DraftKings NBA Picks January 7: Ride the Orlando frontcourt

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 13: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards go after a loose ball in the first half at Verizon Center on February 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks January 7: Ride the Orlando frontcourt

We have eight games for our DraftKings NBA slate tonight. Five players tip the scales with five digit salaries. People are fading Harden at an alarming rate. Should we jump on that bandwagon tonight? Let’s get into this a little deeper.

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Kyrie Irving ($9,200): Irving will play for the first time in 2019 after missing a couple of games with a scratched cornea. That can be tricky, especially for a player that relies on vision for passing and shooting like he does. This is a great matchup for Irving, and if I knew for sure that Irving was 100% back to normal, I would be all over this. Against Brooklyn, Irving may be worth the risk anyway. The upside is very high here.

Damian Lillard ($9,000): Lillard put up 52 DraftKings points on the Knicks in the first meeting. The Knicks were able to keep it close. That is going to be the key to Lillard’s value. Keeping this one close. Vegas doesn’t think it stays close. The spread is at 11.5 now, and the over/under is only 220.5. That puts Lillard as a risky play, but I would argue that the upside is enough to use him here. If Portland wins going away, Lillard is probably going to be the one responsible for getting them there.

Honorable Mention:

Jrue Holiday ($7,900): Holiday’s price is down to the point where I don’t mind using him. He doesn’t run the point anymore, but Holiday is such an efficient scorer that it usually doesn’t matter. He has 73.75 DraftKings points in the two games with Payton back. Holiday also had 44.75 in the first meeting with Memphis. but Payton was out that game. There is still some risk involved here.

Mike Conley ($7,500): This is a good matchup for Conley, but he only put up 29.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting due to a dreadful shooting night. All Conley needs is an average night from the floor to hit value at this price tonight. He seems to be fine over the last couple of games after his disaster against Detroit on Wednesday.

Dark Horses:

Eric Bledsoe ($5,900): Bledsoe has three straight games of more than 30 DraftKings points. There is inherent risk with Bledsoe as there is any time that you choose to pick a secondary piece of an offense, but Utah’s defense at the point has not been very good. On top of that, Bledsoe has the ball in his hands quite a bit and is a pretty good shooter. He should get his piece of the pie, which is nice with his price this low.

Derrick White ($5,000): White is still a decent value at this price considering he has not been below 25 DraftKings points since December 26th. Jackson isn’t much of a defender, and with White playing around 28-33 minutes per game now, his chances of missing value tonight are pretty slim. I don’t see a ton of upside here, so I see White as more of a cash game play. He’s still a decent GPP play if you need cash though, and you will.

Shabazz Napier ($3,400): Napier is still putting up good numbers for the price. Just don’t expect another huge line unless Russell or Dinwiddie miss a game. Still, with Napier only needing 20.4 DraftKings points for 6x value, that’s a pretty good deal. He has four straight games of more than 5x value, and has hit 6x in three of those.

My pick: White(PG), Napier(G); Lillard(PG)

DraftKings NBA /

DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

James Harden ($12,000): Portland held Harden to 57.75 DraftKings points on Saturday. That was the first time any team has held Harden below 60 with Paul out this year. Harden put up 53.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Denver. You can add at least 15 to that with Paul out. I see Harden getting back above 60 tonight, but with other high dollar players on the slate, a fade isn’t the worst idea.

D’Angelo Russell ($7,300): Russell has racked up for straight games of more than 42 DraftKings points. he looks low for this price. Boston is a tough matchup, and I’m not sure I want to put too much into him playing against Smart and Brown tonight. However, Russell is the primary offensive force on this team, and should see plenty of shots. The only question is whether he can convert them.

Honorable Mention:

Buddy Hield ($7,100): I always want to fade Hield at this price. Then I look at the game log and realize that he is close to or over 5x value most of the time. It does seem as though Fox and Hield can’t both put up big numbers. Fox has been cold lately, and some have begun to wonder if his shoulder is still bugging him. Hield has stepped up with 129.5 DraftKings points over the last three games. As long as this trend continues, Hield is probably worth using.

C.J. McCollum ($6,600): C.J. put up a strong 43 DraftKings points in the first meeting with the Knicks. The risk here is the same one as with Lillard. If this game turns into a blowout, McCollum probably wont hit value. However, he may see more court time than Lillard does in that situation. You never really know which Knicks team is going to show up. They could make this a game. It could be over by halftime. We never know.

