DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 15th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 01/15:

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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Portland Trailblazers @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 215.5

Vegas Spread: Was -7.5

We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Blazers, they’ll be without Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, and Larry Nance again in this one. That being said, they should get Anfernee Simons back in the starting lineup, and will look like a nice option here. He has a 33% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per minute with Dame, McCollum, and Powell off of the court this season. Simons being back should slide Dennis Smith Jr. back to the bench and would become more of a tournament option at this price tag. I would think Ben McLemore sticks in the starting lineup however and has at least 32 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. The price is up on him but for good reason in a good matchup with the Wizards. I have no problem going back to the Jusuf Nurkic well either against this frontcourt and is a great per minute guy on the season. Then we can round the Blazers out with Robert Covington and Nassir Little as solid secondary options in all formats. From the Wizards, they’ll likely be without Bradley Beal again as he re-entered the Covid list earlier this week. Spencer Dinwiddie has a 26.0% usage rate and 1.16 fantasy points per minute with Beal off of the court this season and will look like a nice option again here. Kyle Kuzma kept it rolling last time out and is playing a ton of minutes right now. He also sees a nice bump with Beal off of the court with a 26.2% usage rate and 1.12 fantasy points per minute on the season. He has at least 40 DraftKings points in five straight games and looks good again here. Montrezl Harrell has returned to his usual role of 20-25 minutes per game and is a fine tournament option simply due to how good he is on a per-minute basis. Harrell being back will hurt the consistent production that Daniel Gafford has seen over the past couple of weeks making him more of a tournament option as he should lose some minutes. Then we can round this team out with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a GPP option as well.

5-star play: Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma

4-star play: Ben McLemore, Robert Covington, Nassir Little, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Dennis Smith Jr., Daniel Gafford

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New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 212.0

Vegas Spread: Atl -2.5

Starting with the Knicks, Kemba Walker will be out again here and newly acquired Cam Reddish won’t have a chance at immediate revenge as he’s out as well.  Julius Randle has been all over the place as of late but looked okay last game and the price tag is nowhere near where it used to be so I would be okay with him as a secondary option. RJ Barrett has looked pretty solid over his last handful of games and will benefit from Kemba being out, he has at least 43 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. Alec Burks has at least 32 minutes in five straight games and will benefit with Kemba out again here in a great matchup against a bad Hawks defense. Then guys like Mitchell Robinson and Immanuel Quickley are fine MME-type plays but probably wouldn’t get a whole lot of them. From the Hawks, Clint Capela comes into this game as questionable, so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed on the situation here. We saw Gorgui Dieng surprisingly get the start over Onyeka Okongwu last time out after Okongwu started the previous couple of games. If Capela is out again it will likely be more of a stay away situation than anything for me, but if Dieng were to start again it would be hard for me to ignore his min price tag. Trae Young hasn’t been in the best form as of late and I don’t love the spot for him, that being said, his price has come down a nice amount, so he’ll be in play for GPPs at the very least. John Collins will be more of a GPP guy again for me here, he’s been pretty volatile as of late but the rebound equity should climb if Capela is forced to miss again. Then guys like Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic look like solid tournament options as well.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Alec Burks, Clint Capela, Trae Young, John Collins

Deeper Value: Starting Hawks center if Capela is out

GPP Sleeper: Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley, Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic

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New Orleans Pelicans @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Bkn -6.0

