🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (1/5/18): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

You know what we deserve after a two game slate? Double digit games and good matchups. Tonight, we're getting both as there are 10 games across the Association. As usual, tip (and thus, FanDuel lock) is at 7pm EST. Two-thirds of the games are taking place in the Eastern or Central time zones, meaning we should have an ample amount of injury/start/sit news before our lineups lock. There are a quad of games tipping at 9pm or later - fingers crossed we know the status of the players on those eight teams.

Thanks to this being a monster slate, we've got quite a lot of injury news to monitor throughout the day. Vegas is monitoring said news closely, and because there is a lot of uncertainty as of this morning, we still have a few games without spreads or over/unders listed. I'll update the section when we have more information, but as of now, there are three games which I consider to have relatively elite point total projections. In no particular order, those games are the Raptors at Bucks (216.5), the Hornets at Lakers (216.5) and Bulls at Mavericks (213).

Below you will find our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/5/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options, to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too.

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS

 

FanDuel DFS Guards

Goran Dragic - PG, vs NYK ($6,800)

It seems like it has been a while since I've been able to comfortably suggest Dragic as a cash game play. Which is odd, seeing as he has generally been one of the most consistent point guards over the last few seasons. It appears that whatever was ailing Goran and the rest of this Heat squad (injuries) has gone away, and Dragic has looked really impressive over the last pair of games, dropping more than 46 FanDuel points in each. In that stretch, the price has risen by just $100, and with a fantastic matchup against the soft defense on the Knicks, I can see him continuing his streak of crushing value. This is a slight pace up game for Dragic, being played at home, against a team that ranks 26th in DVP versus point guards and 27th in defensive efficiency against the position. So long as the game stays close, Dragic should see minutes in the 33-36 range with a Usage rate hovering around his season average of 25%.

Also Consider: Ish Smith - PG, at PHI ($6,100); Tony Parker - PG, vs PHX ($3,900); Kris Dunn - PG, at DAL ($7,900)

 

Tyreke Evans - SG, vs WAS 

Extreme pace-up alert! The Memphis Grizzlies are going to be fantasy blessed today with a monstrous pace-up game, and the biggest beneficiaires (as the data has shown us before) in pace up games are the back court mates. Tyreke, who has essentially re-invented his offense, is posting totals in field goal percentage, field goal percentage from three, true shooting percentage, free throw percentage and PER. There's more, but you get the point. His price tonight is fairly steep, but he's been able to hit and/or exceed value in three of those four games, and none was as good a matchup as the one in front of him this evening. Yes, the Wizards ranks 8th in defensive efficiency against shooting guards, but I think the sheer volume of possessions and Evans' massive 30 Usage rate will help him to exceed value tonight.

Also Consider: Malcolm Brogdon - SG, vs TOR ($4,900); Khris Middleton - SG, vs TOR ($7,200); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SG, vs CHA ($5,500)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Denzel Valentine - SF, at DAL ($4,500)

No disrespect to Mr. Valentine or any of the other small forwards mentioned below, but this position is essentially a wasteland as it stands right now. This is a bit shocking and annoying seeing as we have a big, 10-game slate, but I'm just calling it as I see it. We've got studs in tough matchups or easy fade situations and the value plays, well, just aren't dripping with the value you'd hope for. Thanks to there being so many guards worth paying up for and this position being weak, it's best to spend down here and save your cash for positions with more elite options. Relatively speaking, I think Valentine finds himself in a good position to cash tonight. He's got a cheap price tag - one he's paid off several times and in two of his last three games - and a matchup that should feature a lot of offense and little defense. The thing I like most about Valentine tonight is that he should see in the range of 28-30 minutes as a player who averages 3/4 point per minute on the floor.

Also Consider: Evan Turner - SF, vs ATL ($4,800); Kyle Anderson - SF, vs PHX ($5,000); Robert Covington - SF, vs DET ($6,000)

 

Kyle Kuzma - PF, vs CHA ($6,000)

I really love Kuzma tonight in what should be an offensive slug-fest in Los Angeles. This is a slight pace down game for the Lakers, but Vegas and several other projections have this as one of the highest scoring games of the night. Why? Soft defenses on either side. Specific to the power forward, Kuzma has an excellent matchup, as the Hornets rank 25th in DVP and 27th in defensive efficiency. Thus far this season, Kuzma owns a really strong .322 points per touch and is no stranger to knocking down shots with consistency, posting a 57% True Shooting percentage.

Also Consider: Derrick Favors - PF, at DEN ($6,400); Taj Gibson - PF, at BOS ($5,800)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Joel Embiid - C, vs DET ($10,500)

A well rested Joel Embiid has a matchup I am really digging today. Whether or not Andre Drummond plays (currently Questionable - my guess is he sits), I think this is a game where we can witness Embiid's ceiling. Detroit slows it down a bit, and that actually suits Embiid's half-court game quite well. So far this season, he's posting an elite point-per-minute rate of 1.46 and a Usage rate at 31%. Both of those figures are extremely attractive, and I see Embiid as an elite play tonight, particularly for tournaments.

Also Consider: Dwight Howard - C, at LAL ($8,600); Enes Kanter - C, at MIA ($4,900); Miles Plumlee - C, at POR ($3,700)



NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts





POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
Lonzo Ball

Available Against Knicks
Evan Mobley

Listed as Questionable for Christmas Tilt
OG Anunoby

Returns to Action Thursday
Jalen Brunson

Available on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Cam Whitmore

Out Indefinitely With Deep Vein Thrombosis
Corey Kispert

Lasts for 13 Minutes in Comeback Game
Jaxson Hayes

Makes Early Exit Versus Suns
Gary Trent Jr.

Limited to Five Minutes Tuesday
Matas Buzelis

Exits With Leg Injury Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Sustains Calf Injury Tuesday
Cameron Johnson

Scheduled for MRI After Hurting Right Knee
Chet Holmgren

Suffers Facial Injury Tuesday
Caris LeVert

Upgraded to Available Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP