Isaiah Hartenstein ($6,500): After producing 0.96 FanDuel points per minute with New York's expected rotation, Hartenstein is fifth overall in value with a 5.15 rating and a 33.5 fantasy projection.

Patrick Williams ($5,800): Chicago's fourth year forward sees a boost to 0.82 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.6% usage rate with Saturday's expected rotation.

Josh Hart ($5,300): After RJ Barrett was moved in today's big deal, Hart should see an increased role on Saturday, Hart is averaging 0.94 FanDuel points per minute with today's rotation.

Andrew Wiggins ($5,000): Despite coming off the bench in his last six games, Wiggins has accounted for 0.95 FanDuel points per minute while averaging 25.6 minutes per contest.

Centers

Andre Drummond ($9,000): The Bulls' veteran has been a monster in his last two starts, recording 1.62 FanDuel points per minute and a 19.4% usage rate while his salary has spiked by 57.6% to his highest point this season.

Paul Reed ($6,000): In an increased role with Embiid sidelined, the 24-year old center is second overall in value with a 5.53 rating and a 33.2 fantasy projection. Reed is averaging 1.03 FanDuel points per minute and a 15.2% usage rate in a 455 minutes sample size with today's injuries.

Jalen Smith ($4,600): Despite a 9.5% salary jump, Smith is today's top overall value option with a 5.69 rating and a 26.2 fantasy projection after he produced 1.11 FanDuel points per minute in his last three games.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.