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We have an unusually-large slate for a Saturday as there are nine games on tap, kicking off with the Blazers-Wizards matchup at 6:00 CT. The Pelicans-Nets affair leads the slate with a 230.5-point implied total, though the Lakers-Nuggets and aforementioned Blazers-Wizards games also profile as being very favorable for fantasy production. The Knicks-Hawks, Clippers-Spurs, and Bulls-Celtics games are also great spots to look at as there are a million different ways to approach tonight's slate. Let's get to it.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/15/22. Remember to monitor NBA injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@RING_DFS) - I post about a variety of things but mainly NBA DFS with my K-Rate and Positional K-Rate model.
Instead of meticulously trying to comb through the rest of the myriad of injury and "health and safety protocols" issues in play, just be sure to check out our daily NBA Injury Roundup as well as NBA Player News for updated information.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Spencer Dinwiddie - PG, WAS vs. POR ($6,800 DK, $6,900 FD)
Dinwiddie (somehow) still isn't even $7,000 on either site, and that's something you need to pounce on as he has shown 50+ FPTS upside multiple times in the absence of usage-hog Bradley Beal. Usage is pretty evenly distributed between him, Kuzma, and Harrell at 23-26% with Beal out, but Dinwiddie sees a big jump from 0.97 to 1.15 FPTS/min in such scenarios. He's going up against a depleted Blazers backcourt that's allowing the sixth-most FPPG to opposing PG's over their last seven games. Sign me up for all of that.
Anfernee Simons - PG/SG, POR vs. WAS ($7,200 DK, $7,500 FD)
Simons is another mid-range guard to target on the other side of this game. He's averaging a startling 30.3% usage rate and 1.23 FPTS/min with Lillard, McCollum, Powell, and Nance Jr. off the floor, as they will be tonight. He's still priced in the mid-range and that doesn't parallel with the 45-60 DK points he has put up in four of his last five games. Washington has defended guards well as a whole this season, but they've allowed the eighth-most three-pointers made to the position over their last seven games - Simons is 25-for-56 (45%) from deep over his last five games.
DeMar DeRozan - SG/SF/PF, CHI vs.BOS ($8,500 DK, $8,000 FD)
The mid-range looks mighty appealing tonight, and DDR might be the top target among them. Zach LaVine left last game with a knee injury, Caruso, Green, and Jones Jr. remain out, and Lonzo Ball is questionable. With LaVine, Caruso, Green, and Jones Jr. off the floor this year, DeRozan averages a sky-high 37.4% usage rate and a useful 1.21 FPTS/min. This isn't going to be the fastest-paced or highest-scoring game on the slate and the Celtics play tough defense overall, but the opportunity he has with LaVine inactive is way too juicy to pass up on DDR at his mid-range salary.
Others to consider: Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($3,600 DK), Jalen Brunson ($6,000 FD), Alec Burks ($5,800 DK, $5,900 FD), Tyrese Maxey ($5,700 DK, $5,600 FD), Will Barton ($5,900 DK, $5,900 FD), Nassir Little ($5,800 DK, $5,400 FD), Tre Mann ($3,100 DK), Dejounte Murray ($10,500 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum - SF/PF, BOS vs. CHI ($9,300 DK, $9,900 FD)
He's definitely a safer play at his DraftKings salary, but Tatum's still in a nice spot over on FanDuel at under $10,000. He has shown off his upside with games of 55.75 and 65 DK points over his last five games, but that stretch also included lineup-killing outputs of 38 and 26.75 DK points. He needs 46.5 DK points for 5x value and I like his chances at hitting the 50-55+ DK points range in this matchup. Tatum plays a bit of a hybrid SF/PF position, but the Bulls rank in the bottom-seven in FPPG allowed to both positions and the Celtics are projecting for a solid 110.75-point total.
Keldon Johnson - SF/PF, SAS vs. LAC ($5,200 DK, $5,500 FD)
This selection is going to look a lot nicer if Derrick White remains out of the lineup, so dial back your exposure if he surprises and makes his return tonight. Johnson has been steady lately, though he hasn't exceeded 30 DK points since his three-game outburst in late December. His salary has oddly dropped each of the last three games and fell drastically for this one despite playing well, to the point where he now only needs 26 DK points to reach value. Johnson likes to shoot threes and get boards to hit 5x value - the Clippers are allowing the most rebounds per game in the league over their last seven (and 15) games.
De'Andre Hunter - SF/PF, ATL vs. NYK ($3,000 DK) | DraftKings play
Maxi Kleber - PF/C, DAL vs. ORL ($4,700 DK) | DraftKings play
Others to consider: Troy Brown Jr. ($3,000 DK), Dorian Finney-Smith ($4,600 DK, $4,500 FD), Aaron Gordon ($5,100 FD), Al Horford ($5,000 FD), Devin Vassell ($4,000 DK
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jusuf Nurkic - C, POR vs. WAS ($7,200 DK, $7,300 FD)
Lillard, McCollum, Nance, and Powell remain out for tonight's contest, meaning Simons and Nurkic will continue to shoulder the load for the Blazers. Nurkic is tied with Simons for the team lead at 1.23 FPTS/min with those players off the floor, and he's finally getting the consistent minutes we've always wanted to see from him. He has seen at least 30 minutes in seven of his last 10 games and that has contributed to some big outings from 'Nurk, including a monster 53-point outing against the Kings three games ago (when he was recommended in this very article :P). To top it all off, the matchup is elite. The Wizards are allowing the third-most FPPG to C's over their last 15 games and the sixth-most FPPG to the position overall.
Nikola Jokic - C, DEN vs. LAL ($12,600 DK, $11,100 FD)
Others to consider: Dwight Powell ($3,700 DK), Jakob Poeltl ($6,200 FD), Nicolas Claxton ($4,600 DK),
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