NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (1/26/26)

January 26, 2026

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Zach's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on January 26th, 2026.

Welcome back, RotoBallers! This Monday, the NBA tips off another great week of action on the court with seven games spread throughout the day. After a couple of afternoon tilts, the five games starting at 7:00 p.m. ET or later make up the main slate for DFS fantasy basketball on both DraftKings and FanDuel. With plenty of star power and some great value opportunities, it should be a great night of fantasy hoops, so check out my top plays listed below and get your lineups ready to start the week with a win.

As always, keeping a close eye on injury report updates will be critical to finalizing your strategy. The Warriors and Timberwolves are playing for the second day in a row after their Saturday game in Minnesota was rescheduled to Sunday, so be especially aware of their injury report when it comes out. Some big names, like Ja Morant, Franz Wagner, and Darius Garland, have already been ruled out, while Deni Avdija is the biggest uncertainty coming into the day, since he's listed as questionable with his back injury. Any injury news can dramatically change the outlook of multiple players, so keep a close eye on the NBA injury news and make adjustments as needed.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/26/26. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on FanDuel and DraftKings. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab the RotoBaller Premium Pass, which is highly discounted and includes DFS, betting, props, and season-long tools like the Team Sync platform. and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where our experts are talking about the slate up until lineups lock!

Today's NBA DFS Matchup Ratings Projections

Be sure to bookmark our free NBA DFS Matchup Ratings Projections tool to see the top-ranked players and key stats for setting winning NBA DFS lineups:

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

Jaylen Brown, BOS - SF on DK, SG/SF on FD

• DraftKings: $9.7K
• FanDuel: $10.2K

Brown is having a remarkable season while carrying the load for the Celtics with Jayson Tatum recovering from his injury in last year's playoffs. Brown has picked up the work and averaged 29.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 48.2 DraftKings points per game in his 42 games this season. He has had over 54 DraftKings points in three straight games and in four of his last five coming into a favorable home matchup against the Trail Blazers, where he provides an elite ceiling once again on Monday.

Brown had a big night with 33 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in Chicago on Saturday in a last-minute loss to the Bulls. The night before in Brooklyn, he posted a triple-double with 27 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. His scoring potential alone gives him elite upside, but with more non-scoring numbers lately, he is becoming much more consistent and has an even higher upside.

What a find 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/O53YqWRM3r

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 24, 2026

Brandin Podziemski, GS - PG/SG

• DraftKings: $5.6K
• FanDuel: $6.1K

The Warriors are adjusting their rotation to losing Jimmy Butler III (knee) for the season, and there's also a chance Stephen Curry could take the second game of their back-to-back off.  Coach Steve Kerr said he's hopeful that Steph plays, but even if Curry is in the rotation, Podziemski is stepping into a big enough role to be a great option in the backcourt.

Podz has started each of the last three games since Butler's injury, averaging 10.7 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals in 25.7 minutes per game. Two of those games were a little lopsided, and he fell just one point short of a double-double in the game he played the most minutes. He's an especially good play on DraftKings with the extra boost for three-pointers and a lower salary, but he's a strong play on either site after he had 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, four steals, and 34.2 DraftKings points in just 22 minutes on Sunday. If he picks up where he left off, he should be a great mid-range option Monday night.

Today's NBA DFS GPP Pivots

Luka Doncic, LAL - PG

• DraftKings: $12K
• FanDuel: $12.5K

After lighting up his former team in Dallas on Saturday, Luka leads the Lakers to Chicago, where he'll take on the surging Bulls. Doncic always brings an incredibly high ceiling and can go off to totally smash the slate in any contest. He's hardly ever a major letdown and is consistent enough to build around if you have the salary available and can find good values across the rest of your roster. The only downside is that his salary is so hefty that he stretches everything else thin, but if you have the skill to find the values, it's hard to argue against Doncic's raw production.

Against the Mavs on Saturday, he finished with 33 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and 64 DraftKings points, and he drew a critical charge, which doesn't get fantasy points but does earn respect.

