NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for January 1, 2018
For the 1/1 NBA DFS slate tonight, we’ll take a look at the best picks for the guards, forwards, and centers we’re considering rostering in our Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used when crafting your strategy on the Draft Fantasy App.
Please note the advice below is relevant for daily fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, and lots of other factors. This is important to consider when constructing a roster.
Injuries play a huge role in NBA DFS on a nightly basis, and value plays at the various daily fantasy sites can arise at a moment’s notice. Always, always check the starting lineups and injury news right before tipoff.
1/1/18 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $425k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Triple Threat: $33 buy-in, $150k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $130k guaranteed (DraftKings)
JUMBO Dunk: $150 buy-in, $300k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Clutch Shot: $4.44 buy-in, $400k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Slam: $33 buy-in, $100k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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PLAYERS RULED OUT
Nikola Vucevic (hand)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (personal)
Terrence Ross (knee)
Brook Lopez (ankle)
Zach LaVine (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Damian Lillard (hamstring)
Lonzo Ball (shoulder)
NBA DFS Slate Breakdown for January 1, 2018
Orlando Magic (+1) at Brooklyn Nets (Over/Under – 218.5)
This is one of the better games to target on a four-game slate with two of the fastest paced teams meeting in Brooklyn. The Nets give up the fifth-most PPG (110) and Orlando gives up the third-most PPG (110.4) in the NBA this season, while struggling particularly on defense over the past month.
With D’Angelo Russell (knee) out, other Nets have stepped up including Caris LeVert ($5.7k, $5.8k) and DeMarre Carroll ($4.9k, $5.2k), two mid-tier options with upside in this plus spot.
Spencer Dinwiddie ($6.2k, $6.7k) has been a consistent play with Russell out and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($6.3k, $7.4k) is also worth a look as a solid cash play.
Elfrid Payton ($7.1k, $8.0k) struggled to score in his last outing but should bounce back against a Nets team that gives up the fourth-most FPPG (48.6) to opposing PGs this season. After showing some rust in his return to the lineup, Aaron Gordon ($7.9k, $7.9k) blew up against a tough Miami defense and is a premier play tonight with Nikola Vucevic (hand) inactive.
Evan Fournier ($5.9k, $6.1k) also sees a boost with Vooch out but doesn’t have much upside due to a lack of peripheral stats. Bismack Biyombo ($5.6k, $6.5k) is also a low-upside value play with Vucevic inactive.
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Los Angeles Lakers (+10.5) at Minnesota Wolves (Over/Under – 214.5)
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9.7k, $9.6k) enters a smash spot at a low price tag against a Lakers team that’s allowing the fifth-most PPG (25) and most BPG (3.3) to opposing centers over the last month and will be without Brook Lopez (ankle), forcing Julius Randle to match up against a true center. Towns went for 24 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks against the aggressive young Lakers last week and is the strongest play at his position.
Jimmy Butler ($8.7k, $9.3k) is a great cash option next to Towns with a high floor and slightly higher ceiling while Jeff Teague (knee) is out. Tyus Jones ($5.6k, $6.4k) is still in play despite his rising price tag as the Wolves starting PG locked into heavy minutes.
If Lonzo Ball (shoulder) remains out, Jordan Clarkson ($6.7k, $7.4k) would stand to meet or exceed value once again while Josh Hart ($4.8k, $4.4k) could offer salary relief despite his weak outing against the Clippers over the weekend.
He’s also coming off a lackluster showing, but Kyle Kuzma ($6.9k, $6.7k) is in a good bounce back spot against the Wolves slower PFs. Brandon Ingram ($6.7k, $6.8k) offers a solid floor and Julius Randle ($5.0k, $6.2k) comes with a lot of risk, but is a cheap center to consider in tournament formats.
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Milwaukee Bucks (+6.5) at Toronto Raptors (Over/Under – 215)
At first glance, this might not seem like a great game to target, but the Raptors are actually playing with a lot of pace recently and DeMar DeRozan ($7.7k, $8.1k) is skilled enough to continue scoring against a rangy Bucks defense.
Jonas Valanciunas ($5.2k, $5.3k) is a solid mid-tier option against a Bucks team that’s giving up the second-most RPG (16.57) to opposing centers this season. He’s been very productive on a per-minute basis, so he could continue to meet value alongside Serge Ibaka ($5.5k, $5.7k), who is set to return after a one-game suspension.
Nothing about this matchup stands out for Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11.0k, $10.9k), but he obviously has a ton of upside and he’s as cheap as he’s been all season on FD. Khris Middleton ($7.1k, $7.1k) is a solid cash play that should be strongly considered if you can’t afford Giannis but want to get some exposure to the Bucks offense.
Portland Blazers (-1) at Chicago Bulls (Over/Under – 207)
The Blazers offense depends heavily on the status of Damian Lillard (hamstring), who was a surprise scratch last Thursday and is a game-time decision tonight. C.J. McCollum ($7.3k, $7.3k) would look to carry the offense if Dame Dollar can’t go while Shabazz Napier ($5.5k, $6.0k) would become a great mid-tier value as the Blazers starting PG.
Jusuf Nurkic ($6.8k, $6.3k) has provided great energy for Portland over his last two appearances and should be considered as a pure tournament play against slower center Robin Lopez and Chicago.
Nikola Mirotic ($6.5k, $6.7k) still has the most upside of any Bulls player, although Kris Dunn ($7.2k, $8.1k) would be a stronger play if Lillard returns since he could be slowed by that hamstring issue.
Justin Holiday ($5.2k, $5.3k) has been quite consistent for the Bulls over his last several appearances and he’s a strong cash play along with Lauri Markkanen ($5.8k, $5.5k), who sees a spike in pricing after a strong outing against Indiana alongside Mirotic.
