Happy Saturday, everyone. On Friday night, we were treated to some notable fantasy performances, which included two relatively unknowns in Theo Maledon and Juwan Morgan, both crushing their values. With COVID-19 safety protocols in place throughout the league, the 2021 campaign may feature more sleepers than in years past, something fantasy managers will want to be mindful of moving ahead.
Of course, we have some injuries to monitor heading toward the 8 pm (eastern) tip-off, with the Grizzlies and Heat heading into the night with a ton of players on the latest injury report. As we getting closer to opening tip, we will have a clearer picture regarding who is available and who is not.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/30/21. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out DraftKings lineup picks and injury news before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @DennisMClausen and say hello. Also, be sure to check back closer to opening tip for updates.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Damian Lillard, PG - @ CHI ($9,700)
C.J. McCollum suffered a fracture in his left foot, which will keep him out of the lineup for at least a month, possibly more. Jusuf Nurkic is in the same boat after fracturing his wrist, but he may be absent even longer.
With these two out of the equation, Lillard has been tasked with even more responsibilities on the scoring end. His DFS asking price is under $10,000, which is very generous, and he is averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game throughout the four games McCollum has missed. His DFS ownership will likely be up there against the Bulls, but this isn’t the place to fade.
Chris Paul, PG - @ DAL ($7,200)
Devin Booker is still dealing with a bum hamstring and will miss his fourth-consecutive contest on Saturday when Phoneix travels to the Lone Star State to meet the Mavericks, a team that has struggled on both ends of the floor during the 2020-21 season. Although there are many capable scorers for the Suns, the veteran should be the one with the ball in his hands to keep things moving.
Without Booker in the mix, Paul will benefit by gaining a usage increase of 3.7% to go along with a boost of 3.9 in +/- differential. He nearly missed putting up a triple-double a few nights ago and has scored at least 21 points twice during Booker’s time on the shelf.
Also Consider: Luka Doncic ($11,000), Stephen Curry ($9,400), Eric Bledsoe ($5,600), Lonzo Ball ($5,400), LaMelo Ball ($5,200), DeMar DeRozan ($7,300), Tyrese Haliburton ($4,900)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Gordon Hayward, SF - vs. MIL ($7,200)
Hayward is playing at a level we haven’t seen from him in years. After injuries plagued his career in Boston, the 30-year is averaging a career-high 22.9 points per game while also shooting over 42 percent from deep in his first season in Charlotte.
He will be coming off an effective outing against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, where he scored just 11 points but made up for it by accumulating eight boards, six assists, and two blocks. Although Hayward will be playing in the second of a back-to-back, which is a little concerning regarding his workload outlook, he is averaging over 37 minutes during those situations, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
Carmelo Anthony, SF - @ CHI ($5,200)
While absences will open things up for Damian Lillard on the offensive end, he can't do it all, so Anthony will have to contribute. Robert Covington's potential sidelining on Saturday night could raise Anthony's stock even more.
The Syracuse alum has logged over 34 minutes in each of his previous two games. During that span, he has combined for 28 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. The upside is there for sure, primarily when you consider his rostering cost.
Also Consider: Otto Porter Jr. ($5,000), Cameron Johnson ($4,600), Miles Bridges ($4,100), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300), Brandon Clarke ($6,500), Xavier Tillman ($4,600), Thaddeus Young ($4,200),
FanDuel DFS Centers
Cody Zeller, C - vs. MIL ($4,900)
Zeller missed most of the year due to a broken hand but was inserted into the starting lineup a few nights ago, which will cause Bismack Biyombo’s DFS outlook to plummet.
In his previous two matchups against the Indiana Pacers, the big man has hit at least 25.7 fantasy points. Nonetheless, he is a risky option as the Hornets will be playing its second-straight outing on Saturday night when the team takes on the Bucks. However, his asking price justifies a consideration, especially with a favorable matchup against Milwaukee on tap.
Also Consider: Enes Kanter ($6,900), Mason Plumlee ($5,500), Brook Lopez ($5,400), Steven Adams ($5,200), James Wiseman ($4,400)