RADIO
After what has been a whirlwind of a week for the NBA in everything from combating a global pandemic to a former league MVP being dealt in a blockbuster trade, DFS managers can finally settle in for a gourmet-quality Friday slate. Only two games (Washington/Detroit, Golden State/Phoenix) have been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, leaving ample room for strategies and star power.
Whereas multiple nights earlier in the week had entire slates of near chalk, Friday should help balance the scales somewhat. The sheer level of high-priced stars alone should help break up the monotony, but that also means that most lineups will need at least one pricy member. That part is up to you. Below, we’ll provide the rest of the field, as these names can be considered in complement to any high-octane lineup.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/15/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor globally, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
DraftKings DFS Guards
D'Angelo Russell - PG/SG, MIN vs. MEM ($8,300)
Attempting to crack the algorithm on when to pivot on/off Timberwolves in 2020-21 has already proven to be much harder than anticipated. Even with Karl-Anthony Towns back in action, Russell has proven to be a capable scorer, one who is seeing his DFS stock on the rise. In fact, going for 25 points and eight assists against the Grizzlies on Wednesday, and then playing them again Friday, will get him on this list.
While Russell has recency success on his side, he also won’t have Ricky Rubio (health and safety protocols) behind him. It’s entirely possible that Jordan McLaughlin sees a sizable bump in minutes as Russell’s backup, but in a one-game scenario, riding Russell -- who has taken at least 21 shots in each of his last three games -- is a GPP pivot worth exploring.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - PG, OKC vs. CHI ($7,700)
This feels like a tremendous buy-low opportunity to roster Gilgeous-Alexander as his price point is on the downswing following two nights of quiet production by his standards. His season-low 27 minutes Wednesday was a byproduct of the Thunder’s convincing defeat, which shouldn’t trouble managers moving forward, particularly against a Bulls squad that has allowed 53.4 DK points to opposing PGs this season, the fourth-worst mark in the league.
It was just a week ago that Gilgeous-Alexander reeled off a three-game stretch where he averaged 25.7 points, 7.7 assists, and 7.0 rebounds, all while shooting 57.4 percent overall. His production level is borderline elite on a nightly basis, so long as OKC keeps it close long enough for him to pack the stat sheet.
Jordan Clarkson - SG, UTA vs. ATL ($6,100)
Clarkson has slingshotted himself to the front of the line when it comes to Sixth Man of the Year chatter through his first 11 games. Seen primarily as a score-first option, Clarkson is grabbing a career-best 4.5 boards per contest thus far. He has continued to score as well, but done so at such an efficient rate (50 percent overall shooter, 43.7 percent from deep) that he has earned nightly DFS consideration due to his well-rounded arsenal.
But what makes his appeal jump off the page Friday is the absence of Joe Ingles (Achilles). In the two games that Clarkson has played without his fellow second unit member, he has gone for 26 and 21 points, respectively, knocking down five triples in each outing. Without Ingles on the floor, Clarkson has had to step up his rebounding as well, combining for 14 boards in those outings.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker - PG/SG, NO @ LAL ($4,400)
Additions to this picks column don’t come much easier than Alexander-Walker, who was highlighted before his second career start Wednesday and promptly dropped a career-high 37 points. With Lonzo Ball (knees) still sidelined, Alexander-Walker remains as tantalizing an upside play as ever.
His value may get bumped down some if Eric Bledsoe (eye) returns, but certainly not enough to knock Alexander-Walker from consideration. He should see the highest roster percentage on the slate, particularly in cash contests.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Bojan Bogdanovic - SF/PF, UTA vs. ATL ($5,300)
Much in the same ilk as Clarkson, when Ingles is out, Bogdanovic’s production has gone up. The Jazz’s two games this year without Ingles? Bogdanovic has dropped 20 points and knocked down four triples in each of them.
Despite his recent success, Bogdanovic does carry risk, as he has four games this season with 20 or more points, and six games with single digits. For those managers who err on the side of upside, Bogdanovic is a sound GPP candidate, particularly as he looks to flip the script on the Hawks’ three-point defense.
Grant Williams - SF/PF, BOS vs. ORL ($3,500)
Operating with the idea that the Celtics will get the green light to take the floor Friday for the first time in a week, Williams stands in line to be the primary beneficiary of Jayson Tatum’s (COVID-19) absence. Irrespective of whether or not Williams enters the starting five for the first time this season, he’ll see a sizable minutes bump out of sheer need alone.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Jonas Valanciunas - C, MEM @ MIN ($7,100)
Valanciunas very nearly found his way into this space Wednesday when he faced off against the Timberwolves, a contest in which he delivered 24 points and 16 rebounds. That mistake won’t be made twice. Even with Towns back in the mix at the center slot, Minnesota has been woeful at containing opposing centers, yielding a league-worst 63.2 DK points on a nightly basis.
With the lethal combination of recent success (setting season highs in points and boards Wednesday) and opposing team struggles, Valanciunas will be a difficult fantasy commodity to ignore even with multiple high-priced centers making strong cases in their own right.
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