Fantasy basketball advice: NBA FanDuel sleepers/busts for Tuesday, Dec. 22

As for what we're doing in this space: The goal here will be to direct your attention toward some players who you might not otherwise consider. If you're here and reading this, then you already know that LeBron James is really good. But when filling out a roster you can't just pick out stars. You'll blow your cap and get stuck praying to the basketball gods that a guy like Kosta Koufos gets into the game. No, if you want to win, you have to take advantage of certain matchups -- and in order to do that you have to know where to look. That's what we're here for. Also, this space is going to be used to give you advice for the games on Tuesday, Dec 22. So, with that, let's get started.

Hassan Whiteside, C, Heat ($7,500): Whiteside is coming off one of his best games of the year. Perhaps not statistically, but that he was on the floor for nearly the entire fourth quarter -- a time when he's mostly been kept glued to the bench -- against the Blazers shows that he's beginning to earn the trust of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. He'll be needed on Tuesday when the Heat take on the Pistons and powerhouse center Andre Drummond. Look for Whiteside to play north of 30 minutes. When that's the case, the numbers always follow.

Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers ($6,900): Don't laugh. Also, don't forget that in FanDuel efficiency doesn't matter. We're just interested in the totals here, and Bryant has been putting up some good ones of late. He's cut down on some of this three-point attempts and over his last five games is averaging 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. That his price has, finally, dropped makes him a good play.

Will Barton, SG, Nuggets ($6,400): The 2012 second-round pick is quietly having an extremely productive season. He's been fantastic over Denver's last five games, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal and shooting well from deep, too. He should have no problem matching those totals against the punchless Lakers defense on Tuesday

Reggie Jackson, PG, Pistons ($7,800): The Pistons travel to Miami, where they'll be facing one of the slowest-playing and best defensive teams in the league. Neither of those make a point guard's job any easier, which is why the Heat are holding opposing point guards to 37.7 FanDuel points per game (via Rotowire), the fourth lowest mark in the league. Stay away from Jackson.

Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks ($7,000): The price hasn't caught up to the production yet. Nowitzki is still a fantastic basketball player, but from a FanDuel perspective he just doesn't offer enough to warrant a $7,000 price tag. Case in point: he's averaging less than 28 minutes over his last five games, and averaging 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. You're better off spending your money on someone else.

Chris Bosh, PF, Heat ($7,300): This is more about the matchup than anything else. The Pistons like to play four perimeter players around Drummond, which could cut into Bosh's playing time. That Drummond is one of the few centers who Bosh can't hang with in the paint won't help him stay on the floor. The last time the Heat and Pistons faced off, Bosh was held to nine points and eight rebounds. He likely won't get much more than that this time around.

Other Notables

Marc Gasol against the Sixers is a great matchup. The problem is that a blowout is likely in the cards and so Gasol might not get more thatn 30 minutes. ... If you're looking for a cheap point guard getting playing time look no further than Philly's Isaiah Canaan. He's averaging 15 points in 27 minutes over his last three games, and is going for less than $5,000. ... He'll cost a bit, but no one in the league is hotter than DeMar DeRozan, who's averaging 27 points over his last five games.