FanDuel & DraftKings NBA Cheat Sheet 1/10/19

Welcome to the wild world of NBA DFS. The final hour to lock can be a tiring with the injury news, but we hope to have you prepared with fill-in options and what to do when scenarios occur. The cheat sheet will fill you in on the top games to target, values, tournament picks, cash game options, and much more. Prices are set for DraftKings and FanDuel, and the focus will be on whatever the main slate is listed as for each site. Pricing is listed (FD/DK). Players with no designated listing are playable in cash and tournaments. Players with designated game styles are for those only.

Vegas Numbers

Highest Implied Team Totals

• Wizards (120)
• Hawks (119)
• Bucks (117)
• Pelicans (116)
• Grizzlies (116)
• Clippers (116)

Lowest Implied Team Totals

• Warriors (102)
• Hornets (99)

Potential Blowouts

• Jazz (-12.5)
• Clippers (-14)

Analysis: There are a ton of great games tonight, and looking at the matchups this should be a relatively high scoring slate. The blowout concerns are with the Jazz facing the Hornets and the Clippers taking on Golden State. The highest implied game on the night is sitting at 240, with Washington and Atlanta. Two teams that play up in pace and play little to no defense. The Knicks-Pelicans game is a high scoring one as well, however we we will need to monitor injuries there. The Magic get an uptick in pace and take on the Suns, there are a few highlight plays from this game to consider below. Overall there isn’t really a game to avoid due to Vegas concerns.

Injury Report

• Anthony Davis – Out
• Brandon Ingram – Questionable
• Domantas Sabonis – Questionable
• Paul George – Out
• Kristaps Porzingis – Out
• Jrue Holiday – Out
• Bradley Beal – Questionable
• Julius Randle – Out
• D’Angelo Russell – Out
• Richaun Holmes – Out
• Marcus Morris – Doubtful
• Aaron Gordon – Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon – Questionable
• Marvin Bagley – Questionable
• D.J. Augustin – Out

Analysis: There is a pretty lengthy list of injuries tonight, starting with Anthony Davis. I expect him to miss tonight, and with Davis off the court this season, LeBron James has averaged over 1.50 FPPM and has seen over a 35% usage rate. He would be the player I build around if Davis sits out. Kyle Kuzma would see a tick up in minutes and usage with Davis out. Brandon Ingram being out would be in addition to Jrue Holiday who is out already. Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball are my preferred plays from this game regardless of fill-in options. The Knicks without Julius Randle and likely Marcus Morris put Bobby Portis in play, who is coming off a big double-double against the Jazz. This is an easier matchup for him. I liked Markelle Fultz before the D.J. Augustin news, but now that he is out, I like him even more. He will play safe minutes, and see a strong matchup against the Suns.

Point Guards

• Luka Doncic ($11,400/$12,600)
• Trae Young ($10,000/$10,400)
• Ja Morant ($7,400/$7,200) – GPP
• De’Aaron Fox ($7,400/$7,500)
• Lonzo Ball ($6,400/$7,300)
• Markelle Fultz ($5,700/$5,800)
• Ish Smith (4,900/$5,700)
• Aaron Holiday ($4,600/$5,600) – If Brogdon is out

Analysis: Luka Doncic and Trae Young headline the position of course, and both are averaging ridiculous numbers over the last ten games with usage rates over 35%. They are expensive but certainly worth the price tags tonight. Ja Morant and De’Aaron Fox are solid plays, and should be overlooked a bit due to some cheaper options. Lonzo Ball is one of my favorite plays tonight, facing a Knicks defense that ranks 22nd against opposing point guards this season. Ball is averaging 34 fantasy points per game over the last ten games, and his FD price is just too low. I talk about Markelle Fultz a bit above, and he is a strong value alongside Ish Smith who has shown a high ceiling of late.

