Full Court Press Breakdown for NBA DFS 1/9:

Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Michael aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!

The winning has come early and often this season! Congrats to VIP Member – “Fatherofthree” on his $150k NBA win!! Adding to the list of winners already this season!

Denver Nuggets @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 222

Vegas Spread: Den -5.0

We kick the day off with an early island game, and frankly, I’m pretty happy this game isn’t on the main slate so we don’t need to deal with the headache in the Sixers. We’ll start with the Nuggets, it sounded like Michael Porter Jr. was going to return last game and then didn’t… and now sounds like he’ll be out for some additional games. This means we can go back to guys like Will Barton and Paul Millsap as secondary options. We saw Jamal Murray get 46 minutes last game on his way to 41.5 DraftKings points, it was a bounce-back game for him, and you kind of know what you’re getting from him and it’s pretty boom or bust. Nikola Jokic is out to the races this season and looking like a serious MVP candidate. I’ll go right back to him here even at an elevated price tag for showdowns. Gary Harris just doesn’t show enough production for me to want to get there but the minutes are there if you need a low range guy. Then we get to the Sixers… and I honestly can’t break this team down right now. Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, and Danny Green are all questionable due to Covid tracing, so you’re just going to need to watch for news here. Come jump in our VIP Coaching forum for updates on who is impacted when we get news on these guys.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic, TBD

4-star play: Jamal Murray, Will Barton, TBD

Deeper Value: TBD

GPP Sleeper: Paul Millsap, Monte Morris, TBD

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Main Slate:

Atlanta Hawks @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 229

Vegas Spread: Atl -5.0

We’ll tip off the main slate with the Hawks and the Hornets in a matchup that we saw just a few days ago. Starting with the Hawks, Trae Young had a brutal, horrendous, and straight-up disrespectful game last time out. All kidding aside, it was probably just an outlier game. The Hornets don’t play much of any defense and you can go right back to him here. Clint Capela has at least 30 DraftKings points in four straight games, and in a matchup against a weak frontcourt, he should be able to rack up fantasy points in a hurry. John Collins is really volatile right now, he’s hard to trust in cash games but we know he has a massive ceiling which puts him firmly in play for GPPs. Bogdan Bogdanovic has had his minutes cut lately and hasn’t looked great, he’s not in play right now. Lastly, De’Andre Hunter is underpriced for the production he is putting up, he’s not the safest play ever, but the game logs are really enticing at the very least. From the Hornets, Gordon Hayward had a massive night against the Hawks earlier in the week. It’s a huge pace up spot for them in this spot so I don’t hate going right back to him here even with an elevated price tag. LaMelo Ball continues to produce even in limited minutes in some games, in a fast past game I’ll go right back to him. Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham just aren’t guys I’ve been playing a whole lot this season. It’s a pretty loaded backcourt with these two guys and Ball, but you can get to them in GPPs. Lastly, the big men. Bismack Biyomobo is a fine option in his price range but PJ Washington has more upside in this matchup.

5-star play: Trae Young, Clint Capela

4-star play: John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball, PJ Washington

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Terry Rozier, Devonte’ Graham, Bismack Biyombo, PJ Washington, LaMelo Ball, John Collins

Phoenix Suns @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: 215

Vegas Spread: Ind -3.5

Starting with the Suns, Devin Booker is just overpriced right now plain and simple, and throwing in a bad matchup against a good team, he’s a full fade for me. DeAndre Ayton has been pretty solid as of late and this is a price point I do like on him. It’s not the best matchup, but you could do much worse. Chris Paul doesn’t have a bad price tag and is someone I think you can get to as a secondary option here. Lastly, Mikal Bridges is viable in all formats if you need a guy in that price range given how tough forward can be on a daily basis. From the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis continues to play well, and this is a matchup I like quite a bit. DeAndre Ayton is a really good young talent but still has some growing to do on the defensive end. Myles Turner is in a similar spot, but we kind of know what we’re getting with him, if he gets hot from three he’ll have a solid night. Malcolm Brogdon is on a heater right now and has at least 50 DraftKings points in three straight. It’s a great matchup for him even at an elevated price tag. Victor Oladipo looks actually pretty good this season but is taking away usage from the rest of these guys. That said, he looks to be getting back to his old self and is someone I don’t hate for tournaments. TJ Warren will be out for a while, opening up usage for these other starters, here’s how they play out:

• Domantas Sabonis – 24.7% usage rate; 1.31 fpm
• Malcolm Brogdon – 21.5% usage rate; 1.15 fpm
• Victor Oladipo – 27.0% usage rate; 1.10 fpm

All these guys are great options here, I don’t think there’s a bench guy that will come and start for him that would jump off the page to me. It will be a combination of Justin Holiday and Aaron Holiday. 

