NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan 11
Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee has racked up a minimum of 57 DraftKings fantasy points in 18 out of his most recent 21 games.
The Wednesday card was quite intense, leading to a shorter lineup for us. Thursday presents only five games, four of which comprise the main card. This somewhat simplifies our tasks, so let’s delve into the lineup!
Core Plays
Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,300 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
Davis has managed to score a minimum of 44 DraftKings points in 17 consecutive games, and has achieved over 60 fantasy points in more than half of these games. This is one of the top totals in the NBA, with an average of 55 DraftKings points per game. It’s also noteworthy that Phoenix ranks 23rd in OPRK against rival centers, and 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 out of his last 21 games, The Greek Freak has accumulated a minimum of 57 DraftKings points, averaging 63 points during that period. This is the reason why he is the most expensive player on this slate and the most viable option for cash games. Although the matchup against the Celtics might be a cause for concern, Giannis should be eager to prove himself in what may be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,400 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
In 10 of his last 11 games, SGA has notched a minimum of 54 DraftKings points, averaging almost 60 DK points per game during this period. This spells disaster for the struggling Portland team, which is languishing at the 21st position in overall defense. Although OKC trounced Portland in their single encounter, SGA managed to accumulate 39 DK points, even though he was on the court for a mere 23 minutes. One can only imagine his potential over a span of 35-40 minutes!
GPP Targets
Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Lopez has fluctuated in terms of consistency, yet his potential is immense. This defensive powerhouse averaged close to 40 fantasy points per game between November and December, exhibiting a 50-point peak on multiple occasions. This is exactly what one would want from a GPP player in this price bracket, especially considering that Lopez has managed a minimum of 30 DK points in six of his previous 11 games. He also had a significant impact against Boston earlier in the year, racking up 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
Flowing seamlessly from one write-up to the next feels incredible, especially when we’re discussing Hartenstein as the opposition. Since taking on the role of the starting center, he has been phenomenal, scoring no less than 34 DraftKings points in five consecutive matches. He’s consistently on the court for 35-40 minutes each night and should not be overlooked when playing against Dallas’s defense, which ranks 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 important players for Anunoby, but it seems to have paid off. Since joining New York, he has the highest plus-minus in the NBA and has scored a minimum of 27 DraftKings points in six of his previous nine games. While he hasn’t had a lot of huge games during this period, delivering 30 fantasy points is quite impressive for a $6K player. The upcoming game with Dallas is promising as he scored almost 40 fantasy points against them earlier this 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
