Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Lineups For January 22nd

Dec 21, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts after being called for a foul on Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) in the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 100-84. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

There are only four games on tap for tonight, but there is still plenty of talent on display. There aren’t a whole bunch of high priced stars, but rather a whole bunch of mid-range options. You have to manage your money wisely tonight.

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Here are my FanDuel lineups for January 22nd:

Point Guards:

Bargains:

Marcus Smart, Celtics ($5,000): Smart does not have a great matchup against the Blazers, but Boston has been playing him at least 28 minutes a game over the last six games. In that span, he has averaged 23.2 fantasy points per game. He hung tough with the Clippers, Hawks, and Hornets, all of whom defend the perimeter well. I would expect him somewhere close to that average, even against the Blazers. That would make him worth the money. There is also a rumor floating around that Smart will start tonight. If he does, he is a great play.

Jarrett Jack, Nets ($6,800): Jack put up his third consecutive game of more than 30 fantasy points last night agianst the Kings. The chances of him doing it again tonight against the Clippers aren’t quite as good, but I still see him in the high 20’s. That is worth his cost if you can’t afford one of the higher priced options of the night.

Worth The Cost:

Damian Lillard, Trailblazers ($9,000): Lillard has four straight 30 fantasy point games. The highest priced option at the position tonight, Chris Paul, can’t even claim that. Lillard also has a more favorable matchup than Paul since he plays the Celtics and Paul gets the Nets. Lillard might be the highest scoring PG on the night.

Derrick Rose, Bulls ($7,200): Rose seems to finally be getting back on track after being derailed for the better part of two years. He is not going to score you 50 fantasy points a night anymore, but he should get you 30 or more. That is a reasonable output for his price.

Risky Play:

Trey Burke, Jazz ($6,000): Burke had a terrible night against the Cavs last night (1-10 from the field, 10.4 fantasy points) to follow up a sub-par showing against the Spurs. The fact that he is struggling against teamst that don’t defend particularly well is an ominous sign for Burke. His consistent streak appears to be over. Even though he has a good matchup against the Bucks tonight, he is hard to trust.

My Lineups:

A: Rose and Smart ($12,200)

B: Lillard and Jack ($15,800)

Next: Breaking News: SG Is Weak Again

Jan 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) heads down court after a three point basket in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Trailblazers won 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Shooting Guards:

Bargain:

Wesley Matthews, Trailblazers ($5,700): Matthews has upped his production since his clunker agianst the Spurs a week ago. He has averaged 31 fantasy points per game over his last three games. That makes him a solid play against the rebuilding Celtics. They are still decent on the inside, but their perimeter defense has been shaky. Matthews hangs out almost exclusively on the outside, so I see another 30 point game from him tonight.

Worth The Cost:

Jimmy Butler, Bulls ($8,600): If there is a position to spend at tonight, it almost has to be SG. I can name several other viable options at every other position besides this one. Butler is by far the cream of the crop here, even though his production has been down a little since Derrick Rose is creating for himself more than earlier in the season. Butler has averaged 31 fantasy points over his last nine games, so it’s not like Rose returning to his old form has destroyed Butler. It has made him a better real-life player, but a notch below where he was in fantasy.

Joe Johnson, Nets ($6,300): Johnson has picked back up to over 30 fantasy points in each of his last two games. If he can do that again tonight, he will be one of the better players at the SG position. With the Nets playing better as a whole with Jarrett Jack running the show, I can see him at least getting close to 30 fantasy points tonight. Anything over 25 should be a win for his price though.

Risky Plays:

Evan Turner, Celtics ($6,000): The only reason Turner is a risk is because of the Celtics reportedly “shaking up the lineup” tonight. The only thing that is even remotely certain about that is Marcus Smart moving into the starting lineup. What will that mean for Turner’s minutes? Likely a reduction because he has been seeing a lot of minutes at the point. At any rate, I’m not sure that I trust any Celtic besides Smart and maybe Jared Sullinger, but more on that later.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks ($6,000): Giannis has seen his minutes creep back up into the 30’s, and has seen his production creep back up to 24 fantasy points. That is not bad, but the constant rotation of the Bucks’ players limits everyone’s fantasy value.

My Lineups:

A: Matthews and Turner ($11,700)

B: Butler and Johnson ($14,900)

Next: There Are More Options At SF Than Usual

Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Dorell Wright (1) reacts after falling to the court in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forwards:

Bargains:

Bojan Bogdanovic, Nets ($3,800): His numbers have been slightly down against the Kings and Wizards, but that is to be expected. At any rate, he won’t get you much over 25 fantasy points even in his best day, but he is cheap and starting. If you have to gamble, gambling on a starter is slightly safer.

