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Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! I hope this week of NBA DFS has treated you well. I'm continuing to work on my NBA model, trying to gather more information to make sure all of you are as armed as possible going into each slate. Even with the small adjustments I've made so far, it seems to be working. I'm trying to implement different factors to separate cash options against GPP options. I'll continue to keep you all updated with the adjustments I make, and with all of that said, let's get to tonight!
Tonight we have a nice big slate, with 13 games on tap. With now both FanDuel and DraftKings having multi-position eligibility players, we'll have to attack slates a bit differently to make our lineups as optimal as possible. That's where I come in! I'll look to find my personal top plays and values for tonight's slate. Things can change during the day as well, so I'll do my best to update as news comes out!
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 1/19/21. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Trae Young - vs MIN (FD: $9,600, DK: $9,800)
I'll start today's slate off with Trae Young. Young has been hot lately, including a 30 point, four rebounds, and 11 assist performance against the Bucks on Monday. While the Hawks are relatively healthy, they will be without Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic tonight. With those two off the floor, Trae averages 1.32 FanDuel points and 1.39 DraftKings points per minute. It's reasonable to expect Trae to play at least 36 minutes tonight, and as long as "Ice Trae" stays hot in what should be a high-scoring matchup with a Timberwolves team on a back-to-back, it's reasonable to believe he should hit 5x value tonight.
Mike Conley, vs HOU (FD: $5,700, DK: $6,000)
Conley, along with the rest of the Jazz, hasn't played great lately but should be able to turn it around tonight in a "get right" matchup with Houston. Utah will be without Donovan Mitchell and Hassan Whiteside in this one, opening up some value opportunities for us to take advantage of. With Mitchell and Whiteside off of the floor, Conley averages 0.97 FanDuel points and 1.01 DraftKings points per minute. This one should be higher-paced and higher-scoring, and the Rockets come into this one ranked dead last in point guard efficiency, leading me to believe that Conley should be one of the top values of the night.
De'Anthony Melton, at MIL (FD: $4,100, DK: $3,700)
There's no question that Melton will be the chalk tonight at the guard position. Melton has shined when given the opportunity this season, and with the Grizzlies missing Kyle Anderson, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, and Killian Tillie tonight, the opportunity is knocking. With those four off the floor, Melton averages 1.07 FanDuel points and 1.06 DraftKings points per minute. He should play at least 25 minutes on the low-end tonight, and in a fast-paced matchup, he should be able to hit value at his low price. With that said, though, the Bucks do rank 4th in shooting guard efficiency. That won't stop me from rostering Melton in cash games, and it shouldn't stop you either.
Also consider: Darius Garland (FD: $8,700, DK: $9,000), Cade Cunningham (FD: $6,000, DK: $7,300)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Scottie Barnes, at DAL (FD: $5,500, DK: $6,400)
Barnes went viral on social media, showing his finishing ability on Monday night against the Heat. He'll get a chance to build on that 16 point, eight-rebound, six-assist performance tonight in a matchup with the Mavericks. While Gary Trent Jr. is questionable for tonight, we know that the Raptors will be without Khem Birch and Goran Dragic tonight. With those two off of the floor, Barnes averages 0.97 FanDuel and 0.95 DraftKings points per minute. The matchup isn't great here, as the Mavericks come into this one ranked eighth in power forward efficiency. I definitely favor Barnes on FanDuel and would use him in large-field tournaments, as it seems like he's been hot and cold over the last few weeks. However, if Trent ends up being ruled out I will consider Barnes in cash.
Hamidou Diallo, at SAC (FD: $5,600, DK: $6,600)
Despite there being just two games last night, the Pistons got the unlucky draw of having a back-to-back situation tonight. This should benefit Diallo, though, as the Pistons will continue to be without Jerami Grant, Frank Jackson, Isaiah Livers, Rodney McGruder, and Kelly Olynyk tonight. With that crew of guys off the floor, Diallo averages 1.06 FanDuel points and 1.02 DraftKings points per minute. He should play at least 26 minutes in this one despite the back-to-back, opening up solid value against a Kings team that ranks 20th in small forward efficiency. He's another play I prefer on FanDuel thanks to the $1,000 discount.
Bojan Bogdanovic, vs HOU (FD: $5,400, DK: $5,800)
Like I mentioned with Mike Conley earlier, the Jazz will be without Hassan Whiteside and more importantly, Donovan Mitchell tonight. With these two off of the floor, Bogy averages 0.85 FanDuel and 0.89 DraftKings points per minute. He's looking to have a "get right" game for himself, after struggling against the Lakers on Monday night. He'll get that opportunity as he should get at least 30 minutes of floor time against a Rockets defense that ranks 21st in small forward efficiency.
Also consider: DeMar DeRozan (FD: $8,500, DK: $9,200) , Kessler Edwards (FD: $4,500, DK: $4,300)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Rudy Gobert, vs UTA (FD: $8,800, DK: $8,500)
I'll look to Rudy Gobert as the final Jazz player on my radar tonight. Gobert seems like the obvious option with Mitchell out, and very well could be the most popular. With Mitchell and Whiteside off the floor, Gobert averages 1.25 FanDuel points and 1.24 DraftKings points per minute. With Whiteside being out as well, Gobert should get a boost in minutes unless the Jazz end up absolutely blowing the doors off Houston early and often, and I have him projected for 35 minutes tonight. I won't be surprised if Gobert is the highest-scoring center on the slate, taking advantage of the dream matchup against the 29th best team in center efficiency.
Onyeka Okongwu, vs MIN (FD: $4,900, DK: $4,600)
Did the Hawks find themselves another solid big in Okongwu? He certainly made it look like it on Monday, when he logged 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in 36 minutes in a win against the Bucks. With Clint Capela as well as Bogdan Bogdanovic out tonight, Okongwu will likely draw the start and should see around 30 minutes. With Bogdanovic and Capela off the floor, Okongwu averages 1.06 FanDuel and 0.99 DraftKings points per minute. The Wolves should have some tired legs after a big comeback win against the Knicks tonight, and I can see him taking advantage of the 27th ranked team in center efficiency, priming him for another big night.
Also consider: Bobby Portis (FD: $6,300, DK: $7,000), Jusuf Nurkic (FD: $7,800, DK: $8,700)
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