FantasyPros thinks about which NBA DFS players have the best value on DraftKings and FanDuel.
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| NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 25 |
This slate will be crazy. Because Wednesday is one of the busiest days of the week, the cards tend to be crazy. This card has 10 games on it, and it will be fun to watch these teams fight. There's a lot to talk about, so let's take a look at the schedule and odds!
Injury Report
- Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT Kevin Durant (knee) OUT
- James Harden (foot) Questionable
- Joel Embiid (foot) Questionable
- Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) IS OUT
- Zion Williamson (hamstring) IS OUT
- Brandon Ingram (toe) Questionable
- Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) OUT
- Foot Kevin Porter Jr.
- Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) Questionable
- Nikola Jokic (B2B) Questionable
- Michael Porter Jr. (personal) Questionable
- Steven Adams (ankle) Questionable
- Kelly Olynyk (ankle) Questionable
- OG Anunoby (ankle) Questionable
- Devin Vassell is OUT because of an ankle injury (foot) Questionable
- James LeBron (B2B) Questionable
- Onyeka Okongwu (leg) Questionable
Key Roles
LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $11,700 DraftKings, $11,100 FanDuel
It's been crazy to see this guy go crazy in his 20s. In 11 straight games, the superstar has scored at least 50 DraftKings points, giving him an average of 61 points in that time. That's not surprising, given how much LeBron is doing without Anthony Davis and how much he is used, which is one of the highest rates in the NBA. The Spurs are the worst at both giving up points and being good at defense, so playing them is the best part. King James scored 64 fantasy points in their last game.
Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
The price of Ja has been going down, and it's hard to figure out why. The All-Star is still averaging more than 48 fantasy points per game, and in 12 of his last 13 games, he has scored at least 40 DraftKings points. Golden State gives up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards, so it should be easy to reach that goal against them. This was clear when Morant had 57 DK points in the one game they played against each other this season.
CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
It's sad that New Orleans has had to deal with so many injuries, but McCollum has had to take on a very scary role because of it. Zion and Brandon Ingram are both hurt, so he has to do everything. This might be the last game without Ingram. CJ's average over his last 17 games has been 42 points, and he has scored at least 40 fantasy points in 12 of those games. The Wolves are ranked third in pace and have the 24th-worst OPRK against opposing guards. This should keep him on a roll.
Thoughts on the Cash Game
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel will offer cash games with Jokic for the next ten years. Every night, this guy is sure to get between 40 and 50 fantasy points. In his last 26 games, he has scored at least 51 DK points in 25 of them. During that time, he has also averaged more than 60 DK points per game and had several 80-point games. It doesn't really matter who Jokic plays, but the fact that he has scored at least 61 fantasy points in three straight games against Milwaukee makes it look even better.
Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $7,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
It's crazy that Beal's price is in this range. This guy usually costs $1,500 more, and now that Kristaps Porzingis is hurt, we have to assume he'll get closer to that. That means he will take more shots and use the ball more, which is great since he already averages almost 40 fantasy points per game. Houston is the cherry on top because they are ranked 28th in defensive efficiency and give up the most fantasy points to guards.
Since San Antonio lost Vassell, Jones has become a much more important part of their offense. The point guard has averaged 32 points in his last 13 games, with 11 of them having at least 29 DraftKings points. That's great for a $6K player, and against the Lakers, that should be his floor. Los Angeles is 26th in the league in points allowed and 25th in OPRK against the point guards of other teams. Jones has played them three times this year, and each time, he has scored an average of 36 fantasy points.
GPP Targets
$7,100 for Myles Turner (PF/C – IND). DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel Turner isn't always reliable, but this player is too good to be at $7K on DraftKings. This season, the big man has scored at least 38 fantasy points in 18 of 39 games. He averages 36 DK points per game. He has also shown a 63-point upside, and now that Haliburton is out of the picture, he is being asked to do more. Turner scored 39 DK points in their last game against Orlando, which is another great matchup.
Clint Capela (C, ATL): $5,700 on DraftKings, $6,500 on FanDuel
When both Atlanta centers are healthy, we don't like to use them, but if one of them gets hurt, they're great plays. This is what we have now, since Onyeka Okongwu is out and Capela got 41 DK points in his last game. This guy is averaging 32 DK points per game and 27 minutes a night for the year. If he plays the 36 minutes we saw him play on Monday, he should be worth more than $7,000 on both sites. Having a 26th OPRK against opposing centers is also exciting when facing the Thunder.
Tari Eason (PF, HOU): $4,400 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel Fan Duel Eason isn't a good choice for this team when everyone is healthy, but since Kevin Porter got hurt, he's been great. Because of this, the rookie has to start, and in both of his starts, he has played at least 26 minutes. In those games, he's also averaged 32 fantasy points per game, which is crazy for such a cheap player. Even though Washington is ranked 19th in total defense, this doesn't seem like a scary matchup.
Value Plays
Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Fultz's comeback season and staying healthy for the first time in his career have been fun to watch. In his last nine games, the former number one pick has averaged 33 DraftKings points per game. You can't ask for more from a $6K player, especially since this starting point guard has a ton of stats and was once the most sought-after basketball prospect. Indiana, which is ranked 23rd in points allowed and 24th in defensive efficiency, is also a great matchup.
Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
I'm excited that KP's injury and Rui Hachimura's trade will give Avdija a bigger role. That means Avdija should start every game and play for 30-35 minutes. Deni has averaged 32 fantasy points per game in the 20 games where he has played at least 28 minutes. That would make Avdija one of the best deals in this price range, and against one of the worst defenses in the NBA, it should be easy for him to do it again.
Dennis Schroder (PG – LAL): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
It's a cheat to play other teams against the Spurs. They give up the most fantasy points in the NBA and are last in the league when it comes to points allowed and defensive efficiency. That makes Schroder a great choice as the starting point guard for the other team. In his last two games, he scored 46 and 49 DraftKings points. Even half of that would be fine, but against the worst defense in the league, it wouldn't surprise us to see another one of those ceiling games.
Prices that are good
- Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
- Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG/SF – ATL): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Larry Nance Jr. (PF/C – NOP): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
- Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
- Tyus Jones (PG – SAS): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
- Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
- Jarred Vanderbilt (PF/C – UTA): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
- Thomas Bryant (C – LAL): $5,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
- Josh Richardson (SG – SAS): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel