We have a eight game NBA slate, which is a good size for a Wednesday and there are some interesting options across the board. There are a number of injuries going around, so this should open up some value plays once we get the starting lineups.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/31/18. I play both cash and GPP, so I will be looking for both players who have consistency, along with value plays that have upside from a favorable match up, or other factors.

If you have any questions or comments, let me know @DFS_Tom on Twitter. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. Let's get to it.

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DraftKings DFS Guards

Goran Dragic - PG, MIA @ CLE (DK - $6,900)

This game has an over-under set at 213 points, and will be a pace up spot for the Heat. This is an ideal scenario to target Dragic, since he will likely be seeing extra touches on the ball, and his price hasn't been adjusted for it. He has put up 25 or more DraftKings points in three of his last four games, and is now up against the Cavs, who are giving up 48 DK points per game to point guards, which is fourth worst in the league. He has a 28% usage rate, along with averaging 0.98 fantasy points per minute this season. Dragic should be good for all formats tonight due to the upside, and the high usage rate.

Wesley Matthews - SG, DAL @ PHO (DK - $5,500)

Matthews certainly isn't one of the more exciting options in NBA DFS, but he plays a ton of minutes each game, and is now up against a weak defensive team, putting him in a good spot. He has played 30 or more minutes in each of his last 10 games, and averaging 0.69 fantasy points per minute. A good pace up spot for the Mavericks tonight, and a favorable match up for him, as he is up against the Suns, who are giving up 46 DraftKings points per game to shooting guards, which is last in the league.

 

DraftKings DFS Forwards

LeBron James - SF, CLE vs MIA (DK - $11,100)

We now know that Kevin Love is out for the Cavs, so this mean massive usage rates for LeBron. He has a 35% usage rate, along with averaging 1.65 fantasy points per minute when Love is off the court this season. Love's injury happened after tonight's slate got released, so Lebron's price hasn't been adjusted. We want to jump on him now before the price goes up, so tonight is the night to roster him. With that usage, he will be good for any format, and will likely be one of the chalkier options on the entire slate.

Bobby Portis - PF, CHI @ POR (DK - $5,900)

Portis is likely to get the start tonight since Nikola Mirotic and Lauri Markkanen are unlikely to play. This puts him in a spot to see plenty of minutes, and is a nice mid-range price tonight. In the one game Portis played against Portland this season, he put 30 DraftKings points in just 17 minutes. That is great production from a role player, who will now be stepping into the starting lineup. There are some rumors that Mirotic will be traded, so a further indication that Portis will start.

 

DraftKings DFS Centers

Marc Gasol - C, MEM @ IND (DK - $8,300) 

Gasol is up against the Pacers, who are giving up 54 DraftKings points per game to centers, which is second worst in the league. This is an ideal spot to target Gasol, since he has a favorable match up, and is playing in a pace up spot. Gasol has 27.5% usage rate, along with 1.13 fantasy points per minute this season. In the one game Gasol played the Pacers this season, he put up a monster 70 DraftKings points in 39 minutes. Massive numbers from him, so we want to roster him in this spot, since he seems to have the Pacers number.

Also consider: Joel Embiid - C, PHI @ BKN (DK - $10,400)

 

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