Starting with the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram has been better as of late with at least 55 DraftKings points in two of his last four games and gets a matchup I like here. The minutes on Jonas Valanciunas have been intriguing as well, he should do whatever he wants against this Nets frontcourt. Josh Hart has been a guy I’ve played a ton this season, he just gets it done more times than not. That being said, he’s been held under 30 fantasy points in two of his last five games, but love the spot for him. He plays massive minutes and fills up the stat sheet without sacrificing scoring. Devonte’ Graham is coming off of a nice game last time out and has seen good minutes as well as of late, he looks like a solid mid-range option. Lastly, I might just need to swear off of Nickeil Alexander-Walker… the price is intriguing but the minutes and production aren’t there with this team near full health. From the Nets, they’ll be without Kyrie Irving and LaMarcus Aldridge in this one, as Nicolas Claxton comes in as questionable. With Aldridge and Irving off of the court this season, Kevin Durant has a 31.3% usage rate and 1.33 fantasy points per minute while James Harden has a 30.2% usage rate and 1.34 fantasy points per minute. I’ll have interest in two of the stars on this team any time a third sits, so they look good in a nice matchup. Claxton would be interesting if he starts, but outside of those three, it would just be Patty Mills as a GPP option.

5-star play: James Harden, Kevin Durant

4-star play: Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Josh Hart, Devonte’ Graham, Nicolas Claxton

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Patty Mills, Nicolas Claxton, Cam Thomas

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Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: 210.5

Vegas Spread: Mia -2.0

Starting with the Sixers, I had a good deal of interest in Tyrese Maxey as he returned earlier in the week and has a nice price tag. He’s played 38 minutes in both games since returning and had a nice game last time out, I have no issue going right back to the well on him here. Seth Curry will lose some of his ball-handling responsibilities with Maxey back but is a fine tournament option again here. Joel Embiid has at least 55 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and should do whatever he wants against this Heat frontcourt that won’t get Bam Adebayo back until early next week. Then, 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. From Miami, they got Jimmy Butler back last night and returned to play 33 minutes so it’s pretty clear he won’t be limited moving forward. I like this spot for him against his old team and know there is some beef between him and Embiid yet. Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry will take a hit with Butler back but still look like fine secondary options if you happened to land on them. Omer Yurtseven’s minutes have dropped slightly with Dewayne Dedmon being back but the production hasn’t really budged, he’s been the model of consistency as of late. Outside of those three, it’s a pretty clear-cut team right now, if you want to go to Duncan Robinson in tournaments I suppose you can, but not a guy I ever get to much.

5-star play: Joel Embiid

4-star play: Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris. Jimmy Butler, Omer Yurtseven

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Seth Curry, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson

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!

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 210.0

Vegas Spread: Cle -5.0

Starting with the Cavs, I had a bunch of Darius Garland last night and he ended up making my core in our Cheat Sheets/Coaches Notes against a poor Spurs defense. I would have no issue going right back to him here in another great matchup with this G-League Thunder team. Jarrett Allen looked good last night as well and he and Evan Mobley should be able to do whatever they want in this matchup against a pretty poor frontcourt. 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, assuming he’s good to go after missing last night’s game. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off of a massive game against the Nets last time out, so I don’t hate riding it out and hoping he gets on a heater here. Josh Giddey feels like he’s priced about right, we know the consistency will be there with him, so no issue going to him in any format. Lu Dort has shown some surprising consistency as of late and is a guy I don’t hate here, they’ll need some size in this matchup with a big Cavs team. Speaking of size, Darius Bazley and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will need to show up tonight, so I don’t have an issue with them in GPPs as well, but two very volatile producers.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

4-star play: Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey

Deeper Value: Rajon Rondo, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, Lauri Markkanen, Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

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Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics

Vegas Total: 216.0

Vegas Spread: Bos -6.0

Starting with the Bulls, they’ll be without Zach LaVine as he got banged up in last night’s game. I would expect Coby White to slide into the starting lineup in his place but could also see Ayo Dosunmu as well, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for a starting lineup, but below is how this team operates with LaVine and Alex Caruso off of the court this season:

• DeMar DeRozan – 39.3% usage rate; 1.28 fpm
• Nikola Vucevic – 26.0% usage rate; 1.36 fpm
• Coby White – 22.4% usage rate; 0.86 fpm
• Ayo Dosumno – 16.0% usage rate; 0.62 fpm

