NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for January 16, 2018
For the 1/16 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 DFS.
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.
1/16/18 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Big Jam: $10 buy-in, $475k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $100,000 to 1st!
Triple Threat: $33 buy-in, $120k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $120k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Clutch Shot: $4.44 buy-in, $400k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $100,000 to 1st!
Slam: $33 buy-in, $100k guaranteed (FanDuel)
And One: $25 buy-in, $60k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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PLAYERS RULED OUT
Nikola Vucevic (hand)
Paul Millsap (wrist)
J.J. Barea (groin)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
T.J. Warren (back)
Marquese Chriss (hip)
Jayson Tatum (knee)
Shabazz Napier (back)
NBA DFS Slate Breakdown for January 16, 2018
Minnesota Timberwolves (-8) at Orlando Magic (Over/Under – 217)
Orlando’s been a very easy target this season. Plus, the fact that the T-Wolves are on the road makes the line a little closer and a close game more likely.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9.5k, $9.5k) is a premier play for any format against a Magic team that now gives up the most RPG (16.68) to opposing centers this season. They’re also struggling down low with Nikola Vucevic (hand) out. Jimmy Butler ($9.2k, $9.4k) is the other key component for the Wolves. He’s been filling it up with averages of 19.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.2 APG, and 2.7 SPG despite playing a relatively light 33 MPG over his last six appearances. If Minnesota pulls away over three quarters, it will likely be because that star tandem goes off, giving them both appeal in Cash games.
For value, consider Jeff Teague ($6.4k, $6.9k) as a slightly under-priced PG making his way back from a knee injury. Orlando also gives up the most FPPG (50.95) to opposing PGs.
On the Magic side of the ball, Aaron Gordon ($7.6k, $7.5k) is clearly the top option. He’s posting a 28.2 percent usage rate with Vucevic off the floor and went for 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting in a meeting with the Wolves earlier this season.
Elfrid Payton ($6.5k, $7.2k) snapped out of a brief funk with a great game in Washington on Saturday. He’s worth using in tournaments against Minnesota’s mediocre defense.
Bismack Biyombo ($5.6k, $6.4k), who is filling in for Vucevic, flashed surprising upside with a big double-double in Washington. He’s worth a look as an upside mid-tier play on DK since Minnesota’s been surprisingly vulnerable against opposing centers this year.
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New Orleans Pelicans (+4.5) at Boston Celtics (Over/Under – 214.5)
The Pelicans’ twin towers will likely sway GPPs tonight depending on whether they’re able to avoid foul trouble and punish the smaller Celtics down low. DeMarcus Cousins ($10.5k, $11.2k) is a slightly superior Cash play to Anthony Davis ($10.2k, $11.0k). The latter certainly has tournament appeal after dropping 48 points with 17 rebounds in a comeback win over the Knicks on Sunday.
Cousins has been a problem for the Celtics in the past, and Boston’s been vulnerable against centers, coughing up the seventh-most RPG (16.36) to the position over the last month.
The oft-underrated Jrue Holiday ($6.7k, $7.5k) is worth a look despite the tough matchup against Boston. He’s sure to have a low ownership rate tonight. E’Twaun Moore ($4.5k, $4.8k) might see more run because the Celtics often play three-guard lineups. Moore could outproduce Rajon Rondo because Boston is all too aware of the latter’s offensive limitations.
For Boston, Kyrie Irving ($8.5k, $8.2k) is a very reliable option but really should only be used in Cash games. He’s not currently flashing upside within the Celtics’ spread offense. Terry Rozier ($4.8k, $4.2k) is something of a boom-bust option relative to his low price tag.
Jaylen Brown ($5.9k, $5.5k) could exploit the Pelicans’ biggest weakness — on the wing. New Orleans gives up the third-most PPG (111) in the NBA despite possessing two of the best big men in the game, and those points come from somewhere. Jayson Tatum (knee) is questionable. If he’s out, look for Brown to step up, along with Marcus Morris ($4.5k, $4.7k) and even Daniel Theis ($3.8k, $3.8k), who has exceeded value in three consecutive appearances.
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Dallas Mavericks (+5.5) at Denver Nuggets (Over/Under – 210.5)
Nikola Jokic ($8.7k, $9.7k) could serve as a contrarian option with the public gravitating toward Cousins and Davis tonight. He’s been more of a tournament play lately but has tons of upside on DK due to his ability to reach the double-double and triple-double bonuses on that site.
Gary Harris ($6.0k, $6.5k) is the most reliable of the Nuggets’ trio of scoring guards. And while Jamal Murray ($5.7k, $6.7k) is coming off a dud agains the tough Spurs defense, he could bounce back. After all, he dropped 22 points against the Mavs earlier this season.
Trey Lyles ($5.5k, $5.8k) also struggled against the Spurs in a blowout loss, but he should bounce back at a slightly diminished price tag, as the Mavs rank 21st in total rebounding this year.
Now, Dallas is running its offense through rookie Dennis Smith Jr. ($6.3k, $6.5k), who is averaging 16.8 PPG and 4.8 APG over his last five appearances. He topped out at 39 minutes in the Mavs’ loss to the Lakers on Saturday. He’s a very solid Cash option along with Harrison Barnes ($6.8k, $6.3k), who has provided consistent production all season.
Wesley Matthews ($4.8k, $5.2k) is a good value with upside against a Nuggets team that ranks 25th in opponents 3PT shooting percentage (.372) this season. Yogi Ferrell ($4.5k, $5.3k) is a riskier tournament play to consider, even with his recent hot stretch.
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Phoenix Suns (TBD) at Portland Blazers (Over/Under – TBD)
The Blazers are happy to have a healthy Damian Lillard ($9.3k, $9.3k) back in the fold. He’s a high-upside play to consider in this plum matchup as long as the Blazers don’t win in blowout fashion. The Suns rank 29th in defensive rating and give up the most PPG (112.3) in the NBA this season. They’ve been particularly vulnerable against PGs and allowed Lillard to drop 52 points over two meetings this year.
Shabazz Napier (back) is questionable tonight, giving Evan Turner ($4.1k, $4.1k) more upside as the Blazers’ potential backup ball-handler. Jusuf Nurkic ($6.7k, $7.0k) remains a relative bargain on DK. He comes with a lot of risk but is worth using against the Suns’ vulnerable rotation at center.
Devin Booker ($8.0k, $7.8k) draws a favorable individual matchup against C.J. McCollum, although the Blazers’ fifth-ranked defense could make it tough for him. Yet he could be asked to completely carry the Suns’ offense if T.J. Warren (back) is out tonight. Booker is posting a 31.7 percent usage rate when Warren is off the floor this season.
With Marquese Chriss (hip) also questionable, rookie Josh Jackson ($4.8k, $5.2k) has a good chance to stay hot and could serve as an intriguing value for tournaments. If both Chriss and Warren are out, Dragan Bender ($4.6k, $4.8k) would become a boom-bust tournament option as well.
