NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 9
Nikola Jokic has scored at least 52 DK points in all but two games over the last month.
This slate is going to be tough to evaluate. This marks the trade deadline day, and there will undoubtedly be some significant changes between the time this is published and the time the slate commences. We’ll try our best to avoid potential trade candidates, but if the Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook deals are any indication, we could be in for a wild deadline. I can’t wait to see what happens, but swim the DFS waters carefully on this bizarre card!
Injury Report
- LeBron James (foot) Questionable
- Kevin Durant (foot) OUT
- Devin Booker (maintenance) OUT
- DeMar DeRozan (hip) Questionable
- Jamal Murray (knee) Questionable
- Bobby Portis (knee) OUT
- Cameron Johnson (foot) OUT
- Landry Shamet (foot) OUT
- Seth Curry (thigh) Questionable
Core Plays
Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $9,000 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
Vooch has quietly been a monster over the last month. The big man has scored at least 40 DraftKings points in 17 of his last 18 games, generating a 48-point average in that span. That’s a great total from a $9K player, and he shouldn’t have any issue facing a Brooklyn team amid a rebuild this week. When they played a month ago, Vooch collected 46 DK points in another pristine performance.
Chris Paul (PG – PHX): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
The Kevin Durant news breaking so late changed my whole article. I had to switch a couple of my picks and get CP3 in here. It looks like Phoenix is parting ways with Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges, leaving Paul as one of the only playmakers left with Devin Booker out as well. That means this All-Star should see a 30% usage rate, 35 minutes and 20 shots. That’s scary since he has at least 39 DK points in eight of the last 10 games he’s finished and gets to face a 20th-ranked Hawks defense.
Cash Game Considerations
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,000 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
The Joker is one of the favorites for MVP, and he might be in the running every year for the next decade. The big man has scored at least 52 DK points in all but two games over the last month, averaging 61 DK points per game in that span. He’s simply the safest cash game option on every slate and had a triple-double in his last matchup with Orlando earlier in the season. There will be a ton of value on this slate with the trade deadline, so squeeze in Joker and our next pick!
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,300 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel
Giannis is one of the frontrunners for MVP, along with Jokic, and it’s fun watching these international guys take over an American sport. The Greek Freak has scored at least 46 DK points in the last 14 games he’s finished, posting a 63-point average in those outings. That’s one of the highest rates in the league, and it’s likely to continue, with LA ranked second in pace and 28th in points allowed. In three meetings with the Lakers over the last two years, Giannis is averaging 43.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
GPP Targets
Damion Lee (SG/SF – PHX): $3,200 DraftKings, $3,900 FanDuel
This is risky, but we have to assume Lee will play 30-35 minutes. We say that because Phoenix just made the biggest move at the deadline and will be missing Johnson, Booker, Bridges, Shamet, and Payne. That means Lee is one of the only wings left, and he’s proven to be a great fantasy option in this sort of role. In the seven games Lee has played at least 30 minutes, he’s scored at least 22 DK points in all of them en route to a 28-point average. If you get that from a sub-$4K player, you have one of the best bargains on the board.
Patrick Beverley (PG – LAL): $3,700 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
With Westbrook being shipped to Utah or wherever he’s ending up, it looks like Beverley is locked into a 30-minute role as the starting point guard. He’s not being asked to do much in this role, but LeBron might also be out. That means Pat Bev could be in line for 30-35 minutes and double-digit shots, which is huge since most of his value comes through sheer hustle. This is one spot you can exploit Milwaukee, too, posting a 20th OPRK against opposing guards.
Value Plays
Wendell Carter (PF/C – ORL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
I don’t understand why Carter has remained so cheap all season. The big man is a lock for 30 fantasy points right now, scoring at least 26 DK points in 27 of his 32 starts this year. WCJ is also averaging 32 fantasy points per game in that role and deserves to be a $7K player on both sites. Denver is not a scary matchup either because Jokic is one of the worst defensive centers in the NBA. In their last two matchups, Carter is averaging 36 fantasy points per game.
Ayo Dosunmu (PG/SG – CHI): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
The Bulls’ backcourt has been obliterated by injuries with Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan all missing time, but it’s allowed Ayo to thrive in an expanded role. The second-year player is averaging 26 DK points per game across 34 minutes over his last four fixtures. That’s all you can hope for from such an affordable player, and it looks like Dosunmu is locked into a 30-minute role as long as Ball remains out.
Advantageous Pricing
- Ayo Dosunmu (PG/SG – CHI): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
- Patrick Beverley (PG – LAL): $3,700 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
- Cole Anthony (PG/SG – ORL): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG/SF – DEN): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
- Clint Capela (C – ATL): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
- Zach LaVine (SG – CHI): $8,600 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
- Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $3,800 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
- Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
