DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 21st, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 01/21:

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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Oklahoma City Thunder @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 221.0

Vegas Spread: Cha -9.5

We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came down to Earth last time out but still a guy I don’t mind going back to here in a great matchup with the Hornets. I like the price tag more on DraftKings, but he’s still in play on all sites. Josh Giddey continues to put up consistent numbers and looks like a solid option in all formats. Lu Dort has shown some surprising consistency as of late as well, he’s averaging 27.0 DraftKings points per game in his last ten games. Outside of these three, guys like Darius Bazley and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl would be more of MME-type plays on a full slate. From the Hornets, Miles Bridges came back down to Earth after dropping 60 fantasy points against the Knicks but is a guy I have no issue going to due to the consistency, but I don’t love the price tag. LaMelo Ball seems to have found his footing as of late with at least 44 DraftKings points in three of his last five games and a guy I like going back to in tournaments at the very least. Terry Rozier has been on a heater as of late and coming off of a 50 burger last time out and playing all the minutes he can handle, I have no issue going right back to him here. Then guys like Gordon Hayward, Kelly Oubre, and Mason Plumlee are fine GPP options as well.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (DraftKings)

4-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (FanDuel), Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges

Deeper Value: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

GPP Sleeper: Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Gordon Hayward, Kelly Oubre, Mason Plumlee, PJ Washington

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Los Angeles Lakers @ Orlando Magic

Vegas Total: 221.0

Vegas Spread: Lal -5.5

Starting with the Lakers, LeBron James will be the main piece here as usual. He dropped 67.75 DraftKings points in this matchup earlier this season and has a 32.5% usage rate and 1.54 fantasy points per minute with Anthony Davis off of the court this season. I think I’ll just fade Russell Westbrook at this point, Frank Vogel didn’t close the game with him and has played less than 30 minutes in four of his last five games… gotta think GM LeBron is going to stir up some trade talks sooner rather than later. I suppose you can make a case for Malik Monk or Talen Horton-Tucker as an MME guy, but it’s mainly just LeBron on this team for me. From Orlando, it sounds like Wendell Carter Jr. will return to the starting lineup here, so I’ll assume he’s a full go and looks like a nice option at this price tag. We also saw Mo Bamba return to the starting lineup last time out and played 30 minutes, the price tag is really intriguing on him considering his upside. Cole Anthony hasn’t been in great form but the price tag is going to be hard to ignore. He might be more of a GPP option until we see him get back to his usual form, but he can absolutely blow this price out of the water. Franz Wagner is a fine guy if you need a last piece in, but not someone that I’ll be prioritizing by any means. Lastly, Jalen Suggs got his minutes up over 30 last time out and had a really productive game, he looks like a nice play at this price tag.

5-star play: LeBron James, Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony

4-star play: Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Wendell Carter Jr.

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Los Angeles Clippers @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 212.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -8.0

Starting with the Clippers, if I’m being honest, this team is really ugly right now especially on an 11-game slate. We saw Reggie Jackson finally get back on track last time out and is a guy you can go back to here especially if Marcus Morris is forced to miss again. Nicolas Batum had a big game last time out as well, but he comes in as questionable as well, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on Morris and Batum. I just don’t think we need to force it with the rest of this team on a big slate unless other news comes out. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid has been in great form as of late and just came off of a 50 point real-life game last time out against the Magic. I have no issue going right back to him here even at the elevated price tag. I do like this new price tag for Tobias Harris on DraftKings, not as much on FanDuel, but he’ll play enough minutes to give you a good shot at getting you there on DraftKings. Then guys like Tyrese Maxey and Seth Curry look like solid options, Maxey and Furkan Korkmaz would see a bump if Curry ends up sitting as he comes in as questionable.

5-star play: Joel Embiid

4-star play: Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris (DraftKings), Tyrese Maxey

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Amir Coffee, Tobias Harris (FanDuel), Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey

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Portland Trailblazers @ Boston Celtics

Vegas Total: 214.5

Vegas Spread: Bos -8.0

Starting with the Blazers, they’ll continue to be without Damian Lillard, Norman Powell, and Larry Nance Jr. here while Nassir Little comes in as questionable. It appears CJ McCollum is back up to a full go after playing 33 minutes last time out. He has a 29.4% usage rate and right around a fantasy point per minute with these guys off of the court this season and looks like a solid option here. Anfernee Simons didn’t seem to be bothered by McCollum in the lineup either going for 46 DraftKings points and now has at least 45 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and a guy I like going back to here. I do like the spot quite a bit for Jusuf Nurkic as well against a Celtics team that struggles with rebounding and he comes in in good shape as well. Then Robert Covington is playing enough minutes to make himself a solid GPP option. From the Celtics, we’ll need news on Marcus Smart as he comes in as questionable here, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. It’s pretty difficult to determine when Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have big nights and just kind of drop 60 point performances out of nowhere, so I’ll always want some exposure to them in GPPs at the very least but the matchup is nice where I won’t talk you off of them in single entry or cash either. It sounds like Robert Williams will return here which will hurt Al Horford a bit but it’s good to see Horford finally getting back to decent production. I wouldn’t have an issue with Williams in GPPs, but I think we can afford to be picky at our center position tonight. Dennis Schroder has been in great shape and would be a guy I do like here but the price has come way up so I would want Smart to be out again.

