Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 20

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

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

January 20, 2023 4:50 PM

Luka is on MVP pace this season.

After that slow slate on Thursday, we’re back to normal here. We have eight games making up this Friday card, which is the perfect amount for DFS. That means we have plenty of players to pick from, and there are not too many to be overwhelmed with.

Injury Report

Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
Brandon Ingram (toe) OUT
Donovan Mitchell (groin) Questionable
Tim Hardaway Jr.(ankle) Questionable
Paul George (hamstring) Questionable
John Wall (abs) OUT
Devin Vassell (knee) OUT
Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT
Kevin Durant (foot) OUT
Kyrie Irving (calf) Questionable
Kelly Olynyk (ankle) OUT
Anthony Davis (foot) OUT
Austin Reaves (hamstring) OUT
Lonnie Walker (knee) OUT
Domantas Sabonis (illness) Questionable

Core Plays

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,400 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
Doncic is the premier core play on every slate. What makes him so valuable is his floor, scoring at least 43 DraftKings points in all but two games this year. That has him leading the NBA with 63 DK points per game, scoring at least 80 fantasy points on eight occasions. Facing Miami is worrisome, but matchups don’t really matter when it comes to a guy like Doncic.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $9,800 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Randle has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in 22 straight games, scoring at least 53 fantasy points in 12 of his last 15 games. Randle is also flirting with a 60-point average in that span and should thrive with Atlanta owning a 26th OPRK against opposing big men. In their last matchup, Julius dropped 69 fantasy points.

Darius Garland (PG/SG – CLE): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
If Donovan Mitchell is out again, Garland is the best per-dollar play on the board. The talented guard is averaging 48 DraftKings points per game in the six games Mitchell has missed this year, seeing a massive boost in usage, minutes, and shot attempts. He also had a career-high 71 DK points in one of those, and he should be a $10K player in this role. A matchup with the Warriors is wonderful, too, with Golden State allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
Jokic has scored at least 53 fantasy points in 17 of his last 20 games, generating a 62-point average in that span. That makes him a worthy play at any salary, and it makes him impossible to fade in this matchup with Indiana. The Pacers own a 24th OPRK against opposing centers this year while sitting 22nd in points allowed and 25th in defensive efficiency.

Kawhi Leonard (SF – SAS): $10,300 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
Leonard is finally back to his Kia MVP ways, having scored at least 37 fantasy points in 12 of his last 14 games, with one of those duds being that Denver game where he was rested in the second half. Leonard is averaging nearly 45 DK points per game in the other 13 outings, and he should go nuts against his former team. The Spurs sit dead last in points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Kyrie Irving (PG – BKN): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Irving should go off as long as Kevin Durant is out. So far this season, Irving has a 35% usage rate while averaging 1.5 DK points per minute during Durant’s absences. That’s scary when you consider his recent form, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in 18 straight games. Irving also has a 44-point average in that span, and we expect that to be his floor in this expanded role. Facing the Jazz should be music to Irving’s ears, with Utah ranked 23rd in points allowed and 26th in defensive efficiency.

GPP Targets

Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF/C – MEM): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
Jackson Jr. is one of the best per-minute producers in the NBA, averaging 36 DraftKings points per game across 26 minutes a night. That role can make him tough to trust, but this guy could be a $10K player if he got the 30-35 minutes he deserves. We’re expecting one of those upside games against the Lakers, with Los Angeles ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency and 27th in points allowed.

Caris LeVert (SG/SF – IND): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
With Mitchell likely missing this game, LeVert should be back to a playmaking role in the starting lineup. In his 21 starts this season, Caris has compiled a 31-point average across 35 minutes a night. That’s why this guy has been a $7K player at times throughout his career, and he’s tough to fade as long as Mitchell remains out. We already talked about how good of a matchup Golden State is, and he should be in for a big night in this expanded role against such a poor defense.

Michael Porter Jr. (SF/PF – DEN): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Porter below $6K as he was closer to $8K when he was rolling two seasons ago, showing flashes of that recently. The sharpshooter has scored at least 26 DK points in five of his last seven games, averaging 28 fantasy points per game for the year. We expect that to be his floor against Indiana, owning a 23rd OPRK against opposing forwards.

Value Plays

Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Lowry’s 30-point average is still impressive from a player in this price range. That’s a heck of a total for a guy barely cracking $5K, and it’s nice that he looks healthy for the first time all year. Dallas can be a daunting matchup, but Lowry averaged 35 fantasy points per game against them in their two meetings last season.

Andrew Nembhard (PG/SG – IND): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Nembhard has been playing 32 minutes a night over the last month and just dropped 39 fantasy points in his most recent outing. He also flashed a 60-point upside earlier in the season, and we have to assume this rookie will only get better from here on out. We also don’t mind that Denver’s defense allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Kenrich Williams (SF/PF – DEN): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
This is a bit risky, but Williams is too cheap right now. This versatile forward has always been great when given the opportunity, and he received a rare start in OKC’s most recent win. Kenrich collected 41 DK points across 22 minutes in that blowout, playing a distributor role in the post. We’ve seen this guy average 30 DK points per game in week-long stretches in the past, and we want to hop on the train before this guy gets too expensive. A matchup with Sacramento is sensational, too, with the Kings surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

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