RADIO
With four games on deck for Thursday, we are certainly in for a treat! The statuses of a couple key players are currently up in the air, so it will be pivotal to monitor the injury reports leading up to tipoff.
With that said, after a month and a half of countless players being sent to the health and safety protocols, it appears things are slowly getting back to normal in the association and players are starting to return to their usual workloads. Fortunately for us, it makes constructing DFS lineups less stressful.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/6/22. Remember to monitor NBA injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Let's cut right to the chase and dive into my favorite DraftKings and FanDuel plays for Thursday's four-game slate.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jordan Poole - PG/SG, GSW @ NOP ($5,800 DK, $5,700 FD)
Poole cooled off after Monday's 32-point performance, but she be tasked with a larger workload with Stephen Curry dealing with a quad injury. Remember the last time Curry sat out this season? Poole went off for 32 points and seven rebounds on 22 shot attempts while seeing a 5.5% increase in usage rate. The Pelicans are abysmal defensively and Poole should have the greenlight to hoist as many threes as he desires.
Ja Morant - PG, MEM vs. DET ($9,200 DK; $10,200 FD)
While his FanDuel price tag is a bit inflated, Morant looks like an absolute free space on DraftKings priced $1,000 less. He's been one of the most constant fantasy producers this season when in the lineup and could be without Desmond Bane, De'Anthony Melton, and Dillon Brooks for this one, though the latter two are questionable to play. With Steph Curry's availability for Thursday's game now in question, Morant is the guard worth constructing your roster around on DraftKings.
Cade Cunningham - PG/SG, DET @ MEM ($7,900 DK, $6,800)
If the aforementioned Ja Morant is a bargain on DraftKings then Cunningham is a bargain on FanDuel. Playing against the uptempo Grizzlies without Cory Joseph or Frank Jackson, the rookie should see a huge workload. He's averaged over 30 minutes in his first two games back from COVID-19 protocols and the Grizzlies have been middle of the pack when it comes to defending opposing guards.
GPP PG:
Dennis Schroder - PG/SG, CLE @ WAS ($6,000 DK, $5,300 FD)
Schroder moved to the bench in Wednesday's loss to the Spurs but still managed to post 15 points in 25 minutes of playing time. With Jayson Tatum still getting in stride after a four-game absence in COVID-protocols, the Celtics may lean on Schroder for offense on the second night of a back-to-back. He's averaged just under 30 FD points in two games since returning to the lineup.
Others to consider: Alec Burks ($5,900 DK, $6,000 FD), Chris Paul ($7,300 DK, $7,800 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Andrew Wiggins - SG/SF, GSW @ NOP ($6,800 DK, $7,200 FD)
Wiggins has scored at least 32 FD points in four games since returning to the lineup and should be forced to carry an extra load on offense with Steph Curry's status up in the air. He's scored in double figures in every game this season and the lowly Pelicans don't stand a chance to slow him down. He should have heavy ownership if Curry is ultimately ruled out, but he will remain a safe play with a high floor.
Cameron Johnson - SF, PHX vs. LAC ($5,500 DK, $5,300 FD)
Johnson has scored in double figures in 17 straight games and continues to impress as a starter. All signs point to him getting another start on Thursday and he should have no trouble producing against the Clippers, who have been ravaged by injuries as of late. Johnson is a solid play on both sites for Thursday's slate.
Julius Randle - PF/C, NYK vs. BOS ($10,000 DK, $9,000 FD)
Randle wasted no time producing after missing time in the league's health and safety protocols. He played 39 minutes and dropped just under 60 fantasy points on both sites. Thursday's matchup against the Celtics is a good, as they have given up the third-most FD points to opposing forwards this season. Randle isn't as appealing on DK at the moment, but can confidently be fired up on FD.
Others to consider: Trey Lyles ($5,000 DK, $4,900 FD), Terance Mann ($4,900 DK, $5,000 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Bismack Biyombo - C, PHX vs. LAC ($4,000 DK, $5,500 FD)
Biyombo has been a revelation for the Suns after being signed to a 10-day contract to help ease the injury burden. He's mainly played behind Jalen Smith but has averaged 31 DK and 34 FD points across two games. He should see heavy minutes once again on Thursday and he should be locked into lineups on DK, though he is priced $1,500 more on FD. The Clippers have given up the fourth-most FD points to opposing centers this season.
Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF/C, MEM vs. DET ($6,100 DK, $6,600 FD)
JJJ has been hard to predict from a game-to-game standpoint this season, but he has a great matchup on deck. The Pistons currently give up the fourth-most FD and eighth-most DK points to his position this season. With Dillon Brooks and De'Anthony Melton questionable to suit up, he may be asked to take on some of the scoring burden for Memphis.
Others to consider: Jalen Smith ($5,300 DK, $5,900 FD), Steven Adams ($5,400 DK, $5,400 FD)
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