Huge 11 game NBA slate for us today. Considering that there are 22 teams playing, there will be solid options to be found at each price range. My plan for today includes targeting the great value plays in the absence of big men Christian Wood and Wendell Carter Jr. I have a balanced lineup today, capitalizing on underpriced tags across the slate.
Here is a balanced lineup For DFS Basketball 1/22/21 (using DraftKings Values)
PG L. Doncic $10,900 (DK)
SG V. Oladipo $8,000 (DK)
SF __________ $5,700 (DK)
PF J. Grant $8,100 (DK)
C D. Cousins $4,400 (DK)
F __________ $4,900 (DK)
Util __________ $3,100 (DK)
There is lots of value to be found on this massive slate, so it will not be difficult to pay up for big players. Luka Doncic is one of my favorite options to dump salary for today. The Dallas Mavericks remain depleted, with key players Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Klebersidelined. I fully expect Doncic to continue to pick up massive minutes and usage today. Doncic is averaging 63.1 FPTS over his last ten days despite tough matchups in his last two games. Today is a perfect opportunity for Doncic to show his upside in an ideal matchup against San Antonio.
Through two games on the Houston Rockets, Victor Oladipo has shot the ball 45 times and picked up 15 assists. Averaging around 50 FPTS through both games, he is drastically underpriced at $8,000. Today Christian Wood is out for the Rockets, solidifying Oladipo as a lock for me. Oladipo should pick up even more usage in Wood’s absence as the only star on the roster. Oladipo has a high floor and ceiling in this spot, and I am comfortable playing him in all contests.
Jerami Grant continued to deliver last game with a 47.5 FPT performance and has another easy matchup today against the Rockets. Houston plays at the sixth highest pace in the league and is weak defensively. Grant’s only subpar games in his last 10 have come against tough defensive matchups, which he is not going to find today. He has hit value in 7 of his last 8 bouts, with the outlier being a low scoring game against the bucks. If Grant keeps up his current level of production, he should crush value tonight.
DeMarcus Cousins is most likely going to start for Houston tonight without Christian Wood. Priced at only $4,400, Cousins is an absolute lock today. In the last game without Wood, Cousins put up 40 FPTS in 23 minutes. Cousins remains to be a strong per-minute fantasy producer, and with a decent minute’s boost today, should have no problem hitting value. Houston has a good matchup against a very weak Pistons defense, and I expect Cousins to put up a monster game in this perfect opportunity.
Now what do you get if you sign up now?
• The best cheap value plays on the slate.
• Midrange players with opportunities for star performances
• High upside options to differentiate in GPP’s
Eric Gordon – SF ($5,700 DK) Eric Gordon is another Rockets player who should get an increased role with Christian Wood ruled out. Gordon played 34 minutes in each of his last two games, which should be solidified today with a depleted squad. He shot the ball 17 and 20 times in those 2 outings, averaging 29 FPTS. $5,700 is far too small a tag considering the role Gordon should have today. I have no problem playing Victor Oladipo and Gordon together, but Gordon should be a lock if you are not reaching Oladipo at $8,000.
Trey Burke – G ($4,900 DK) Burke is coming off a 32.75 FPT game against Indiana, averaging 26.5 over his last ten days. Playing for a depleted Mavericks squad, Burke has seen his minutes and usage rise dramatically. Last game, Burke played 32 minutes and took 16 shots. Considering the lack of playmakers on this squad outside of Luka Doncic, there is no reason to think Burke cannot maintain this role. If his minutes and usage stay high, he should be able to crush value at this price against a weak Spurs defense.
Jae’Sean Tate – F ($4,900 DK) – Tate is the final Houston value play that I will be highlighting for tonight. The undrafted rookie has found some big playing time with Houston missing significant players. Tate played 37 minutes in his last outing and has reached 30 minutes in three of his last four games. With a limited roster today, I expect Tate to play in the high 30’s. Tate should be able to pick up some extra usage with Christian Wood out. If he can keep up the minutes, Tate is another player who is simply underpriced today given the role he will likely take on.
Daniel Gafford – C ($3,100 DK) Gafford is the perfect play if you are looking to go stars and scrubs on today’s slate. He is likely to get the start with Wendell Carter Jr. out. Gafford scored 18.3 FPTS in his last game and is averaging 16.5 FPTS across his last ten days. This is a great play for cash as Gafford would be on pace to hit decent value with a healthy Chicago rotation. Assuming Gafford gets a decent minute’s bump as the starting big man, he should prove to be a steal at this price.
Alternative Moves…
Nikola Jokic – C ($11,000 DK) The Joker is a player who is always worth considering this season. He is averaging over 60 FPTS a game and 64.9 FPTS through his last ten days. Jokic is in a pace down matchup against the suns, but he still has some massive upside. The reason I don’t have Jokic in my core lineup is I prefer to use the position for value plays DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Gafford.
Clint Capela – C ($8,300 DK) Capela is coming off a monster 76 FPT game, with his last 3 all over 50 FPTS. If you want to chase Capela having another huge game I cannot blame you, and if he continues the hot streak, he has some of the best upside on the slate at a decent price. However, like Nikola Jokic, there is a lot of opportunity cost for value at the position.
Goran Dragic – G ($6,000 DK) Expect Dragic to continue to play a big role for the Heat as Jimmy Butler remains out. Dragic scored 30.5 FPTS last game, which would just about hit value at this price. Tyler Herro is currently listed questionable for tonight’s game. If Herro is out, Dragic should have a huge role and becomes a core play.
Thaddeus Young – PF ($4,700 DK) In the absence of Wendell Carter Jr., Young will likely get a boost in his minutes. If Young gets a lot of run as the small ball center today, he should have no problem hitting value tonight. If Young is reported as the starting center, he becomes one of my favorite value plays on the slate.
Keep checking the news and make some money on today’s 11 game action.
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