Shooting Guards

• Devin Booker ($8,800/$8,400)
• Donovan Mitchell ($7,800/$8,200)
• Jimmy Butler ($8,200/$8,000) – GPP
• DeMar DeRozan ($7,000/$7,200)
• Lou Williams ($6,200/$7,400)
• Jordan McRae ($6,100/$6,500) – If Beal is out.
• Kevin Huerter ($5,700/$6,100)
• Terrence Ross ($4,400/$4,500) – GPP
• Josh Hart ($4,400/$5,100)

Analysis: Much like Kyle Kuzma, we should expect Josh Hart to be the popular value play. He is cheap, and Jrue Holiday is ruled out again. Brandon Ingram being out would mean more usage to go around as well. As for the rest of the names, it is the usual business. Devin Booker has been lights out, and has a 32% usage rate over the last ten games. Both him and Butler are averaging 40 fantasy points per game over the last ten games. DeMar DeRozan, Lou Williams, and Donovan Mitchell are all hovering around the 40 fantasy point mark as well over the last ten games. Bradley Beal is considered questionable again, and Jordan McRae would be a strong play as would the opposing shooting guard Kevin Huerter.

Small Forwards

• Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,100/$11,100)
• LeBron James ($10,700/$11,000)
• Kelly Oubre ($7,200/$7,000) – GPP
• Alec Burks ($5,700/$5,900)
• Troy Brown ($5,700/$6,600)
• T.J. Warren ($5,500/$5,700)
• Trevor Ariza ($4,700/$4,700)
• Glenn Robinson ($4,100/$4,500)

Analysis: A bit of a thin small forward position depending on the site, but LeBron James is the name I am after with Anthony Davis out. The usage is over 35% and he should crush here. Giannis would just be a tournament pivot for me at this point. The mid range is a little volatile, but Kelly Oubre continues to play well averaging 35 fantasy points per game over the last ten games. Alec Burks continues to play well, and with D’Angelo Russell ruled out, his usage and minutes are safe again. We are going to want to target the Hawks-Wizards game, so Troy Brown is a premium play averaging 30 fantasy points in his last ten games. T.J. Warren is safe given he won’t be against Jimmy Butler, and Chicago is a defense to attack. Warren actually is at a great price tag as well.

Power Forwards

• Kawhi Leonard ($9,400/$9,900) – GPP
• John Collins ($8,300/$8,500)
• Bam Adebayo ($8,200/$8,100)
• LaMarcus Aldridge ($7,400/$7,400)
• Derrick Favors ($6,600/$6,900
• Nemanja Bjleica ($4,800/$6,000)
• Maxi Kleber ($4,500/$5,800)
• Kyle Kuzma ($4,400/$5,300)
• Khem Birch ($3,900/$4,100) – GPP If Aaron Gordon Out

Analysis: There are terrific spots for the names up top at the position, and combining them with one value play is a smart move because Kyle Kuzma is going to be a chalky value. He has seen decent usage with Davis off the court, and will draw the start tonight. He is cheap on both sites. Maxi Kleber continues to get minutes in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. Marvin Bagley’s injury should open the door for Nemanja Bjleica again, although his DK price is awfully high in comparison to FanDuel. I would lean on him over there in stead. LaMarcus Aldridge continues to play well, and is averaging 40 fantasy points per game in the last ten games. Memphis is a beatable defense, and this game has a sneaky high total. Bam Adebayo and John Collins continue to be very consistent and are the cream of the crop. Domantas Sabonis would be a lock if healthy, so I would keep him as a GPP play for not.

Centers

• Nikola Vucevic ($8,800/$8,800)
• Rudy Gobert ($8,400/$8,600)
• Montrezl Harrell ($6,500/$6,700) – GPP
• Dwight Powell ($5,200/5,500)
• Dwight Howard ($4,900/$5,600) – GPP
• Bobby Portis ($4,400/$6,400)

Analysis: Nikola Vucevic is my favorite pay up center tonight, going up against a Suns defense that ranks 27th against centers. Vucevic has a 27% usage rate over the last ten games, and is averaging 45 fantasy points per game. The blowout concern is a bit scary for Rudy Gobert, but this is a great matchup against the Hornets, who are bottom five against opposing centers, and are not a good rebounding team either. Montrezl Harrell should be overlooked tonight against the Warriors, despite his high usage rate and Paul George being out as well. If you are looking cheap, Dwight Powell is averaging 27 fantasy points in his last ten games, while Bobby Portis opens up value on FanDuel.