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

DraftKings and FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (1/18/23): NBA DFS Lineups

LaMelo Ball - Charlotte Hornets

NBA DFS sleepers and values plays for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 18, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco gives you his top NBA DFS picks and lineup targets.

After a typically quiet Tuesday night, we're back up to a big nine-game mid-week ledger Wednesday. There is no shortage of elite options with 18 teams taking the floor, as well as several mid-range/value plays at each position, especially centers.

The injury report fortunately isn't overly populated with many short-term issues, either, which helps keep the player pool robust. As of late Tuesday night, there are some bright prospects in terms of solid DFS environments -- four of the seven games with posted totals sport figures over 230 points, including two that eclipse 240.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the respective main slates on DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/18/23. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before lineups lock, which is at 7:30 pm ET. Good luck, RotoBallers.

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 30% off using code WIN! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks  

LaMelo Ball - PG, CHA at HOU ($9,600 DK, $9,600 FD)

Ball has frequently offered returns worthy of a five-figure salary this season, and he checks into Wednesday having eclipsed 50 DK points in eight of his last 10 games and on four occasions on FD in that timeframe as well. The star guard will be an integral part of a game that has a projected total of over 235 points as of early Wednesday, and he also happens to be drawing a matchup against a team whose vulnerabilities are a perfect match for his skill set.

The Rockets have allowed the second-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (29.9), along with an NBA-high 55.0 DK/54.2 FD points per game to the position. Houston is also surrendering an elevated 26 assists per contest in the last three games and has given up an NBA-high 8.9 steals per home contest, two vulnerabilities Ball is very capable of exploiting as evidenced by the career-high 8.4 dimes and 1.1 steals he's averaging.

Darius Garland - SG/PG, CLE at MEM ($8,100 DK, $8,000 FD)

Garland appears set to take the floor Wednesday without Donovan Mitchell (groin), who was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on Tuesday night. The talented point guard should have plenty more offensive responsibility in his backcourt mate's absence, and he's coming off a game in which he posted 59 DK/54.7 FD points against the Pelicans, a contest that Mitchell departed after 22 minutes of floor time due to his injury.

Garland checks in already running hot, averaging 24.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, along with 50.4 percent shooting, including 46.3 percent from three-point range, over his last eight games. Garland is putting up just under 40 fantasy points per game in that sample, and the Grizzlies have been much more vulnerable to point guards recently while allowing just over 51 DK and over 49 FD points to the position in the last seven games.

Jamal Murray - PG, DEN vs. MIN ($6,500 DK, $7,200 FD)

Murray's salaries are eye-catching considering he's eclipsed 40 DK points on 10 occasions and on nine instances on FD. The star point guard shot 50 percent in his one prior encounter with the Timberwolves this season as well, and he's shooting an impressive 39.0 percent from three-point range at home this season. Murray has been even hotter from behind the arc in recent games, draining a blistering 47.1 percent of his attempts from downtown in his last 11 contests.

Minnesota checks in allowing the 10th-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (27.3), along with 50.2 DK/48.6 FD points per game to the position. The T-Wolves have also given up the fourth-most steals per contest (8.0), and they've yielded 37.1 percent three-point shooting on the season, including 41.2 percent in the last three contests. In turn, Murray is shooting 48.8 percent from distance in the last six contests, certainly a good potential harbinger of success Wednesday.

ALSO CONSIDER: De'Aaron Fox - PG, SAC at LAL ($8,300 DK, $8,300 FD)

Want more NBA DFS tools and content? Our NBA Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms where members can chat with our NBA analysts. Check out this big win from RotoBaller premium member Bsuperak on FanDuel using our Premium tools - join in on the winning!

 

DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks   

Julius Randle - PF, NYK vs. WAS ($10,100 DK, $9,900 FD)  

Randle lit up the Wizards for 47.5 DK/43.7 FD points just three games ago, his only prior matchup versus Washington this season. The talented forward is coming off a blistering two-game stretch where he's averaged 31.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across 41 minutes, leading to tallies of 71.8/54.3 DK and 68/51 FD points. Randle has hit the double-double bonus in 11 consecutive contests as well, and he'll once again be primed for a successful performance in Wednesday's rematch.

The Wizards have given up an NBA-high 55.1 DK/53.9 FD points per game to power forwards over the last seven games. Washington has given up an NBA-high 2.2 steals per contest to fours over that span as well, along with an elevated 50.8 points in the paint per road contest. The Wizards are also conceding 37.2 percent three-point shooting on the road, while Randle is putting up a robust 8.9 three-point attempts in the last 15 contests.

Christian Wood - PF/C, DAL vs. ATL ($8,600 DK, $8,300 FD)     

The Hawks' frontcourt has been porous most of the season and Wood arrives in a midst of a torrid stretch of play, an enticing combination for DFS purposes. Wood is averaging 22.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks across 33.4 minutes over his last 11 games, a stretch in which he's shooting 54.0 percent, including 37.9 percent from three-point range. Wood has scored at least 40 DK points on eight occasions and in seven instances on FD during that sample, including a pair of 60-plus fantasy-point efforts on each site.

Atlanta is giving up the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to frontcourt players (85.5). The Hawks are also conceding the fourth-most DK (48.9) and third-most FD (47.0) points per game to power forwards on the season, including 51.7 DK/49.7 FD points per contest in the last seven games. They've also yielded the third-most rebounds per road game (55.1), as well as the fifth-most points in the paint per contest (53.7) overall, two additional metrics that further Wood's case.

Jarred Vanderbilt  - PF/C, UTA vs. LAC ($5,300 DK, $5,700 FD) 

Vanderbilt is never very highly rostered on a large slat, yet he's proven capable of outperforming his current salaries on multiple occasions and is in a favorable matchup Wednesday. Additionally, Vanderbilt is averaging 25 fantasy points per game on either site in his last 14 contests despite averaging just 25 minutes per game in that sample, and he's put up over 28 DK/FD points in six instances over that span.

The Clippers went into Tuesday night's contest allowing the sixth-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (28.4), along with 49.0 percent shooting to the position. L.A. is also giving up over 45 fantasy points per game on either site to fours on the season, along with the fourth-most steals per road game. In turn, Vanderbilt has recorded multiple steals on 11 occasions, and at least one swipe in 31 games overall.

ALSO CONSIDER: LeBron James, PF/C, LAL vs. SAC ($11,500 DK, $11,400 FD)

 

DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks  

Domantas Sabonis -  C/PF, SAC at LAL ($10,500 DK, $10,200 FD)     

Sabonis just put up 73.3 DK/71 FD points two games ago across 37 minutes versus the Rockets, a vivid reminder of his upside. The big man has exceeded 50 DK points on 19 occasions overall this season, and he's done the same on FD a total of 12 times. Sabonis has already enjoyed plenty of success against the same Lakers squad he'll face Wednesday as well, averaging 53.1 DK/49 FD points over three games while putting up 19.7 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists across 34.5 minutes per contest.

The Lakers check-in allowing the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (35.5), along with the third-most DK (58.8) and FD (58.5) points per game to the position on the season. What's more, Sabonis may be catching L.A. at its most vulnerable point of the season, as Darvin Ham's squad has yielded an NBA-high 66.5 DK/66.3 FD points per contest to fives in the last seven games. The Lakers have also given up the fifth-most rebounds per home game (54.4), upping Sabonis' chances of recording his 33rd double-double of the season.

Alperen Sengun - C, HOU vs. CHA ($7,700 DK, $7,500 FD)

Sengun is very capable of outperforming his current salaries, as he's already exceeded 40 DK points on nine occasions and in eight instances on FD thus far this season. Sengun is coming off his best game of the season, posting 70.3 DK/70 FD points versus the Lakers to close out the MLK Day slate on Monday night. Sengun now draws an even more appealing matchup versus the Hornets, who have been highly vulnerable to centers all season and have been a magnet for double-doubles throughout the campaign.

Charlotte is surrendering the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (35.5), along with 55.3 percent shooting, including 41.4 percent from three-point range, to the position. The Hornets have also given up an NBA-high 60.8 DK/60.1 FD points per game to centers, along with an Eastern Conference-high 54.8 rebounds and an NBA-high 6.2 blocks per road game, giving Sengun multiple paths to fantasy success.

Walker Kessler - C, UTA vs. LAC ($5,400 DK, $7,900 FD)

The discrepancy between Kessler's salaries on DK and FD is significant, making him an outstanding value on the former but still a solid play on the latter. The emerging rookie just went off for a career-best 20-point, 21-rebound double-double on Monday night against the Timberwolves, a performance that netted an outstanding 57.3 DK/56.2 FD points across 31 minutes. It was Kessler's second straight double-double and third in the last five games, and he'll now get a crack at a Clippers team on the second night of a back-to-back set.

ALSO CONSIDER: Mason Plumlee -  C, CHA at HOU ($6,300 DK; $7,200 FD); Ivica Zubac - C, LAC at UTA ($5,300 DK, $5,700 FD)



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis




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

Tyler Soderstrom

Returns to A's Lineup
Tyler Warren

Sidelined on Wednesday with Toe Injury
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks

RANKINGS

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