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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers, Today is the first day of February and we have a small four-game slate ahead of us on both FanDuel and DraftKings! It's day three of our brand new look and I'll be taking over for Dan on Thursdays going forward for our free NBA DFS picks and hopefully with the new format, our readers, the most detailed and insightful first look at the day's NBA DFS slate.
The key to being successful in NBA DFS comes down to making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always really important to have a game plan and the best players and spots circled first before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 2/1/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:30 PM EST on FanDuel and DraftKings.
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Today's NBA DFS Core Plays
Let's first take a look at our premium projections to see who we want to target for our top spend-ups tonight.
We have a big matchup against a couple of heavyweights in the Lakers vs. Celtics which has the highest total on the slate but we have to rely on last-minute injury news as the regulars such as Anthony Davis and LeBron James are Questionable. They more than likely play but if they don't, look to Taurean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood to see an increase in usage.
The Knicks and the Pacers should be a high-scoring matchup as well as the Pacers don't play a lot of defense. Jalen Brunson is our top projected player of the day and for good reason with Julius Randle out this makes him the primary ball handler and scorer. Donte DiVincenzo has been a scoring machine in the last two games.
If Tyrese Haliburton plays he might still be on a minutes restriction but that didn't stop him from scoring 33 fantasy in 22 minutes. I would imagine he gets a slight increase but it's still something to monitor at his price. Andrew Nembhard should see some of those minutes, especially with T.J. McConnell questionable with an illness.
The Cavaliers game has our lowest total on the night and is the game I want the least of. Donovan Mitchell is always an option, especially on his recent tear but Jarrett Allen is the player I am most focused on against a Memphis Defense that gives up the second most fantasy points to centers. Memphis is plagued with injuries so that should lead to some decent value spots.
No Joel Embiid once again and Tyrese Maxey is trending in the right direction. The Jazz have looked decent recently and with no Embiid, this is a good spot for Lauri to have himself a game against a Philly team that allowed nearly 40 fantasy points to Jerami Grant and Jonathan Kuminga over the last two games.
Top Core Plays:
- Jalen Brunson, NYK @ IND – PG ($9,600 DK; $9,900 FD)
- Jayson Tatum, BOS @ LAL – SF/PF ($9,800 DK; $10,200 FD)
- Jarrett Allen, CLE @ MEM – C ($8,000 DK; $8,500 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Plays
Using the same premium NBA projections, let's sort them by fantasy points per dollar to see what players are popping as the best values tonight.
It's not as popping in our projections but like I said earlier with Memphis being as injury-plagued as they are, this is a good spot for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. to showcase his stuff and he has been a PPM monster if he starts like last game I would expect to see him 30+ minutes. Look at David Roddy and Vince Williams as well.
Donte DiVincenzo is easily some of the best value on the board after the last two games scoring 60 and 43 fantasy points over the last two. On top of that, OG and Quentin Grimes are questionable which should only add to his usage. Josh Hart should benefit from this as well
The Jazz are priced as if the 76ers had Embiid and with him out this makes Jazz players interesting with how cheap most of them are. Collin Sexton has begun creeping up in price but his shooting has been on fire lately. John Collins and Walker Kessler are solid value options as well.
They aren't shown here but if AD or LBJ don't play that unveils a ton of value. Christian Wood, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and even Jaxson Hayes all see big bumps in usage so keep them in mind when watching injury news.
Top Value Plays:
- Josh Hart, NYK @ IND – SF/PF ($6,300 DK; $6,500 FD)
- Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM @ CLE – PG/SG ($4,700 DK; $4,700 FD)
- Donte Divincenzo, NYK @ IND – SG/SF ($6,800 DK; $7,200 FD)
- John Collins, UTA vs. PHI – SF ($5,900 DK; $6,400 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Point Guard
Jalen Brunson I imagine is the chalk option but for good reason, he is set up with an amazing matchup and his usage is through the roof! Jrue Holiday/Derrick White have a good matchup as well and could be solid GPP pivots. Scotty Pippen Jr. is by far your best value, especially at PG.
