DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-January 18
High Salary PG
Russell Westbrook-Oklahoma City Thunder (12,100): Westbrook rolls into Golden State to face his former running-mate for the second time this season. He struggled badly in his last games against the Clippers with just 39.25 fantasy points on 24-5-4 (points-rebounds-assists) with two steals. He has only reached 60 fantasy points (when he’d be good value) in two of his last five games, but he’ll be motivated to go off and keep the Thunder in tonight’s showdown with the Warriors. He struggled with just 20-6-10 in the first meeting between these squads, but it’s worth noting that was the second night of a back-to-back. He definitely has the potential to go for a huge triple-duouble, but he’s high-risk at this price point.∗∗
Stephen Curry-Golden State Warriors (9,000): Curry had a big game in the Warriors MLK Day rout of the Cavs piling up 20-2-11 and four steals in just 31 minutes for 49.5 fantasy points. For Steph, it was his fifth game with over 48 fantasy points in his last six highlighted by 40-3-6 against the Grizzlies for 57.25 fantasy points. He had 21-1-7 against the Thunder in their first meeting, but OKC has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game this season to opposing PG. Since he’s 3,000 cheaper and in a better matchup, I like Curry a little better on a poinst-per-dollar matchup than Westbrook.∗∗∗
Kyle Lowry-Toronto Raptors (8,500): Lowry was in my DraftKings daily picks yesterday before it was announced he would rest against the Nets. He’s expected to return tonight against the 76ers in Philadelphia and may get more play tonight if any of the rest of the Raptors regulars sit out. Lowry had over 44 fantasy points in four of his last six before taking last night’s game off and posted a massive 27-9-12 for 65.25 fantasy points earlier this month in a huge game in Chicago. He had 20-4-7 for over 35 fantasy points against the Sixers in their last meeting December 14, and he is a solid play if the Sixers are at full strength tonight with even more upside if anyone else rests. No resting Raptors-∗∗∗ No DeRozan-∗∗∗∗
Mike Conley-Memphis Grizzlies (7,500): Conley has been hot coming into his matchup in D.C. tonight with at least 42 fantasy points in each of his last three games and five of his last six. On Sunday, he had 28-5-8 for 50.75 fantasy points against the Bulls, and he’ll look to continue his success as he faces John Wall tonight.∗∗∗∗
Elfrid Payton-Orlando Magic (6,200): Payton has a higher ceiling than Schroder but he tends to be boom or bust. He has over 35 fantasy points in each of his last three games, though including a monster 58.75 fantasy points on 28-9-9 against Utah last Saturday. He followed that with a strong 20-4-12 double-double for 43 fantasy points against the Nuggets on Monday, and he’ll look to keep his strong road trip going with another strong stat line tonight in New Orleans where he’ll face the Pelicans who have allowed the third-most fantasy points in the NBA to opposing PG.∗∗∗∗
Dennis Schroder-Atlanta Hawks (6,000): Schroder powered the Hawks to a win on Monday in New York with 28-3-3 for 35.75 fantasy points. It was a big bounce-back game for him after just 11.75 fantasy points against the Celtics and 15 fantasy points against the Bucks in his previous two games. Schroder has been pretty solid aside from those two down games and is usually good for 30+ fantasy points. Tonight, he’ll face the Pistons who are just outside teh top ten in fantasy points allowed to opposing PG. He is a solid play, but he doesn’t have nearly the ceiling as Conley or Lowry.
Next: High Value PG