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NBA DFS: Studs, scrubs, and duds on DK and FD January 18

By Jeremy Lambert

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Top star players, best value picks, and guys you should stay away from on January 18 in NBA DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Welcome to Studs, Scrubs, and Duds; FanSided’s NBA DFS lineup helper.

Here’s what’s on the slate for tonight:

7 p.m. ET: Phoenix at Boston
7:30 p.m. ET: Detroit at Atlanta, Philadelphia at New York
8 p.m. ET: Cleveland at Chicago, Toronto at Minnesota
8:30 p.m. ET: Orlando at Golden State, LA Lakers at Houston
9 p.m. ET: Portland at Oklahoma City, Sacramento at Utah

How this works:

Studs: Top high salary picks that you can build your lineup around.
Scrubs: Value players looking for a big night or consistent options to help fill out your lineup.
Duds: Players to avoid given their high salary and/or poor matchup.

Five players are picked on each slide, positions are not applicable, and both DraftKings and FanDuel salaries are listed.

Studs

LeBron James (at HOU – $11,000 on DK; $11,100 on FD): The Rockets defense is an extreme mess right now. I’m almost sold on them turning it around this game because that would be totally Rockets. But this is a prime time matchup against the best team in the West led by LeBron James. So turning it around will be easier said than done. At any rate, I don’t see how they stop LeBron.

Trae Young (vs DET – $10,100 on DK; $10,400 on FD): Trae against a bad Pistons squad? Sign me up. He’s always a triple double threat and maybe his good friend and potentially soon to be Hawk Andre Drummond will take it easy on him. The Pistons aren’t bad against the position but they are bad and Trae never has trouble getting his numbers.

Pascal Siakam (at MIN – $8,000 on DK; $7,600 on FD): It’s a back to back for both teams and they both had to travel so there’s no advantage there. The Raptors are still good. The Timberwolves are not. Their interior is certainly questionable with Towns out of the lineup. Siakam definitely isn’t going to hurt you and with this matchup, the ceiling is plenty high.

Donovan Mitchell (vs SAC – $7,600 on DK; $6,600 on FD): Mitchell exploded against the Pelicans which is hopefully a good sign for his value moving forward. It’s a great matchup against the Kings and the Utah defense has slipped so the offense might be up more than you’d expect on this one. Mitchell and Fox are looking value on Saturday.

Jayson Tatum (vs PHO – $7,100 on DK; $7,600 on FD): Kemba had the big game against the Bucks and his salary had jumped. Tatum has been the more consistent option and I expect him to pick things back up against the Suns. The Celtics as a whole should be better given the matchup and Tatum is on the lower end of the salary scale.