Saturday, Jan. 4 delivers a nine-game main slate for all the big daily fantasy sites. Before you lock in your NBA DFS lineups and NBA DFS picks on DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo and FantasyDraft, make sure to check out check out Awesemo’s NBA DFS rankings and projections. Let’s dig into some NBA DFS Picks, including Marcus Smart, De’Aaron Fox and more.
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Don’t forget to check out the NBA Strategy Show featuring Adam “ShipMyMoney” Scherer and Your Ol’ Pal EMac as they break down the NBA DFS slate. They focus on Bradley Beal’s injury, Andre Drummond plus other injury news and analysis.
NBA DFS Picks: Prime Time Players
Marcus Smart: Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls
DraftKings $5,400, FanDuel $5,000, Yahoo $18 Ownership Rating (preliminary run): DraftKings 1.0%, FanDuel 2.0% Yahoo Fantasy 1.0%
This recommendation is assuming that Kemba Walker misses another game with his illness. As long as he is out, Marcus Smart becomes one of the best plays on the slate in a matchup with the Bulls. In the last two games, both starts, Smart is averaging 33.0 minutes with 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 3.0 combined blocks/steals. He will be the primary facilitator and should have a floor of around 30 fantasy points with another 10-15 in potential upside.
De’Aaron Fox: Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans
DraftKings $8,600, FanDuel $7,300, Yahoo $30 Ownership Rating (preliminary run): DraftKings 7.1%, FanDuel 37.2% Yahoo Fantasy 41.0%
On DraftKings, the better pivot would be to LaMarcus Aldridge at $7,200. On FanDuel and Yahoo, De’Aaron Fox is in line as one of the top options in all game formats. Over the last month, the Pelicans have played at a top ten pace with a bottom ten defensive efficiency rating. They are on a back-to-back after losing last night in Los Angeles to the Lakers.
In his three games since returning from back spasms, Fox has averaged 31.14 minutes with 18.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 3.0 combined blocks/steals. Marvin Bagley may miss a couple of weeks, so we know that bodes well for the production of Fox and teammate Buddy Hield.
Buddy Hield: Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans
DraftKings $8,600, FanDuel $7,300, Yahoo $30 Ownership Rating (preliminary run): DraftKings 7.1%, FanDuel 37.2% Yahoo Fantasy 41.0%
When Marvin Bagley and even De’Aaron Fox miss time, it does not really chance the production rates for Buddy Hield, but it does secure additional minutes going his way. He is second in the league with 10.1 three-point attempts per game and he is knocking them down at a 36.4% clip which is actually below his 40.8% career rate. This should be a fast paced game and we want to get some representation from the Kings.
NBA DFS Picks: Good Value
San Antonio Spurs Backcourt at Milwaukee Bucks
Dejounte Murray (personal) is out tonight so that means one less Spurs guard in the mix with Derrick White, Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes. While this is not the best matchup, this trio is not priced to reflect an additional minutes boost in the 25-35% range. This is my listed preference, regardless of whomever draws the start. However, I do not want more than two of this trio on any one roster.
NBA DFS Picks: Risky Value
Zach LaVine: Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics
DraftKings $7,500, FanDuel $7,900, Yahoo $29 Ownership Rating (preliminary run): DraftKings 20.2%, FanDuel 16.0% Yahoo Fantasy 26.8%
My speculation is that this popularity will subside as more news comes out, but from an upside perspective I am just not seeing it with Zach LaVine in this matchup against Boston. He has topped 50 fantasy points only three times this season. To be fair, he has 40+ in 8 of his last 11 and four of hos games were 46+ but none over 50 fantasy points. Once the dust settles, he will likely be on one of every five lineups in tournaments, but I would prefer to earmark that salary cap for other options.
Yahoo Discount Dandies
Derrick White, Patty Mills and Bryn Forbes at MIL – $10
T.J. McConnell at ATL – $11
Darius Garland and Cedi Osman vs. OKC – $11
Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber vs. CHA – $12
Alex Len vs. IND – $12 (only if John Collins is out)
Daniel Theis at CHI – $12 (only if Enes Kanter is out)
FantasyCruncher Tip of the Day
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Final Thoughts
We have A TON of moving parts with 18 teams in action and five on back-to-backs (ATL, BOS, NOP, ORL, WAS) plus DET and CLE playing again on Sunday.
Be sure to tune into the Deeper Dive/Live Before Lock two hour block on YouTube, Twitch and Periscope beginning at 5 p.m. EST for all of the up-to-date information.
As always, you can reach out to me in Awesemo.com Premium Slack or on Twitter @EMacDFS if you have any NBA DFS questions about DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo or FantasyDraft.
Good Luck NBA DFS Gamers! ~ EMac
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