X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (1/1/18): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

Kevin Luchansky highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 1/1/18, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

Happy New Year, Rotoballers! We made it to 2018. Yay for us. The NBA is giving us just a four game slate to work with tonight, but that's okay as we're likely to be a little distracted today by incredible college football games and good food. I do appreciate the NBA knocking tip off back to 7:30 tonight, giving us an extra half-hour to prepare. Another benefit to this small slate is that the latest game start is at 8:00, and as such, we should know all of the start/sit and scratch/health status news before we lock our lineups. (Fingers crossed.)

From a Vegas perspective, this slate is small but not without juiciness - three of the four games are over my personal benchmark over/under of 215, which makes those very attractive and the lone game beneath it a possible sleeper game (which has an over of 207). The Magic at Nets lead the way with a line of 219, followed by Lakers at Timberwolves (218) and the Bucks at Raptors (215).

Below you will find our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/1/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options, to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Let's get it.

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 30% off using code WIN! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

FanDuel DFS Guards

Tyus Jones - PG, vs LAL ($6,400)

So far in this full-time point guard role, Jones is one-for-two in hitting value. He crushed value (+16) in his first game and came up short last night (-4). The biggest difference in those games were the minutes, and although he's on a back-to-back right now, he didn't play many minutes last night due to his team having a commanding lead throughout. He's probably the most rested Minnesota starter, and I think he can take advantage of a Lakers team who is on the road and coming off a double overtime game. So far this season, Jones has a pretty strong 0.85 FanDuel point per minute mark, and should say in the range of 33-36 minutes tonight.

Khris Middleton - SG, at TOR ($7,100)

Depending on your roster construction, this could come down to a call between Justin Holiday and Khris Middleton, who both find themselves in good situations today. Middleton has a bit higher point-per-minute mark and minute projection (for tonight), but doesn't consistently hit value as often as Holiday. Justin also has an opportune matchup, and a better price tag. My preference is to go with Middleton in cash due to the fact the Raptors rank 30th in defensive efficiency against shooting guards, Middleton has a Usage rate nearly eight percentage points higher at 23, and this game is projected for a higher score. Both are certainly in play, and can be paired together. The "contrarian" play may be to be up for DeMar DeRozan in tournaments, as he is the most expensive of the three.

Evan Fournier - SF, at BKN ($6,100)

I don't think Fournier will go "overlooked" so to speak, being that his opponent is the Nets and it's such a small slate. That said, there are some interesting decisions to make at shooting guard and no matter which way your roster construction takes you, you're going to be leaving a few shooting guards off your team that have 40+ FanDuel point upside tonight. Fournier has been playing well of late, and has smashed value in three of his last four games. Tonight, in a game projected as a high scoring affair, he gets the Nets on the second leg of a back-to-back that ranks 27th in defensive efficiency against shooting guards. It's a potential smash spot for him if his shot is falling.

Other FanDuel DFS Guards to Consider: Tyler Ennis - PG, at MIN ($3,500); Kyle Lowry - PG, vs MIL ($7,700); Justin Holiday - SG, vs POR ($5,300); C.J. McCollum - SG, at CHI ($7,300)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Jimmy Butler - SF, vs LAL ($9,300)

Jimmy was able to crush value last night (+9 over his price implied total) and the amazing thing is that he was able to do so in just 25 minutes on the court. As amazing as that is, the most attractive stat there is the 25 minutes. Sure, he's on a back-to-back, but many teams are in the same situation tonight and Butler only seeing 25 minutes in the early leg is as good as it gets for a Tom Thibodeau coached team. I think he, like Tyus Jones, can take advantage of a Lakers squad who had three main contributors play over 40 minutes last night. Tonight, Butler could see 38+ minutes if this game stays tight. At a Usage rate of 25, I think he can provide plus value here.

Nikola Mirotic - PF, vs POR ($6,700)

This slate is a doozy, and the forward positions are particularly a mess. The players in the most opportune matchups - those facing teams awful in DVP and defensive efficiency - are often on back-to-backs and played absurd minutes last night. Other, rested power forwards have difficult matchups, as is the case with Mirotic here. This slate is going to force you to make some difficult decisions and a few risks, one of which I'm taking here with Mirotic. I think the rested Bulls' minutes should be a safe avenue to points here, and Mirotic posts a really high Usage rate of 25 off the bench. I think he can pay off value here and if the shot is falling, he could deliver GPP upside.

Other FanDuel DFS Forwards to Consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF, at TOR ($10,900); DeMarre Carroll - SF, vs ORL ($5,200) - GPP only; David Nwaba - SF, vs POR ($4,000); Kyle Kuzma - PF, at MIN ($6,700)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Jusuf Nurkic - C, at CHI ($6,300)

Ultimately, I think ownership will go heavily to the side of Julius Randle - which I understand - but Nurkic has great upside and could actually benefit from the return of Damian Lillard (whom he has a positive fantasy point correlation with). While Randle posted monster numbers last night, he did it playing 33 minutes with a 33 Usage rate. Those things rarely, if ever, happen for him and I don't see it happening again. That said, he does post nice Usage rates and the Lakers rotation is a little shorter due to injuries. My preference is with a rested Nurkic, who should see 25-27 minutes in a tight game with a Usage rate of 25.

Other FanDuel DFS Centers to Consider: Julius Randle - C, at MIN ($6,200); Karl-Anthony Towns - C, vs LAL ($9,600)

 

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts





POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jauan Jennings

Gets Incentives Added to Contract
Jakobi Meyers

Unsure About Potential Extension
Matthew Stafford

Off Injury Report Ahead of Week 1
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch "Sometime This Weekend"
Jackson Chourio

Absent on Wednesday With Hamstring Cramp
Roman Anthony

Officially Goes on Injured List
Jauan Jennings

Limited on Wednesday, Expected to Play in Week 1
Malik Nabers

Not on Initial Injury Report
Roman Anthony

"High Probability" Roman Anthony Lands on Injured List
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Jason Adam

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Roman Anthony

Will Undergo MRI on Wednesday
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Travis Hunter

Jaguars List Travis Hunter as Starting Wide Receiver, Backup Cornerback
Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Saturday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP