NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for January 7, 2018
For the 1/7 NBA DFS slate, 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 and on Draftboard.
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.
1/7/18 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $300k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Spin Move: $40 buy-in, $60k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $35k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Monster: $333 buy-in, $60k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $300k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Slam: $33 buy-in, $60k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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Draftboard DFS Tournaments Click Here
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Dewayne Dedmon (leg)
Kawhi Leonard (shoulder)
Tim Hardaway Jr. (leg)
Tony Parker (rest)
Rudy Gay (heel)
André Roberson (knee)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Damian Lillard (calf)
T.J. Warren (illness)
Michael Beasley (ankle)
Larry Nance Jr. (illness)
Danny Green (groin)
NBA DFS Slate Breakdown for January 7, 2018
New York Knicks (+4.5) at Dallas Mavericks (Over/Under – 207)
Kristaps Porzingis ($8.1k, $9.1k) has been quiet in three consecutive appearances. In his stead, Michael Beasley ($4.6k, $6.1k) has carried the Knicks offense. Tonight, Beasley is questionable with an ankle injury, and it’s only a matter of time before “The Unicorn” finds his stride in plus matchups such as this one.
Dallas gives up the ninth-most FPPG (53.43) to opposing centers this year and ranks dead last in defensive rebounding rate, so Enes Kanter ($6.3k, $4.9k) could also have a big game as a relentless rebounder. Kanter is also surprisingly cheap on FanDuel.
Dwight Powell ($3.8k, $4.5k) should see more minutes as a good option for the Mavs to counter the Knicks’ big front line. Meanwhile, the ancient Dirk Nowitzki ($5.2k, $5.1k) looks to create mismatches on the perimeter.
Wesley Matthews ($5.1k, $5.2k) has been hot lately and is a solid mid-tier option in a Mavs uniform, while Harrison Barnes ($6.5k, $6.4k) is always reliable as their primary scorer.
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Oklahoma City Thunder (TBD) at Phoenix Suns (Over/Under – TBD)
Russell Westbrook ($11.9k, $11.8k) is the premier play in this game and the most expensive option by far on this four-game slate. Yet he should be worth the money if Phoenix remains competitive at home. The Suns rank 29th in defensive rating and cough up the seventh-most FPPG (47.56) to opposing PGs this season.
Paul George ($8.2k, $8.1k) has found his stride alongside Westbrook, and even Carmelo Anthony is flashing upside lately for the streaking Thunder. However, the best OKC option other than Westy is likely Steven Adams ($6.5k, $6.3k). The Kiwi center has been consistent all season and should benefit from the Suns’ lack of defensive efficiency by finishing high-percentage looks.
For Phoenix, Devin Booker ($7.9k, $7.5k) was relatively held in check in tough matchups at Denver and San Antonio. He could bounce back in what should be a high-scoring home game tonight. OKC is scoring 107.2 PPG and allowing 102.8 PPG since Dec. 1. For his part, T.J. Warren (illness) could be limited or inactive, forcing more onto Booker’s plate. The Thunder should also be without defensive specialist André Roberson (knee).
You can certainly consider Marquese Chriss ($5.4k, $5.4k) as a mid-tier option; he will become much more playable if Warren sits tonight. The second-year PF averages 12.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG over his last six appearances to establish a solid floor.
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San Antonio Spurs (-1.5) at Portland Trail Blazers (Over/Under – 199)
LaMarcus Aldridge ($7.6k, $8.4k) didn’t play on Friday for rest. Now, we know that might have been part of a larger plan with Kawhi Leonard (shoulder) out tonight. Aldridge continues to flash upside when Kawhi is unavailable or limited, and he went for 22 points on 10-of-17 FG shooting in a meeting with the Blazers (his former team) earlier this season.
Pau Gasol ($5.9k, $5.6k) and Kyle Anderson ($4.8k, $5.9k) will also see a boost with Kawhi out. That said, Pau is more of a GPP play given his limited minutes and inconsistent role in the Spurs’ flex offense.
Tony Parker (rest) and Danny Green (groin) are also expected to sit tonight, so Bryn Forbes ($3.7k, $3.5k) is an intriguing punt play to consider along with savvy veteran Manu Ginobili ($3.8k, $3.7k).
The Blazers’ offense is in flux with Damian Lillard ($8.3k, $8.5k) not fully healthy, forcing C.J. McCollum ($7.7k, $7.3k) to carry the team at times. Neither guard is worth using outside of GPP formats against the top-rated scoring defense in the NBA.
Evan Turner ($4.5k, $4.4k) slowed down with Lillard back in the lineup on Friday. Still, he is still worth a look as a versatile player capable of matching up against the lengthy Spurs. The same logic applies to Portland’s Al-Farouq Aminu ($4.7k, $5.4k).
Atlanta Hawks (+2.5) at Los Angeles Lakers (Over/Under – 217.5)
Atlanta ranks 28th in defensive rating, and the Lakers are playing at the fastest pace in the league. Therefore, this contest should produce some great fantasy lines to shape the leaderboards on this four-game slate.
Kent Bazemore ($6.0k, $5.7k) could bounce back from a rough outing against the elite Blazers defense in more of a fast-paced game. Taurean Prince ($5.7k, $5.9k) offers similar upside with a higher floor.
Plus, Ersan Ilyasova ($5.6k, $5.5k) continues to score in droves. He’ll have to have a big game along with Dennis Schröder ($7.3k, $7.4k) for the Hawks to compete on the road.
Brandon Ingram ($6.8k, $7.0k) has become more aggressive with Kyle Kuzma (quad) limited and Lonzo Ball (shoulder) is still working his way back into action.
Julius Randle ($5.7k, $6.6k) is playing as well as he has in years and is a good bet to maintain that production against a Hawks team without a true center since Dewayne Dedmon (leg) headed to injured reserve. Larry Nance Jr. (illness) is also questionable tonight, and Brook Lopez (ankle) is only playing around 20 MPG.
