DraftKings NBA Picks for January 26
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings NBA Picks for January 26
There are only four games on our Thursday DraftKings slate, and Westbrook has a tough matchup with Dallas. Should we fade him, even on this light of a night? Who will step up to replace him? We will take a look. There is at least one high scoring game out there!
Don’t forget to follow @fantasycpr on Twitter for lineup updates as we get them leading to the tipoffs of the games! I am not always able to get back in here and fix my picks when someone sits for the night, but we will update it on Twitter.
More from DFS
- DraftKings Open Championship picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- Genesis Scottish Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- Rocket Mortgage Classic DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- US Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- RBC Canadian Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
Most of my picks end up being a little on the conservative side, so these lineups may be better suited for cash games, though I usually play both types.
If you would like to try DraftKings for the first time, use this link for the referral bonus! It is good for $20 worth of free entry tickets. We have plenty of advice on the site to help you turn that into a solid bankroll!
Point Guards
Best Bets:
Eric Bledsoe ($9,200): I know better than to count Westbrook out of anything, but we have seen flashes of how good Bledsoe can be this year. Westbrook is playing the second best point guard defense (Dallas). Bledsoe is playing the fifth worst. Bledsoe has not pounded Denver into submission so far this year. In fact, he has averaged just a little over 40 against them in two games, which would leave him under 5x value. He still stands a better chance at hitting 5x than Westbrook.
Ricky Rubio ($6,800): Rubio’s return to the court on Tuesday went well. He picked up 37.5 DraftKings points against Phoenix, making it six straight games over 30 DraftKings points, not counting the one he left with injury. Indiana is one of the league’s worst against point guards, so expect Rubio to be well over 30 again.
Honorable Mention:
Russell Westbrook ($12,600): Now, the case for Westbrook. There is going to be a lot of fading him tonight, especially with a suitable second option like Bledsoe available. Westbrook has three 70+ DraftKings points outings in his last five games, but one of the others was under 40. That was against the Clippers, without Chris Paul! Dallas provides a similarly tough matchup, but if anyone can buck stats, it’s Westbrook.
George Hill ($6,700): Hill has been very inconsistent in Utah this year. Part of it may be the injuries, but that isn’t all. He has only been over 5x value once in the last nine games. He poses a huge risk, but the matchup is right taking on the Lakers without Russell. He could make a difference as a GPP play….or he can single-handedly destroy your lineup.
Dark Horses:
Jordan Clarkson ($4,700): Clarkson has averaged 18.2 DraftKings points in 29 minutes per game in three games against the Jazz this year. The only thing that makes me think he could come close to 5x value is the fact that D’Angelo Russell is still out. Still, this is a big risk deploying him against Utah’s defense.
Jameer Nelson ($4,500): Nelson picked up 30.25 DraftKings points on a tough Jazz defense with Emmanuel Mudiay out on Tuesday. Mudiay’s back is still giving him problems, so he most likely will not suit up tonight. If that is the case, Nelson is a fantastic play against the Suns. Nelson has 49.75 DraftKings points in two games against Phoenix so far this year.
My pick: Nelson(PG); Rubio(PG), Hill(G), Nelson(UTIL)
Shooting Guards
Best Bets:
Devin Booker ($7,100): Booker is actually starting to provide a stable floor for us DFS players. He has averaged 36.4 DraftKings points per game over his last ten, and has not been under 25. In fact, he has only been below 32 twice. Booker racked up 76.25 DraftKIngs points in two games against Denver earlier this year. That puts him a little over 5x value if he can do it again.
Victor Oladipo ($5,300): Oladipo had a nice game against Utah on Monday, putting up 29 DraftKings points against the best team in the league against shooting guards. He now has reached 5x value in five of the last six games. Dallas is pretty tough on the perimeter, but Zach LaVine has been awful lately and Will Barton is back to a bench role. I trust Oladipo over the both of them.
Honorable Mention:
Lou Williams ($5,200): This is a terrible matchup against Utah, right? Maybe not. The Jazz weren’t as tough on the outside with Rodney Hood out. LouWill has actually torched the Jazz this year, putting up a 38.7 DraftKings point average in three meetings this year. Williams could be a nice sleeper pick tonight.
Gary Harris ($4,800): The return of Harris pushed Barton back to the bench. Harris struggled against Utah, but he was on against Minnesota, who is solid on the perimeter as well. This is a low price for a starter on a team that like to get up and down the court. Harris has a high ceiling, but is still somewhat inconsistent.
Dark Horses:
Seth Curry ($4,500): With Wesley Matthews sideline for tonight’s game as well, Curry will pick up a few more minutes and a lot more shots again tonight. Curry was over 8x value last night with Matthews out. Oklahoma City could provide a little more resistance, but not much. Curry is the best bargain on the board tonight.
Alec Burks ($3,400): After uninspiring performances by both Joe Ingles and Joe Johnson with Hood out, Burks racked up 63 DraftKings points over the last three games with Hood sidelined. Hood has been upgraded to questionable tonight, but if he is unable to go, Burks is a great cheap option against the Lakers.
My pick: Booker(SG), Curry(G), Harris(UTIL); Curry(SG)
Small Forwards
Best Bets:
Gordon Hayward ($7,300): Hayward was shut down by Denver on Tuesday, but the past stats are on his side tonight. Hayward has 92.75 DraftKings points in just two games against the Lakers this year. He may have an even easier time if Loul Deng is out again. At any rate, Hayward is a great matchup on paper against the Lakers. Then again, he was against Denver too…
Andrew Wiggins ($7,000): Wiggins struggled against Dallas and San Antonio, but other than that, he has been a very consistent contributor since the calendar turned to 2017. Indiana is not an easy matchup, but he is on a roll right now. Wiggy has 117.5 DraftKings points over the last three games.
