Happy New Year! Thursday features a four-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
The Clippers got off to a dismal start this season, but they’re starting to show some signs of life. They’ve won five straight games, with three of those wins coming against the Lakers, Rockets, and Pistons. They’re still just 13th in the Western Conference, but there is plenty of time for them to get back in contention for a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
James Harden has been the Clippers’ most consistent option this season. He’s turning in another vintage Harden season, averaging 26.1 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Harden hasn’t been quite as impressive recently, but he’s still averaged 1.16 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of his past five games, and his salary has dipped down to just $9,100 for Thursday’s matchup vs. the Jazz. It’s a fantastic spot, with the Clippers’ 122.5 implied team total ranking first on the slate. Harden also leads the position with a +3.26 Opponent Plus/Minus, making him one of the strongest pay-up options of the day.
Value
Brandon Williams stands out as one of the best pure values of the day on DraftKings. He’s priced at just $4,400, resulting in a position-best 97% Bargain Rating.
Williams’ playing time has been a bit inconsistent this season, but he’s generally produced when he’s been on the floor. He’s averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s coming off back-to-back games with at least 30 minutes of playing time and 33.75 DraftKings points.
Williams is projected for another 26.5 minutes on Thursday, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +8.90 with a comparable salary and minute projection in three previous games this season (per the Trends tool). He leads the position in projected Plus/Minus, while only Harden has a better Sim Labs optimal lineup rate.
Fast Break
The Jazz could be pretty shorthanded on Thursday. Ace Bailey has already been ruled out, while Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen are both listed as questionable. Isaiah Collier has already been a nice source of value for Utah of late, averaging a Plus/Minus of +4.70 over his past 10 games, and he would be forced to carry a larger workload if George and Markkanen are ultimately ruled out. That makes him pretty intriguing at $4,500.
Cade Cunningham could fly a bit under the radar on this slate. He’s projected for roughly 15% ownership, despite the Pistons possessing one of the best matchups of the day. They’re taking on the Heat, who have played at the fastest pace in basketball this season. The Pistons have the second-highest implied team total of the day (120.0), while Cunningham leads all point guards in ceiling projection. He’s an interesting pivot off Harden for tournaments.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Celtics have pretty massively defied expectations so far this season. They’ve managed to stay relevant despite the absence of Jayson Tatum, with their 20-12 record putting them in third place in the Eastern Conference.
Derrick White has been a big part of their recent success. He started the year shooting uncharacteristically poorly from 3-point range, but he was up to 38.2% in December. He averaged 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in 12 December contests, and he’s increased his production to 1.23 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
White’s price tag has yet to really reflect his improved production. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +3.10 over his past 10 games, and he’s turned in some monster performances during that stretch. He’s coming off 59.25 DraftKings points in his last outing, and he has another game with more than 60 DraftKings points in the past two weeks. White ultimately ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus and first in ceiling projection, which is a nice combination.
Value
Walter Clayton is another player who should see a boost in value for the Jazz on Thursday. He’s not expected to see quite as much playing time as Collier, but he’s projected for 21 minutes at just $3,500. That should be more than enough for him to return value. He’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he had 30.0 DraftKings points in 22.3 minutes vs. the Spurs two games ago.
Clayton ranks first at shooting guard in projected Plus/Minus, and he’s No. 3 in optimal lineup rate. He would become even more appealing if George and/or Markkanen are ruled out, so make sure to monitor that situation before tip-off.
Fast Break
Marcus Sasser also stands out as an interesting value target. Sasser has been an absolute monster when he’s been on the floor recently, averaging 1.30 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He saw more than 24 minutes in his last outing, and he responded with 34.5 DraftKings points vs. the Lakers. Sasser probably won’t see that much playing time on Thursday, but he should pick up a few additional minutes with Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert out of the lineup.
Norman Powell continues to get buckets. He’s been outstanding in his first year with the Heat, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games. He just narrowly missed in the lone exception, despite logging less than 28 minutes in a blowout win over the Nuggets. Powell should get back closer to 33 minutes vs. the Pistons, so he should be able to get back on track.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Kawhi Leonard has been the big reason for the Clippers’ recent turnaround. The oft-injured superstar has played his best basketball recently, posting five straight games with at least 54.0 DraftKings points. That includes a career-high 55 points vs. the Pistons two games ago, resulting in a ridiculous 90.25 DraftKings points.
The big question is how long Leonard can keep it up. The Clippers were able to take it pretty easy on him during the regular season last year, which kept him relatively healthy heading into the playoffs. With the team struggling for life in 2025-26, they’ve had to tax him much harder than they’d probably like to in recent games.
Still, the Clippers’ loss is our gain. Leonard is currently projected for 36.5 minutes, and he’s averaged 1.40 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. If he’s going to continue to play that much, he’s undoubtedly too cheap at $9,600. He owns the top ceiling and projected Plus/Minus at small forward, while his optimal lineup rate is above 60% in Sim Labs.
