Happy Friday RotoBallers! As usual, we have a jam-packed Friday night slate, filled with some juicy matchups. These articles focus on the overall best plays, which are typically more suited for cash games. However, with larger slates like this one, you don't have to worry about ownership getting steamed up too hard usually, so consider these suggestions GPP viable as well (some exceptions may apply).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/21/22. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@Maxadelphia), to keep up to date with NBA news and for my nightly NBA bets if you're into that sort of thing. Let's go!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Ja Morant - PG, MEM @ DEN ($9,300 DK, $9,100 FD)
Morant continues his impressive season, posting a 33/8/14 scoreline last time out @ Milwaukee. Morant isn't typically known for being a voluminous scoring option, but without his two usual starting wing players, Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks, Morant had no choice but to take up more of the team's scoring duties. With the Nuggets coming off an exhausting double-overtime win against the Clippers, this figures to be an opportunity for Morant to attack a tired defense.
Gabe Vincent - PG, MIA @ ATL ($4,800 DK, $5,000 FD)
With both Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro out on Wednesday, Vincent stepped up into the starting lineup. He delivered for those who played him; posting 31.5 DK points in 37 minutes. Next up is the Hawks, and their 27th ranked 3-point % defense, which is great news for Miami's #2 ranked 3-point % offense. Vincent has attempted 6+ 3's in five of his last six games.
Others to consider: LaMelo Ball ($8,600 DK, $8,100 FD) Jordan Poole ($5,800 DK, $5,100 FD) Jordan Clarkson ($5,800 DK, $5,600 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, BOS vs POR ($9,700 DK, $9,400 FD)
Tatum shapes up as a great GPP play tonight. Coming off possibly his worst game of the season; 12/6/3 including 0-7 from 3 in 35 minutes, the Blazers and their 27th ranked defense vs SFs should be a welcome sight. This game will be the 4th one in Boston's current homestand, and in the first two games, Tatum posted 42+ DK points in each. People tend to stay away from players who get priced up after a bad game (Tatum is $300 more expensive than last time out), so that could mean you can potentially catch Tatum at sub-5% ownership tonight, and if he is able to bounce back from his poor game on Wednesday, that could be a huge differentiator on such a large slate.
Jonathan Kuminga - PF, GS vs HOU ($4,900 DK, $5,800 FD)
The Warriors have already ruled out Klay Thompson (rest) for Friday's contest against the Rockets, and after losing at home to the short-handed Pacers in overtime last night, the Warriors will need their bench players to step up on a night like this. Kuminga only played 15 minutes last night, so he should be one of the freshest sets of legs the Warriors have, and in addition in the case of a blowout (the Warriors are currently 10.5 point favorites), Kuminga will likely not be pulled as the Warriors look to continue his development as an NBA player.
Joe Ingles - SG/SF, UTA vs DET ($4,200 DK, $3,700 FD)
With Donovan Mitchell out (concussion) Ingles moved into the starting lineup and posted 28 DK points. The Jazz are huge favorites (-14 currently) at home against the Pistons tonight, and after losing as 13 point favorites to the Rockets on Wednesday, the Jazz will surely not let that happen again. I think that it's fair to question the slate-winning ceiling Ingles provides, but in a game that Vegas projects as a modest-scoring route for the Jazz, I think that Ingles is the best play on the whole Utah team tonight.
Others to consider: LeBron James ($11,400 DK, $11,000 FD), Otto Porter Jr. ($5,900 DK, $5,500 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Joel Embiid - C, PHI vs LAC ($11,000 DK, $10,800 FD)
Embiid has been nothing short of incredible of late. He has scored no lower than 42 fantasy points in the last month and is coming off a career-high scoring night after dropping a 50 burger on the Magic on Wednesday. The Sixers have won 8 of their last 10, and with the Clippers coming off a double-overtime loss in Denver, and having to then travel cross-country to Philly, I like the spot for the Sixers and Embiid to keep rolling.
LaMarcus Aldridge - C, BKN @ SAS ($5,200 DK, $6,000 FD)
In the wake of Kevin Durant's injury, I mentioned in my mid-week waivers pick-up article that I thought Aldridge would be the primary beneficiary, and so far that prediction looks spot on. Aldridge posted a 27/6/3 stat line on Wednesday against the Wizards, and now he gets the Spurs and their 30th ranked defense against opposing centers. Aldridge will likely be pretty chalky, but he is pretty egregiously mispriced on both sites, especially on Draftkings.
Others to consider: Nikola Vucevic ($8,800 DK, $9,200 FD), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl ($3,800 DK, $3,900 FD)