FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 12/11/22

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Trae Young ($9,700): Despite scoring 33 real-points and 50.5 FanDuel points in his last appearance, Young's FanDuel salary has not moved versus a Chicago Bulls allowing 46.8 fantasy points per game to point guards. With today's current injures, Young sees a 0.22 boost to 1.47 FanDuel points with an eye-popping 44.3% usage rate in a 209.2 minute sample size.

James Harden ($9,500): Since his return on December 5th, Harden is averaging 1.05 FanDuel points, 0.22 assists, and 0.44 shot attempts in 85.8 minutes. Philadelphia's guard is ranked sixth overall with 45.2 expected FanDuel points versus a Charlotte Hornets standing 23rd in defensive rating and 19th in opposing true shooting percentage.

DeMar DeRozan ($8,200): At his lowest salary point this month, DeRozan presents underrated value with a 5.0 rating and 41.0 expected FanDuel points against an Atlanta Hawks' team ranked 25th in points allowed in the paint and 15th in true shooting percentage.

Terry Rozier ($7,800): In 368.4 minutes this season with today's injuries, Rozier leads his team's starters in usage (30.0%), assists (0.15) and shot attempts (0.58) while also seeing a 0.06 increase in his fantasy output to 1.01 FanDuel points per minute.

Fred VanVleet ($7,800): At his second lowest salary point in December, the 28-year old is ranked fourth among his position with 38.0 expected FanDuel points against an Orlando Magic squad allowing point guards to record 24.6 real-life points and 47.9 FanDuel points per game.

Jalen Green ($6,700): Even in a tough spot versus a Milwaukee Bucks team ranked first in opposing true shooting percentage and second in defensive rating, Houston's second-year guard is projected for 31.5 FanDuel points. In their last encounter, Green accounted for 31.2 FanDuel points and 22 real-life points on 19 shot attempts.

De'Anthony Melton ($6,600): Despite a 11.8% salary jump, Melton is a viable mid-range option with a 4.86 value rating and 32.1 expected fantasy points. Even with Harden's recent return, Melton is still averaging 1.10 FanDuel points, 0.14 rebounds, and 0.10 assists in 83.1 minutes.

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,000): After scoring 31 real-life points in his last outing, Bogdanovic's FanDuel has increased by 13.6%. Even in a bench role, Atlanta's long range specialist stands fifth overall in value with a 5.58 rating and 27.9 FanDuel points against a Bulls team rated 23rd in opposing three point percentage.

Malik Monk ($5,000): After De'Aaron Fox was listed as questionable, Monk could play an increased offensive role against a New York Knicks' team ranked 14th in defensive rating while also seeing a potential 0.09 boost to 1.14 FanDuel points with a 32.4% usage rate.

Markelle Fultz ($4,600): Despite a tough matchup versus a Toronto Raptors' team ranked eighth in FanDuel points allowed per game to point guards, Fultz is numberFire's top value option with a 6.36 value rating and 29.3 expected FanDuel points.

Forwards

Anthony Davis ($12,000): At his median salary this month, the Lakers' big man rates third overall with 53.7 expected fantasy points versus a Detroit Pistons' team allowing the second most points in the paint and 52.6 FanDuel points to his position.

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600): "The Greek Alphabet" has a prime spot to hit a ceiling performance against a Rockets' unit ranked 28th in defensive rating and 13th in FanDuel points allowed to power forwards at his lowest salary this month. Antetokounmpo stands as numberFire's top option with 56.2 FanDuel points.

Pascal Siakam ($10,600): After a monster 62.3 fantasy point outing, Siakam's FanDuel jumped by 6% to his highest point this season. In his last seven games, Toronto's forward has accounted for 1.44 FanDuel points, 0.25 rebounds, and 0.19 assists per minute and a 30.0% usage percentage.

LeBron James ($10,400): In four games this month, James is producing 1.30 FanDuel points, 0.24 rebounds, and 0.18 assists per minute with a 30.6% usage rate. The Lakers' superstar is ranked fourth overall with 46.9 FanDuel points in a juicy matchup against a Pistons' team ranked 29th in defensive rating.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,000): The 26-year old sees a 0.04 increase to 1.33 FanDuel points per minute in a 311.5 minute sample size if De'Aaron Fox is unable to suit up.

Julius Randle ($8,200): Even at his highest salary point this season, Randle ranks sixth among forwards in value with a 5.08 rating and 41.7 expected FanDuel points. The Knicks' forward is having his best month in December. averaging 27.3 real-life points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 33.5 minutes.

Zach LaVine ($7,600): Despite scoring just 16 real-life points in his last appearance, LaVine's FanDuel salary has remained at his highest point this season. In four games this month, LaVine is averaging 1.27 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.10 assists per minute with a 30.8% usage rate.

Franz Wagner ($6,300): In 166.6 minutes with today's expected rotation, Wagner accounts for 0.86 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.1% usage rate. Orlando's second-year player has averaged 31.3 FanDuel points against the Raptors including an impressive 48.0 fantasy point outing on Friday.

PJ Washington ($5,900): At his second lowest salary point in the last two months, Washington is fifth among forwards in value with a 5.22 rating and a 30.8 fantasy point expectation.

Bojan Bogdanovic ($5,700): Despite inconsistent scoring performances, Detroit's veteran remains a viable mid-salary option with a 5.23 value rating and a 29.8 FanDuel point projection against a Los Angeles Lakers' team ranked 24th in fantasy points allowed (43.4) per game to his position.

Patrick Williams ($4,100): In his last three starts, Chicago's young forward has recorded 0.74 FanDuel points, 0.13 rebounds, and 0.28 shot attempts per minute. The 21-year old ranks third among his positions in value with a 5.28 rating and a 21.7 FanDuel point projection.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,800): After three straight games scoring at least 35 real-life points, Embiid's FanDuel salary has moved to his highest point this season. Ranking second overall with 55.8 FanDuel points, Philadelphia's center has a great matchup versus a Hornets' team allowing 24.4 real-life points and 59.4 FanDuel points per game to the five position.

Clint Capela ($6,200): In 135.2 minutes with Atlanta's current injuries, Capela's production increases by 0.16 to 1.33 FanDuel points per minute. Since November 28th, the Hawks' big man has recorded six straight double-doubles.