Top PG Options:
- Jalen Brunson @ IND, ($9,600 DK; $9,900 FD)
- Collin Sexton @ PHI, ($6,600 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Jrue Holiday vs. LAL, ($6,300 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Scotty Pippen Jr. @ CLE, ($4,700 DK; $4,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Shooting Guard
Donte DiVincenzo is the clear cash option with OG and Quentin both questionable so I would say load up on him. The SG position doesn't have a lot of value so I would put a couple of mid-tier guys here or spend up.
With TJ McConnell out and Tyrese on a minutes restriction, this opens up for Nembhard as a solid mid-tier option. Austin Reaves might be a sneaky GPP play as well.
Top SG Options:
- Donte DiVincenzo @ IND, ($6,800 DK; $7,200 FD)
- Jaylen Brown vs. LAL, ($8,500 DK; $8,600 FD)
- Austin Reaves @ BOS, ($6,200 DK; $6,800 FD)
- Andrew Nembhard vs. PHX, ($5,500 DK; $6,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Small Forward
Lebron is an obvious option and as long as he plays will be highly owned. SF is probably one of my favorite positions this time around. There are a lot of places to go. Tobias Harris and Lauri Markkanen are two of my favorite options to spend up at.
Kelly Oubre Jr.'s usage should be solid with multiple Philly Injuries and he is well-priced too. For something cheaper though take a look at David Roddy or if one of LBJ or AD are out then the usual suspects are options as well.
Top SF Options:
- Lebron James @ WAS, ($10,400 DK; $10,400 FD)
- Lauri Markkanen vs. CHI, ($8,600 DK; $8,900 FD)
- Kelly Oubre Jr. @ MIN, ($6,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Tobias Harris @ WAS, ($7,000 DK; $7,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Power Forward
This the place to spend up at. So many great options to choose from including Jayson Tatum and Jaren Jackson. JJJ has been consistently the one healthy option from Memphis and with that being the case his usage is crazy high and makes him a solid option my only worry is going against Allen and Mobley.
John Collins has been a lot more consistent recently and it's nice to see finally, I like him as a lower-owned option on tonight's slate. Aaron Nesmith has been a monster too and should continue to see some solid run.
Top PF Options:
- Jayson Tatum @ LAL, ($9,800 DK; $10,200 FD)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. vs. CLE, ($8,300 DK; $8,700 FD)
- John Collins @ MIN, ($5,900 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Aaron Nesmith vs. CHI, ($5,400 DK; $6,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Center
The top spend option is going to be Anthony Davis if he plays but I love Jarrett Allen as a replacement if he doesn't. The matchup possibly being a blowout worries me a bit but the books only have this as a seven-point spread so if this one stays remotely close this could be an awesome spot for JA to pop off.
With Joel Embiid if you are looking for value I highly recommend going with Paul Reed as his usage skyrockets especially since Tyrese Maxey is in the lineup. Walker Kessler too on the other side of the ball.
Top C Options:
- Anthony Davis @ BOS, ($10,000 DK; $11,200 FD)
- Jarrett Allen vs. MEM, ($8,000 DK; $8,500 FD)
- Paul Reed vs. UTA, ($6,000 DK; $6,200 FD)
- Walker Kessler vs. PHI, ($4,200 DK; $6,000 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- LA Lakers @ Boston (242 total)
- Indiana @ New York (236.5 total)
- Philadelphia @ Utah (236 total)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
- Donovan Mitchell is my hot take. I think he cools off and with a potential blowout, the price scares me.
- No interest in Tyrese Haliburton, tough matchup plus a minutes restriction
- No Tillman/Aldama (Cavs 1st ranked defense against Centers)
My Favorite NBA DFS Lineup Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Jalen Brunson
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Donte DiVincenzo
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Lauri Markkanen
- My favorite value play: Scotty Pippen Jr.
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