NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 24
Bradley Beal is back in action after missing time with an injury.
Injury Report
- Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
- Nikola Jokic (hamstring) Questionable
- Anthony Davis (foot) OUT
- LaMelo Ball (ankle) Questionable
- Devin Booker (groin) OUT
- Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT
- Christian Wood (thumb) OUT
- Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) OUT
- Kelly Oubre Jr.(hand) OUT
- Deandre Ayton (illness) Questionable
- Marcus Smart (ankle) Questionable
- Malcolm Brogdon (personal) Questionable
- Robert Williams (knee) Questionable
- Mitchell Robinson (hand) OUT
- Michael Porter Jr.(personal) Questionable
- Brandon Ingram (toe) Doubtful
Core Plays
Chris Paul (PG – PHX): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
This Phoenix team has been struggling without Chris Paul, but he showed his value on Sunday. The Point God made his long-awaited return, collecting 22 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals. Lines like that have become standard for this guy throughout his career, and he’ll have to keep doing that with Devin Booker, Cameron Payne, Deandre Ayton, and Landry Shamet all still out. Charlotte is a sensational matchup, too, with the Hornets ranked 27th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.
Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Beal has struggled at times this season, but he shouldn’t be this cheap. This guy is usually closer to $9,000 on both sites, and he’ll have to play at that level with Kristaps Porzingis injured and Rui Hachimura traded. The sharpshooter is averaging over 37 fantasy points per game for the season and should see a massive bump in shot attempts and usage with KP sidelined. BB has destroyed Dallas over recent years, scoring at least 45 DraftKings points in their last five matchups.
Cash Game Considerations
Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,600 DraftKings, $11,900 FanDuel
Doncic is the safest cash game play on every slate. The Slovenian leads all players with 63 DK points per game, establishing a 45-point floor. That’s no surprise since he’s flirting with a league-leading 40 percent usage rate, scoring at least 80 fantasy points eight times this year. Facing Washington’s 17th-ranked defense is far from problematic, especially since Luka needs to do even more with Wood out as well.
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
Jokic and Doncic are on different levels right now. These two are frontrunners for MVP, with Joker looking for this third consecutive MVP. That’s hard to believe, but it’s far from shocking when you see his 59-point average. He’s also scored at least 51 fantasy points in 27 of his last 28 games, generating a 61-point average in that span. Matchups don’t really matter with a guy like this, but we obviously don’t mind that he provided 72 DK points in his last matchup with New Orleans.
CJ McCollum (PG/SG – POR): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
McCollum is coming off his worst game of the year, but it doesn’t really matter in this expanded role. CJ is being asked to do everything with Zion and BI both sidelined, averaging 41 fantasy points per game across his previous nine outings before that stinker on Sunday. As someone who lives in Denver, I can tell you that McCollum always mauls the Nuggets. That’s scary since the Nuggets allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.
GPP Targets
Cameron Johnson (SF/PF – PHX): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
The Suns have been extremely shorthanded over recent weeks, but they’re excited to get CJ back. The sharpshooter scored 36 fantasy points in his first game back and had a 37-point average in his three games before getting injured. It’s clear this kid has taken a step in his game, and this pricing is not indicative of that jump. Facing Charlotte is stellar, too, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards.
Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
This DraftKings price is laughable. Now that KP is injured and Rui has been sent to L.A., Gafford should be in line for 30 minutes as the starting center. His diminished role has been the only thing holding him back, with Gaff scoring at least 26 fantasy points in the 10 games he’s played at least 24 minutes. That seems like a lock in this circumstance, giving Gafford one of the highest upsides on this slate.
Bismack Biyombo (C – CHA): $3,600 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
The last two games tell you everything you need to know about Biz. Biyombo had 41 DraftKings points in a masterpiece over the weekend but followed it up with 9.3 DK points in his most recent outing. That’s exactly what you expect from a GPP player, and he’d be a great option if Ayton is out again. We already talked about how shorthanded the Suns are, and it looks even better with Charlotte surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing centers.
Value Plays
Dennis Smith Jr.(PG/SG – CHA): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
DSJ was a Top-10 pick for a reason, and he’s always looked good when given the opportunity. In a starting role earlier in the year, Smith averaged 33 DK points per game across 33 minutes a night. His stat-stuffing ability allows him to do that, and as long as Ball is out, DSJ should be locked in for 25-30 minutes as one of the primary ball handlers. We’ve mentioned a few Phoenix players, and this would be the perfect player to run it back with if you want to do a full-on game stack.
Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Avdija has been a sneaky player off the bench, and he should be in for an expanded role with the Hachimura move. That’s awesome because Porzingis is also out as well, guaranteeing Avdija a 30-minute role as one of the only forwards left. If you look at the 19 games that Avdija has played at least 28 minutes, he’s averaging over 32 fantasy points per game. That’s ridiculous from a player in this price range, and that could be his floor with Dallas owning a 27th OPRK against opposing forwards.
Jericho Sims (C – NYK): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Tom Thibodeau won’t play without a traditional center, and it looks like Sims will fill that role now that Robinson is out for the next few weeks. The big man has scored 25 fantasy points in back-to-back games since earning this role, and he’ll always be a double-double threat in this newfound position. Facing Cleveland can be concerning, but we like it because Sims is going to have to play 30 minutes to oppose Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. As long as he does that, Sims should be $2,000 more on DraftKings!
Advantageous Pricing
- Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
- Bismack Biyombo (C – CHA): $3,600 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
- Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
- Jericho Sims (C – NYK): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
- Zach LaVine (SG/SF – CHI): $9,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
- Myles Turner (C – IND): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
- Isaiah Jackson (PF/C – IND): $3,300 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
- Jimmy Butler (SG/SF – MIA): $7,600 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
- Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
- Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
- Jamal Murray (PG – DEN): $7,000 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
- Mason Plumlee (C – CHA): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
- Thomas Bryant (C – LAL): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,800 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.
