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We're wrapping up the first week of the new year, and daily fantasy basketball contests continue churning. We have a slate full of appealing matchups from a fantasy perspective, led by the Lakers-Kings affair and its substantial 241.5-point implied total. There isn't much injury news to monitor at the moment as we're only working with a four-game slate, but if you play NBA DFS at all, you know that can change in an instant. We're looking for updates on Andrew Wiggins, Malik Monk, Troy Brown Jr., and Alex Caruso, as they're all questionable to play as we begin this glorious Saturday of sports. Let's get to it.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 1/7/23. 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.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
De'Aaron Fox, vs. LAL (FD: $8,600, DK: $8,600)
This is a model-based play as the Kings, by far, rate out as the top team to target on tonight's slate. They're facing the Lakers (minus Anthony Davis), a team that allows the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards this season. This matchup also projects out as one of the fastest games of the season to this point as both squads rank in the top four in pace of play this season, so we should see extra possessions on both sides, and we love that for DFS purposes.
Fox has been on a heater lately, and his salary hasn't caught up, so it's the perfect time to pounce on him as a DFS play. He needs 43 DK points to hit 5x value tonight, and he has been right at or over that number in four of his last five contests. He hasn't shown the type of ceiling we're looking for out of a high-usage player like he is, but that could be coming tonight as the opportunity doesn't get much better than what he has in front of him.
Ayo Dosunmu, vs. UTA (FD: $5,400, DK: $4,100) DraftKings only
Dosunmu has been getting a ton of playing time lately, averaging about 33 minutes per game over his last four contests. He put up a major dud with 9 DK points last night, but before that he produced 32.75, 21.75, 34.5, and 21.5 DK points as he continues to fill in for the injured Alex Caruso. Caruso is questionable again tonight, and as long as he doesn't re-enter the fold, Dosunmu projects as a quality value option for tonight's slate. While the Jazz defend point guards well, Dosunmu operates as more of a shooting guard with DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic hogging all the usage. The Jazz allow the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards, and while I like Vucevic and LaVine a lot tonight, we need to find value somewhere. Ayo should get there as long as Caruso sits again.
C.J. McCollum has been ruled out. Jose Alvarado, Dyson Daniels, and Trey Murphy instantly vault to the top of the value board, well above Dosunmu.
Also consider: Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell, Cole Anthony, Trey Murphy III
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
LeBron James, vs. SAC (FD: $11,400, DK: $10,700)
LeBron let us down in a prime spot last night as he only mustered 48.25 DK points against the Hawks, which is well below 5x value at his salary. He had a solid (real-life) game as he put up 25 points, seven rebounds, and ten assists, but he also had five turnovers in a blowout loss at home against Atlanta. The Lakers travel north to Sacramento to face the Kings tonight, and it is just as favorable of a matchup as last night, if not even more so, for the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer. The Kings allow the 11th-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams overall (Atlanta allows the 10th-most), but what's extra appealing here is that the Kings allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards. This matchup has the highest implied total on the slate at 241.5 points and rates out as the top matchup in my K-Grade model, and I want all the LeBron I can get in a perfect bounce-back spot for "The King."
Keegan Murray, vs. LAL (FD: $5,100, DK: $4,100) DraftKings only
Murray is too expensive to consider on FanDuel, but his price on DraftKings is appealing on a four-game slate. He has been playing anywhere from 26 to 37 minutes per game over the last seven games, and while he hasn't lit the world on fire with his performance, he's doing enough to be a priority value option tonight. The rookie needs just 20.5 DK points to hit 5x value, and he has been at or over that number in seven of his last 10 games. His 21.1 DK point season average is also over that number, and we have to like his chances to spike for 30 DK points or more in a matchup as pristine as the one he has tonight against the Lakers. The Lakers allow the 10th most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards, and that ranking includes Anthony Davis's games in the lineup. Not that it needs to be said, but Murray's chances at a big game increase significantly going up against Wenyen Gabriel, Thomas Bryant, and Juan Toscano-Anderson as opposed to AD.
C.J. McCollum has been ruled out. This makes Naji Marshall and Herbert Jones much stronger plays at their modest salaries.
Also consider: Naji Marshall, Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, Herbert Jones, Patrick Williams
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Nikola Vucevic, vs. UTA (FD: $8,200, DK: $7,500)
"Vucci Mane" is the pick at center tonight, and I don't think he will be very popular as the field will likely try to go to Gabriel, Bryant, or Carter Jr. at the position. He is rolling as he has put up four straight games with at least 37.5 DK points before going ballistic with 65.5 DK points against the Embiid-less 76ers last night. He had a 19/18/10 triple-double (fifth career triple-double) with two blocks in an astounding effort from the big man, and I think he has another ceiling game tonight at just a $200 price jump. The Jazz don't utilize a traditional center outside of Walker Kessler, who has seen minutes in the mid-teens over the last few games. This means Vucci should have zero issues dominating the paint tonight against a team that allows the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season. He holds the top matchup for centers on the slate tonight (by a wide margin), and his form is excellent, so don't be afraid to click his name in your lineups.
C.J. McCollum has been ruled out. Guillermo (Wily) Hernangomez enters the fold as a dart-throw value option. He would become the top value on the entire slate if Valanciunas (Q) is ruled out.
Also consider: Thomas Bryant, Wendell Carter Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, Domantas Sabonis
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