DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (1/17/21): NBA DFS Lineups

The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on January 17, 2021. Eric Moody provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.

The NBA schedule has four games on the main slate for Sunday. All four games have an implied point total of 220 or more. You'll have a solid number of players to choose from, but here are three tips on how to attack it.

First of all, it’s important to look at the pace and Vegas lines. Second, it’s also useful to understand the number of fantasy points a team gives up to a specific position. The final tip is to identify value plays which is critical on a slate of any size. You don’t have to necessarily go for the cheapest value, but you want to identify players who have a high floor and a high ceiling. 

This article will supply you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the DraftKings on 1/17/21. You can also check out today’s FanDuel lineup picks. It’s also important to monitor injury news as a result of COVID-19 as the slate can completely change before line-up lock. Without further ado, let’s dive into the picks! 

DraftKings DFS Guards

Ben Simmons - PG/SF, PHI vs. OKC ($8,600)

Simmons scored 11 points, accumulated 16 rebounds, nine assists, and one block in 36 minutes against the Grizzlies on Saturday. He hasn't created much for himself in half-court offense over the last two games. Simmons has contributed in ways besides scoring as a rebounder and facilitator. He has the potential to have a triple-double anytime he plays and the 76ers need Simmons to step up with Joel Embid sidelined with right knee pain.

De'Aaron Fox - PG, SAC vs. NO ($7,900)

Fox scored 14 points, accumulated a rebound and three assists in 23 minutes last Friday against the Clippers. This was his lowest number of minutes this season in a blowout loss against Los Angeles. Fox has a Usage Rate of 29% and is well-positioned to thrive against the Pelicans. As a gentle reminder, this metric is an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker - PG/SG, NO vs. SAC ($4,900)

Alexander-Walker is one game removed in his first start of the season where he posted career highs in points and rebounds. Lonzo Ball did not practice Saturday and has been ruled. This bodes well for Alexander-Walker against a Kings defense that has allowed the most DraftKings fantasy points to guards this season.

Bonus Guards: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($8,300), Tyrese Maxey ($5,200), and Will Barton ($6,000)

DraftKings DFS Forwards

Brandon Ingram - SF/PF, NO vs. SAC ($8,800)

Ingram scored 20 points, accumulated three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in 35 minutes against the Lakers last Friday. He's averaged 23.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game this season. Ingram has a Usage Rate of 28.8%. He also has the seventh-highest Player Efficiency among forwards. This metric sums up all a player's positive accomplishments, subtracts the negative accomplishments and returns a per-minute rating of a player's performance. Ingram has one of the highest ceilings of any forwards on the slate.

Buddy Hield - SG/SF, SAC vs. NO ($6,800)

Hield has struggled from the field this season with a field goal percentage of 36.4%. Were you aware that his career field goal percentage is 44%? Hield is only one game removed from a season-high in DraftKings points (47). He's in an excellent spot for positive regression against the Pelicans.

Bojan Bogdanovic - SF/PF, UTA vs. DEN ($5,500)

Bogdanovic scored 17 points, accumulated three rebounds, and one assist in 27 minutes against the Hawks last Friday. Joe Ingles has been ruled out of Sunday's game due to right Achilles soreness. This frees up additional minutes for Bogdanovic.

Bonus Forwards: Zion Williamson ($8,100), Tobias Harris ($7,800), Darius Bazley ($5,700)

DraftKings DFS Centers

Nikola Jokic - C, DEN vs. UTA ($11,200)

Jokic scored 23 points, accumulated 14 rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals in 36 minutes against the Warriors last Thursday. Were you aware that this was his 46th career triple-double? Jokic's Usage Rate is 28% and he has the highest ceiling of any center on the slate.

Richaun Holmes - C, SAC vs. NO ($6,700)

Holmes scored 17 points, accumulated five rebounds and one assist against the Clippers last Friday. The Kings host the Pelicans. Holmes has averaged 29.5 minutes, 15.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, one steal, and 1.5 blocks per game at home this season. He's one of only 16 NBA players with 10 or more blocks and steals.

Bonus Centers: Myles Turner ($7,000), Steven Adams ($6,200), Dwight Howard ($4,800)

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis