Need a jump start on your lineups before Awesemo’s NBA DFS rankings or projections? No worries, Damien Mathews has you covered his Pick 5! favorite NBA DFS Picks for DraftKings and FanDuel for Sunday, January 26. With eight games on tap, we have a myriad of options to choose from. Damien has some takes on Bradley Beal and more!
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Does not include Fantasy Cruncher.
NBA DFS Pick No. 1: Bradley Beal $8,300 FanDuel $8,200 DraftKings
Bradley Beal is way underpriced and should be considered a lock for this NBA DFS slate. He gets a great matchup with the Atlanta Hawks in what should be the highest-scoring game of the night, as both teams play at a top-six pace and are two of the worst defensive teams in the league. Beal is rounding back to form again and has put up three straight good games. On the season, he is averaging 1.32 fantasy points per minute with a 32.7 usage percentage and 28.6 assist percentage, good for 43.3 fantasy points per game.
*Honorable Mention: Devin Booker $8,800 FanDuel $8,100 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: Dillon Brooks $5,200 FanDuel $5,500 DraftKings
NBA DFS Pick No. 2: Damian Lillard $9,700 FanDuel $10,400 DraftKings
Damian Lillard is possibly playing the best basketball of his career right now. He is smoking hot, averaging 1.35 fantasy points per minute with a 29.8 usage percentage and 32.6 assist percentage for the season. Over the last month though, his production climbed to a 31.7 usage percentage, 1.44 fantasy points per minute and 34.2 assist percentage. Clearly the addition of Trevor Ariza opens more space and that leads to more chances for Lillard as Ariza can knock down the 3. He looks amazing and is a core play for me in all formats.
*Honorable Mention: Trevor Ariza $4,100 FanDuel $5,000 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: Kemba Walker $7,600 FanDuel $7,900 DraftKings
NBA DFS Pick No. 3: Kawhi Leonard $10,200 FanDuel $10,200 DraftKings
Without Paul George on the court, Kawhi Leonard is sporting a behemoth 38.5 usage percentage and 24.5 assist percentage which leads to 1.67 fantasy points per minute average in 307 minutes played. He is averaging 48.6 fantasy points per game on the season, attempting 20-plus shots and delivering on 46.4 percent of them. Also, Leonard is getting you career-high 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists, plus two steals and a block per game. Ultimately, he grades out as a clear option for 60-plus fantasy points tonight.
*Honorable Mention: Jonas Valanciunas $7,100 FanDuel $6,900 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: John Collins $7,700 FanDuel $8,000 DraftKings
