Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan 30

FantasyPros breaks down the top DraftKings and FanDuel daily fantasy players for the NBA's 5-game slate on Tuesday.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

January 30, 2024 8:45 PM

New York’s Jalen Brunson has scored at least 50 DraftKings fantasy points in 4 of his last 6 games.

Core plays

Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $9,200 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel

Tatum doesn’t get enough credit for being a true superstar, but he is. The All-Star has scored at least 30 DraftKings points in all but one game this year en route to a 48-point average. That’s tough to overlook against a team like Indiana, with the Pacers playing at the fastest pace in the NBA. They also rank 26th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed, with JT averaging 61 DK points per game in their three matchups this year.

Trae Young (PG – ATL): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel

Trae is one of the best passers in the NBA, averaging 51 DraftKings points per game as the Hawks’s primary playmaker. He’s also got 54 and 55 DK points in his two most recent outings and could be in line for another one if Murray is out again. A showcase game with LA should keep the hot stretch chugging, dropping 56 DK points in their most recent matchup. Not to mention, the Lakers own a 24th OPRK against opposing point guards.

Cash game considerations

Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel

Brunson is one of the hottest players in the NBA and he’s impossible to fade with Randle sidelined. That makes his sky-high usage even higher, which is impressive since he’s got a 49-point average across his last 23 games. He’s also scored at least 50 fantasy points in four of his last six fixtures, which will likely be his floor with Randle sidelined. Utah is an unbelievable matchup, too, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Scottie Barnes (SF/PF – TOR): $8,800 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel

We weren’t sure who Toronto’s point guard would be in the absence of Immanuel Quickley, but it’s been Barnes. The third-year player is already amid a breakout year before receiving this expanded role, averaging over 45 DraftKings points per game. The matchup with Chicago is sensational, too, with Barnes posting a 53-point average in their three meetings this year.

GPP targets

D’Angelo Russell (PG/SG – LAL): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel

It’s funny how a benching can change a player’s season. Russell was relegated to the bench four weeks ago, but he’s been unstoppable since his reinsertion into the starting lineup. D-Lo has scored at least 30 DraftKings points in 10 consecutive outings, posting a 42-point average in that span. It looks even better since LA is playing a B2B and could rest some starters here. All of that makes him an incredible option against Atlanta, allowing the second-most points in the NBA.

Josh Hart (SF/PF – NYK): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel

Hart will be in this section until he’s $7K on both sites. The stat-stuffing forward was held to 25-30 minutes a game off the bench, but he’s locked into 35-40 minutes as a starter since Randle is out. That had him flirting with a triple-double on Monday, and he will be doing that regularly in this expanded role. He averaged over 30 DK points per game when he played over 30 minutes last year! We don’t mind the matchup either, with Utah ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency and 23rd in points allowed.

Value plays

Isaiah Hartenstein (C – NYK): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel

Hartenstein has been horrid the last two games, but we’re not worried about that. The big man took over the starting center job in the absence of Mitchell Robinson and could do even more now that Randle is out as well. Before those two stinkers, Hartenstein had at least 33 DK points in nine of his previous 10 games, posting a 41-point average in that span. We already talked about how bad Utah’s defense has been, and Hartenstein will feast as long as he plays the 30 minutes we’ve become accustomed to.

Dennis Schroder (PG – TOR): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel

While Barnes is the primary point guard in the absence of IQ, Schroder is the starting point guard. This veteran averaged over 30 DK points per game in that role earlier in the season and should resume his 35-minute role as the primary ball-handler. That makes him an immense value in this $6K price range, and we’re not scared of a matchup with Chicago.

Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel

Caruso has been a fantastic fill-in for Zach LaVine. The elite defender is averaging nearly 30 DraftKings points per game as a starter this year and is playing over 30 minutes a night in this newfound role. He’s also scored at least 26 fantasy points in six of his last seven outings and should never be this cheap if he’s locked into a role like this. Facing Toronto makes him more enticing, with AC scoring 28 and 40 DK points in two matchups this year.

Advantageous pricing