Dark Horses:

Malcolm Brogdon ($5,200): Brogdon doesn’t put up flashy numbers, but he does have at least 25 DraftKings points in seven of the last eight games. That makes him a very popular play in cash games. There isn’t a ton of upside against Utah, but if you are looking for a strong 5x value, Brogdon is your man. He may even come close to 6x at this price.

Gary Harris ($5,000): If you landed on Harris like I did on Saturday, you were likely pretty happy with the result. Denver stayed true to their word and limited Harris to around 27 minutes. He played 26. Harris doesn’t need a lot of minutes to do a lot of damage. He put up 35.5 DraftKings points in those 26 minutes. CP3 and Eric Gordon are still out, and Houston isn’t a great defensive team anyway. Harris looks cheap and has nice upside tonight.

Lance Stephenson ($4,000): The Lakers probably should have rolled with Lance without LeBron from the beginning. He can start or play off the bench. Right now, he is the only Laker wing that can score with any regularity. Both KCP and Josh Hart are struggling right now. Stephenson will be used off the bench when the team needs offense, but that role could diminish if Kuzma makes his return.

My pick: Harden(SG), Stephenson(UTIL); McCollum(SG)

DALLAS, TEXAS – DECEMBER 16: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on December 16, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Luka Doncic ($7,700): The Lakers are thin enough at forward if Kuzma remains out that I’m pretty tempted by Doncic here. He hasn’t had huge games with Dennis Smith back, so I’m not sure I want to sink this much into a player with capped upside. Small forward is thin behind Giannis, and I’m not crazy about that stifling Utah defense against him. I’m not paying that much for Giannis with other viable options with better matchups out there.

Kyle Kuzma ($7,600): I kind of view Kuzma the same way as Doncic tonight. I like both of them, but Doncic hasn’t hit value at this price since Dennis Smith returned and Kuzma is still questionable. Kuzma went through warm ups last night before ultimately taking a seat, so he is close to a return. That said, he may be on a minutes limit if he does play, and Dallas isn’t a great matchup anyway. However, Kuzma will be the offense if he plays. The volume alone is enough for me to give this a chance.

Honorable Mention:

Gordon Hayward ($6,200): Hayward has back to back games of more than 40 DraftKings points. It’s no coincidence that those have come in games in which Hayward played more than 30 minutes. Kyrie was also out. So I’m not sure if Hayward will have enough usage to hit 40 again. That said, Hayward only needs 31 DraftKings points for 5x value. I would still think he can get to that mark so long as Morris is out. Signs are pointing toward Morris playing though, so there is risk here.

Kevin Knox ($5,800): Forwards against Portland. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Knox is pretty inconsistent, but so is the rest of the team. This is a huge spot for Knox, and at this price, he is completely worth taking a shot on. He may come up empty because of said inconsistencies, but how many healthy players at this price have topped 50 DraftKings points at some point this year? Knox has!

Dark Horses:

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,300): The Kings have used Bogdan and Hield together a lot more lately, and that has boosted the Kings scoring a little more. The Kings are going to turn this game into a track meet/three point shooting contest. Orlando is going to try to dominate with their front. Bogdan is going to have to come up big again along with Hield to even make this game close.

Nemanja Bjelica ($4,800): This is a great matchup for Bjelica, but I’m really only interested if Marvin Bagley is out again. Even if Bagley does play, I expect Bjelica to start. However, if Bagley plays around 25 minutes or so, it’s going to cut into Bjelica’s production.

Reggie Bullock ($3,700): Bullock is mostly a scorer, but that isn’t a bad thing if he can hit his shots. Bullock has at least 20 DraftKings points in four of the last five games. The Spurs will slow the game down, but Detroit doesn’t play fast anyway. Since Bullock is still this cheap, you don’t need a ton of production to hit value. Bullock is a pretty safe value play tonight.

My pick: Bogdanovic(SF); Knox(SF), Bullock(G)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 21: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans slaps hands with Julius Randle #30 after scoring his 10,000 career point in the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Anthony Davis ($11,600): Davis “only” had 50 DraftKings points on Friday and “only” put up 55.25 in the first meeting against Memphis. What does that mean? Davis may not be likely to hit 5x value. I can get on board fading Davis at this price against a stronger front like Memphis. I don’t really see a must-own star out here. My favorite picks are actually in the mid range, but you can still cram them in with Harden. I wouldn’t bend over backwards to fit Davis with Harden. Choose one if you like, but two will be extraordinarily difficult.