I think I’ll be heaviest on just DeRozan and Vucevic honestly, but will get some exposure to White as well, he should play a bigger role in this offense with LaVine out. From Boston, Jayson Tatum has been pretty up and down over his last handful of games but luckily we’re not paying through the nose on him anymore, I think you can get to him in all formats again. Jaylen Brown had a rough go of it last night but has been in incredible form as of late, if people are off of him here I like him as a leverage play in tournaments. Robert Williams continues to see good minutes and is a guy I like as a GPP option if you’re in this range at center. Al Horford has been pretty terrible lately, he’s a fade until he proves he can still do it… wondering if the season is catching up to him. Then we can round the Celtics out with Dennis Schroder who should get a decent boost if Marcus Smart were to sit again.

5-star play: DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

4-star play: Coby White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Coby White, Robert Williams, Dennis Schroder, Marcus Smart (if active)

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Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 219.5

Vegas Spread: Sas -2.5

Starting with the Clippers, they’ll continue to be without Paul George again here but really haven’t been a team that I’ve gotten to a whole lot as of late. Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris should run this offense with George out, but neither has been in all that great of form. Really there hasn’t been anyone on this team that’s been producing all that consistently. Amir Coffee, Terance Mann, and Eric Bledsoe are fine options but there’s a good amount of risk in rostering them. It just feels like they’re running a pretty deep rotation. This team just feels like a full stay away for me at the moment until someone starts taking over. From the Spurs, Derrick White will come into this one as questionable again, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on his status. Dejounte Murray has found some consistency since he’s returned with at least 53 DraftKings points in four of his last five and at least 60 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, I have no issue going right back to the well on him here. Lonnie Walker becomes more of a last-piece-in type guy with this team getting healthier, and probably not someone I’ll get a whole lot of here. Jakob Poeltl left the game briefly last night but returned to play 33 minutes so nothing to worry about with his health and a guy I like here in all formats against a weaker frontcourt. Then guys like Keldon Johnson is a fine tournament option to round out the Spurs with, we know the ceiling is there but he hasn’t hit it much this season and can be volatile.

5-star play: Dejounte Murray

4-star play: Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, Terance Mann, Amir Coffee, Ivica Zubac, Nic Batum, Keldon Johnson

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Orlando Magic @ Dallas Mavericks

Vegas Total: 209.0

Vegas Spread: Dal -10.5

Starting with the Magic, the frontcourt is a bit of a question mark right now as Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba come in as questionable so we’ll need some news on them. Keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates, but I’ll operate under the assumption that they’re good to go here. If they do sit we can go right back to the Robin Lopez well. I really like this price tag on Cole Anthony, 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. He had a rough game last night but I like the matchup with this Mavs team. We’ve seen Terrence Ross get more consistent run as well over the last dozen or so games, he’s firmly in play as a tournament guy. Then we can round this team out with Franz Wagner as a solid secondary option given his consistency this season. From the Mavericks, Kristaps Porzigins comes in as questionable as he fights his way through Covid protocols but assuming he’s out again 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 58 DraftKings points in three of his last five games. He looks like one of the better spend-up options on the slate in a great matchup with the Magic. 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 four straight games. Then guys like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith are fine secondary options but not priorities by any means.

5-star play: Luka Doncic

4-star play: Wendell Carter Jr., Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, Maxi Kleber, Jalen Brunson (FanDuel), Tim Hardaway

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Terrence Ross

NBA Lock of the Day: Nikola Vucevic (DK – $8.7k; FD – $8.9k)

I touched on this a bit in the Bulls game breakdown, but they’ll be without Zach LaVine tonight meaning we should see a boost for some of these other guys. In particular, Vucevic stands out to me in this matchup. The Celtics aren’t a good rebounding team and he is averaging 46 DraftKings points per game against the Celtics in his last eight games. With LaVine and Alex Caruso off of the court this season, Vucevic has a 26% usage rate and 1.36 fantasy points per minute. 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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