Value
Brice Sensabaugh hasn’t been quite as efficient as some of the Jazz’s other value options on a per-minute basis, but he should be able to return value through sheer volume on Thursday. He’s currently projected for 31 minutes in our NBA Models, which is an excellent figure for someone priced at just $4,900. Players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +1.91, and Sensabaugh has personally averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.65 in that split.
Fast Break
Ausar Thompson hasn’t quite had the breakout that many were hoping for this year, and he’s lost some playing time in recent games. He’s logged 23.7 minutes or fewer in three straight games, but he’s projected for 26 minutes Thursday vs. the Heat. That makes him an interesting bounce-back candidate. Thompson has still managed 1.08 DraftKings points per minute when on the floor, so he has some upside at $5,800 if the minutes swing back in his favor.
Cooper Flagg is starting to show the promise that made him the consensus No. 1 prospect in basketball heading into 2025-26. He’s averaged 23.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in December while shooting better than 51% from the field. He’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s turned in some huge games over that time frame. His salary remains pretty reasonable at $7,400, and he’s expected to be a bit underowned vs. the 76ers.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Sticking with the Mavericks, they’re expected to get Anthony Davis back on Thursday. He missed the team’s past two games with a thigh injury, but he’s not currently listed on the injury report.
Before going down vs. the Warriors on Christmas, Davis was playing awesome basketball for the Mavericks. He had 54.25 DraftKings points vs. the Nuggets and 63.25 DraftKings points vs. the Pelicans in the two games prior, and he posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of five games overall. Davis has averaged 1.49 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he has the potential to do serious damage if he isn’t too heavily limited vs. the 76ers.
Davis ultimately has a wide range of outcomes, but he’s worth rolling the dice on at $9,400. His price tag comes with a 96% Bargain Rating, and he leads all power forwards with 10 Pro Trends.
Value
Kyle Filipowski stands out as Utah’s best value option on Thursday’s slate. In addition to all their other injuries, the Jazz will also be without their top two centers in Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic. It should allow Filipowski to step into a much larger role: he’s currently projected for 31 minutes in our NBA Models.
Filipowski has the potential to do plenty of damage with that much playing time. He’s averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged an elite +13.53 Plus/Minus in eight previous games with a comparable salary and minute projection. He’s averaged better than 40 DraftKings points per game in that split, giving him an elite floor and ceiling vs. the Clippers.
Fast Break
Ron Holland is another young player for the Pistons who has taken on a larger role recently. He’s scored at least 20.75 DraftKings points in four of his past five games, despite playing less than 20 minutes in all but one of them. He’s projected for 22 minutes Thursday vs. the Heat, and he’s averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That makes him another viable value option at just $3,900.
Paul George hasn’t played a ton of basketball for the 76ers this season, but he’s been pretty effective when he’s been available. He’s averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in just 28.7 minutes per game, and he’s also shot 40.0% from 3-point range. George is coming off a poor showing in his last outing, but he did get up to 39 minutes in that contest. He’s played at least 33 minutes in six of his past seven games, so he’s trending in the right direction.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Is Joel Embiid officially back? That remains to be seen, but he’s played some of his best basketball of the season in recent games. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five outings, including 64.5 DraftKings points vs. the Grizzlies on Tuesday. That was an overtime contest, but Embiid has been able to get to 30-32 minutes pretty consistently when he’s been active over the past month.
That’s more than enough to make him fantasy viable. He’s still an outstanding producer on a per-minute basis, averaging 1.41 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. His ceiling projection is only slightly lower than Davis’ at center, despite checking in at nearly $1,000 cheaper.
Value
Brook Lopez looked pretty cooked for the Clippers to start the year, but he’s started to play better of late. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games, and the Clippers are going to need him on Thursday. The team is currently without starting center Ivica Zubac, leaving Lopez as the next man up. He’s currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and Lopez has averaged just under a fantasy point per minute over the past month. His price tag has come up pretty significantly to $5,300, but he should still be able to return value with that much playing time.
Fast Break
Nikola Jovic has been outstanding for the Heat recently. He’s put up 1.24 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three straight games. He’s had 37.0 and 42.75 DraftKings points in two of them, so he brings an awesome ceiling to the table at just $4,300. Jovic probably won’t see as much playing time as he did in his last two contests – both of which were blowouts – but he still stands out as an undervalued option per Sim Labs.
Jalen Duren has been pretty consistently awesome for the Pistons all season. He hasn’t been quite as dominant in recent games, but he’s still managed to post a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past seven outings. His playing time is typically capped at around 30 minutes, which limits his upside, but he has a strong chance to deliver value in a pace-up spot against the Heat.
Pictured: James Harden
Photo Credit: Imagn