Julius Randle ($8,300): While Davis had an average game against Memphis, Randle demolished them. All of the focus should be on Davis again, so I expect Randle to have another strong game here. Randle put up 51.75 DraftKings points in the first game with Memphis. Who is going to slow him down? It’s him or Davis, and I don’t think Memphis could live with themselves if they let Davis dominate them. Randle it is!

Honorable Mention:

Aaron Gordon ($6,700): This could be a monster game for Gordon. We have seen him have those once in a while. The 44.5 DraftKings points that he put up in the first game against the Kings was just a primer. It’s not often that I lock in someone in the mid range, but Gordon is that guy tonight. He is going to dominate the Kings unless he gets hurt.

Noah Vonleh ($6,300): Vonleh did put up some good numbers when given the chance in Portland, but those times were few and far between. The Blazers then exiled Vonleh to the Bulls, so maybe there is a revenge narrative here. We saw it with Burks against the Cavs last week. Never mind the fact that Portland’s forwards get dominated anyway. Vonleh has revenge on his side too.

Dark Horse:

Al-Farouq Aminu ($5,400): Aminu was locked down against Houston. That may move some value hunters off of him. I don’t expect a huge game here from Aminu either, but he should get his scoring back on track. The Knicks defense isn’t all that strong anywhere and they don’t rebound all that well. Those are Aminu’s strong suits.

DeMarre Carroll ($5,300): RHJ is nearing a return, so keep an eye on his status for tonight. If RHJ is out again, Carroll will get a bulk of the run. He isn’t as big of a value at this price, but Carroll has still topped 30 DraftKings points in four straight games. There is a chance he does it here, even against a solid Boston team.

My pick: Gordon(PF); Gordon(PF), Vonleh(F)

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 23: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets plays the Orlando Magic at the Pepsi Center on November 23, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Best Bets:

Nikola Jokic ($10,000): Jokic has earned this price. He has more than 50 DraftKings points in four straight games, but it’s kind of the who’s who at terrible interior defense. Houston is much better than Charlotte, Sacramento, the Knicks, and Phoenix on the interior. Houston is probably better than all of them combined. Jokic had 43.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting though. If he continues with the larger role in the offense, Jokic could still hit value.

Nikola Vucevic ($9,500): A Vucevic/Gordon stack is going to be my staple tonight. If I can fit Harden in after that, fine, but I want those two in my lineup regardless. The Kings are horrible on the inside, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see both Vucevic and Gordon top 50 DraftKings points. Vucevic had 45.25 DraftKings points in just 27 minutes in the first meeting.

More from FanSided

Honorable Mention:

Jusuf Nurkic ($8,000): Nurkic racked up 41.75 DraftKings points in 30 minutes against the Knicks earlier this year, and that was dealing with Kanter most of the time. Nurkic could be even better going against Kornet for some of that time. Nurkic could be a nice sleeper at this price.

DeAndre Jordan ($6,100): Jordan put up 52.5 DraftKings points in two games against the Lakers earlier this season, so despite the low ranking inside for the Lakers, Jordan’s lack of offensive prowess has limited his upside against the Lakers. McGee can rebound with him. You could use McGee on the other side of this to save a little cash, but I still think we need to pay up here.

Dark Horses:

Luke Kornet ($4,900): This isn’t a great matchup for Kornet, and I’m a bit concerned because he didn’t look good against the Lakers on Friday. That said, someone starting at center for this price is at least worth a look. If you are paying up for one of the studs, you’re going to need some value. This is a pretty good spot to get it.

Daniel Theis ($3,900): Boston is without Aron Baynes and Robert Williams, and Horford is still on a minutes limit. That should open up good minutes for Thies. We have seen Theis put up some really good numbers in limited minutes like the 34.25 DraftKings points he has in just 23 minutes against Dallas in the same scenario on Friday. Theis is probably the safest value play on the slate, but we all know what that means.

My pick: Vucevic(C), Theis(F); Nurkic(C), Theis(UTIL)

Next. NBA DFS Top Plays and Fades - January 7. dark

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for a ton of NFL advice and DFS plays for College football, the NFL, PGA tour, and much more