Honorable Mention:
Danilo Gallinari ($5,500): Wilson Chandler has been outstanding against the Suns this year, but he has been under 25 minutes in three of the last four games. Gallinari is clearly the starter, and he wasn’t too shabby against the Suns either. Gallo has 31.25 DraftKings points against them in his only game against Phoenix. They may both be good plays, but I will take my chances with the starter.
Dark Horse:
P.J. Tucker ($4,400): Tucker has been right at 5x value in two games against Denver this year, but his production has picked up some lately. T.J. Warren’s poor play of late has resulted in a few more minutes for Tucker. He has responded with 88.25 DraftKings points over the last three games. He is solid production if you need to go cheap.
My Pick: Hayward(SF), Gallinari(F); Tucker(SF)
Power Forwards
Best Bets:
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,900): Before being silenced by Phoenix on Tuesday, Towns has picked up at least 50 DraftKings points in six of eight games. Indiana doesn’t have anyone who can matchup up that well with Towns, so I see him in the 50 range tonight. He is one of the few that can get there on tonight’s slate.
Paul George ($7,900): This is not a great matchup for George, but many of the higher priced players have bad matchups tonight. George has averaged 35.9 DraftKings points per game over the last ten, so his production has finally stabilized. that would put him under 5x value, but I have a feeling that anyone at this position is going to be under tonight unless you use Towns here.
Honorable Mention:
Julius Randle ($5,900): On paper, this is a bad matchup. On top of that, Randle hasn’t exactly played well of late. So why is he here? In three games against the Lakers this year, Randle has 96.25 DraftKings points. That puts him at 5.5x value if he can do it again.
Gorgui Dieng ($5,500): The only thing that can stop Dieng is Dieng himself. If he stays out of foul trouble, he is a force to be reckoned with. He has been over 30 DraftKings points in three of the last five games, and was at 5x value in one of those others. He is a solid play against the Pacers tonight.
Dark Horses:
Kenneth Faried ($4,700): It’s the same old story with Faried. He produces when he plays. He has played a lot against the Suns so far this year, and because Faried is so athletic, this is the ideal situation for him. He has 76.5 DraftKings points in 53 minutes against the Suns this year. He could be a great bargain if the Nuggets play him. They may have to because of how tough Phoenix is on centers.
Dwight Powell ($3,100): Dirk Nowitzki is being held out tonight to rest, but it is unclear whether Dallas still intends to go small. If they do, the bulk of Dirk’s minutes will be gobbled up by Bogut and either Powell or Mejri. Keep an ear out to see if you hear anything on Dallas’ plans. Powell had good games against Utah and the Lakers earlier this week before receiving only ten minutes last night against the Knicks.
My pick: Towns(PF); Towns(PF), Dieng(F)
Center
Best Bets:
Nikola Jokic ($9,300): Utah is supposed to be tough in the middle. Jokic didn’t get that memo. He put up 55.25 DraftKings points on them on Tuesday. Jokic looks safe to play against anyone right now, even Chandler and the Suns. A lot of people will avoid this tonight because everyone struggles inside against the Suns. Can Jokic buck the trend?
Rudy Gobert ($7,500): Gobert has put up 121.25 DraftKings points in three games against the Lakers already Timofey Mozgov and Tarik Black has no answer for him. We have seen Gobert have some big games and some clunkers, but his track record against the Lakers this year makes him look like the safest pick at a stacked position.
More from FanSided
- Bills: 3 2023 roster holes that could cost Josh Allen a Super Bowl
- Colts RB Jonathan Taylor shoots down rumors of troubling injury
- MLB Rumors: Favorite to trade for Justin Verlander emerges and it’s not the Astros
- NY Mets should disband franchise if nightmare Justin Verlander report becomes reality
- First-time PGA Tour victory couldn’t happen to a nicer guy such as Lee Hodges at 3M Open
Honorable Mention:
Myles Turner ($6,600): Turner has a lot of upside, but Minnesota has been tough on the interior recently. Both Sacramento and Utah held Turner well under 5x value over the last week. There is a chance Minnesota could do it as well, but he is also capable of a 50 point night.
Tyson Chandler ($6,400): Alex Len’s minutes have all but evaporated, and it’s all because Chandler is playing like he did ten years ago. He is a force in the middle right now. Chandler has nine straight games of more than 5x value, with a substantial number of those eclipsing 6x. Over that span, Chandler is averaging 35 DraftKings points per game.
Dark Horses:
Andrew Bogut ($3,300): Bogut picked up 16 DraftKings points in only 21 minutes last night in his first game since January 9th. He will see more minutes tonight with Nowitzki out, so 5x value should be his floor. There is value to be had here.
Salah Mejri ($3,000): Mejri didn’t see the court last night in Bogut’s return, but he should play in some capacity with Nowitzki resting. Dallas isn’t going to run Bogut ragged, so Mejri and Powell should see enough minutes to put them right around 5x value. That said, the team will likely go with the hot hand, which makes both of them a risk.
My pick: Chandler(C); Gobert(C)
Stay tuned for our FanDuel picks, our DFS NHL picks, and plenty of NFL advice heading into your weekend!