Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 19

FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

January 19, 2023 4:30 PM

Pascal Siakam has been hitting his stride of late.

There are a ton of superstars on tonight’s four-game slate, so let’s start there with our cash game options!

Injury Report

Jaylen Brown (adductor) OUT
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
Rudy Gobert (groin) Questionable
Kevin Durant (foot) OUT
Devin Booker (groin) OUT
Chris Paul (hip) Questionable
Cameron Payne (foot) OUT
Cameron Johnson (knee) Questionable
Justise Winslow (ankle) OUT
Gary Payton II (ankle) Questionable
Anthony Edwards (hip) Questionable
Landry Shamet (foot) OUT

Core Plays

Joel Embiid (PF/C – PHI): $11,000 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Embiid has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in every game this season, scoring at least 56 fantasy points in 19 of his last 25 games. That’s a ridiculous run, with Embiid averaging over 60 DK points per game in that 25-game stretch. We don’t expect Portland to slow him down, posting a 24th OPRK against opposing centers.

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $10,800 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
Tatum has scored at least 43 DraftKings points in 16 of his last 17 games, generating a 53-point average in that span. The injury of Jaylen Brown is his biggest asset, seeing a massive boost in usage and shot attempts in his absence. Facing Golden State is a grand matchup, too, ranked 25th in points allowed while allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Cash Game Considerations

Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
Siakam has scored at least 33 DK points in all but one game this year, averaging over 48 fantasy points per game. That makes him a worthy play below $10,000 mainly because he faces a Minnesota team that ranks fourth in pace and 20th in points allowed. In their most recent matchup, Siakam posted a triple-double if you needed any more incentive to use him.

Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
This sharpshooter has scored at least 55 DraftKings points in five of his last six games, flirting with a 60-point average in that span. He’s doing everything possible to get Portland out of this slump, and you know he’ll be motivated against a star-studded Philly team. In their most recent meeting, Lillard dropped 39 points and seven assists.

Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – BKN): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Irving missed the last game because of a leg issue, but he’s expected to return here. With Kevin Durant out due to injury, Kyrie has a 36% usage rate while averaging 1.5 DK points per minute. He’s also scored at least 36 fantasy points in 17 straight outings, and 50 could be his floor in this expanded role. Phoenix is usually a concerning matchup, but this has been one of the worst defenses since they lost half of their roster due to injury.

GPP Targets

Robert Williams (PF/C – BOS): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
The big man has been an elite per-minute producer since he was drafted, and he’s finally getting a full allotment of minutes. The big man has played at least 27 minutes in three straight games, and he can be an $8K player in a 30-minute role. Facing an undersized Warriors team makes him even more enticing, averaging 26 DK points per game in their two matchups last year.

Naz Reid (PF/C – MIN): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
In his five starts this season, Reid is averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. That’s no surprise since Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert are both out, leaving Reid as the only big man left. Toronto is a tough matchup, but Minnesota has to give Reid 30 minutes with their two starting centers injured.

Value Plays

OG Anunoby (SG/SF – TOR): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
This defensive stud ranks third in the NBA with 37 minutes a night, leading to his stellar 34-point average. This kid is just scratching the surface of what he could become, and we believe he’ll be an $8K player by the end of the season. A matchup with Minnesota is the best part of this, playing at the blistering pace mentioned above while owning a 24th OPRK against opposing wings.

Marcus Smart (PG/SG – BOS): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
With Brown out for the next week, Smart should take on more ball handling in his absence. That’s huge since this guy was already playing 30-35 minutes a night, averaging 36 DraftKings points per game across his last three outings. That’s ironic because he had 36 fantasy points in his one matchup with the Warriors earlier this season. That’s far from shocking since Golden State allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Damion Lee (SG/SF – PHX): $4,600 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
Lee has carved out a nice role off the bench and is playing nearly 30 minutes a night over his last four games, averaging 30 DK points per game in that span. That’s all you can ask for from a sub-$5K player, and he should continue to have a massive role with Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne still all nicked up.

Advantageous Pricing