5-star play: CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simons, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

4-star play: Jusuf Nurkic

Deeper Value: None

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

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!

Miami Heat @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 217.0

Vegas Spread: Atl -1.0

Starting with the Heat, I was all over Jimmy Butler last time out and he got ejected, so I’m a little bitter… BUT, with Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry out again, I will go right back to the well in a great matchup with the Hawks. Butler has a 25.5% usage rate and 1.38 fantasy points per minute with these two off of the court this season. Bam Adebayo appears like he’s a full go going forward and had a massive game last time out. I wouldn’t bank on him having a combined eight blocks and steals again, but it’s definitely part of his game and he’s too cheap, so a guy I like again here. Then with Herro and Lowry out we should see good minutes for Gabe Vincent and Max Strus who look like solid mid-range options. From the Hawks, Clint Capela comes in as questionable so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on him here. Trae Young had a massive game last time out but I can’t say I love the matchup for him here, he’s averaging just 33.8 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Heat this season. John Collins has been in good form as of late and a guy I like at this price tag especially if Capela were to sit again. If Capela does sit, we will likely see Onyeka Okongwu back in the starting lineup and has at least 34 minutes in back-to-back games. Then I have no issue going back to the De’Andre Hunter well as he continues to look great and has at least 30 FanDuel points in three of his last four games… but again, the price does look more intriguing on DraftKings.

***Assuming Clint Capela is OUT again***

5-star play: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

4-star play: Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter (DraftKings)

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Danilo Gallinari, Duncan Robinson

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Toronto Raptors @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 216.5

Vegas Spread: Was -1.0

Starting with the Raptors, they’re a tough team to prioritize right now with all of their guys coming back healthy, but they do have some guys in good form. Pascal Siakam came down to Earth last time out but is playing all the minutes he can handle and in this matchup will be a guy I like again here. You’ll find that a lot of these Raptors have unreal minutes, Fred VanVleet has at least 41 minutes in each of his last five games. OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes both look like solid secondary options as well, Barnes is one of the main guys that I wouldn’t expect to see over 40 minutes but he’s consistently in the mid-30’s. Hell… we’ve even seen Chris Boucher get good run, he must be out of Nick Nurse’s dog house. He has at least 34 minutes in four of his last five games and looks like a nice GPP option here. Now, if Gary Trent Jr. comes back Boucher could very well lose a good chunk of those minutes but keep an eye on the injury report for updates on him. From the Wizards, they’re another team that is sort of priced out for me with them being back to pretty much full strength. Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Spencer Dinwiddie are all fine options, but on a big slate in a slow-paced matchup, I just don’t see the need. I’m pretty much off of Montrezl Harrell and Daniel Gafford with Thomas Bryant back and ready to steal some of their minutes, the Wizards are really mostly a stay-away team for me in anything but MME.

5-star play: Pascal Siakam

4-star play: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma

Deeper Value: Thomas Bryant

GPP Sleeper: Scottie Barnes, Chris Boucher, Kyle Kuzma, Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell

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Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks

Vegas Total: 227.5

Vegas Spread: Mil -9.0

Starting with the Bulls, they’ll continue to be without Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball, and below is how the rest of the team operates with these guys off of the court this season:

• DeMar DeRozan – 39.7% usage rate; 1.28 fpm
• Coby White – 23.4% usage rate; 0.93 fpm
• Alex Caruso – 17.6% usage rate; 0.80 fpm
• Nikola Vucevic – 24.1% usage rate; 1.26 fpm

These would be the main pieces I have interest in from the Bulls especially DeRozan and Vucevic. Vucevic is kind of known as a Bucks killer at this point in his career, and DeRozan has been in good form over his last few games. From the Bucks, Jrue Holiday returned last game but didn’t start and played just 22 minutes. If he returns to the starting lineup I would expect he’s a full go, but probably not a guy that I’ll have as any sort of a priority at this price tag. The price tag on Khris Middleton is scary but it’s hard to argue with the production he’s been putting up, he would stand to lose some of this consistency if Holiday is back in the starting lineup, however. Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be in play as a spend-up option on this slate as well, not a whole lot to dislike with him as usual. Then Bobby Portis continues to put up good numbers and the consistent run will continue to be there until Brook Lopez comes back.

