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NBA DFS sleepers and values plays for DraftKings and FanDuel on January 9, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco gives you his top NBA DFS picks and lineup targets.
We have a solid six-game slate on Monday night that has a number of players capable of outperforming their salaries in their specific matchup.
There's also more good news in the fact there are four games with projected totals of greater than 230 points, which means there are no shortages of potentially favorable DFS environments we can focus on and stack in various ways in tournaments.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/9/23. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before lineups lock, which is at 7:00 pm ET tonight. Good luck, RotoBallers.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
De'Aaron Fox - PG/SG, SAC vs. ORL ($8,700 DK; $8,900 FD)
Fox brings the upside of a higher-salaried player, as evidenced by the fact he's eclipsed 50 fantasy points on either site on seven occasions this season. The star point guard has already enjoyed success against the same Magic squad he'll face Monday, as he posted 48.8 DK/46.9 FD points versus Orlando in the first meeting between the teams. The Magic also continue to make for very good targets, allowing the eighth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards and over 54 DK/over 51 FD points per game to the position in the last seven.
Jamal Murray - PG, DEN vs. LAL ($6800 DK; $7,800 FD)
Murray is averaging 34.3 DK points per game against the Lakers in three prior meetings this season, and he's managed that solid tally despite shooting a pedestrian 44.2 percent in the sample. However, Murray has been a very efficient shooter on his home floor, draining 47.1 percent, including 37.9 percent from behind the arc. He's also shooting a blistering 54.5 percent, including 50.0 percent from distance, in his last four contests, and the Lakers check in allowing the 12th-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (27.1), along with the third-most DK (51.8) and second-most FD (50.9) points per game to ones.
Tyus Jones - PG, MEM vs. SAS ($4,900 DK; $5,200 FD)
Jones could draw another start Monday for Ja Morant (thigh), who sat out Sunday's victory over the Jazz. Jones posted 41 DK/43.4 FD points across 34 minutes in a starting assignment Sunday, and even if he comes off the bench, he still makes for an attractive option. The Spurs are allowing an NBA-high 31.2 offensive efficiency rating to point guards, along with over 50 fantasy points per game to ones on both sites. Meanwhile, Jones has now eclipsed 40 fantasy points in four of his six starts, and he's also exceeded 20 fantasy points on 14 occasions off the bench as well.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jaylen Brown - PG/SG, BOS vs. CHI ($9,500 DK; $9,000 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, BOS vs. CHI ($10,700 DK; $10,700 FD)
Tatum has averaged 55.1 DK points in three games against the Bulls this season, shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range in the process. The star forward just scored 72 DK/67.8 FD points two games ago against the Mavericks, a vivid reminder of his upside. Tatum is shooting an impressive 47.8 percent over his last nine games as well, and on Monday, he draws a premium matchup for power forwards, especially those who can space the floor like Tatum. Chicago is allowing an NBA-high 29.5 offensive efficiency rating to power forwards, along with the second-most DK (51.5) and FD (49.1) points per game to fours in the last 15 contests.
Kyle Kuzma - SF/PF, WAS vs. NOP ($8,400 DK, $7,500 FD)
Kuzma will once again take the floor without Bradley Beal (hamstring) on Monday night, a scenario under which he sports a 29.6 percent usage rate and averages 39.1 DK/36.5 FD points per 36 minutes. The star forward is putting up career highs in points (21.4), assists (3.9), and shot attempts (17.8) per contest, and he should once again play an integral role versus a Pelicans squad that's allowing over 42 fantasy points per game to small forwards and 40.0 percent shooting from three-point range over the last three contests. Kuzma is averaging just under 40 fantasy points per game at home as well, which makes his FD salary especially eye-catching.
Michael Porter Jr. - PF, DEN vs. LAL ($5,900 DK; $5,500 FD)
Porter is another member of the Nuggets that is worthy of consideration at a very reasonable salaries. The fourth-year wing is shooting 41.3 percent from three-point range for the season, and he's draining 50.0 percent of his attempts over his last seven games, including 43.5 percent from behind the arc, in his last seven contests. Porter also posted 33.3 DK/ 32.3 FD points in his one prior meeting versus the Lakers this season, and L.A. is allowing the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to small forwards, along with over 43 DK and over 42 FD points per game to the position.
ALSO CONSIDER: Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at NYK ($12,000 DK, $11,800 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kristaps Porzingis - PF/C, WAS vs. NOP ($9,400 DK; $9,200 FD)
Porzingis is playing power forward in the current iteration of the Wizards lineup, and he therefore is in an excellent position to provide a strong return against a Zion Williamson-less Pelicans frontcourt Monday night. Porzingis is already averaging 47.6 DK/47.7 FD points per 36 minutes without Beal on the floor while also posting a 29.9 percent usage rate in that scenario. Meanwhile, New Orleans is also yielding over 46 DK and over 47 FD points per game to fours in the last seven, while Porzingis is averaging 44.2 DK points at home and shooting 48.5 percent, including 44.2 percent from three-point range, in that split.
Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF/C, MEM vs. SAS ($6,800 DK; $7,600 FD)
Jackson has center eligibility in addition to power forward, and he could enjoy an elevated role in an excellent matchup Monday night versus a vulnerable Spurs frontcourt. Jackson is a particularly appealing play at his salaries if Morant does miss another game, considering the big man owns a 29.8 percent usage rate and averages 55.1 DK/57.9 FD points per 36 minutes without his teammate on the floor. Then, the Spurs are conceding the second-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (29.0), as well an NBA-high 50.2 DK/47.9 FD points per game to fours on the campaign. Jackson is also shooting 51.5 percent, including 40.0 percent from distance, in 12 home games, furthering his case.
Jonas Valanciunas - C, NOP at WAS ($6,600 DK; $6,900 FD)
Valanciunas sports a solid 25.6 percent usage rate and averages 42.5 DK/40.9 FD points per 36 minutes with both Brandon Ingram (toe) and Zion Williamson (hamstring) off the floor, and both his teammates will remain out Monday. Valanciunas comes in boasting a four-game double-double streak where he's exceeded 40 DK points twice and 40 FD points once, and he actually been a more productive player on the road this season with averages of 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists across 25.4 minutes in 18 games, a sample during which he's also shot 59.1 percent, including 41.4 percent from three-point range.
The Wizards rank just inside the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency rating allowed to centers (32.2), and Washington is surrendering an NBA-high 65.9 DK points per game to the position over the last seven games, as well as the second-most FD points (66.4) to fives in that span. With Daniel Gafford and not Porzingis protecting the rim in many instances given the latter's recent shift back to power forward, Valanciunas could certainly be in a good position to outpace his salaries.
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ALSO CONSIDER: Nikola Jokic - C, DEN vs. LAL ($11,700 DK; $11,400 FD)
