DFS NBA Lineups for January 18, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
DFS NBA is fast-paced, high-scoring, and the right work and research, an incredibly fun variant of daily fantasy that can be quite profitable.
Each day that there’s a good slate of games, we’ll give you the game totals, spreads, and pertinent injury news for NBA daily fantasy, as well as some players that we’re considering for our lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. We’ve got nine games on tap and some massive tournaments across the industry with six-figure first prizes off just a $40 buy-in. Be sure and monitor any of the injury news that breaks throughout the day, as value plays can arise in a moments notice.
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Evan Fournier (foot)
Steven Adams (concussion)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (shoulder)
Jeremy Lamb (foot)
Ed Davis (ankle)
Mike Muscala (ankle)
Lance Thomas (face)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Anthony Davis (hip)
Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles)
Andre Drummond (knee), Aron Baynes (knee), Jon Leuer (knee)
T.J. McConnell (wrist), Nerlens Noel (ankle)
Ryan Anderson (illness)
Bismack Biyombo (knee)
NBA GAME SPREADS, TOTALS & START TIME FOR TODAY’S GAMES
Raptors -5 @ 76ers (7:00p): 213
Grizzlies @ Wizards -3 (7:00p): 205.5
Blazers @ Hornets -5 (7:00p): 215.5
Knicks @ Celtics -8 (7:30p): 218.5
Magic @ Pelicans -4.5 (8:00p): 208
Bucks @ Rockets -6.5 (8:00p): 224.5
Hawks -1.5 @ Pistons (8:00p): 201
Thunder @ Warriors -13 (10:30p): 229
Pacers @ Kings -1.5 (10:30p): 214
Best NBA Picks for January 18, 2017
James Harden ($11.7k DraftKings, $11.8k FanDuel)
Harden’s price tag fluctuates and seems to generally be much cheaper than that of Russell Westbrook, but he’s clearly a superior cash game play in most cases and definitely a better option tonight with the Thunder looking at a blowout loss in Golden State. Harden just dropped his eighth triple double over his last 12 appearances in a losing effort at Miami and now he returns home to face a Bucks team that allows the eighth-most 3PTM per game (10.4) and should struggle to contain all of the Rockets dangerous shooters. With Harden conducting the show, Houston should bounce back with a great offensive performance and it will be even easier for him to exceed value at a lower price tag this evening.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10.4k DraftKings, $10.6k FanDuel)
It makes sense to target the Rockets on the second half of a B2B set with the best player on the Bucks. The Greek Freak loves to play in the open court and is virtually unstoppable in transition, so facing a Houston team that plays at the fourth-fastest pace in the NBA definitely suits him. The Rockets are coughing up the seventh-most FPPG (39.18) to opposing SGs and fourth-most PPG (21.26) to opposing SFs this season and Antetokounmpo is impossible to classify in one particular position. The one thing you know you’ll get from Giannis is a full statistical line and he’s rolled to three big-time performances since recovering from an illness.
Isaiah Thomas ($8.7k DraftKings, $9.7k FanDuel)
With another monstrous performance down the stretch on Monday, Thomas is now averaging more PPG in the fourth quarter than 11 of his teammates average per game. That’s a pretty obscure stat, but the point is that IT has become one of the best closers in the game and he’s bound to make some big shots down the stretch with the Celtics (-8) hosting their rivals tonight. The Knicks have been abysmal on defense as you might expect from a team with two offensive-minded stars in Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose, as they’re allowing the sixth-most PPG (108.3) in the NBA this season and really struggle to contain opposing guards. Thomas has become very expensive on FD, but he remains an elite option in any format at his price tag on DK.
Mid Tier DFS NBA Picks
Marvin Williams ($4.6k DraftKings, $4.6k FanDuel)
The Hornets versatile PF scored an efficient 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting on Monday night against the Celtics and he’s definitely worth a look tonight in a matchup against one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Portland coughs up the fourth-most PPG (110.7) in the NBA while ranking 29th in defensive rating and the Blazers happen to give up the most FPPG (45.63) to opposing PFs this season. Williams managed to exceed value in Boston without recording a single assist or defensive stat, but those peripherals are bound to come in what should be a very fast-paced matchup at home with a 218-point Over/Under assigned to this game.
Dario Saric ($4.3k DraftKings, $4.2k FanDuel)
The Sixers frontcourt is quite crowded right now, but with Nerlens Noel (ankle) at less than 100 percent and Joel Embiid on a strict minutes limit, Saric should continue to see steady run at the 3 and 4 spots for HC Brett Brown. He’s coming off one of his best performances of his rookie season with 17 points on 6-of-11 FG shooting in a win at Milwaukee and he’s clearly been a big part of the 76ers sudden surge in the win column. The potential absence of T.J. McConnell (wrist) for a second straight game would have a domino effect that opens up more playing time and shots for Saric, who is finally knocking down his looks.
Bargain Tier DFS NBA Picks
Jodie Meeks ($4.5k DraftKings, $3.8k FanDuel)
Evan Fournier tried to come back too soon from a heel injury and aggravated it, so the Magic will roll with Meeks as the replacement at SG over the next couple of weeks. He’s been great as a spot starter with averages of 10.4 PPG, 2.2 APG and a .639% True Shooting Percentage over his last 9 appearances (5 starts). Tonight he’ll face a Pelicans team that coughs up 22.45 PPG to opposing SGs and is hemorrhaging FPs to opposing PGs (46.08 per game) on the year, so both Meeks and teammate Elfrid Payton ($6200/$6200) are worth a look as they should received increased opportunities with Fournier out.
Stanley Johnson ($3.8k DraftKings, $3.7k FanDuel)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is listed as questionable tonight, but he suffered a nasty shoulder injury just five days ago and is highly unlikely to suit up. If he’s officially ruled out, Johnson should draw another start after he went for 9 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 27 DK points (25.8 FD points) in a plus matchup at the Lakers on Sunday. He draws another plus matchup tonight against a Hawks team that is coughing up the seventh-most FPPG (40.2) to opposing SFs over the last month and he won’t need to do much to exceed value at this modest price tag.
Zaza Pachulia ($3.6k DraftKings, $4.1k FanDuel)
If you’re looking for a punt play at the center position, consider the Warriors man in the middle, as Zaza has met or exceeded value in 7 consecutive appearances. He just did work against the Cavs tough frontcourt and tonight he’ll face a Thunder front line that was completely helpless to stop DeAndre Jordan on Monday night with Steven Adams (concussion) inactive. While Pachulia is not the same type of beast as DAJ, he’s going to see a lot more room to operate and he should be able to control the defensive glass with Adams out and the Thunder starting a weak combination of Domantas Sabonis and Jerami Grant down low.
If, Then Player
If Andre Drummond (knee) and/or Aron Baynes (knee) are unable to suit up for the Pistons, Boban Marjanovic will enter discussion as a fantastic value play with all the upside of a beastly center that puts up huge FP per minute numbers.
If Kristaps Porzingis is still out, you can use Kyle O’Quinn and/or Mindaugas Kuzminskas, while Terrence Jones and Tyreke Evans would see a huge bump in value if Anthony Davis sits.
