NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for January 19, 2018
For the 1/19 NBA DFS slate, and for the rest of the fantasy basketball season, we’ll be writing up the best picks for guards, forwards, and centers we’re considering for Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used for crafting your strategy on Draft DFS and WinView Games.
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.
1/19/18 NBA DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $350k guaranteed (DraftKings) -$50,000 to 1st!
Triple Threat: $33 buy-in, $140k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $110k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Layup: $9 buy-in, $99k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $300k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $50,000 to 1st!
Slam: $33 buy-in, $130k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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PLAYERS RULED OUT
Kawhi Leonard (quad)
Rudy Gobert (knee)
Myles Turner (elbow)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Achilles)
Mike Conley (Achilles)
Jamal Murray (concussion)
Reggie Jackson (ankle)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Marc Gasol (illness)
Kyle Kuzma (finger)
T.J. Warren (back)
Lonzo Ball (knee)
Brandon Ingram (ankle)
Lance Stephenson (illness)
Skal Labissiere (shoulder)
Tyler Johnson (ankle)
Avery Bradley (groin)
Marquese Chriss (hip)
Markieff Morris (ankle)
D’Angelo Russell (knee)
Best NBA DFS Picks for January 19, 2018
Guards
Tyreke Evans vs. SAC ($8.8k DraftKings, $8.8k FanDuel)
There aren’t many high-priced forwards available tonight. This makes paying up for a safe guard, such as Tyreke Evans, worthwhile. He continued to dominate touches in the Grizzlies’ offense with 23 points and 10 assists against the Knicks on Wednesday. He will become an even safer play if Marc Gasol (illness) or Andrew Harrison (shoulder) is out tonight. Reke killed his former team with 26 points and seven assists in a meeting with the Kings earlier this season, which is not surprising against a team that ranks 29th in defensive rating.
Goran Dragic @ BKN ($7.5k DraftKings, $7.5k FanDuel)
With Dion Waiters (ankle) out indefinitely and Tyler Johnson (ankle) missing time as well, Goran Dragic has become an extremely reliable PG play with a solid floor and decent upside. Since returning from injury on Dec. 23, he’s scored in double figures in 13 consecutive appearances. Plus, he’s averaged 5.8 APG and 4.4 RPG during that span. Tonight, his Heat face a Nets team that allows the fifth-most PPG (106.1) overall and the most 2PTM (63.5) per game this season. This bodes well for a guard in Dragic, who prefers to attack the rim more than settle for jumpers. D’Angelo Russell (knee) is expected to return tonight for Brooklyn, and he’s a poor defender who should be rusty after a long layoff.
Will Barton vs. PHO ($6.5k DraftKings, $7.7k FanDuel)
You could see Will Barton gain more confidence down the stretch of a close loss to the Clippers Wednesday. He could ride that momentum into a much better matchup against the weak Suns defense tonight. Phoenix ranks dead last in defensive rating and plays at the fourth-fastest pace in the NBA, which plays right into Barton’s hands. He went for 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists against the Clips and is rocking a 24.2 percent usage rate while averaging 1 FP per minute with Jamal Murray (concussion) off the floor this season.
Jordan Clarkson vs. IND ($5.2k DraftKings, $4.2k FanDuel)
Despite his lackluster line on Wednesday (five points, five rebounds, three assists), Jordan Clarkson remains a very appealing punt play along with Josh Hart ($4.6k, $4.5k) since the Lakers’ roster is depleted by injuries. Lonzo Ball (knee) is unlikely to play tonight. Plus, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Achilles) is doubtful. What’s more, Kyle Kuzma (finger) is questionable. Clarkson sees the greatest rise in usage — 6.7 up to 35.2 percent — of any Laker when those three players are off the floor this season. There is some concern that the Lakers won’t be competitive with three key players out. But they are at home, and Clarkson should benefit from increased usage along with forwards Brandon Ingram ($6.1k, $6.3k) and Julius Randle ($6.1k, $6.5k).
Others to Consider: Victor Oladipo, DeMar DeRozan, Gary Harris, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Josh Hart, Dejounte Murray, Isaiah Canaan
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Forwards
Kristaps Porzingis @ UTA ($8.9k DraftKings, $9.4k FanDuel)
On Wednesday, Kristaps Porzingis took advantage of a Memphis team that was missing Marc Gasol and produced 21 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks in a close loss. Tonight’s situation is similar. The Jazz are still missing elite center Rudy Gobert (knee), which leaves them vulnerable down low. Porzingis went for 22 points and eight rebounds in a meeting with Utah earlier this season and towers over natural PF Derrick Favors. This gives “The Zinger” a decided advantage on jumpers against a Jazz team that ranks 29th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage (.383) this year.
LaMarcus Aldridge @ TOR ($8.6k DraftKings, $9.1k FanDuel)
We’re right back to square one in evaluating the Spurs’ offense now that Kawhi Leonard (quad) is out indefinitely once again. That leaves LaMarcus Aldridge to step up and carry his team. He’s done just that over his last two road games with 59 points on 24-of-45 shooting. His 36.3 percent usage rate when Kawhi, Pau Gasol, and Rudy Gay (heel) are off the floor this season dwarfs that of any other Spur. Plus, Gasol could get some rest after playing 30 minutes in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Kelly Oubre Jr. @ DET ($4.5k DraftKings, $4.7k FanDuel)
If you want to afford one or both of those high-priced PFs tonight, you’ll need to save at SF. Enter Kelly Oubre. He offers a solid floor at a very reasonable price tag. He’s playing 29 MPG over his last six appearances despite coming off the bench. He could continue to see increased run with Markieff Morris (ankle) clearly hobbled. The Pistons allow the 10th-most FPPG (42.03) to opposing SFs this season. Detroit could be without two good defenders in Avery Bradley (groin) and Stanley Johnson (hip) tonight.
Others to Consider: Brandon Ingram, Derrick Favors, Otto Porter, Josh Jackson, Joe Ingles, Wilson Chandler, Reggie Bullock
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Center
Hassan Whiteside @ BKN ($8.4k DraftKings, $8.7k FanDuel)
Topping 30 minutes for the first time since mid-November, Hassan Whiteside promptly produced one of his usual gaudy double-doubles with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks in a plus matchup against Milwaukee on Wednesday. He draws an even more defenseless foe tonight in Brooklyn. The Nets give up the second-most FPPG (55.35) and most RPG (16.68) to opposing centers. Whiteside went for 17 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks over just 20 minutes against Brooklyn in his second game back from a knee injury last month. He’s likely to exceed that production by a wide margin now that he’s healthier.
Willie Cauley-Stein vs. MEM ($6.8k DraftKings, $7.2k FanDuel)
Willie Cauley-Stein is proving the Kings are right to turn to their young big men. The former Kentucky Wildcat produced 26 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists over nearly 37 minutes in a loss to the Jazz Wednesday. His matchup isn’t great on paper tonight. But Marc Gasol (illness) is questionable and might not be up to his usual defensive standards if active. WCS managed 21 points and eight rebounds over 28 minutes off the bench in a meeting with the Grizz earlier this season. He is clearly seeing more run as a starter. Also, consider PF/C Skal Labissiere ($4.3k. $5.4k) as a value if he can return from a shoulder injury tonight.
Others to Consider: Andre Drummond, Julius Randle, Pau Gasol, Enes Kanter
