Welcome back, everybody. For Monday night, we get a full nine-game slate to attack. 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: Awesemo Grades + Ownership | Jan. 4
Point Guard: De’Aaron Fox
DraftKings Grades: A, Values: A
FanDuel Grades: A, Values: A
Fox has provided over 40 DraftKings points in four of his first six starts to open the season, and tonight he will be competing in the highest game total of this nine-game slate against the Warriors. This contest sports an over/under of 233.5 points, and this is a perfect spot for Fox. Not only has this Warriors’ defense struggled so far, ranking as the fourth-worst unit in basketball, but their offense is also playing at the fastest pace in the league.
Fox thrives in up-tempo settings, and the speedster is averaging 44.6 DraftKings points per game this season when he plays in a game total of at least 225 points. Per Awesemo’s projections, Fox is a top-15 point-per-dollar value on both FanDuel and DraftKings tonight.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 18.2%, FanDuel 27.2%
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Point Guard: Delon Wright
DraftKings Grades: C, Values: A
FanDuel Grades: C, Values: A
Tonight’s contest against the Bucks will be the Pistons’ second game in two nights. For their first back-to-back set of the season, Detroit chose to rest Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. Both of these players suited up last night against the Celtics, and it seems likely that the injury-prone veterans will sit out Monday against the Bucks. These two players rank first and fourth in usage for the Pistons, and with them both absent, the door instantly opens for Wright to garner a large role.
It was exactly a week ago when Griffin and Rose were rested together for the first time, and with them missing, Wright recorded 33.75 DraftKings points against the Hawks. His usage saw a strong bump (27.8%), and the 28-year-old also led the Pistons in assist percentage (30.8%). Wright is one of the premier values on both DraftKings and FanDuel no matter what, but it is worth noting that Josh Jackson (ankle) is also questionable. If Wright were to join Rose and Griffin on the sidelines, he would enter must-play status. The sample size is small, but when Jackson, Griffin and Rose have been off the court this year, Wright has produced a team-high 1.12 DraftKings points per minute.
Update: Jackson and Griffin have been ruled out, but there is no word yet on Rose. Even if he is active, Rose will likely be limited, and regardless of the veteran’s status, Griffin’s and Jackson’s absences still keep Wright as one of the top value plays of the night.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 32.0%, FanDuel 10.6%
Center: Richaun Holmes
DraftKings Grades: C, Values: B
FanDuel Grades: B, Values: B
It’s still early in the season, but it appears Holmes has fully taken over as the Kings’ primary center. He is logging 33.7 minutes per game in his last three, while backup center Hassan Whiteside has only seen 8.7 minutes per game. To no one’s surprise, the hefty amount of playing time has translated to success for Holmes, with him generating 36.9 DraftKings points per game over this time.
The center is amassing 1.0 DraftKings points per minute over the last two seasons and is supplying 36.25 DraftKings points per game in the last 10 he has played 30 minutes or more. The Warriors have surrendered the second-most rebounds per game through the first two weeks of the season, and we can safely project Holmes for a double-double of at least 30 fantasy points in this slate-high total. He is especially appealing on FanDuel, where the center is expected to be vastly under-owned.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 20.3%, FanDuel 5.1%
Point Guard: Stephen Curry
DraftKings Grades: A, Values: B
FanDuel Grades: A, Values: B
Curry was unstoppable last night against the Blazers, hitting 18 of 31 field goals for a career-high 62 points. He contributed a massive fantasy score of 75.75 DraftKings points, and the only thing that has held Curry back from dominating every game this season has been the Warriors playing in blowouts. Three of the six Warrior games have been decided by 10 points or fewer, and Curry is averaging an insane 60.2 DraftKings points per game on those occasions.
Luckily, on top of its hefty game total, this showdown between the Warriors and Kings is expected to be competitive from start to finish, with Sacramento only favored by 2.5 points. With Klay Thompson (Achilles) sidelined, Curry ranks fifth in the NBA in usage rate (35.2%), and we should see him and Fox both shine on Monday night.
Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 19.0% FanDuel 21.4%
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