5-star play: DeMar Derozan, Nikola Vucevic, Giannis Antetokounmpo

4-star play: Coby White, Alex Caruso, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Alex Caruso, Coby White, Jrue Holiday, Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen

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Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 220.0

Vegas Spread: Den -4.0

Starting with the Grizzlies, they’ll be without Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and Tyus Jones again here. I was all over De’Anthony Melton along with the rest of the public last time out and he scored just 11 DraftKings points in 17 minutes. For whatever reason, the Grizzlies don’t want to play him next to Ja Morant and it’s been John Konchar getting the start and playing big minutes. I have no issue going right back to him in this spot as a value option. Speaking of Morant, he dropped a massive game on the Bucks last time out and has a 33.8% usage rate and 1.41 fantasy points per minute with Bane and Brooks off of the court this season. They’ll need Jaren Jackson’s size in this one, so I don’t mind going to him in tournaments but we know the risk that comes with him. The same can be said for Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams as well. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic came the closest to a 100 point night last time out going for a 93 point DraftKings night and now has at least 70 in back-to-back games… he’s a great play if you needed me to convince you of that. Aaron Gordon has been in better form as of late as well with at least 40 DraftKings points in three of his last five games. Will Barton hasn’t been in the best form but still a guy I have no issue going to at a nice price tag. Then we can round the Nuggets out with Monte Morris who had a big night last time out and will continue to run the point for the Nuggets.

5-star play: Ja Morant, Nikola Jokic

4-star play: John Konchar, Jaren Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Monte Morris

Deeper Value: John Konchar, De’Anthony Melton

GPP Sleeper: Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams

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Detroit Pistons @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 220.0

Vegas Spread: Utah -13.5

Starting with the Pistons, Cade Cunningham has not been good as of late, but has dealt with could trouble and also got ejected in a recent game so I’m not digging too much into it, I wouldn’t have an issue with him here especially on FanDuel. Generally, I will be off of Hamidou Diallo and Saddiq Bey again now that we’re back to a big slate but Bey did look good last time out. Cory Joseph could be in line for a ton of minutes again here if Frank Jackson and Killian Hayes are forced to miss again, so keep an eye out for that update. The minutes on Trey Lyles have fallen off a bit and seems like they’re playing the hot hand with him and Stewart. Isaiah Stewart’s playing time has been all over the place as well which will make him more of a GPP guy as well, that being said, the Pistons will need all the size they can get with Gobert down low on the other end. From the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell will be out for the Jazz again in this spot. Below is how this team operates with him off of the court this season:

• Jordan Clarkson -31.1% usage rate; 1.07 fpm
• Joe Ingles – 14.3% usage rate; 0.77 fpm
• Rudy Gobert – 18.9% usage rate; 1.25 fpm
• Mike Conley – 20.7% usage rate; 1.00 fpm
• Bojan Bogdanovic – 29.1% usage rate; 0.96 fpm

These would be the main pieces I would be interested in from the Jazz, as I would expect Joe Ingles to get the start again for Mitchell and is generally a nice producer in these scenarios. One thing to note is Mike Conley really doesn’t see much of a boost with Mitchell out as many people might think, so don’t feel like you need to jam him in. Lastly, Rudy Gobert has been in great form and a guy that I’ll go right back to as one of the better center options on the slate.

5-star play: Rudy Gobert, Cade Cunningham (FanDuel)

4-star play: Isaiah Stewart, Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Saddiq Bey, Trey Lyles, Cory Joseph, Royce O’Neale

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Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors

Vegas Total: 228.0

Vegas Spread: GSW -10.0

Starting with the Rockets, Christian Wood struggled in this matchup earlier this season but still a matchup I like here if he can stay on the court with the Warriors small-ball lineups. Kevin Porter Jr. is more of a tournament option due to the volatility but still has a nice ceiling in this spot. Jae’Sean Tate is never a sexy option but if Wood isn’t able to hand with the small-ball lineups he’s the guy that would directly benefit. Then guys like Eric Gordon and Jalen Green are solid flyers as well. From the Warriors, Steph Curry bounced back in a big way last night with 61 DraftKings points, I like going back to him here in GPPs but is probably a bit too volatile for cash games although he’ll likely get a nice boost with Klay Thompson out tonight. We should see Jordan Poole slide back into the starting lineup here with Thompson out as well and looks like a solid mid-range option, but the price tag is still a bit high, so not a lock by any means. Andrew Wiggins will continue to be more of a tournament option as well, but still a guy I think you can get to here in a nice matchup. Otto Porter Jr. and Draymond Green will both be out here so we should expect to see Jonathan Kuminga back in the starting lineup and has been in great form, he’s a guy I’ll go right back to the well on. Kevon Looney is a solid option to round out the slate with as well in a nice matchup. Kuminga had a tough game last night but Looney had one of his better games of the season and makes sense in a nice matchup.

5-star play: Steph Curry

4-star play: Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., Andrew Wiggins

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Eric Gordon, Jalen Green, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney

NBA Lock of the Day: (See the NBA Cheatsheets for My CORE PLAYS!)

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

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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