Here are the FanDuel NBA picks for January 23rd!
It is a lighter night in the NBA with only seven evening games going on. There are still plenty of high priced options to build a winning team. Who are the best options? Let’s take a look at how injuries and price can affect your lineups!
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To finish in the money, you need to choose the best high priced players, and the best cheap options to let you afford some high priced players. I will give you some of each option at each position and let you choose from there.
Here are my FanDuel NBA Picks for January 23rd:
Next: There Are Bargains At PG
Point Guards:
Best Bets:
Damian Lillard, Trailblazers ($8,700): Lillard has not had over 33 FanDuel points since January 15th. This is a bit concerning for a guy that averages near 40 on the season. That said, he has a tasty matchup against the Lakers tonight, and is a good bet to get it back on track tonight.
Rajon Rondo, Kings ($8,200): Predictably, Rondo has slowed down from his scorching start to the season, but that doesn’t mean that he is done producing entirely. Rondo is averaging 37.6 FanDuel points per game over his last nine contests, which is even slightly above his season average. If you don’t fully trust Lillard, Rondo is a suitable plan B.
Honorable Mention:
Tyreke Evans, Pelicans ($7,300): Evans went over 40 FanDuel points for the first time since January 10th, so it seems as though his aching knee is finally better. That may stunt Holliday’s value. It did on Thursday night when Holliday was under 20 FanDuel points for the first time in 2016.
Mike Conley, Grizzlies ($6,600): Conley has played 27 minutes in each of his two games back since missing six games with a sore Achilles. He responded with a total of 60 FanDuel points over those two games. He is not an elite option, but he is a solid 4.5x value. Expect him right around 30 points once again.
If You’re Cheap:
Derrick Rose, Bulls ($6,100): Don’t look now, but Rose has scored 20 or more in three straight games, racking up 93.3 FanDuel points in that time. While he still isn’t anywhere near the player he was before all of the injuries, he is producing at a high level for his price right now. Ride him until he cools off!
Emmanuel Mudiay, Nuggets ($5,100): Mudiay has quietly put up 23 or more FanDuel points in five of his last six games since missing nearly a month with an ankle injury. Jameer Nelson is likely going to be out tonight, giving Mudiay even more upside. This output is good enough for close to 4.5x value, making him a very low-risk punt play.
My picks: Rose and Mudiay
Next: Is There A Cheap Option At SG?
Shooting Guards:
Best Bet:
Jimmy Butler, Bulls ($8,900): Butler had put up pedestrian numbers since his 76 FanDuel point outburst against Philadelphia back on January 14th….until last night. Butler was back in the high 40’s against Boston. With Cleveland on tap, this could be another good game for Butler. The Cavs don’t defend the perimeter particularly well with J.R. Smith in the game.
Monta Ellis, Pacers ($6,300): Ellis should continue to see plenty of minutes with George Hill out. He is mostly a scorer, so he poses a bit of a risk if his shot isn’t falling. Then again, Ellis has posted five or more assists in all but two games since the calendar rolled to 2016. Ellis is averaging nearly 30 FanDuel points per game in that span, which is well above his season average of 26.3 and puts him comfortably at 4.5x value.
Honorable Mention:
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Pistons ($6,000): KCP has enjoyed more than 26 FanDuel points in five of his last six games. He is hot right now, and is facing a Denver team that more resembles a D-League team lately. Look for Pope to light it up once again!
J.R. Smith, Cavaliers ($4,700): The Bulls aren’t a prolific perimeter team, and if the Cavs want to keep up with the Bulls, they need Smith on the floor more than defensive specialist Iman Shumpert. Smith is a risk because he is exclusively a scorer, but against a team that isn’t strong on the perimeter, he is likely worth the risk.
If You’re Cheap:
Gary Harris, Nuggets ($4,400): The emergence of Harris is directly responsible for me not recommending Will Barton. Harris has matched or outdone Barton in each of the last seven games, and is doing if for $2,300 less. The timeshare limits the value of both players, but Harris has made more of his opportunities lately, and is by far the lower risk of the two.
Devin Booker, Suns ($4,500): Booker has been getting between 25 and 40 minutes per game since Bledsoe went down, but he is mostly dependent on his shooting to be successful. Booker doesn’t offer much else, so if he goes cold, he won’t get you anywhere near what you need from him. Then again, he has topped 30 FanDuel in back to back games, one of those against the tough Spurs, so he is a nice lottery ticket.
My picks: Caldwell-Pope and Booker
Next: Should You Play LeBron?
Small Forwards:
Best Bets:
LeBron James, Cavaliers ($9,600): The King has put up the princely totals of just 25.7, 30.5, 37.9, and 33.9 over his last four games prior to Thursday. That is not nearly enough for his enormous price tag. That said, he is still one of the few guys that can hit 60 on any given night. I might lean more towards Butler because the price is lower, but LeBron does a lot more things on the floor, which makes his floor 30 points. You can’t really say that for Butler.
Paul George, Pacers ($8,800): George has not been below 30 FanDuel points in a game since before Christmas. He doesn’t have the upside of James or Butler, but he is far more consistent than either of them. If you are looking for a sure thing, it’s George.
