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Happy Friday RotoBallers! As usual, we have a jam-packed Friday night slate, filled with some juicy matchups. These articles focus on the overall best plays, which are typically more suited for cash games. However, with larger slates like this one, you don't have to worry about ownership getting steamed up too hard usually, so consider these suggestions GPP viable as well (some exceptions may apply).
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/7/22. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
As always, feel free to follow my Twitter (@Maxadelphia), to keep up to date with NBA news and for my nightly NBA bets if you're into that sort of thing. Let's go!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Darius Garland- PG, CLE @ POR ($9,300 DK, $8,000 FD)
Garland is emerging as a potential All-Star candidate and will look to build upon his 49.5 points (DK) performance against the Grizzlies in his return from a 4 game absence. The Cavs travel to Portland as a 6 point favorite, and if you look at their roster, they severely lack proven perimeter scoring options besides Garland. I think he makes for an exceptional GPP play tonight on DK, and he is straight up mispriced on Fanduel.
Anfernee Simons - PG/SG, POR vs CLE ($6,200 DK, $7,500 FD)
Going to the other side of the previous game to recommend Simons. This is a simple case of not over-thinking things; Simons has accrued 106 points in two games played as the starting PG without Damian Lillard. I think he will be chalky on both sites, especially DK, but it feels hard to fade someone who is likely to play 35+ minutes and has a 55+ point ceiling.
Wesley Matthews - SG/SF, MIL @ BKN ($3,300 DK, $3,700 FD)
With both Jrue Holiday, Grayson Allen, and George Hill all sidelined for tonight's rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals, someone is going to have to step up and play a large role in the Milwaukee backcourt. My pick to do so here is Matthews. Matthew started on Wednesday against the Raptors and put up a solid 18 points in 29 minutes. This game shapes up to be a high-scoring affair with a 232.5 point total, Matthews gives you positional versatility, exposure to the highest point total game on the slate, and saves you money while doing so.
Others to consider: James Harden ($10,600 DK, $10,400 FD), Jalen Brunson ($7,000 DK, $5,300 FD) Javonte Smart ($3,500 DK, $3,500 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Edwards - SG/SF, MIN @ OKC ($8,000 DK, $7,900 FD)
Edwards retains his spot in Friday top plays for another week. He is going to be extremely low-owned, now that Karl Anthony-Towns returned to the lineup, but that's part of why I think he's such an interesting play. The Thunder are 28th in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to Shooting Guards, and Edwards is a lock to shoot 15+ times a night. Edwards is in the midst of a breakout year, and like I said last week I am willing to bet on the talent/volume combination over most things when it comes to evaluating top plays.
Royce O'Neale - PF, UTA @ TOR ($4,100 DK, $5,500 FD)
Both Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gay sustained injuries in Wednesday's game @ Denver, so assuming O'Neale is once again able to play through his knee injury, he should see a massive uptick in playing time. O'Neale put up 41 points in that aforementioned Denver game, which was his best fantasy output of the season. O'Neale is best known as a solid defender, and Toronto averages the 4th most turnovers in the league, which can help the offensively limited O'Neale find his ceiling.
Lonnie Walker IV - SF/PF, SAS @ PHI ($4,100 DK, $4,500 FD)
The Spurs are the latest team to face a mass injury/Covid crisis, and if Walker is able to play tonight (currently listed as questionable, conditioning) he could find himself starting. With little competition for the two wing players alongside Dejounte Murray, Walker IV should be line for more minutes than usual. If he doesn't play, Keita Bates-Diop goes from a good play to a great one.
Others to consider: LeBron James ($11,600 DK, $11,200 FD), Lauri Markanen ($5,800 DK ,$5,200 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, MIL @ BKN ($11,400 DK, $11,700 FD)
Giannis leads the short-handed champs into a primetime rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals. In that series, Antetokounmpo averaged a remarkable 31.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1 block per game over the course of those 7 games. The Bucks are thin at guard so I think there is a legit possibility the Bucks lean on Antetokounmpo so heavily he finishes with 40-45% usage on the night. At his usual usage, Giannis returns value, but if his usage does increase, he could be the slate-winning play.
Hassan Whtieside - C, UTA @ TOR ($3,500 DK, $5,300 FD)
Whiteside has always been somewhat of a boom-or-bust fantasy option, so I'm always hesitant to recommend him, but this really shapes up to be a great spot for him. Rudy Gobert was placed in Covid protocols (Deja Vu moment), and will not be playing in this game. Whiteside typically never plays more than 20 minutes, but given Gobert being inactive, and the Raptors recent rotation being heavier on forwards (and in turn, more size), the Jazz might have to let Whiteside off the leash given their current frontcourt situation.
Others to consider: Joel Embiid ($11,200 DK, $10,800 FD), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl ($3,300 DK, $4,100 FD)
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