RADIO
Welcome, RotoBallers. We're treated to a solid six-game slate tonight and three of the matchups (PHX/CHA, MIA/SAC, MIN/LAL) are very appealing from a DFS perspective. We're starting to see teams returning to some semblance of their typical starting lineups, though there are still a ton of players stuck in the health and safety protocols. This means we're still in a spot where we can pretty much get to whoever we want, provided we make the correct decisions on the value options that are available. Let's get to it.
Instead of meticulously trying to comb through the rest of the myriad of injury and "health and safety protocols" issues in play, just be sure to check out our NBA Injury Roundup as well as NBA Player News for updated information.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/2/22. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@RING_DFS) - I post about a variety of things but mainly NBA DFS with my K-Rate and Positional K-Rate model.
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
Guards - DraftKings, FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Devin Booker - SG, PHX vs. CHA ($8,500 DK, $8,000 FD)
Booker has taken over as the decisive leader on the Suns this season as he's averaging a 31.2% usage rate and 1.20 FPTS/min, which makes Chris Paul's 20.6% usage rate look downright silly. Those rates favor Booker even more over the last 10 games as he has shown off his scoring prowess with a few monster outings (60.75 DK points on 12/29, 56.25 DK points on 12/23). He'll get a shot at posting another huge output tonight as the Suns rank first in my K-Rate model by quite a bit against the forgiving Hornets squad. The game projects as a fast-paced, high-scoring affair, and it certainly helps that the Hornets are allowing the second-most FPPG to opposing teams this season. Even more appealing is that they're allowing the second-most FPPG to opposing SG's, and they give up the most real-life points per game to the position. Of course, not having Ayton's usage and fantasy production on the floor also helps Booker's shot at a ceiling game. No matter how you slice it, Booker is profiling as a top option in DFS tonight.
DraftKings-only: Brandon Goodwin - PG, CLE vs. IND ($3,500 DK)
While I think there's still an opportunity for Kevin Pangos to come through at his salary (despite games with just 13 and 14.75 DK points over his last two), I'd rather take shots on the recently-signed Brandon Goodwin. The former-Hawk played 25 minutes and put up a solid 13/4/6 line (26 DK points) in his first game with Cleveland on 12/31, though he wasn't listed in the DraftKings player pool. He's in there now at just $3,500 and if he's going to get that kind of run again (which he should), I'm definitely interested. This game, and the Cavs themselves, don't rank out well in my K-Rate model, but value is value and we'll take it wherever we can find it.
Malik Monk - PG/SG, LAL vs. MIN ($4,900 DK, $5,500 FD)
Monk is more appealing on DraftKings at his pricing, but you can feel free to take shots over on FanDuel as well. He's playing a boatload of minutes and putting up solid fantasy scores recently - he's averaging 34 minutes and 29.9 DK points per game over his last four contests. The Lakers come in as the second-best team to target on tonight's slate in my K-Rate model as this game projects to be fast-paced and oozing with fantasy upside. The Wolves are allowing the fifth-most FPPG to opposing SG's this season, and they're still operating with their B-squad as both Towns and Russell remain out of the lineup. Monk has 40 DK point upside in this matchup, as long as the game stays close. The Lakers are currently eight-point favorites at home.
Others to consider: Chris Paul ($7,400 DK, $7,800 FD), Kevin Pangos ($3,700 DK, $3,800 FD), Caleb Martin ($4,900 DK, $5,600 FD), Tyler Herro ($7,400 DK, $6,600 FD), Patrick Beverley ($5,400 DK, $6,000 FD), Josh Giddey ($6,400 FD),
Want more NBA DFS tools and content? Our NBA Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms where members can chat with our NBA analysts. Check out this big win from RotoBaller premium member Bsuperak on FanDuel using our Premium tools - join in on the winning!
Forwards DraftKings, FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Maxi Kleber - PF, DAL vs. OKC ($3,700 DK, $5,000 FD)
Porzingis is doubtful to suit up tonight, which opens up Kleber to continue playing big minutes and provide great value at his cheap salary on DraftKings. He has seen at least 29 minutes in each of his last four contests, and he has exceeded what he needs to 5x value tonight (18.5 points) in each game. He blew his salary out of the water in two of them, going for 28.25 DK points against the Thunder on 12/12 and 29 DK points his last time out against the Wolves on 12/19. He gets the Thunder again tonight, a team that lacks size in the frontcourt and allows the second-most FPPG to PF's and 11th-most FPPG to C's. Kleber should have zero issues hitting value tonight at his rock-bottom salary.
Jalen Smith - PF/C, PHX vs. CHA ($5,000 DK, $5,300 FD)
Ayton, McGee, and Frank the Tank all remain out for tonight's game, which means we get another chance to roll out Jalen Smith. Smith has thrived when given minutes recently, going for 28.25, 35, and 29.75 DK points over his last three games. He's averaging a healthy 1.13 FPTS/min over that stretch, a mark that will definitely do the job at his price tonight. The Suns have the highest implied total on the board (116.5 points) and rate out as the best team to target in my K-Rate model as this game will play fast and features very little defense on the Charlotte side of the ball. Additionally, the Hornets are atrocious against bigs as they're allowing the fourth-most FPPG to PF's and the most FPPG to C's this season.
Others to consider: Jimmy Butler ($9,200 FD), Marvin Bagley III ($4,600 DK, $4,800 FD), Kenrich Williams ($3,900 DK, $4,500 FD), Mikal Bridges ($4,700 DK)
Centers - DraftKings, FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Omer Yurtseven - C, MIA vs. SAC ($6,500 DK, $6,200 FD)
Yurt has been en fuego and there are zero reasons for us to start getting away from him now. He has been a per-minute machine as he's averaging 1.13 FPTS/min over his last six games and has exceeded 36 DK points in three straight contests coming into tonight. Dedmon is questionable (but more likely doubtful) to return tonight while G-League veteran Chris Silva was signed on New Years Eve, so Yurtseven is still in a situation where he doesn't have much of any frontcourt competition to deal with. The best part about all of this, though, is the matchup he gets tonight. The Heat rank third in my K-Rate model as the Kings love to play with a fast pace and give up a ton of fantasy points to opposing squads. They're allowing the eighth-most FPPG to opposing C's this season and their frontcourt defense will continue to struggle with Richaun Holmes off the floor. There's not a lot to love up top at the center position today, but getting to Yurtseven in the midrange is a wise investment.
Others to consider: Wendell Carter Jr. ($7,500 DK, $7,000 FD), Damian Jones ($3,000 DK, $4,000 FD), Isaiah Roby ($3,800 DK, $3,900 FD), Myles Turner ($6,800 DK, $7,600 FD)
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!
