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 Saturday, Feb. 1. With 10 games on tap, we have a myriad of options to choose from. Damien has some takes on Trae Young, John Collins and more!
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NBA DFS Point Guard: Trae Young $9,900 FanDuel $10,300 DraftKings
All-Star Trae Young has been the one of the few bright spots for the rebuilding Atlanta Hawks, averaging 1.53 fantasy points on 34.8 percent usage with a 42.6 assist percentage this season. He’s been remarkable at every facet of the game, putting up big fantasy point games and establishing his mark as one of the best pure shooters in the NBA. Averaging 29.4 points on 20-plus attempts for 47.8 fantasy points per game, Young can light it up quickly.
*Honorable Mention: Kyrie Irving $8,900 FanDuel $9,100 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: Malcolm Brogdon $6,800 FanDuel $6,600 DraftKings
***Honorable Mention: Damian Lillard $10,200 FanDuel $10,200 DraftKings
NBA DFS Shooting Guard: DeMar DeRozan $8,600 FanDuel $8,700 DraftKings
DeMar DeRozan is sporting a 33.0 usage percentage and averaging 1.34 fantasy points per minute in 361 played without LaMarcus Aldridge on the floor. Over the last month, DeRozan has been on fire and on the season, he is averaging 23.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists, good for 38.9 fantasy points. Also, he’s shooting at a very high rate of 53.5 from the field on 15.9 attempts. The San Antonio Spurs will host the Charlotte Hornets who have the third-worst defensive rating in basketball.
*Honorable Mention: Bradley Beal $9,600 FanDuel $9,900 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: D’Angelo Russell $7,600 FanDuel $8,500 DraftKings
***Honorable Mention: Marcus Smart $5,800 FanDuel $6,300 DraftKings
NBA DFS Small Forward: Gordon Hayward $6,600 FanDuel $7,500 DraftKings
Gordon Hayward has averaged 1.05 fantasy points per minute with a 21.3 usage percentage. He is shooting 51.7 from the field on 13.1 attempts which is good for 32.3 fantasy points per game. Hayward has been over 40 fantasy points in three of his last four, playing close to 40 minutes a game during that span. For the season, he’s playing 32.4 minutes on average and for his price point, he looks like a steal.
*Honorable Mention: T.J. Warren $5,900 FanDuel $6,100 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: LeBron James $11,000 FanDuel $10,600 DraftKings
***Honorable Mention: Tobias Harris $6,800 FanDuel $7,100 DraftKings
NBA DFS Power Forward: John Collins $7,600 FanDuel $8,000 DraftKings
Since coming off suspension, John Collins has been solid, averaging 1.21 fantasy points per minute with a 23.4 usage percentage in 23 games. Averaging a double-double on the year, Collins is posting 19.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, shooting 54.9 from the field on 15 attempts. He is producing 38.8 fantasy points per game, and looks great in an up-tempo matchup against a poor Dallas Mavericks defense.
*Honorable Mention: Draymond Green $5,800 FanDuel $5,700 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: Kristaps Porzingis $7,200 FanDuel $7,200 DraftKings
***Honorable Mention: Kevin Love $6,700 FanDuel $6,900 DraftKings
NBA DFS Center: Jakob Poeltl $4,900 FanDuel $5,600 DraftKings
Yes, I know Jakob Poeltl killed your lineups the other day, but he was the right play so I can live with that. Obviously, with Aldridge already ruled out, Poeltl must be considered again regardless of the letdown. I’m willing to go right back to the well, as our very own Josh Engleman would say. In that game though, Poeltl had two early fouls in the first three minutes which ultimately was the deciding factor that held him back from hitting value. He gets a nice bounce-back spot here at home against the Charlotte Hornets.
*Honorable Mention: Joel Embiid $9,200 FanDuel $9,600 DraftKings
**Honorable Mention: Mitchell Robinson $5,400 FanDuel $5,100 DraftKings
***Honorable Mention: Dewayne Dedmon $3,900 FanDuel $4,900 DraftKings
