DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 14th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 01/14:

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 Mike 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!

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Orlando Magic @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 224.0

Vegas Spread: Cha -10.5

We’ll get this slate started out with the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. will continue to be out here while Mo Bamba comes in as questionable. I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s out again here and we get Robin Lopez getting the start at center. If Lopez starts again he looks like a great option against a bad Hornets frontcourt. With Bamba and Carter Jr. off of the court this season he has a 21.4% usage rate and 1.00 fantasy points per minute. I was all over Cole Anthony last time out and ended up doing well after a poor first half. I have no issue going right back to him here, we’re used to seeing him in the mid-$8k range and now he’s in the mid-$7k’s, he can blow this price tag out of the water and has his minutes above 33 in back to back games. We’ve seen Terrence Ross get more consistent run as well over the last 10 games, he’s firmly in play as a tournament guy with at least 31 minutes in three straight games and double-digit shot attempts in 10 straight. Then we can round this team out with Franz Wagner as a solid secondary option given his consistency this season. From the Hornets, LaMelo Ball hasn’t been in the greatest of form but has seen his price fall below $9k on DraftKings and is at $8k on FanDuel. He has the upside to blow this price tag out of the water as well, but the consistency hasn’t been there causing for the discount, I like him in all formats again, but probably more of a tournament guy. Miles Bridges kept it rolling again last game and is probably priced about right, I wouldn’t have any issue with him as a secondary piece. Terry Rozier kept it going last time out as well and I love the magic against this Magic team if you happened to land on him. Gordon Hayward would be more of a tournament guy for me due to the volatility he can show, but I wouldn’t talk you off of him for going there in cash either. Then we can round the Hornets out with PJ Washington and Mason Plumlee as GPP options against a banged-up frontcourt.

***Assuming Mo Bamba is OUT***

5-star play: Robin Lopez, Cole Anthony, LaMelo Ball

4-star play: Chuma Okeke, Terrence Ross, Franz Wagner, Miles Bridges, Terry Rozier

Deeper Value: Robin Lopez, Mo Wagner

GPP Sleeper: Mo Wagner, Terrence Ross, LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, Mason Plumlee, PJ Washington

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Toronto Raptors @ Detroit Pistons

Vegas Total: 215.5

Vegas Spread: Tor -7.5

Starting with the Raptors, Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr. come into this one as questionable so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates, but I’m going to operate as if they’re out again here. In this case, the minute security for the rest of this starting five will be pretty massive. With these guys out last game, we saw Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby all play at least 39 minutes and would look like great options in all formats again here. Then we also saw Yutu Watanabe and Khem Birch enter the starting lineup, I wouldn’t have much interest in Watanabe, but Birch would look like a playable value option depending on what other value opens up on the slate. From the Pistons, Cade Cunningham came crashing down to Earth after dropping a 50 burger against the Jazz but did lose at least a rotation due to a blowout by the hands of the Bulls. He would be more of a tournament guy for me here due to his volatility. I’ll continue to be underweight on Hamidou Diallo and Saddiq Bey on these full slates with the Pistons being back to almost full health. The minutes on Trey Lyles came crashing down as well as we saw Isaiah Stewart get his minutes back up near the 30 range. Stewart would be the guy I want going forward and gets a nice matchup here. The rest of this team doesn’t interest me a whole lot outside of sprinkles in 150 max contests.

***Assuming Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr. are OUT again***

5-star play: Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby

4-star play: Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart

Deeper Value: Khem Birch

GPP Sleeper: Trey Lyles, Hamidou Diallo, Saddiq Bey

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Phoenix Suns @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: 220.0

Vegas Spread: Pho -5.5

Starting with the Suns, this team is close to full health again which makes it hard for me to get to them at their price tags. That being said, this is an awesome matchup against a bad Pacers defense, so I think Chris Paul and Devin Booker are playable in tournaments at the very least. Deandre Ayton hasn’t been in the best form over his last couple of games but the minutes are there so I have no issue going back to him in all formats. We kind of know the story on Mikal Bridges, he’s a fine last piece in type play but will play massive minutes, he just doesn’t do a whole lot with them. We did see Jae Crowder have a big game last time out and would be a guy I don’t have a problem going back to if Cam Johnson is forced to miss again. From the Pacers, Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon both returned last time out, but Brogdon didn’t make it through the full game and comes in as questionable here. I’m thinking he sits again here, as they really don’t have a reason to force the hand on his Achilles injury, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed regardless. LeVert played 29 minutes in his first game back, so he shouldn’t be limited going forward and has a 30.4% usage rate and 1.16 fantasy points per minute with Brogdon off of the court this season. Domantas Sabonis came down to Earth last time out and will lose some usage with at least LeVert coming back, he’d be more of a GPP guy for me here. We can get off of the Keifer Sykes train as well as this team begins to get healthier. I can’t seem to get Myles Turner right this season but will continue to be a tournament guy as we know the volatility that comes along with him. Then we can probably leave Lance Stephenson and Chris Duarte out of player pools as well as they cut into each other’s production.

***Assuming Malcolm Brogdon is OUT***

5-star play: None

4-star play: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Myles Turner

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder

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Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 212.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -3.5

Starting with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum had a nice bounce-back game last time out going for 55.75 DraftKings points and I wouldn’t have any issue going right back to him in this spot. Jaylen Brown kept it rolling as well and now has at least 45 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. Robert Williams was bit by the foul bug last time out which hindered his minutes, but they’ll need his size to help deal with Embiid down low in this one. The same can be said for Al Horford who has not been in good form, being held under 20 fantasy points in four straight games. I’m going to need him to prove it to me before I go back to him. Then we can round the Celtics out with Dennis Schroder who should get a decent boost if Marcus Smart is forced to sit again. From the Sixers, they got Tyrese Maxey back last time out and jumped right back into 38 minutes. He didn’t do a whole lot with those minutes, but it’s good to see he won’t be limited moving forward and I like him again at this price tag. Seth Curry will lose some of his ball-handling responsibilities with Maxey back but is a fine tournament option again here. Joel Embiid is a guy I’ll like a lot again here against a poor rebounding team. He is averaging 64.5 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Celtics this season. I don’t have any issue getting to Tobias Harris here but I think we can do better in this price range on a decently sized slate tonight.

5-star play: Joel Embiid

4-star play: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Al Horford, Robert Williams, Dennis Schroder, Marcus Smart, Seth Curry

I wanted to give a quick shoutout to VIP member “GhostfaceKillaa” on his $30k win earlier in the season. A pivot to Curry off the chalky Doncic was the key for him, congrats man!

Golden State Warriors @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: 221.5

Vegas Spread: Chi -4.0

Starting with the Warriors, they’ll be without Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Gary Payton here, so we should see Jordan Poole slide right back into the starting lineup, and looks like a solid tournament option. Steph Curry had a rough go of it last night along with the rest of the Warriors, as my Bucks opened up a can of whoop-ass. I’ve had trouble landing on Curry as of late with the other stars we have on the slates, but he did drop 58 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season. I would consider him more of a GPP option again here, we know the ceiling is there for him any time he steps on the court. Andrew Wiggins should benefit from Thompson being out as well and looks like a solid secondary option. Then guys like Otto Porter and Kevon Looney are fine multi-entry plays as well. From the Bulls, both Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan look like fine options here but I think we’re back to the days where LaVine and DeRozan are more of tournament guys where it will be hard to predict who has the big game on a daily basis. I don’t have an issue going back to Nikola Vucevic however in a nice matchup with the Warriors and has been in good form as of late. He should be able to hang with the Warriors’ small-ball lineups just fine. Lonzo Ball has been in good form as well and a nice GPP option at the very least. Then the rest of this team would be more of MME-type players for me.

5-star play: Steph Curry

4-star play: Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jordan Poole, Zach Lavine, DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball

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Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: 221.0

Vegas Spread: Mia -5.0

Starting with the Hawks, Clint Capela will miss this game again, meaning we should see Onyeka Okongwu get the start again, and looks like a nice value in all formats. He did see his minutes come down a bit in this same matchup last time out but still a guy I would be good with going back to here. Trae Young struggled in this spot last time out and is shooting ice cold as of late with a combined 3-19 from three-point range over his last three games. That will positively regress sooner rather than later, he’s too good of a scorer. John Collins is a guy I like going right back to with Capela out as well against a banged-up Heat frontcourt. Then guys like Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic look like solid tournament options as well, they should see a few more minutes each with Cam Reddish being shipped to the Knicks, but they may ultimately go straight to De’Andre Hunter who returned last time out to play 24 minutes and looks like an interesting value option here. From the Heat, Jimmy Butler comes in as questionable here, I’m going to operate under the assumption that he sits, but obviously, keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed if that changes. Dewayne Dedmon returned last game to play 18 minutes and took a few minutes away from Omer Yurtseven. I don’t think Dedmon returning will kill Yurtseven due to how good he has been but he may lose a few minutes per game, so maybe expect him to be around 30 instead of 33-34. Below is how this team operates with Jimmy Butler and Bam off of the court this season:

• Tyler Herro – 31.9% usage rate; 1.11 fpm
• Kyle Lowry – 22.1% usage rate; 1.08 fpm
• Omer Yurtseven – 20% usage rate; 1.14 fpm
• Gabe Vincent – 19.9% usage rate; 0.79 fpm

These would be my favorite options on this team, I love the matchup for these backcourt guys as well due to the lack of defense that the Hawks are playing, so Herro and Lowry are guys I’ll like quite a bit. Herro dropped a 50 burger on them last time out.

