January 21, 2016

Sam Nedimyer highlights the top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for 1/21/16. These are the top value and sleeper plays for your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups.

It’s been a weird couple of days in the DFS world. Players needed what seemed like 400 points on Tuesday just to clear in 50/50s, while Wednesday night allowed DFSers to skate through cash games with a cool 240 points. Not really sure what to think by that, other than we’re doing alright here at Rotoballer.

In this article, I will be providing you with Daily NBA picks for DraftKings for 1/21/16. The picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays. Be sure to check out my podcasts every Monday and Thursday right here at Rotoballer for all your DFS needs.

Without wasting anymore time, let's get down to it!

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DraftKings DFS Point Guards

Chris Paul (at CLE, $9,800)

In terms of standout, must plays at the point guard position, there really isn’t any. Life would be easier if the Atlanta Hawks point guard situation was stabilized, but c’est la vie. As it is now, Paul is the safest option at the point on Thursday’s slate. The dude has consistently put up 40 point DraftKing games over the last month and leads all point guards in usage rate in the month of January. Until Blake Griffin returns, Paul will be on the radar each and every night.

Jrue Holiday (vs DET, $6,500)

Injuries, injuries, injuries. Tyreke Evans is still somewhat banged up and Eric Gordon will be out for four weeks, so someone will have to pick up the production that the Pelicans will need. Although Norris Cole will most likely start and is cheaper, Holiday is the safer option for cash games. Holiday’s minutes restriction has been over for quite some time now and he is primed to hit 30 minutes on the reg. Starting tonight.

DraftKings DFS Shooting Guards

Jamal Crawford (at CLE, $4,700)

All he has done over his last five games is average 18.4 points, two rebounds and two assists while steadily seeing low 30 minutes of playing time. Most of that production has come when facing the second unit and that run will continue against Iman Shumpert Thursday night. Considering the options and matchups with the more expensive players at the position, Crawford makes a lot of sense.

Manu Ginobili (at PHO, $4,500)

I am actually not quite sure why I like Ginobili. However, my computer projections do. And if there’s anything I ever learned from Terminator 2, it’s that computers are cold killing machines that are never wrong. From a basketball standpoint, I can see this selection. Judging by his advanced numbers, Ginobili is in the midst of a quasi-resurgence this season. His per-36 minutes are strong and his O-Rating has jumped from 103 last season to 110 in this year’s campaign. He should have no problems attacking whatever kind of mess the Phoenix Suns are putting on the court.

DraftKings DFS Small Forwards

LeBron James (vs LAC, $9,700)

Since we’re not paying up at the guard slots, let’s spend money here to make some money. The King hasn’t missed a beat on back-to-backs this season and after playing only 29 minutes on Wednesday, there is no reason to think he will miss a beat Thursday night.

Kawhi Leonard (at PHO, $8,300)

Keep an eye on this one. The mad scientist at head coach may sit some of his starters in what figures to be a laugher in the desert. One guy that typically does not sit is Leonard. The Suns are an absolute mess across the board, particularly when defending the swing. They have allowed nearly 60 points per game to the opposing small forward position over their last five.

DraftKings DFS Power Forwards

DeMarcus Cousins (vs ATL, $10,600)

Boogie is Boogie. The dude is averaging 58.4 DraftKings fantasy points over his last nine. Even more, he has been nailing triples like a guard out on the perimeter, shooting 15-for-33 from behind the arc during that span. If he isn’t the definition of locked in, I need to have a word with the dictionary people.

LaMarcus Aldridge (at PHO, $7,100)

If we’re going by sheer talent alone, LMA is a steal at this price. Unfortunately, the minutes haven’t always been there and they might not be there tonight in what figures to be a blowout. Still, Aldridge is capable of putting up a 20/10 line against a Phoenix front line that is giving up nearly 50 DraftKings points per game over their last five. If you trust the minutes, LMA makes sense.

DraftKings DFS Centers

Marc Gasol (at DEN, $7,600)

Regrettably, there is no 76er or Laker on the slate for Thursday, so we’ll have to attack the next best matchup. The Nuggets have been fried in the frontcourt over their last seven games, and Marc Gasol is not the exact medicine they need to cure what ails them. La Tanqueta has played downright awful at times this season, and we would like to see more boards from the Spaniard, but the big man is playing a ton of minutes right now while dropping 100 total DraftKings points over the last two. On a short slate, he is the safest center play of the day.

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