NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 31

I’m thrilled to dissect things because, on this Tuesday card, we indeed possess one of the shortest injury reports of the season!

Injury Report

• Anthony Davis (B2B) Questionable
• LeBron James (B2B) Questionable
• Mitchell Robinson (hand) OUT
• John Wall (abs) OUT
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Kelly Oubre Jr.(hand) OUT
• Bobby Portis (knee) OUT
• Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
• Kawhi Leonard (knee) Questionable
• Paul George (knee) Questionable

Core Plays

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $11,600 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
James has at least 58 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 13 games, averaging 35.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game in that span. A highlight game in Madison Square Garden should have King James as motivated as ever, scoring 66 DK points in his last matchup with the Knicks.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $10,100 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
LeBron isn’t the only one who will be motivated here because Randle gets a matchup with his former team. We love that with the way this big man is playing, scoring at least 53 DraftKings points in 17 of his last 20 games. He’s also flirting with a 60-point average in that span, and we obviously don’t mind that Los Angeles ranks 27th in total defense. Not to mention, Randle averaged 26 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists in their two matchups last year.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
McCollum doesn’t have a high ceiling with Brandon Ingram back, but this is still one of the primary ball handlers for one of the most dangerous offenses in the NBA. That’s led to CJ compiling a 39-point average for the year, totaling 43 and 52 DK points in his two most recent outings. His biggest asset here is a matchup against Denver, who owns a 25th OPRK against opposing point guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,800 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
Jokic is averaging 25.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 9.9 assists en route to 58 DK points per game. He’s also scored at least 59 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games and rarely scores below 50 DK points. That’s just what you want from a cash game player, and it looks even better since Joker is posting a 66-point average against the Pelicans this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
Antetokounmpo is averaging 58 DraftKings points per game and has at least 71 DK points in back-to-back outings, which is no surprise since he has at least 40 fantasy points in all but two games this year. Those totals should be easy to reach against the Hornets, with Charlotte sitting 27th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.

GPP Targets

PJ Washington (PF/C – CHA): $6,800 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
It’s been slow for PJ at times this season, but this youngster is starting to turn it on. The versatile big man has a scary floor, but he also has at least 42 fantasy points in three of his last six games. We’ve seen upside games like that all year, with Washington scoring at least 37 fantasy points 15 times this year. One of those ceiling games could be in play against Milwaukee, with PJ providing 35 DK points in their most recent matchup.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
The minutes can be frustrating for JV, but that’s why he’s in the GPP section. In any case, Valanciunas is flirting with a 40-point average when he plays 25 minutes a night. He’s also got his season average up to 31 DK points per game and remains a bit too cheap with Zion Williamson still sidelined. It scares us that he only played 18 minutes in his last matchup with Denver, but he showed his per-minute prowess by providing 27 DK points in that limited playing time.

Michael Porter Jr. (SF/PF – DEN): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Porter is one of the most volatile players in the NBA, but this sharpshooter is too good to be sitting below $6,000. MPJ was an $8K player before his injury and is still averaging over 28 fantasy points per game. That alone is a good total from a sub-$6K player, especially since he has at least 30 DraftKings points in three of his last four outings. New Orleans is a concerning matchup, but all the good defenders should be zoned in on Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Value Plays

Jericho Sims (C – NYK): $4,600 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
The Knicks don’t play without a traditional center, making Sims a fantasy-relevant option out of nowhere. The Mitchell Robinson injury is what’s allowed Sims to step into the starting lineup, playing 30 minutes a night over his last five fixtures. That workload is impossible to overlook with his rebounding rate, particularly in this price range. Facing the Lakers is brilliant, too, with LA allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Bro-Lo has quietly had a resurgent season in Milwaukee. The big man is one of the frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 31 DraftKings points per game. That’s all you can ask for from a $6K player, especially since he has the best matchup in fantasy. The Hornets are allowing historic numbers to opposing centers this season, with Bro-Lo dropping 38 DK points in a matchup earlier in the year.

Advantageous Pricing

• LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $11,600 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
• Russell Westbrook (PG – LAL): $8,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
• Zach LaVine (SG/SF – CHI): $8,100 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $4,000 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
• LaMelo Ball (PG – CHA): $9,500 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
• Khris Middleton (SF – MIL): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel

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