***Assuming Jimmy Butler is OUT again***

5-star play: Trae Young, Tyler Herro

4-star play: Onyeka Okongwu, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kyle Lowry, Omer Yurtseven

Deeper Value: De’Andre Hunter

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Omer Yurtseven, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 222.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -3.5

Starting with the Cavs, Darius Garland bounced back in a big way last time out and gets a great matchup against a Spurs team that I’ve been targeting guards against for about two years, he looks like a nice option again here. Jarrett Allen has lost some of his consistency as of late and looks like more of a GPP guy for me, but I do like the matchup. Evan Mobley has been a pretty consistent mid-30’s producer as of late and looks like a solid option at this price tag as well in a great matchup. The consistent minutes on Kevin Love has seemed to fall off as of late making him more of a tournament-only option for me. Then we can round this team out with Lauri Markkanen as a tournament option as well. I also don’t hate taking a flyer on Rajon Rondo if we end up being short on value on this slate. From the Spurs, they got a lot of their guys back last time out from the Covid list, and sounds like Derrick White is close. He comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on their injury report for updates. Dejounte Murray was a guy I was high on last time out and went bonkers for 73 DraftKings points. I have no problem going right back to him here even with these guys coming back for the Spurs. This is a tough matchup for Jakob Poeltl but still a guy I don’t mind going back to, he has at least 30 DraftKings points in seven straight games. Keldon Johnson is more of a tournament guy due to the volatility we know he has, but the upside is there for him on occasion. Then the rest of this team would be more of GPP-type plays as they cut into each other’s minutes security.

5-star play: Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray

4-star play: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl

Deeper Value: Rajon Rondo

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Love, Lauri Markkanen, Rajon Rondo, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell

Use the 2021-22 NBA DFS Sim Model and build stronger lineups for cash games and/or large-field tournaments! Run the slate 1000 times and see who comes out on top most often, who creates value, and who is most likely to post that gpp-winning outlier…

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Dallas Mavericks @ Memphis Grizzlies

Vegas Total: 216.0

Vegas Spread: Mem -3.0

Starting with the Mavericks, they’ll be without Kristaps Porzigins again here meaning we should see a healthy dose of Maxi Kleber in the frontcourt. He’s been in great form and makes sense as a mid-range option. Luka Doncic has been in good form as well with at least 62 DraftKings points in two of his last four games. He looks like one of the better spend-up options on the slate. Jalen Brunson is priced out specifically on DraftKings, but think he’s playable on FanDuel yet in the $5k range with at least 29 FanDuel points in three straight games. Then guys like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith are fine secondary options but not priorities by any means. From the Grizzlies, they’ll continue to be without Dillon Brooks and I’m operating as if Steven Adams is out here as well. With these two off of the court this season, here is how the rest of the team operates:

• Ja Morant – 33.7% usage rate; 1.38 fpm
• Jaren Jackson – 28.3% usage rate; 1.26 fpm
• Brandon Clarke – 18.3% usage rate; 1.13 fpm
• Desmond Bane – 25.4% usage rate; 1.06 fpm
• De’Anthony Melton – 20.2% usage rate; 1.03 fpm

These would be the main guys I would have interest in from the Grizzlies. It looks like a nice spot for most of these guys as well, the Mavericks defense isn’t one that scares me especially in the frontcourt if Adams is out again. You can make a case for Kyle Anderson as well but seems like more of a secondary cash option more than anything.

***Assuming Steven Adams is OUT***

5-star play: Luka Doncic, Ja Morant

4-star play: Maxi Kleber, Jalen Brunson (FanDuel), Tim Hardaway, Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, De’Anthony Melton, Brandon Clarke

NBA Lock of the Day: Robin Lopez (DK – $4.4k; FD – $4.7k)

I’m operating under the assumption that Mo Bamba will be out again tonight and with Wendell Carter Jr. already out, we should get Robin Lopez back in the starting lineup. He’ll get a great matchup against a poor Hornets frontcourt and is coming off of a great game last time out. He has a 21.4% usage rate and 1.00 fantasy points per minute with these two off of the court this season and a guy I love tonight. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!

As always, watch Twitter for updates throughout the day, and stay updated in our VIP Coaching forums as news breaks throughout the day!

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