Honorable Mention:
Khris Middleton, Bucks ($7,400): It has been Middleton, not the more highly touted Giannis Antetokuonmpo, that has been the consistent producer for the Bucks this year. Middleton has been between 30 and 45 FanDuel points in all but one game in 2016. He is providing at least 4x value every time on the court. That kind of consistency lands you in the money.
Danilo Gallinari, Nuggets ($6,900): Aside from a clunker against the Heat on the 15th when he went ice cold from the floor, Gallinari has been nearly unstoppable since his return on January 2nd. In the other nine games, he is averaging 35.8 FanDuel points per game. He is one of the few constants in the Denver rotation, making him the least risky Nugget to play in DFS contests.
If You’re Cheap:
Omri Casspi, Kings ($5,500): It is likely that Rudy Gay will sit again, which means Casspi is a strong play. He put up 31 FanDuel points in the absence of Gay on Thursday. Look for similar production if he starts again.
Marcus Morris, Pistons ($5,100): Morris is far from a sure thing, but he has played 35 minutes or more in each of his last six games, and in eight of the last ten. He is one of the few guys at this price that can throw down 30 FanDuel points, making him an intriguing option at this price.
My Picks: Middleton and Casspi
Next: Do You Need To Spend On Anthony Davis?
Power Forward:
Best Bets:
Anthony Davis, Pelicans ($10,300): Davis is “only” averaging 43.1 FanDuel points per game in his four games back since missing time with a sore back. That is not enough for what you have to pay for him. Then again, Davis seems to be getting comfortable again, and put up 47.4 FanDuel points in each of his last two games. That is above 4x value, which is hard to get at this price. He is worth the play if you have the money.
Paul Millsap, Hawks ($8,900): Millsap is averaging 42.4 FanDuel points over his last eleven games, and that is with two of those clocking in at under 30 (29 and 28.4). Millsap is a low risk option because of his upside, even at this price.
Honorable Mention:
Pau Gasol, Bulls ($8,500): Gasol is more of a risk right now with Derrick Rose playing well, but the fact remains that Gasol is the only real offensive presence on the inside with Joakim Noah gone. Taj Gibson is more of a defensive guy. If the Bulls go cold from the perimeter, Gasol could have a huge game in the interior against the Cavs. Kevin Love is not exactly known for his defense.
Kenneth Faried, Nuggets ($6,400): The roulette wheel landed on Faried on Thursday night. Faried responded with his second straight double-double. For now, Faried has the hot hand in the Denver frontcourt. He is by far the most talented big man in Denver, but you never know when he might wind up coming off the bench on a whim. Faried is a better play in DraftKings simply because you can change your lineup up until the game starts. He is a great play when he starts, but do you really want the headache?
If You’re Cheap:
Darrell Arthur, Nuggets ($4,300): The rotations of the Nuggets can be maddening, which is why I have shied away from Kenneth Faried. The beneficiary seems to be Arthur, who has played more than 20 minutes in every game since January 3rd, and is averaging 21 FanDuel points in that time. That is 5x value at a cheap price, but the Denver rotation makes it a bit of a risk. Faried has gotten the run lately, but Arthur is still producing just enough to keep him a sneaky play.
My picks: Millsap and Faried
Next: Who Is The Best At C?
Center:
Best Bets:
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings ($11,100): Cousins is the highest price because he is worth it. Cousins has not been below 40 FanDuel points in January, and is averaging a ridiculous 52.7 FanDuel points per game in that span. He is showing no signs of slowing down. Opt not to play him at your own risk.
Andre Drummond, Pistons ($9,000): Yes, I am still bitter about his two missed free throws against the Bulls on Monday that kept me in 7th place in a big tournament when all I needed was for him to hit one of them to move up to fifth. But as we all know, fantasy sports is no place to hold a grudge. Drummond is still a very good producer, putting up 38.1 FanDuel points per game in January. His poor free throw shooting is the only thing keeping him from being on the same level as Cousins.
Honorable Mention:
Greg Monroe, Bucks ($7,700): Monroe is on a tear lately, averaging 37.3 FanDuel points per game over his last seven contests. Tonight he gets to tangle with the Pelicans, who are still rolling the combination of Alexis Ajinca and Omer Asik out at center. Monroe shouldn’t have much of a problem getting back to that threshold again.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves ($7,700): Towns is still experiencing the ups and downs of being a rookie in the NBA, but as he showed on Thursday, he has as much upside as anyone. Towns ate Dallas alive on the interior, racking up 62.9 FanDuel points. While I wouldn’t expect that kind of production again, he could still produce above his price range if Marc Gasol is unable to take the court tonight.
If You’re Cheap:
Tyson Chandler, Suns ($4,400): The Suns’ frontcourt is once again decimated by injuries. Chandler responded on Thursday with 38 FanDuel points, but it was against a Spurs team that rested Tim Duncan. Nevertheless, He could be leaned on heavily again, and if he plays 38 minutes again, he will definitely give you value for the price.
My Pick: Drummond
Next: Is Ish Smith The Real Deal?
Good luck out there!