Happy Sunday, everyone. After some loaded slates on Friday and Saturday night, the FanDuel “Main Slate” closes out the weekend with just four games on tap.
Of course, we have some significant injuries to consider as James Harden won’t play when the Nets head to Washington to meet up with the Wizards. Karl-Anthony Towns will remain out, and Joel Embiid, who is having an MVP year, is questionable with a back ailment, albeit he has been able to play in the two games since sustaining the injury.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/31/21. 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 article updates.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Kyrie Irving, PG - @ WSH ($9,300)
Irving hasn’t missed a step since returning from his seven-game sabbatical. In the six games since his insertion back into the lineup for the Nets, he is averaging nearly 38 minutes per game while scoring at least 26 points in five games during that span.
James Harden also won’t play on Sunday as a result of a thigh contusion. Without the former MVP in the mix, Irving will get a 2.9% bump in usage, primarily since he will be running things consistently at the point against the Wizards. We all know how bad Washington has been this year, so a Brooklyn stack may be just what the doctor ordered.
Kyle Lowry, PG - vs. ORL ($6,600)
Lowry missed some time a week ago while dealing with a toe infection but made his return on Monday against the Indiana Pacers, which was the second of Toronto's back-to-back against the club.
Although he hasn't been producing like usual, shooting just over 39 percent from the field since his return, fantasy managers can take advantage of his severely discounted DFS asking price in a favorable matchup against the Magic. Orlando has had its share of trouble on the defensive end, so it's not out of the question for the veteran to turn things around on Sunday evening. Lowry's name has popped up in trade rumors once again as of late, but for now, we can focus on his matchup against one of the worst teams in the league. The ceiling is high, and he would only need to accumulate 33 fantasy points to hit value, which is easily attainable if he can get his shots to fall.
Also Consider: Darius Garland ($5,200), Collin Sexton ($7,100), Jeremy Lamb ($5,400), Seth Curry ($4,400), Bruce Brown ($4,200)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Kevin Durant, SF - @ WSH ($10,600)
On Sunday night, we will see a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 scorers in the league as Kevin Durant and the surging Nets will square off against Bradley Beal and the horrendous Wizards.
Although Durant has missed a few games here and there to rest his Achilles, he has consistently logged heavy time on the floor during the 2021 campaign by averaging a fourth-best 36.7 minutes per game. He is undoubtedly playing the best basketball of his career, and he will also benefit from James Harden’s absence against Washington.
Aaron Gordon, PF - @ TOR ($5,500)
Gordon’s numbers have dwindled on the scoring end this season, but he has seen a slight increase in assists, primarily after the season-ending injury to Markelle Fultz.
The 25-year-old is a risky option, but his bargain DFS rostering cost will enable fantasy managers to include both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in fantasy lineups during Sunday’s limited, four-game slate. He hasn’t played the best over his previous two games, but he hit at least 35.7 fantasy points in his last four games before that. Keep him in mind against the Raptors.
Also Consider: Pascal Siakam ($7,500), Tobias Harris ($7,100), Justin Holiday ($4,800), Danny Green ($4,300), Davis Bertans ($4,600), Tony Bradley ($3,900)
FanDuel DFS Centers
DeAndre Jordan, C - @ WSH ($4,900)
Another bargain option on Sunday night, Jordan has the potential to surpass his value at a position riddled with uncertainty and absences heading into opening tip. Karl-Anthony Towns won’t play because of COVID-19, and Joel Embiid is questionable with a back injury. Naz Reid is also on the fence, but he’s dealing with a wrist ailment.
Since Jarrett Allen was traded to Cleveland, Jordan has received a slight bump in minutes, especially since the Nets are now sorely lacking size underneath the rim. His field goal percentage remains high, and he will likely benefit from a favorable matchup against a Wizards team that is the third-worst from a fantasy perspective against opposing big men this year.
Also Consider: Dwight Howard ($4,600)