Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 01/26:
Jan 17, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) dribbles the ball against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the second half at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
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!
Milwaukee Bucks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo will look like a nice option here. The Cavs play good defense with their big men, but Giannis isn’t your normal big man. Khris Middleton has been in great form as of late with at least 43 DraftKings points in four straight games. The price is up on him and I think the production will fall with Jrue Holiday back in the lineup, but it’s hard to ignore the production on him right now. Speaking of Holiday, he returned to the starting lineup last time out and played 32 minutes making me think he’s finally a full go again. I don’t love the price tag, but still think he’s in play for GPPs. Bobby Portis has cooled off a bit over his last couple of games, but against a big Cavs front court I like him again here and has been extremely consistent as of late. Lastly, Donte DiVincenzo got his minutes up to 24 last time out and with Grayson Allen suspended tonight, I think there’s a chance he gets up near 27ish minutes and looks like a solid value option. From the Cavs, this is a pretty big pace up spot for them so someone like Darius Garland is going to look pretty good even in a tougher defensive matchup. Jarrett Allen comes into this one as questionable, so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. The price on Evan Mobley has come up to point that I don’t love, and on a big slate I’ll likely be underweight on him. Kevin Love was a guy I was pretty high on last time out with Allen out, he still only played 24 minutes but he shot 6-12 from three point range which is going to get you there. He would be a solid GPP option again here. Lastly, I think Rajon Rondo is an interesting min price GPP option.
5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo
4-star play: Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen
Deeper Value: Donte DiVincenzo, Rajon Rondo
GPP Sleeper: Jrue Holiday, Donte DiVincenzo, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love
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Charlotte Hornets @ Indiana Pacers
Vegas Total: 225.0
Vegas Spread: Cha -1.5
Starting with the Hornets, Gordon Hayward comes into this one as questionable after missing last night’s game, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on him. We should expect to see more minutes spread out between PJ Washington, Cody Martin, and Kelly Oubre assuming he’s out again. Of those three, I think Washington looks the best here relative to his upside and price tag, but I do like Oubre a bit more if Hayward were to miss again due to the potential minutes increase. Washington was ejected last night, so we can ignore that four-minute performance he had. LaMelo Ball would be more of a GPP guy for me due to the volatility he’s shown as of late but I do like this matchup with a bad Indiana defense. Then guys like Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges are both fine secondary options as they’ve seen their price tags come up recently, but well warranted with their production. From the Pacers, it sounds like Domantas Sabonis has a chance to return here but could be more of an uphill battle to get back this quick, so I’m going to operate under the assumption that he’s out again until he’s officially active. We do know that Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner will continue to be out, however. I had a lot of Caris LeVert interest last time out and had a bit of a down game. He was a 1.36 fantasy point per minute guy with these two off of the court last season, but at this price tag, he’s probably more of a GPP option again here. Chris Duarte has been in good form but has seen his price tag shoot up as well, probably more of a GPP guy again. Goga Bitadze got into foul trouble last time out which caused his minutes to come down but still a guy I like here as he should keep starting for Turner at the five. Then a guy like Jeremy Lamb is a fine MME value, he has at least 25 minutes in two of his last four games and does get a nice matchup here.
***Assuming Domantas Sabonis is OUT***
5-star play: None
4-star play: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, Caris LeVert, Goga Bitadze
Deeper Value: Jeremy Lamb
GPP Sleeper: Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Cody Martin, Kelly Oubre, Chris Duarte, Jeremy Lamb, Torrey Craig
Los Angeles Clippers @ Orlando Magic
Vegas Total: 210.5
Vegas Spread: Lac -1.5
Starting with the Clippers…. yikes. They were down 35 points at one point last night and actually pulled Reggie Jackson, Nicolas Batum, and Ivica Zubac at halftime last night… they came back to win this game. It was a pretty wild game for them but I would imagine these three go right back to the starting lineup but could see more minutes from Eric Bledsoe, Luke Kennard, and Isaiah Hartenstein who filled in for them and led them back from down 35. Honestly, on a full slate tonight I don’t think I’ll have a ton of interest in anyone from this team even in a good matchup, they’re just a mess right now. I’ll consider Jackson, Batum, Zubac, and Marcus Morris as GPP options tonight. From the Magic, Mo Bamba got banged up again last time out and comes into this one as questionable. I’m going to operate under the assumption that he’s out again here but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed. Wendell Carter Jr. looks like a nice option again here especially now that he’ll be the main piece in the frontcourt. Cole Anthony has been in rough form as of late but I do like the price tag quite a bit. I’ll consider him more of a tournament option due to the upside he has, but I wouldn’t hate getting to him in single entries and those kinds of games as well. Jalen Suggs continues to dominate with at least 35 DraftKings points in three straight games and is a guy I like going right back to here. Then we can round this team out with Franz Wagner as a secondary option as he continues to play massive minutes and is a solid option in all formats.
5-star play: Wendell Carter Jr.
