Happy New Year’s Day, everybody! For the first day of 2021, we get a full 10-game slate for Friday night. Below are some of my favorite NBA daily fantasy picks for both FanDuel and DraftKings based on Awesemo’s grades and values.
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NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: Awesemo Grades + Ownership | 1/1
Point Guard: D’Angelo Russell
Grades: DraftKings: A, Values: A FanDuel Grades: A, Values: A
Russell has been a victim of back-to-back blowouts, but tonight’s matchup vs the Wizards should be competitive from start to finish with Washington only favored by one point. This is the smallest spread of this ten-game slate and this contest also presents a healthy over/under game total of 233 points. The Wolves will be without their star center Karl-Anthony Towns, and when he has been off the court this season, Russell has led the Minnesota with a 29.8% usage rate.
Furthermore, the Wizards are a dream matchup for point guards. Up until this point of the season, they rank 4th in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. Russell is averaging 40.8 DraftKings points per game (PPG) in game totals above 230 points over the last two years and he is very underpriced on both FanDuel and DraftKings.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 24.3%, FanDuel 26.4%
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Power Forward: Thaddeus Young
Grades: DraftKings: C, Values: A FanDuel Grades: C, Values: A
He didn’t draw the start, but with Lauri Markkanen (calf) out last night, Young contributed 31.25 DraftKings points across 27 minutes against the Wizards. Markkanen will also miss Friday’s tilt vs the Bucks and Young should continue to see a sizable role off the bench. Currently via Awesemo’s projections, the veteran is projected for 24 minutes of work tonight, which is more than enough time for him to exceed five-times value at his cheap price tags.
Including his results from last season, Young produces 1.2 DraftKings points per minute (PPM) and in the last ten contests the forward has logged at least 20 minutes, he is generating 30.2 DraftKings points per game (PPG). Per Awesemo’s projections, Young is a top-five point-per-dollar value on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 19.3%, FanDuel 17.9%
Small Forward: Gordon Hayward
Grades: DraftKings: B, Values: A FanDuel Grades: B, Values: A
Hayward struggled in his last start, recording 25.25 DraftKings points in the blowout loss to the Mavs on Wednesday, but he is in the perfect bounce back spot tonight vs the Grizzlies. Four games into the season, this Memphis team ranks 25th in defensive efficiency and 3rd in pace. This has resulted in them allowing the 2nd most DraftKings PPG to opposing small forwards.
Prior to his poor outing Wednesday night, Hayward had been tremendous with the Hornets this season, producing 42.5 DraftKings PPG. He should get back on track with at least 35 fantasy points tonight and Hayward is particularly an appealing option on FanDuel, where he is only projected for an ownership of 3.1%, based on Awesemo’s projections.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 11.8%, FanDuel 3.1%
Center: Enes Kanter
Grades: DraftKings: C, Values: C FanDuel Grades: C., Values: B
Kanter has been very effective in his second stint with the Blazers, averaging 25.7 DraftKings PPG this season. He is logging 22.5 minutes per game off the bench and the center has notched a double-double in each of his last two contests. The 28-year-old is providing an excellent 1.14 DraftKings PPM and he is in the perfect spot to continue his double-double streak Friday vs the Warriors.
Thus far this season, this Golden State squad has surrendered the most rebounds per game and this tilt sports an over/under game total of 235 points, which is the 2nd highest total of this ten-game slate. Kanter should be very active in this high scoring affair and he is expected to come with minimal ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel this evening.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 1.7%, FanDuel 0.4%
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