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Fantasy basketball advice: NBA FanDuel sleepers/busts for Sunday, Dec. 27
The Dec. 13 schedule features four games, which is more than enough to enjoy some NBA FanDuel action. Click here for the chance to win $10,000 by spending just $2 today!
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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 Sunday, Dec 27. So, with that, let's get started.
3 players to target
Kobe Bryant, SG, Lakers ($7,200): Don't laugh. Over his last five games Kobe is averaging 21 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists as well as one steal. Not that it matters in a FanDuel format, but he's even upped his shooting percentage to 43 percent. That the Lakers have had a couple days off just makes Bryant an even better play.
Jae Crowder, SF, Celtics ($5,800): Crowder is one of the better value plays of the day. First off, he's facing a Knicks team that is coming off a game the night before. Crowder also has been playing great recently. Over his last five games he's averaging 16.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Not bad for a player going for less than $6,000.
Omri Casspi, SF, Kings ($5,100): Another undervalued small forward. Over his last five games Casspi is averaging 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. On Sunday he and the Kings face a Blazers team that has the seventh worst defensive rating in the NBA. Casspi has also had the last four days off.
3 players to avoid
Carmelo Anthony, SF, Knicks ($8,500): As mentioned above, Sunday's game against the Celtics will be the Knicks' second game in two nights. Anthony, who is dealing an ankle injury, also will have to go up against Jae Crowder, one of the better small forward defenders in the NBA. That Boston has the league's third best defensive rating doesn't make this matchup any better.
Isaiah Thomas, PG, Celtics ($8,300): Thomas is shooting just 30 percent from the field over his last three games, and on Sunday faces a Knicks team that likes to play slow and pack the paint. New York is far from a stout defensive unit, but they have big bodies who guard the rim and make life difficult for players with Thomas' skill set.
Jordan Clarkson, PG, Lakers ($5,800): It's never a great idea to play a point guard going up against Mike Conley. That Clarkson is struggling (he's scored more than 15 points just once over his last six games) makes this matchup even worse.
Marc Gasol against the Lakers, and the plodding Roy Hibbert, is one of the better matchups of the day. The Lakers are allowing opposing centers to score 49.2 FanDuel points per game (via RotoWire), the second best mark in the league ... Keep riding Will Barton. The Nuggets shooting guard is averaging 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists over his last five. ... If you want to break the bank on one player do so on Russell Westbrook. He faces a Nuggets team that's surrendering 42.9 FanDuel points per game to opposing point guards, the second highest number in the league.
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