RADIO
It didn’t take the COVID-19 pandemic long to wreak havoc on the NBA schedule after all. Tuesday’s NBA slate has already been designated to be without Boston/Chicago, while the FanDuel slate makers determined to forgo placing the Miami/Philadelphia contest in as well as both teams have dealt with extensive contact tracing, putting that game in doubt.
With that in mind, there’s a smaller slate than expected. There are multiple big names facing questionable tags (LeBron James, Anthony Davis, John Wall, Victor Oladipo), so make sure to get the final word on all of their respective statuses before locking any lineups. But if you’re looking to sparse through the thicket and find some other names to consider, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/12/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Stephen Curry, PG - GS vs. IND ($9,600)
There aren’t many nights in which Curry isn’t a strong DFS play, particularly under FD’s two-PG rules. But with the Pacers on the second leg of a back-to-back -- in addition to having allowed at least 125 points in each of their last two games -- Curry gets a boost in appeal, especially as his price tag has come back into check.
Primarily a GPP candidate, Curry’s FD points production has fluctuated between 25.8 and 69 points in the span of his last five games; two of those have been below the 30-point plateau, while two have been at 63-plus. Through his first 10 games of the year, Curry is launching a career-high 20.6 field-goal attempts per contest en route to a 28.6 PPG average, all while dialing up 6.7 assists on a nightly basis. His ability to pack the stat sheet when he gets rolling is nothing short of slatebreaking potential, even if he carries some considerable risk of deferring to teammates and/or having his shot not fall at an elite rate, both of which could check his upside back into balance.
Caris Levert, SG - BKN vs. DEN ($7,900)
With Kyrie Irving (personal) remaining absent from the lineup, LeVert is on track to retain his role as starting point guard for the Nets. Even with Kevin Durant back in the mix, LeVert should see an expanded offensive role, with an upside for assist opportunities while playing with the first unit.
The difference between starting and coming off the bench to kick-off this season has been stark for LeVert: when among the starting five, he has averaged 28.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds, where as a reserve, he sits at just 12.6 points and 4.7 assists. Making Tuesday’s matchup an even sweeter proposition is the fact that Denver is yielding the third-highest FD production to opposing PGs this season (53.6), further increasing LeVert’s upside should Irving remain out of the equation.
Yogi Ferrell, PG - CLE vs. UTA ($3,800)
Injuries to the Cavs’ backcourt have stacked up like a Jenga tower with the absences of Darius Garland (shoulder), Dante Exum (calf), and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) creating an opportunity for Ferrell to ink a 10-day contract to return to the league. Ferrell has started 53 games over the past four years, but should see a considerable workload with the team so long as he is on the roster.
Without Collin Sexton (ankle) on the floor Monday, Ferrell dropped nine points across 17 minutes. That doesn’t sound terribly inspiring on the surface -- but a further glean at his numbers show that he had nine shot attempts (four from behind the arc), two rebounds, two steals, an assist and a blocked shot, all while playing with increased vigor. He’ll serve as a punt play that should deliver capped production, even if Sexton is back in the mix.
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Cedi Osman, SF - CLE vs. UTA ($5,100)
There are complex mathematical equations that only the best and brightest can configure, and then there’s the Cavaliers’ rotation plans, particularly when Sexton is unavailable. Irrespective of whether Sexton makes his return Tuesday (and it’ll be tough to gauge if he actually does after he was announced as a starter, warmed up as one, and was then scratched Monday), Osman holds significant upside due to his nearly locked-in 30-plus minute role among the team’s starting five.
Were Osman not shooting an eye-popping 33.6 percent from the field overall to begin the season, his production would be held in a much more revered light. His 3.3 assists -- which include a recent stretch of three straight games with seven dimes -- per night speak to his upside as a passer, particularly if Sexton is unavailable and Osman is tasked with additional ball-handling duties. But one man make an offense not, as Osman has taken at least 12 shots in each of his last six games, a span in which he has averaged nearly 34 minutes of action on a nightly basis.
Doug McDermott, PF - IND @ GS ($3,700)
On the heels of a season-high 21-point scoring performance Monday, McDermott is under consideration primarily in cash contests due to his consistent scoring role with the second unit. While Golden State has managed to put their early-season defensive issues back in check, they still play at the second-fastest pace in the league, a correlation that could allow McDermott to see additional shot attempts, thereby raising his floor.
Trey Lyles, PF - SA @ OKC ($3,600)
With DeMar DeRozan (personal) sidelined for Tuesday’s game, Lyles is expected to remain a member of the starting five, which gives him a tremendous opportunity of at least hitting value on his near punt play price tag. Having played an extremely sparing role as a reserve thus far in 2020-21, Lyles was catapulted into a 35-minute starting gig Sunday without DeRozan. He took just four shots in that span, but was able to snag 10 rebounds and dish out two assists in that span, showcasing his upside should the team deploy him for a similar workload Tuesday.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Al Horford, C - OKC vs. SA ($5,500)
With Tuesday’s top-tier triumvirate of Nikola Jokic, Andre Drummond, and Rudy Gobert all needing to deliver elite production in order to justify their respective price tags, Horford stands out as a likely low roster percentage pivot.
Per FD’s scoring, Horford has reached the 25-point threshold in seven of his first eight games, deviating into the 30s in his only his most recent outing. Not consistently viewed as a long range threat, Horford has tapped into his marksmanship to kick-off the new season, knocking down a career-best two triples per game on average. That shooting prowess bodes in his favor as San Antonio is allowing opponents to shoot a league-high 40.9 percent from three.
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