FanDuel Daily Picks: Fantasy Basketball Lineup, January 24
Point Guard Picks
High Salary: Without LaMarcus Aldrige, the Blazers are relying even more heaviliy on Damian Lillard. Lillard continues to turn in solid numbers despite the teams back-to-back losses and will try and keep his short-handed team close to John Wall and the Wizards tonight. Lillard is a on run of five straight games scoring at least 20 points and passing out at least five assists. His rebounding and steals numbers are also pretty solid, and he’s been over 30 FanDuel points in each of those five games. Lillard will have to carry the weight again tonight, so I expect him to have a solid, high-usage game.
High Salary: John Wall and the Wizards played an overtime game against Russell Westbrook and the Thunder two nights ago and now travel west to face Damian Lillard. Wall has held his own lately, though, with back-to-back double-doubles and at least 25 FanDuel points in each of his last ten games. Wall will have more help around him than Lillard tonight and is a safer pick although his ceiling isn’t quite as high as Lillard’s since he won’t be asked to do as much scoring as the Portland point guard. His assists should make up for the difference, though, making him a pretty solid play at his 8.800 salary.
Bonus Blend of Salary/Value: The Bucks have allowed the fewest FanDuel points in the league to opposing point guards this season and have been even stingier as of late. So in the matchup of the traded Brandons, I would take Brandon Knight as he faces his former team the Pistons over Brandon Jennings as he takes on his former team the Bucks. Knight is coming off a run of five games with at least 16 points and five assists in each game. He has posted a total of at least 29 FanDuel points in each of those contests, and he is actually cheaper and averaging more than Jennings. Jennings is coming off a monster game, but he was struggling before that. I like Knight tonight as a solid 7,500 mid-rage value.
High Value: The Knicks have turned their starting point guard spot over to Langston Galloway, and he’s in line for even more minutes and responsibility in the Knicks offense after last night’s injury to Jose Calderon. Galloway had already played over 30 minutes in three straight with at least 29 FanDuel points in each start. In each of those three games, Galloway has scored double-digit points to go with at least five rebounds and at least three assists. It will be interesting to see how he fills in as more of a true point guard with Calderon out, but he’s too incredible of a value to pass on with him extremely affordable 4,600 salary.
High Value: Another rookie with value is Jazz PG Dante Exum. The Aussie started in place of Trey Burke in Utah’s last game and played 35 minutes in the Jazz loss but finished with a solid 15 points and five assists. The Jazz seem to be committed to getting him minutes and opportunity which makes him a steal at just 3,600 although his ceiling is lower than Galloway’s at this point.
Next: Shooting Guard Picks