Welcome to Week 13 of basketball in the Association. I can't believe we're already here - this season is really flying by, but heating up just the same. I can live with those two things coinciding. Anyway, pretty nice set of games we have on deck for this evening, with eight games, and lock, per usual, at 7 pm ET.

Let's glance at a few Vegas lines that should be beneficial for roster construction and applying a little game theory for our tournament entries. As of this writing, we are still missing lines for a few games, but the five we have lines for have some very lofty point projections - which make them quite attractive for pairing, stacking and the like. Those games (with over/under in parenthesis) are Rockets at Bulls (221.5), Cavaliers at Timberwolves (220), and the Raptors at Nets (218). Of the remaining games, there aren't really any to avoid. Amazingly, every over/under thus far has come in at 212 or higher. Yay offense!

Below you will find our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/8/18. You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options, to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Feel free to hit me up on Twitter with questions, too - @kpLUCH.

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FanDuel DFS Guards

Stephen Curry - PG, vs DEN ($9,800)

Oh boy, the chef is cooking! Steph has been on fire of late, and in his last time out he was able to drop 45 actual points in just three quarters - crushing his price implied total in the process by +18. Take a minute to appreciate that. When he's this hot - and Kevin Durant is still sidelined - he almost becomes a must play for me, especially at this price point. I think he and Chris Paul both make sense tonight, but with so many studs on the board, I'd prefer the guy with the cost savings and a season Usage rate that is six percentage points higher. Denver is no slouch defensively (they're middle of the pack, ranking 17th in overall defensive efficiency), but they are still struggling to defend the point guard, ranking 29th in DVP and 24th in efficiency. I like Curry in cash and tournaments, too.

Caris LeVert - SG, vs TOR ($6,100)

Welcome back, Caris, I've missed you. LeVert is expected to return to the lineup tonight after missing two games with a groin strain (check back on his status closer to lock, but all signs point to playing.) Just before his injury absence, LeVert was lighting it up, especially as it pertains to getting his teammates involved (33 assists over his last four games) and he had beaten his price implied total in five straight games. With DeMarre Carroll out tonight and LeVert having one of the best DVP and defensive efficiency matchups (10th, 29th, respectively) among his teammates, I really like this situation for him. LeVert should have the ball in his hands often and garner a high Usage rate in what should a fast paced and high scoring affair.

Other FanDuel DFS Guards to Consider for Cash: Chris Paul - PG, at CHI ($10,200); Kyle Lowry - PG, vs BKN ($7,900); Lou Williams - SG, vs ATL ($8,300); Justin Holiday - SG, vs HOU ($5,800)

Other FanDuel DFS Guards to Consider for Tournaments: Spencer Dinwiddie - PG, vs TOR ($6,000); Gary Harris - SG, at GSW ($6,300); Kris Dunn - SG, vs MIL ($9,400);  Kris Dunn - PG, vs HOU ($7,500); Lou Williams - SG, vs ATL ($8,300)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

I want to preface this section by saying there are a lot of studs playing tonight - LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMarcus Aldridge, etc - that I didn't specifically call out. Rather than point to plays you probably realize are worth playing thanks to their high floor-high ceiling combination, I called out a few mid-range plays that I really like. You'll need the cash savings in a few spots, and generally, my favorite spots to do so is at point guard and either forward position.

Gerald Green - SF, at CHI ($5,700)

What a ride this has been for Gerald Green and the Houston fans. A few weeks ago, Green was hanging out at his house in Boston, and now he's lighting it up for a great Houston team (his hometown, no less) in James Harden's absence. Harden's absence has not only left a ton of minutes to fill, but a ton of offensive responsibility. Being the professional scorer that he is, Green has gracefully slide into a high Usage role and has crushed value twice in three contests. Tonight, he gets a fantastic matchup against a Bulls team that operates quickly (more possessions) and struggles from a defensive efficiency standpoint (28th in the NBA overall). Specific to the position, they are abysmal as well, putting Green in play for me in cash and tournament formats. He may be a popular play, which limits leverage a bit in tournaments, but it's hard to find a player in this price range with a better matchup and as much offensive opportunity. The ceiling is mighty high for Green. (If projected ownership scares you off, Trevor Ariza is a good pivot here.)

Davis Bertans - PF, at SAC ($3,500)

Of course, this play becomes more attractive if LaMarcus Aldridge sits, but either way, Bertans should be on your roster tonight. He is as dirt cheap as they come despite playing good basketball since the turn to 2018. Bertans has beaten his salary implied total in three straight games, and he does so with a nice collection of rebounds, assists and points, which make his floor pretty sturdy (as far as low price players go). In each of the three games he beat value in, his Usage rates were 20, 20 and 9, respectively. While I am hoping for the former tonight, we at least know he can beat his price implied total with a pretty small Usage rate, and if he garners that 20% tonight, he could give us four to five times his value. The matchup is a pretty great one, too. This is a pace up game for the Spurs, and the Kings rank 21st in DVP versus the position and 25th in defensive efficiency.

Other FanDuel DFS Forwards to Consider for Cash: LeBron James - SF, at MIN ($11,400); Joe Harris- SF, vs TOR ($3,700); E'Twaun Moore - SF, vs DET ($4,500); Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF, at IND ($11,100); Serge Ibaka - PF, at BKN ($5,900)

Other FanDuel DFS Forwards to Consider for Tournaments: LeBron James - SF, at MIN ($11,400); Wilson Chandler - SF, at GSW ($4,600); Jimmy Butler - SF, vs CLE ($9,700); Taurean Prince - SF, at LAC ($5,900); Jordan Bell - PF, vs GSW ($4,400); Trey Lyles - PF, at GSW ($6,400)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Kevin Love - C, at MIN ($7,400)

Love's recent play isn't all that inspiring, but what we have today is an excellent shooter in a game that projects to be high scoring and with low defensive output. Love should be matched up with Karl-Anthony Towns tonight, who is one of the worst defensive centers in the league, and I expect him to carry his usual (and attractive) Usage rate around 25 to 26%. The Timbewolves rank 18th in DVP versus centers and 26th in defensive efficiency. For the season, they've allowed a Fanduel point +/- of 3.52 to opposing centers - which is top three on the slate.

Other FanDuel DFS Centers to Consider for Cash: Clint Capela - C, at CHI ($7,400); DeAndre Jordan - C, vs ATL ($8,300)

Other FanDuel DFS Centers to Consider for Tournaments: DeMarcus Cousins - C, vs DET ($10,900); Willie Cauley-Stein - C, vs SAS ($6,900)

 

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