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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 26, 2023. Mike Marteny provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Since the NFL has stepped out of the way, the NBA is starting to spread the games out a little more. We have six games on our schedule tonight with Houston, Brooklyn, and the Spurs playing the second night of back-to-backs. Watch out for sitting Nets with a Spur or two doing the same.
With both FanDuel and DraftKings having multi-position eligibility players, we'll have to attack slates accordingly 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 1/26/23. 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.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kyrie Irving - vs. DET (FD: $10,100, DK: $10,300)
Since Kyrie missed a game last week with a calf injury, he has come back and run roughshod over the left coast. He's back at home tonight after putting up more than 60 fantasy points in three straight games out west and topping 80 in one of those. He is soaking up most of the usage left vacant by Kevin Durant. This is another superb matchup for Irving. With Durant out, his ceiling is just as high as Luka's and he comes at a significant discount.
Darius Garland - at HOU (FD: $8,400, DK: $8,600)
I have no earthly idea why Houston would play Donovan Mitchell – who appeared to re-injure his groin late in the game on Tuesday – against a team like Houston, so I'm going to operate as if he's sitting. Houston is still expected to be without Kevin Porter, and though they are an exciting young team, they still aren't that good. Garland has five straight games over 40 fantasy points and hit 50 in three straight games with Mitchell out last week. Houston isn't going to stop him from reaching those marks tonight.
Jaden Ivey - at BKN (FD: $6,200, DK: $6,300)
The rookie out of Purdue is going to get every chance to prove that he deserved his draft slot with Cade Cunningham out. Ivey has had his ups and downs this season, but he has at least 25 fantasy points in every game that he has played since January 2. 25 points is a stable floor and we've seen him drop 40 at this price. He has a nice ceiling against a Nets team that is playing the tail end of a back-to-back.
Also consider: Luka Doncic (FD: $12,000, DK $12,700); Terry Rozier (FD: $8,300, DK $8,500); Caris LeVert (FD: $5,500, DK: $5,600)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Julius Randle - at BOS (FD: $10,000, DK: $9,900)
Since Mitch Robinson went down, Randle has been hauling in some extra rebounds while still scoring at an elite level. Randle has a double-double in all but one game since Christmas, and he has even approached 20 rebounds with Robinson out. That won't happen against a well-rested Celtics squad, but Randle is going to play 40 minutes and he is playing the five with Mitch Rob out, which is bad for the Celtics.
Evan Mobley - at HOU (FD: $7,000, DK: $7,200)
The Houston frontcourt is an adventure, especially on defense. I am concerned about a blowout in this game, but the Cavs will look to rest Garland first and will likely hold out Mitchell. That will leave a few more shots open for Mobley. We have seen some huge stat lines from Mobley because he is a very efficient shooter even though he rarely goes to the foul line. It's Houston. Mobley could have a big game even if he doesn't see his normal complement of minutes.
Jeremy Sochan - at LAC (FD: $5,300, DK: $4,800)
The absence of Devin Vassell is opening up some minutes for the younger guys, one being first-round pick Jeremy Sochan. With the price on Keldon Johnson approaching untenable for his normal output, I like the bargain on Sochan. First off, he is a defense-first player, which is a rarity in today's NBA. That gives Sochan a better floor than most in this range and he has scored in double figures in five straight games. I'll ride him until the wheels fall off.
Also consider: Kawhi Leonard (FD: $9,500, DK: $10,000), Bojan Bogdanovic (FD: $6,900, DK: $6,900), Jalen McDaniels (FD: $6,000, DK $5,200)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Nikola Vucevic - at CHA (FD: $8,400, DK: $9,000)
Charlotte gives up the most rebounds on the planet and Vucevic is one of the league's elite rebounders anyway. He might grab a rebound per minute tonight. No, I'm not kidding. There are a few high ceilings on this slate, but Vucevic might have the highest and he's priced lower than the rest of the options, especially on FanDuel.
Jalen Duren - at BKN (FD: $6,200, DK: $5,100)
Brooklyn isn't the team to target with centers anymore, but Duren is severely underpriced, especially on DraftKings. He has a double-double in three of the last four games, including one in just 18 minutes against the Bulls last week. He's superbly efficient as a shooter and an excellent rebounder. Detroit selected Duren as a raw prospect with a lot of potential. They are already coaxing some of that potential out. He is what Jaxson Hayes was supposed to be.
Also consider: Alperen Sengun (FD: $8,300, DK: $8,700); Nicolas Claxton (FD: $8,200, DK: $7,600)
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