RADIO
We've got a massive eleven-game slate for Friday. The Bucks and Knicks are both playing the second leg of a back-to-back. Only the Clippers are favored by more than 10 points (-13).
There are three games at 7:0 PM ET (HOU @ DET, CHI @ CHA, nad ORL @IND), three games at 7:30 PM (MIA @ TOR, BOS @ PHI, and BKN @ CLE), one game at 8:00 PM (ATL @ MIN), one game at 8:30 PM (DAL @ SA), and the late-night hammers at 10:00 PM are NYK @ SAC, OKC @ LAC, and DEN @ PHX.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/22/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Keep an eye on Rotoballer’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Luka Doncic, PG - @ SA ($11,000)
Luka is the highest-projected player on the slate. And for good reason. He's averaging 1.53 FD points per minute and 53.63 FD points per game. Over his last eight games, he's gone for over 60 FD points five times with three of those over 70 and an 86 FD points explosion against the Bulls. He has come back down the last two games, though, as he's produced 35.75 and 49.5 FD points. With that said, the matchup is neutral and it's a pace up spot for the Mavs, as the Spurs are 12th in offensive pace.
Trae Young, PG - @ MIN ($9,900)
I kind of hate writing up the two highest priced point guards on the slate, but it is what it is. Trae has gone for 50.75, 55, and 66 FD points the past three games. Now he gets a matchup against a Timberwolves team that plays at the eighth-fastest pace and is 24th in defensive efficiency. Zooming in a little closer, they are very generous to the point guard position as they boost the fantasy points per minute by 5.87% above league average. In particular, they allow an increase of 25.41% in three-pointers, a Trae specialty.
Jalen Brunson, PG - @ SA ($3,900)
With injuries to Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith, Brunson has started the last two games. He's played 27 and 34 minutes while contributing 20.5 and 28.25 FD points respectively. Despite sharing the backcourt with Luka, Brunson has garnered a respectable 19 and 22 usage rate while hoisting up 13 and 10 shots. The matchup isn't great, as the Spurs neutralize fantasy points per minute production to opposing shooting guards by 5.53% below league average, but at this price, the number of minutes he should play makes the risk/reward worth it.
Seth Curry, SG - vs. BOS ($4,500)
Curry has missed the last seven games due to an ankle injury and testing positive for COVID-19. He was activated earlier this week but was in the 76ers reconditioning program. He is now listed as probable for tonight's game. When he did play, Curry was averaging 0.9 FD points per minute and 27.01 FD points per game. He had contributed at least 30 FD points in five out of eight games, with a 41.25 performance in his last game before succumbing to injury. Playing alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid has been a boon for his efficiency, as he's knocking down 60% of his 9.8 shot attempts per game.
Also consider: Malcolm Brogdon ($8,500), De'Aaron Fox ($7,800)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Domantas Sabonis, PF - vs. ORL ($9,300)
There's consistency, then there's what Sabonis is doing so far this season. 14 games played, 14 double-doubles. He's scored at least 39 FD points in every game this season with five games over 50 and one 60-burger. He's averaging 1.21 FD points per minute. The game environment isn't great, as the Magic are 21st in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency, but they do boost the fantasy points per minute to power forwards by 2.94% above league average.
Jae'sean Tate, SF - @DET ($4,600)
With five players unable to play for the Rockets, Tate should see his fourth start in the past five games. Now, the trend for FD points has been negatively sloped, starting with the 38.75 explosion against the Spurs and culminating in the 16 he put up against the Suns last game. With that said, he is averaging 0.75 FD points per minute and should see over 30 minutes in this contest.
Eric Gordon, SF - @ DET ($5,200)
Gordon should see his third straight start since John Wall and Danuel House are unable to play. In the prior two starts, Gordon averaged 34 minutes, 18.5 shot attempts, and garnered a usage rate of 24.8. He put up 30.5 and 28.5 FD points. On the season, Gordon is averaging 0.88 FD points per minute. Victor Oladipo is back and will soak up usage and so will DeMarcus Cousins, but Cousins won't play much more than 20 minutes, so Gordon should still have plenty of opportunities for himself.
Isaiah Roby, PF - @ LAC ($4,500)
Al Horford will miss his fourth straight game due to the birth of his daughter, so Roby will start his fourth consecutive game. In the three prior starts, he played 24, 26, and 26 minutes while contributing 27.25, 24, and 32.75 FD points. The matchup isn't a great one, as the Clippers neutralize fantasy points per minute to centers by 7.91% below league average. They also play at the fourth-slowest pace. With that said, he is one of the better price-per-dollar options at the position.
Also consider: Bam Adebayo ($8,800) and Thaddeus Young ($3,800)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Nikola Jokic, C - @ PHX ($11,200)
Through 14 games, Jokic is AVERAGING a triple-double and leading the NBA in assists! He's gone over 60 FD points seven times with three of those over 70. On the season, Jokic is averaging 1.62 FD points per minute and 57.14 FD points per game. The game environment stinks, as the Suns are 29th in pace and 12th in defensive efficiency. With that said, he still put up 49.25 FD points in only 29 minutes in an earlier meeting against the Suns. He was one rebound shy of a triple-double and was in foul trouble that game.
Clint Capela, C - @ MIN ($9,200)
Capela began the year as a $6.5k player. Over the past two games, the price increased to $7k then to $8k last game. To say that I hate this price tag is an understatement. With that said, 56, 55, and 79.2 FD points over the past three games is no joke. The 55 point game was against these same Timberwolves, who just happen to boost fantasy points per minute to centers by a league-leading 15.57% above league average.
DeMarcus Cousins, C - @ DET ($4,500)
Christian Wood has already been labeled as out for this game, so Cousins will likely get his second start of the season. In the prior start, he played 23 minutes and contributed 40 FD points, so yeah, he's the best points-per-dollar player on the slate.
Also consider: Joel Embiid ($10,000)
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