5-star play: Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon

4-star play: DeAndre Ayton, Chris Paul, Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner

Deeper Value: Aaron Holiday

GPP Sleeper: Justin Holiday, Myles Turner

Miami Heat @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 230

Vegas Spread: Mia -6.5

Starting with the Wizards, Russell Westbrook finally had his first dud of the season last night, he just flat out shot terribly. It’s a tough matchup for him but I’m okay going back to him, I like his floor/ceiling combination. Bradley Beal’s production hasn’t slowed even with Westbrook in the lineup now, I don’t love the price on him but it’s hard to ignore the numbers he’s putting up. Thomas Bryant continues to be overpriced as well, he has a nice ceiling but he’s not hitting it consistently enough to be playable in cash. I’ll have a sprinkle in GPP but given the matchup, I just won’t get to him all that much. Lastly, Rui Hachimura and Davis Bertans are soaking up the wing minutes now that they’re both relatively healthy. The minutes on them have fluctuated, so I’ll leave them in GPPs for the time being. From the Heat, Bam Adebayo should be able to do what he pleases here. The Wizards are pretty terrible on defense so he’s for sure in play in this spot. Jimmy Butler bounced back last game and got his full minutes back, this is an elite matchup for him and is someone I’ll look to get to in all formats. I’m off Tyler Herro and Goran Dragic until their prices come down with Butler now back. Although… Herro has still shown a nice ceiling with Butler back in there but he’s coming off a pretty bad game, he’s just overpriced. Lastly, Duncan Robinson is always in play for GPPs due to his ability to get hot from beyond the arc.

5-star play: Russell Westbrook, Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler

4-star play: Bradley Beal

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura, Davis Bertans, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Goran Dragic

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks

Vegas Total: 222.5

Vegas Spread: Mil -12.5

Starting with the Cavaliers, I really wish the Cavaliers would just play Andre Drummond 30+ minutes per game. He saw 37 minutes last night on his way to 47 DraftKings points. I don’t love the matchup, but I also don’t hate it. Lopez can be pretty stingy on the other end but this price on Drummond is really nice. Darius Garland is going to be out again here while Collin Sexton is questionable. If Sexton plays he’s going to be a guy I’ll get to here in a pace up spot against the Bucks who want to run and gun. Larry Nance is another guy I like targeting in fast pace matchups. He’s priced about right but we know the ceiling he has, so I like him here. Cedi Osman has looked great over the past few games and the Bucks are going to give up the three, they’re literally going to let you shoot them while they stand there and watch, so if he can get hot here he’s looking at another nice game. From the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo bounced back last game but this is a game I worry about his minutes, the Bucks should have no problem running away with this one. That said, Giannis has said he wants more minutes and I think Budenholzer is honestly listening to him in that he wants to play more minutes this season, he’s an elite option regardless of the spread. Khris Middleton has started the season on fire, and he honestly looks like one of the better scorers in the league outside of the paint. I like him in GPPs, it’s tough for him just because of the usage that Giannis demands. Jrue Holiday’s price went down and is around a 25% usage rate on the season, I don’t mind him in all formats, he can stuff the stat sheet. He’s looked great over his past couple of games. Lastly Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo make sense for GPPs, DiVincenzo looks like the real deal but has been volatile as well. You can make a case for Bobby Portis who is going to see backup center minutes along with a lot of usage in that second unit, he’s also blowout proof which helps in this matchup.

5-star play: Andre Drummond, Giannis Antetokounmpo

4-star play: Collin Sexton, Larry Nance, Cedi Osman, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middelton, Bobby Portis

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Brook Lopez, Donte DiVincenzo

San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 234

Vegas Spread: Sas -4.5

Starting with the Spurs, DeMar DeRozan has been great all season and in a great matchup against the Wolves, he’s a guy I’m going to get to here. It’s a pace up spot and the Wolves aren’t playing any defense. Dejounte Murray continues to look good this season and for the same reason I like DeRozan, I’m going to like Murray here as well. He has a nice ceiling for GPPs as well. Keldon Johnson has been great so far this season but coming off a complete dud last time out. The minutes are still there so maybe just a bad game but something to monitor with Aldridge back in there. LaMarcus Aldridge finally had a good game going for nearly 40 DraftKings points last time out. I still have a hard time trusting him, but I don’t blame you if you fall on him. From the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable here for the first time in a while so keep an eye on that news. If he plays I would expect he’s at his full minutes since it was just a wrist injury. Juancho Hernangomez is probably the guy I want if Towns is out again. Between him, Naz Reid, and Ed Davis he’s been the most consistent over the past couple of games. D’Angelo Russell’s production has come up over the past few games which is good to see and you know I want to target point guards against the Spurs, so this is a spot I’m going to attack pretty heavily. Malik Beasley, Ricky Rubio, and Anthony Edwards are all GPP guys but that’s about it.

5-star play: D’Angelo Russell, DeMar DeRozan

4-star play: Dejounte Murray, LaMarcus Aldridge

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Keldon Johnson, Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, Ricky Rubio, Anthony Edwards

Orlando Magic @ Dallas Mavericks

Vegas Total: 218

Vegas Spread: Dal -5.5

Starting with the Magic, holy cow did they look bad last night against the Rockets, let’s hope they can bounce back a little here. I like getting some Nikola Vucevic here, the Mavs frontcourt isn’t very strong and I love the floor/ceiling combination. Terrence Ross had a complete dud last game even with all these guys out for the Magic, I’ll chalk that one up to variance. You can go back to him here. Aaron Gordon was a surprise scratch yesterday, but it does seem like he’ll be back here so you can go back to him. Markelle Fultz will be out for the rest of the season which opens the door for rookie Cole Anthony to show what he’s got. A report did come out that he was gassed after playing 30+ minutes in that first game with Fultz out, he followed that up with playing 28 minutes last night. I think that’s what you can expect from him, he’s not going to see 35+ minutes but he’ll be in that 27-33 range each night. From the Mavericks, Luka Doncic now has back to back games with at least 70 DraftKings points. Maybe he’s finally getting his feet under him this season. He’s one of the better raw options on the slate. Outside of Doncic I never really get to the rest of this team. That said, you can make a case for Willie Cauley-Stein who has seen a minute increase over the past two games and I think they’ll need him here to help guard Vucevic. Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith will be out here due to Covid protocols so that will open up some opportunity on the wing for guys like Tim Hardaway and Trey Burke, the rest of the guys are just too deep on the depth chart to where I just don’t think they’re good at the game of basketball.

5-star play: Nikola Vucevic, Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway

4-star play: Aaron Gordon, Willie Cauley-Stein, James Johnson, Trey Burke

Deeper Value: James Johnson

GPP Sleeper: Cole Anthony, Trey Burke, Terrence Ross

Portland Trailblazers @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 237

Vegas Spread: Por -5.5

We end the slate with what should be a fun late-night hammer! Starting with the Blazers, CJ McCollum finally came down to Earth last game and paved a trail for Damian Lillard to go crazy. I’m willing to go right back to the well on Lillard here. When he gets on he gets hot and at under $10k I’ll be all over him. Jusuf Nurkic has been more consistent as of late and in a great matchup against the Kings, I like going right back to the Nurkic well. Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. are GPP guys who have been really volatile this season. Lastly, Carmelo Anthony has seen his minutes come down a bit but he’s still producing pretty good, I don’t HATE him for GPPs. From the Kings, De’Aaron Fox had his minutes limited to 25 last night as he came into the game questionable. I would expect he’s back up near 30 here so you can go right back to him against what might be the worst defense in the league. Buddy Hield is always in play in GPPs for me due to his upside but the price tag just is too high for me here. That said, it is nice seeing him get consistent minutes this season. Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica, and Marvin Bagley feel really similar here, they’re more of secondary GPP options here than anything. Lastly, Tyrese Haliburton is cookin’ right now, his price tag is still really nice. It’s still a question mark as to why he fell so far in the draft, but he was one of the better prospects in this year’s draft and he’s showing off why.

5-star play: Damian Lillard

4-star play: De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Richaun Holmes, Tyrese Haliburton, Jusuf Nurkic, CJ McCollum

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley, Buddy Hield, Robert Covington

NBA Lock of the Day: Trey Burke (DK – $3.0k; FD – $4.1k)

So this lock is dependent on a few things. First off he needs to play, but I’m pretty confident in that as he comes in as probable. The Mavs will be without Josh Richardson, Jalen Brunson, and Dorian Finney-Smith here which really leaves them thin at the wing. With these three off the court last season he had a 23.3% usage rate and 1.1 fantasy points per minute. At minimum price on DraftKings, he opens up a lot on this slate. The Research Station below has him projected for 24.62 fantasy points which would put him at over 8x his DraftKings price tag. Tweet me (@MadnessDFS) your lock predictions and if your player gets over 5x tonight I’ll give you a shoutout on Twitter, let’s have some fun with this!

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