Dorell Wright, Trailblazers ($3,500): It was Wright, not Thomas Robinson or Meyers Leonard, that got the start in place of LaMarcus Aldridge last night. He performed well enough that he should get at least one more start in Aldridge’s absence tonight. He racked up 28.1 fantasy points in last night’s start. While that was against the Suns, he should still be able to get to 25 against the Celtics.

Worth The Cost:

Kawhi Leonard, Spurs ($8,100): Leonard had a really good game against Denver on Tuesday, but I would not expect that kind of production on a nightly basis. At least not yet. Leonard should be good for his average (32.5), even if he is only plaing 30 minutes a game.

Gordon Hayward, Jazz ($7,400): Hayward has a great matchup against the Bucks tonight. That is why I can recommend him even though he has scored 25 fantasy points or under in four of his last five games. His only good game in that stretch was against the Lakers. The Bucks aren’t quite at the level of the Lakers just yet, but I would expect Hayward to be above 30 fantasy points.

Risky Plays:

Milwaukee Bucks: Anyone playing SF for the Bucks (Antetokounmpo, Jared Dudley, Khris Middleton, Ersan Ilyasova) is a big risk right now. Antetokounmpo and Ilyasova both play primarily at other positions, but they can still man SF depending on what kind of mood Jason Kidd is in. That leaves Middleton and Dudley as huge risks. Both of them have seen their production slip over the last week or so. If nothing else, it fluctuates wildly. Stay away from this unless you are feeling really frisky tonight.

My Lineups:

A: Leonard and Hayward ($15,500)

B: Wright and Nicolas Batum ($8,800): Batum had a huge game last night. I am gambling on him duplicating that feat against the Celtics tonight.

Next: Who Is Worth The Risk At PF?

Jan 19, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) reacts in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Power Forwards:

Bargains:

Ersan Ilyasova, Bucks ($4,500): Ilyasova has been practicing with the first team all week, which gives the indication that he will start against Utah tonight. We all know what Ilyasova can do when given the minutes. At any rate, he should provide great production for his cost so long as he eclipses 20 minutes in this game. Which he should since he is starting.

Taj Gibson, Bulls ($5,500): Gibson has put up very good numbers in the absence of Joakim Noah. Expect that trend to continue. He has played at least 38 minutes in three straight games, so he should give you at least 25 fantasy points, making him a great bargain on a light night.

Worth The Cost:

Blake Griffin, Clippers ($10,000): Griffin has been on a tear lately, averaging 47 fantasy points per game in his last three contests. He has not been under 30 fantasy points since January 3rd. Griffin is the safest high-priced option of the night if you can afford him.

Jared Sullinger, Celtics ($6,600): Sullinger has not been under 25 fantasy points since January 6th, and his minutes have staed in the 28-33 range for the most part. It seems as though the Celtics are letting him on the court enough to produce. I also love his matchup against the Blazers without Aldridge. Sullinger could be in for a very good game tonight.

Risky Plays:

Trevor Booker, Jazz ($3,600): Derrick Favors is out tonight. That means that Booker will either start or receive increased minutes tonight. that should make him a great sneaky play, just be aware that Rudy Gobert will likely be the biggest beneficiary.

Thomas Robinson, Trailblazers ($3,500): Robinson saw increased minutes for the second straight game yesterday, but didn’t really do much with the opportunity. Still, the Blazers might elect to go with a bigger lineups against the Celtics which could give Robinson increased chances to produce. The key word in that sequence is “might.”

My Lineups:

A: Gibson and Sullinger ($12,100)

B: Sullinger and Pau Gasol ($15,700): Gasol has done well with Noah out of the lineup as well.

Next: So Many Options At C

Jan 21, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter (0) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov (20) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Center:

Bargain:

Enes Kanter, Jazz ($5,100): Kanter had a monster game last night against Cleveland. Tonight he gets the undersized Bucks and likely will play as many minutes as he can handle with Favors out. There is a good chance that Kanter tops the 40 fantasy point threshold again tonight. No, I’m not kidding.

Worth The Cost:

DeAndre Jordan, Clippers ($8,400): Jordan has averaged 39.5 fantasy points per game since his disaster against the Heat on January 11th. He has a solid matchup tonight against the Nets. Still, there are plenty of cheaper options that could outscore him tonight. Jordan is just less of a gamble, but is he worth all that extra money?

Rudy Gobert, Jazz ($6,800): Even though Kanter had a huge game last night, Gobert still managed to produce good numbers. With Favors out, there is a strong possibility that Gobert starts alongside Kanter. That could lead to one of the better nights of his young career.

Risky Play:

Meyers Leonard, Trailblazers ($3,900): Leonard fared better than T-Rob last night, so he could see an increase in minutes. Truth be told, no one really knows how the Portland situation will play out other than Wright and Chris Kaman will start and Kaman won’t play more than 25 minutes. Everything after that is a crapshoot.

My Lineups:

A: Jordan ($8,400)

B: Chris Kaman ($4,600)

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