Game-sealing charge for Luka? Squad was LOVIN' it 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/UDbQwRsezM

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 25, 2026

He's averaging 57.0 FanDuel points and 60.2 DraftKings points per game in his 12 contests in January, and he's been well over that average in each of his last three games. He's produced 33.2 points, 8.8 assists, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game this month, and he'll look to keep rolling Monday night with plenty of usage and another opportunity to post a huge game. The Lakers-Bulls matchup has the highest over/under on the board by a wide margin.

Amen Thompson, HOU - PG on DK, PG/SG on FD

• DraftKings: $8.2K
• FanDuel: $8.8K

Thompson can be a little boom-or-bust, which is why I usually reserve him for GPP instead of cash game lineups. He's been having an impressive season for the Rockets, though, and he should get a good matchup on Monday against the injury-depleted Grizzlies backcourt.

He's played huge minutes all season and is averaging a solid 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He's on a four-game run of over 40 DraftKings points per game, which he continued by winning a matchup against his brother, Ausar Thompson, on Saturday in Detroit, when he had 15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, a block, and 42.2 DraftKings points.

Amen Thompson year 3 paint scoring https://t.co/KzX5iAh2OH pic.twitter.com/jOrmVZvLgb

— .Slip (@SlipReaper) January 23, 2026

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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Jock Landale, MEM - C

• DraftKings: $5.7K
• FanDuel $6K

The Grizzlies remain without Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke, while Santi Aldama has missed the last two games and is day-to-day. Aldama was ruled out for Sunday's game, which was postponed due to inclement weather, and he could miss another game on Monday.

🇦🇺 Jock Landale BEAST MODE vs Pelicans

- 32 MIN
- 24 PTS (11/18 FG)
- 11 REB
- 2 AST
- 1 STL
- 1 BLK

This was Landale’s SEVENTH double-double and his FIFTH 20+ point performance of the season so far!! 🐻

Jock out here looking like prime Blake Griffin. pic.twitter.com/r9id14yzsF

— Luke Travers fan club (@TraversHoops) January 24, 2026

With more opportunities available, Landale has been very productive over the last few games. He had 21 points and 41 DraftKings points against the Grizzlies last Sunday and posted a pair of double-doubles over the last week, highlighted by a monster game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 46.2 DraftKings points against the Pelicans on Friday. He is a little more expensive than my typical value plays, but the upside is too good to pass up, especially if Aldama misses Monday.

Kevin Huerter, CHI - SG/SF

• DraftKings: $4.2K
• FanDuel $4.3K

The Bulls got a game-winning shot from Huerter to beat the Celtics on Saturday, and they could be ready to give him a more consistent role in the second unit. His playing time has shifted around this season, but he has posted double-digit points in six of his last eight games, averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals during that span. His positional versatility helps him fit into your lineup in multiple slots, and he brings good upside in what could be a high-scoring game Monday night.

Moritz Wagner, ORL - PF/C

• DraftKings: $3.6K
• FanDuel: $3.8K

If you need a bargain big to round out your lineup this Monday, Wagner is back in the mix for the Magic after rehabbing his torn ACL from just over a year ago. He has played only four games this year, and his minutes are still very limited.  However, he had 14 points and 20.75 DraftKings points in 15 minutes against Charlotte last Thursday, and then posted 13 points and six rebounds for 22.5 DraftKings points in 13 minutes on Saturday.

His brother's absence opens up some space at forward, and the Magic could use his size against the two-big lineups of the Cavs on Monday. His ceiling is limited due to his minutes restrictions, but he's making a difference when he's on the floor and can do enough to be a value play at this bargain salary.

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors (232.5 O/U, 7.5-point spread)

Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls (237.5 O/U, 1.5-point spread)

My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today

Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.

• My favorite OVERALL play on the slate: Jaylen Brown
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Brandin Podziemski
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Amen Thompson
• My favorite VALUE play: Jock Landale/Moritz Wagner, depending on price point

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis