DraftKings NBA picks January 22: Is Harden back in play?

There are nine games on our Monday, but there isn’t the star power that we normally have with this many teams in action. It may be a day to fade the big names, but let’s inspect further.

Point Guards:

Best Bets:

John Wall ($9,400): Wall racked up 51.25 DraftKings points on Dallas the first time around. I expect ownership on Paul to be really high after his huge game on Saturday, but I wont be one of them. Miami is the second best team in the league defending the point, and Harden should be back up to his full minutes load. Save some cash and go Wall instead. Wall will likely outdo Paul at a lower price.

Damian Lillard ($8,800): Lillard has been on a roll lately, averaging 47.6 DraftKings points over his last six outings. Lillard has a strong matchup with Denver tonight as well. Judging by the way that Lillard has been playing lately, it’s reasonable to believe that he could score with the high priced options.

Honorable Mention:

Eric Bledsoe ($8,200): Ah, revenge. Bledsoe ran up 49.5 DraftKings points on the Suns the first time around. He should do at least that tonight with Giannis missing this game due to injury again. Middleton put up big numbers on Saturday and likely will again, but considering the bad blood between Bledsoe and his former team and the fact that Phoenix is the worst team in the league defending the point, this could be a huge game for Bledsoe.

Dennis Smith Jr. ($6,800): Smith was outstanding against the Wizards in the first meeting with 45.5 DraftKings points in just 31 minutes. Smith has been playing about that many minutes in every game, so there really isn’t any reason to believe that he can’t handle the Wizards again. Smith is a great mid-level option for those building a balanced lineup. He also fits nicely with a stud!

Dark Horses:

T.J. McConnell ($5,000): This is a bit of a tough matchup here, but McConnell has been well over 5x value in every game that Redick has missed. He remains one of the better value plays out there, even when the numbers say that the matchup isn’t great. Of course, the struggles of Ben Simmons don’t hurt either.

Jerian Grant ($4,900): Grant put up 41 DraftKings points on the Pelicans as the starter the first time around. He should see considerable run again with Kris Dunn in the concussion protocol and Zach LaVine not playing as many minutes as he is cleared to. Expect Grant to play most of the minutes, and come up way over value again.

Isaiah Canaan/Tyler Ulis ($4,000): Both Suns point guards are the same price now. The maddening thing about this is that the production has been back and forth between the two, but not every other game. The minutes split is still almost two to one in favor of Ulis, but more often than not Canaan has been the more reliable source of fantasy value.

My pick: Bledsoe(PG), Smith(G); McConnell(PG), Grant(G)

Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

James Harden ($10,200): Harden played 35 minutes on Saturday after saying that he had been cleared for 30, so most restrictions should be off by now. The intriguing thing here is obviously the price. Harden was a little rusty on Saturday, but his usage was where it was before the injury. Judging by Paul’s tough matchup, this could be a really good night for Harden, but there is some risk involved. That said, if you get a game that Harden is capable of for this price, that will vault your lineup way into the money.

Devin Booker ($8,900): Booker has 117.25 DraftKings points in his last two games, and has another strong matchup against a Bucks team that is without defensive stalwarts Malcolm Brogdon and Giannis Antetokounmpo. That said, I may be off of Booker entirely if Jimmy Butler is cleared. The Clippers are the second worst team in the league against shooting guards. However, if you need the extra $400, Booker is not a bad option at all.

Honorable Mention:

Donovan Mitchell ($7,800): Mitchell continues to take a truckload of shots, and make enough of them to keep hitting value over and over. He has a great matchup against Atlanta tonight. However, Mitchell could go largely unnoticed due to all of the other names going at the position. Mitchell is a strong play at this level tonight.

Jrue Holiday ($7,200): The Bulls are not a good defensive team. We know that. This is a great matchup for Holiday, who is making a strong case for being more than the third wheel to Boogie and the Brow. Holiday has at least 5x value in seven straight games, and has been over 6x value in three of those. He should make it eight straight against these Bulls.

Josh Richardson ($6,300): Richardson has at least 30 DraftKings points in four straight games, and eight of the last ten. He has been a constant source of value with Dion Waiters out. I like Richardson more in cash games due to the fact that he hasn’t topped 6x value, but if you find yourself pinned in by salary, Richardson is a good option in GPP formats as well.

Dark Horses:

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,500): Bogdanovic continues to play the most minutes among the Sacramento guards, and he has produced at a consistent level the entire time. His floor is around 4.7x value, but the ceiling is about 5.7x value. That makes Bogdanovic more valuable in cash games, but he is suitable for GPP play at this level as well.

Wayne Ellington ($5,300): I really like Ellington if Goran Dragic sits again since he had 35 DraftKings points on Saturday. If Dragic returns, Ellington is still a decent play, but he lacks upside and 5x value could be his ceiling.

Sterling Brown ($3,700): Brown played almost 40 minutes starting with Brogdon out on Saturday, and put up around 6x value. Brown has even more upside tonight against a Phoenix team that struggles defending, oh, just about anyone. This is another starting opportunity for a guy that is going to play a lot of minutes at a very low price. There is value to be had here.

My pick: Brown(SG), Ellington(UTIL); Harden(SG), Brown(UTIL)

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Khris Middleton ($8,700): Middleton was huge with Giannis out on Saturday, racking up 61 DraftKings points. Now he gets a shot at the Suns,whose defensive woes are well documented. I expect Middleton to have another big game tonight. He may not hit 60, but the 50’s are a real possibility.

T.J. Warren ($6,800): Warren racked up 41.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting with a Bucks team that was at full strength. Milwaukee wont be tonight, so there is serious potential here. Warren has at least 30 DraftKings points in eight of the last ten games. The injury didn’t really slow him down. Neither has the onslaught that Booker has unleashed. Warren remains a strong mid level play.

Honorable Mention:

Andrew Wiggins ($6,100): If Butler misses tonight’s game as well, I am a big fan of Wiggins here. Wiggy racked up 38.25 DraftKings points on Toronto with Butler out on Saturday. There is reason to believe that Wiggins would pick up the slack again. However, if Butler returns, I’m not sold on Wiggins.

Trey Lyles ($5,300): Lyles has been a strong play most nights with Paul Millsap out. Portland isn’t all that strong up front, but if Lyles draws Aminu, it is going to adversely affect his rebounding totals. There is some risk involved here, and Lyles lacks a ton of upside, but if you can’t afford any of the top options, Lyles is a solid play.

Dark Horses:

Joe Ingles ($5,100): Ingles was huge with Rodney Hood out over the weekend. He put up 38 DraftKings points on the Clippers on Saturday. I really like Ingles if Hood is out again, but even if Hood plays, there is value to be had against the Atlanta defense. It just isn’t as significant with Hood on the court.

Kelly Oubre ($4,700): The recent struggles of Otto Porter have opened the door wide for Oubre. Oubre has five straight games of more than 5x value, and a couple of those games were against tough opponents. Porter’s minutes haven’t really been down much, but with the play of Oubre lately, that could change.

Tony Snell ($4,200): Since Brogdon’s replacement was such a good value, it only makes sense than Antetokounmpo’s would as well. Snell also played a ton of minutes and put up 26.5 DraftKings points. There is more value with him than Brown. Playing both may not be a bad option either!

My pick: Middleton(SF); Oubre(SF), Snell(F)

Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Anthony Davis ($10,800): It’s the age old (well, 1.5 season old) question: Boogie or Brow? Brow had 54 DraftKings points points in the first running with the Bulls. Boogie had 49.75. Davis has a slightly easier matchup against the power forwards of the Bulls tonight, so if you are only using one, it should be Davis this time around.

Lauri Markkanen ($6,700): Markkanen had a solid game against New Orleans the first time out because he can stretch the floor. The same is true for Mirotic. Markkanen is the starter, and therefore usually the favorite. However, I could make a strong case for Mirotic going against the Pelicans bench as well.

Honorable Mention:

Harrison Barnes ($6,500): Barnes dominated the Wizards to the tune of 47.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting. Washington isn’t any better up front than they were then, and Barnes continues to put up strong numbers. He may not have that kind of output again, but I would be surprised if Barnes didn’t hit at least 6x value.

Dario Saric ($6,300): JaMychal Green and Chandler Parsons are out, and Jarrell Martin is leaning towards doubtful as well. That means Memphis is going to be very thin in the frontcourt,which bodes well for Saric tonight. We have seen Saric have some really good games this year when the matchup is right. This could be one of those nights. The matchup certainly stacks up.

Dark Horses:

Montrezl Harrell ($5,100): Harrell was shut down by Utah on Saturday, but I like him here against Minnesota. DeAndre Jordan is already ruled out again. And I really would like to take this moment to thank the Clippers for these updates since DraftKings doesn’t have late swap for their large tournaments. It makes things much easier on us DFS players. Harrell has been good in every game with Jordan out with the exception of Utah. Expect a rebound to around 6x value for Harrell tonight.

Dragan Bender ($4,800): Some of the luster has worn off of Bender lately because of tough matchups, but he put up a solid 26.5 DraftKings points against the Bucks with a healthy Giannis in the first meeting. Bender has fallen off of a lot of radars, but he could be a nice value pick here with Chriss still out.

Skal Labissiere ($4,300): The Kings have moved Randolph to the bench to give Skal some run, and the results have been good for the youngster. Labissiere has at least 5x value in five of the last eight games. Oh, and he put up 36.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Charlotte. There is a lot of potential here!

My pick: Bender(PF), Labissiere(F); Barnes(PF), Davis(C)

Center:

Best Bets:

DeMarcus Cousins ($10,900): Cousins only put up 49.75 in the first meeting with the Bulls, but he has a high floor and a pretty high ceiling despite the presence of Davis. I prefer Davis, but neither of them are bad options. Cousins will likely have lower ownership, but the chances of him hitting 5x value are not great at this price.

Joel Embiid ($9,800): Statistically, Memphis is the toughest team in the league against centers. However, they are short handed up front, and some larger centers have given Marc fits. Embiid has the size to push Gasol around enough for him to still hit value if you think he can buck the trend. We saw Embiid dominate a top five defense in Boston already this week. What will hte encore performance look like?

Honorable Mention:

Dwight Howard ($8,100): I don’t really trust Towns or Jokic due to their lackluster performances earlier this year against tonight’s opponents. Howard didn’t hit value at this price in the first meeting with Sacramento, but he was close. And Howard has the added advantage of averaging 46.5 DraftKings points per game over the last four. If you can’t afford one of the top tier, Howard should be above value tonight.

Clint Capela ($6,600): Whiteside is a terror against undersized opponents, but that doesn’t apply to Capela. He is likely going to shut down Whiteside on offense and push him around on defense. Will that equate to 5x value? Probably.

Dark Horse:

John Henson ($4,800): This is a good matchup on paper for Henson. Phoenix is weak on the inside. The disappointing thing here is that we likely wont see Greg Monroe against his former team, a team that Monroe went for 43.75 DraftKings points against in the first meeting. Henson has been solid but unspectacular, which likely leaves him better suited for cash games.

Tyson Chandler ($4,400): Chandler has at least 5x value in four of the last five games. Chandler is not a part of the offense which leaves him with little upside, but he is a solid value pick if you need a cheap one.

My pick: Howard(C); N/A

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