NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan 11

The Wednesday card was quite unpredictable, but it leaves us with a shorter list to deal with. We only have five games scheduled for Thursday, with four of them constituting the main card. This however makes our tasks a bit simpler, so let’s delve into the lineup!

Core Plays

Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel

Davis has racked up a minimum of 44 DraftKings points in 17 consecutive games, with more than half of those games seeing him accumulate at least 60 fantasy points. This is one of the top records in the NBA, with an average of 55 DraftKings points per game. It’s also not a concern that Phoenix ranks 23rd in OPRK against rival centers, as Davis has averaged 52 DraftKings points per game in their three encounters.

Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – DAL): $9,000 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel

Irving has already been great with Luka Doncic, but it’s scary to think what his usage will look like without the superstar. We anticipate Irving looking at 40 minutes, 25 shots, and a 40 percent usage rate. We’ve seen Irving showcase 70-point gems with that type of role in the past, and you know he’ll be hungry against a big-market team like the Knicks. He’s got at least 51 fantasy points in three consecutive meetings with NY!

Cash Game Considerations

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel

In 18 of his past 21 games, The Greek Freak has managed to score a minimum of 57 DraftKings points, resulting in an average of 63 points during that period. This is the reason he is the most expensive player on this slate and the top choice for cash games. Despite the challenge posed by the Celtics, Giannis should be driven in this potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,400 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel

SGA has managed to accumulate no less than 54 DraftKings points in 10 out of his last 11 games, averaging close to 60 DK points each game during this period. This is a daunting prospect for the underperforming Portland team, which is currently ranked 21st in overall defense. In their solitary encounter, OKC trounced Portland, with SGA contributing 39 DK points, even though he was on the court for a mere 23 minutes. Just think about the potential score if he were to play for 35-40 minutes!

GPP Targets

Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel

Lopez’s consistency may have been erratic, but he possesses an enormous potential. This defensive powerhouse averaged close to 40 fantasy points per game between November and December, repeatedly demonstrating a 50-point maximum. This is exactly what you’d expect from a GPP player in his price bracket, particularly since Lopez has scored at least 30 DK points in six of his most recent 11 games. He also laid a beating on Boston earlier in the year, scoring a hefty 43 fantasy points!

Dwight Powell (C – DAL): $4,200 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel

Powell is far from an exciting option, but it’s tough to fade a $4K player who might play 30 minutes. The injuries have destroyed this Dallas team, but Powell has started the last three games for Dereck Lively. When this guy plays 25-30 minutes a night, Powell averages 25-30 fantasy points per game. That would be a godsend from such an affordable player, and he’ll have to play big minutes to oppose Isaiah Hartenstein.

Value Plays

Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel

There’s no better feeling than transitioning from one article to the next, especially when we’re writing about Hartenstein as the adversary. Ever since he took over as the starting center, he has been unstoppable, scoring a minimum of 34 DraftKings points in five consecutive matches. He’s consistently on the court for 35-40 minutes a night and should not be overlooked when facing a Dallas defense ranked 23rd.

Scoot Henderson (PG/SG – POR): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel

We have been waiting for this rookie to get going, and it looks like it’s finally happening. They’ve decided to start him over Malcolm Brogdon over the last three weeks, scoring at least 34 DraftKings points in five of his last eight games. All we need is 30-35 minutes for this Top 3 pick to be an elite DFS option, and that should be a normal thing since Portland is officially in rebuild mode. Not to mention, OKC owns a 22nd OPRK against opposing guards.

OG Anunoby (SG/SF – NYK): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel

The Knicks made a bold move when they traded two significant players for Anunoby, but it appears to have paid off handsomely. Since joining the team, Anunoby has the highest plus-minus in the NBA and has scored a minimum of 27 DraftKings points in six of his last nine games. While he hasn’t had many huge performances during this period, 30 fantasy points is an excellent return for a $6K player. We’re excited about his upcoming game against Dallas, given that he scored nearly 40 fantasy points against them earlier in the season.

Advantageous Pricing

• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
• Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – DAL): $9,000 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
• Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG/SF – DAL): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel