There are six games on the docket tonight, so let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the best DraftKings NBA DFS picks for Dec. 16. With Stokastic’s NBA DFS Sims, NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections in our corner, we’re ready to craft some high-ROI lineups and make this slate our personal playground. Let’s make it happen!
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks Today, December 16
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5 – James Harden
Position: PG | Salary: $9,400
Projections: 25.1 Points, 5.5 Rebounds, 8.2 Assists, 1.8 Stocks
Let’s start with a little bit of a contrarian play. Harden may not be getting a ton of love today, but I’m all in on him against the Utah Jazz. Despite some underwhelming performances, Harden is still running the show for the Clippers. The ball goes through him every time – unless it’s a Norman Powell wild shot, of course. But against a defensively weak Utah squad, I’m expecting Harden to take full advantage. Not a lot of ownership means this is a great chance to pivot and stand out.
4 – R.J. Barrett
Position: SF/PF | Salary: $9,100
Projections: 26.8 Points, 6.8 Rebounds, 6.1 Assists, 1.1 Stocks
With a game total expected to be the highest on the slate and a competitive matchup against the Chicago Bulls, Barrett has plenty of upside. Without Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, Barrett should see significant minutes (around 35). The Raptors offense is going to run through him, and he’s one of the most versatile plays on the slate with his position eligibility. This one should be a high-paced affair, which is a big win for fantasy production. Keep your eyes on him.
3 – Jakob Poeltl
Position: C | Salary: $7,300
Projections: 17.3 Points, 12.2 Rebounds, 2.9 Assists, 2.7 Stocks
Here comes the chalk, but for good reason. Poeltl is a solid value play today with Barnes and Quickley out. He’s likely to be heavily owned, but with a relatively low salary compared to other top-tier centers, Poeltl is a fantastic way to get exposure to a high-upside play without breaking the bank. He’s locked in as a top value pick, and despite the ownership, he’s hard to ignore.
2 – Nikola Jokic
Position: C | Salary: $12,200
Projections: 29.2 Points, 12.9 Rebounds, 10.1 Assists, 2.4 Stocks
If you’re going to pay up today, it’s for the reigning MVP. Jokic is playing more than 36 minutes a night, and he’s coming off a rough game where his performance might leave some recency bias in the air. But don’t worry – Jokic is primed for a monster game against the Sacramento Kings. With his usage rate, we could easily see another triple-double here. Jokic is the highest-projected player on the slate, with a ceiling that no one else can quite match. The gap between him and the next-highest-projected player is huge, so if you have the salary, get him into your lineups.
1 – Jonathan Mogbo
Position: PF/C | Salary: $4,400
Projections: 10.7 Points, 7.7 Rebounds, 2.6 Assists, 2.0 Stocks
With the injury to Barnes, Mogbo is expected to step into a larger role, and he’s at a perfect price point for tonight’s slate since he doesn’t need to do a ton to hit value. He’s projecting around 28 minutes and has shown the ability to exceed his projections in favorable matchups. With power forward and center eligibility, he’s a great value play, and he’ll be one of the most owned players on the slate for a reason. If Mogbo hits his mark, he’ll provide plenty of value to your lineup, and anything more is pure profit.