4-star play: Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Reggie Jackson, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac,
Sacramento Kings @ Atlanta Hawks
Vegas Total: 233.5
Vegas Spread: Atl -7.5
Starting with the Kings, we’ll need news on De’Aaron Fox here as he comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s a go here due to how late of a scratch he was on Saturday, but obviously news we’ll need. I do like the matchup and price tag a lot for him assuming he’s a full go, however, an ankle injury is scary on a guy like him, so more of a tournament option. He missed last night’s game and it was pretty obvious as they got throttled by the Celtics. I tweeted this out yesterday, but Tyrese Haliburton came into last night averaging about 52 DraftKings points per game in five games without Fox on the court this season. Obviously that number came down after last night’s performance, but he’s been in great form and a guy I like tonight again in a great matchup. I was all over Richaun Holmes again last night and lost a full rotation due to the blowout, so I would imagine he would have been around the 28-minute mark again last night and looks like a solid option again here at this price tag.. specifically on DraftKings. Then the mid-range of this team would be more GPP-type guys than anything, but guys like Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, and Marvin Bagley are all in play. Lastly, Terence Davis will likely start for Fox if Fox is out and Davis is good to go and would be a guy that would be firmly in play. From the Hawks, this is a nice matchup for Trae Young and would be a nice spend-up option on tonight’s slate even if he’s cooled off a bit. Clint Capela should be able to do whatever he wants down low in this one and looks like a great option at a low price tag. John Collins has seen his production dip a bit since Capela returned and would probably be more of a tournament option for me here. De’Andre Hunter comes into this one as questionable, but assuming he’s a full go he looks like a nice secondary option playing a ton of minutes and producing fairly consistently. Then it sounds like Bogdan Bogdanovic will return here, I don’t love him but the price tag makes sense if you want to get some exposure in MME.
5-star play: Trae Young
4-star play: De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Richaun Holmes (DraftKings), Clint Capela, John Collins
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Richaun Holmes, Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter
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!
New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
Vegas Total: 202.5
Vegas Spread: Mia -6.5
Starting with the Knicks, we’ll need some news on their frontcourt as Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel come in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. Julius Randle will look like a fine option here but the Heat play pretty solid defense and this game is really slow-paced which makes me think we can do better in this price range. RJ Barrett has been in great form as of late, I can’t say I love the price tag, but the production has warranted it, so more of a tournament option for me. Kemba Walker hasn’t been playing very well at all since returning from injury and with him being back, it pretty much takes away any Alec Burks love at this price tag as well. This team is pretty ugly outside of Randle and Barrett right now, but Robinson would be interesting if he’s able to go. From the Heat, it sounds like Tyler Herro will return to the court tonight while Kyle Lowry will continue to be out. Jimmy Butler had a massive night last time out and would be a guy I like going back to here especially at this price tag. I do like Bam Adebayo at this price tag as well and has played well since returning a few games back. I wouldn’t expect Herro to be limited at all here and the price did come down with him being out and looks like a nice GPP option. Then, Herro being back will likely take minutes from Max Strus and Gabe Vincent which will hurt their values a bit.
5-star play: Jimmy Butler
4-star play: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson
Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets
Vegas Total: 225.5
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Nuggets, it’s going to be really hard not to like Nikola Jokic here as he comes in with at least 62 FanDuel points in five straight games and just steamrolling everyone. I like this matchup with the Nets a good amount as well. They won’t have anyone to slow him down and looks like an elite option here. Aaron Gordon has been in better form as of late but I can’t say that I love the price tag, he’s more of a tournament option. Will Barton missed last night’s game but comes into this one as questionable, assuming he plays he looks like a fine option as they’ll need his scoring here. Then, Monte Morris is still playing big minutes and a solid secondary option. From the Nets, they’ll be without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as well with it being a home game, meaning we can pretty safely load up on James Harden again after his 70 point fantasy game last night. With Kyrie and Durant off of the court this season, Harden is looking at a 34.5% usage rate and 1.48 fantasy points per minute. Patty Mills will get a nice boost as well and looks like a nice mid-range option here. The same can be said for LaMarcus Aldridge, the Nets will need his size down low to help deal with Jokic on defense. The same can be said for Nicolas Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, but will likely be more of a group effort than relying on one guy to try and shut him down.
5-star play: James Harden, Nikola Jokic
4-star play: Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, Patty Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge
Deeper Value: Bruce Brown
GPP Sleeper: Aaron Gordon, Monte Morris, Day’Ron Sharpe, Bruce Brown, Kessler Edwards
Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls
Vegas Total: 218.5
Vegas Spread: Chi -4.5
We will likely need some news on the Raptors as they came into last night’s game with Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes listed as out, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates, but if they miss again we can expect to see Chris Boucher go right back into the starting lineup again. I’ll let our Breaking News channel give a full update on this team once we get the news on these guys but the constants on this team are going to be the trio of Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. who will all look like nice options again. I will say, Precious Achiuwa has a nice price tag and will likely continue to start looking like a solid value option especially if one of these guys sits. From the Bulls, Zach LaVine returned last time out and was supposedly on a minutes watch… but played 35 minutes, so just throw that out the window here. With LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic all back and healthy they’ll be a bit harder to predict but look like solid secondary options as a group. Ayo Dosunmu will likely continue to play big minutes with Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso continued to be out but the price has come way up on him making him more of a secondary tournament option.
5-star play: Pascal Siakam
4-star play: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic
Deeper Value: Precious Achiuwa
GPP Sleeper: Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher (if starting), Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White
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Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs
Vegas Total: 227.5
Vegas Spread: Mem -4.0
Starting with the Grizzlies, Desmond Bane comes into this one as questionable but they’ll continue to be without Dillon Brooks at the very least. We’ve seen Ja Morant take the next step with these two guys off of the court as of late and has at least 56 DraftKings points in three straight games. He scored 51 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season and is a guy I’ll go right back to the well on in a great matchup with the Spurs. Jaren Jackson Jr. had a down game last time out but will always be a guy I’ll have some tournament interest in. De’Anthony Melton has bounced back since he was a chalk bomb a few games ago, but now has at least 27 minutes in back-to-back minutes and would look like a good option again here should Bane miss again. Then John Konchar is in the same boat as well but would be more of a secondary option due to the limited upside. From the Spurs, Dejounte Murray continues to look like a great option and gets a good matchup here, I’ll have interest in him in all formats. Jakob Poeltl kept it rolling last night, I don’t love picking on Steven Adams down low, but he’s been super consistent. Derrick White will probably be a guy that pops again in projections due to the price tag on him, but I’ll keep him as more of a secondary option due to the volatility he’s shown as of late. Then, Keldon Johnson would be more of a GPP guy due to the volatility as well, but we know there’s upside somewhere with him.
***Assuming Desmond Bane is OUT***
5-star play: Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray
4-star play: Jaren Jackson Jr., De’Anthony Melton, Jakob Poeltl, Derrick White
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: John Konchar, De’Anthony Melton, Keldon Johnson
Phoenix Suns @ Utah Jazz
Vegas Total: 221.5
Vegas Spread: Pho -4.5
Starting with the Suns, they’re going to be pretty shorthanded with Deandre Ayton, JaVale McGee, Cam Payne, and Jae Crowder all out again here. Cam Johnson will be a big beneficiary again and looks like a great option at this price tag. Bismack Biyombo is going to look like a great option here as well assuming he gets the start with McGee and Ayton out. Since joining the Suns Biyombo has a 17.6% usage rate and 1.26 fantasy points per minute with Ayton off of the court. We could see more minutes from Jalen Smith as well but would be more of a GPP flyer since he’s been out of the rotation as of late. Devin Booker and Chris Paul both look like nice options again here as well, they’ve both been in great form. While Mikal Bridges will be more of a “last guy in” type guy as always. From the Jazz, they should get a good number of their guys back here, but will still be without Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert here, we should continue to see Hassan Whiteside and Joe Ingles start in their place and both look like great options here. The price tag on Jordan Clarkson is probably a bit too high for me at this point, he does have a 34.3% usage rate and 1.10 fantasy points per minute with Mitchell off of the court this season. Guys like Bojan Bogdanovic and Mike Conley look like solid secondary options as well and should see more shots with Mitchell off of the court again.
5-star play: Devin Booker, Bismack Biyombo
4-star play: Chris Paul, Jordan Clarkson, Hassan Whiteside, Joe Ingles, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mike Conley
Deeper Value: Jalen Smith
GPP Sleeper: Mikal Bridges, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale
Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trailblazers
Vegas Total: 221.5
Vegas Spread: Pho -4.5
Starting with the Mavs, Luka Doncic had a down game last time out but gets a really nice bounce-back spot here against a banged-up Blazers team. He looks like a nice spend-up option on this slate. Kristaps Porzingis dropped 62.25 DraftKings points against the Blazers earlier this season, but that was with Luka out so we need to take that game with a grain of salt. Jalen Brunson is a fine secondary option now that his price has come down a bit and the same can be said for Tim Hardaway Jr., but really it’s just Luka and Kristaps from the Mavs for me. From the Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic kept it rolling last night and the Mavs are a team I like rostering big men against, and looks like a nice option again here. CJ McCollum has been in great form as of late as well and has a 30.1% usage rate and 1.05 fantasy points per minute with Damian Lillard off of the court this season. Anfernee Simons will continue to look like a nice mid-range option as well in a nice matchup. They should get Norman Powell back in this spot which will hurt Simons, but we may see him on a minutes limit with being out for about two and a half weeks now. Then guys like Nassir Little and Robert Covington are fine GPP plays on the wing as well.
5-star play: Luka Doncic, CJ McCollum
4-star play: Kritaps Porzingis, Anfernee Simons, Norman Powell
Deeper Value: Tim Hardaway Jr.
GPP Sleeper: Tim Hardaway Jr., Jalen Brunson, Nassir Little, Robert Covington
NBA Lock of the Day: Bismack Biyombo (DK – $5.5k; FD – $6.3k)
I’m going right back to the Biyombo well here with how shorthanded the Suns will be. They’ll be without Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee in this spot, so I would expect Biyombo to slide into the starting lineup. Since joining the Suns Biyombo has a 17.6% usage rate and 1.26 fantasy points per minute with Ayton off of the court. He also doesn’t need to worry about a matchup with Gobert on the other side, as Whiteside will continue to start. 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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