DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 4th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 01/04:

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!

---

Memphis Grizzlies @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Vegas Total: 217.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -3.0

We’ll get started with the Grizzlies side of things here, as they’ll continue to be without Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton. We saw Killian Tillie get the start yesterday but didn’t do a whole lot in his minutes out there, I would think we’re able to find better value on this slate. Ja Morant is cookin’ right now with at least 51 DraftKings points in three straight games and a guy I want to go right back to in this spot at a nice price tag. Desmond Bane has been in good form as well with at least 41 DraftKings points in three of his last five and his price came down after last night’s performance. He’s a rare player where his price on DraftKings is actually less than his FanDuel price. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s production has taken a hit with Morant back in the lineup, making him a bit more volatile in a tougher matchup here, he’s more of a tournament option for me tonight. The Grizzlies will need some size tonight to battle Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley down low, so I would expect Steven Adams to get a full allotment of minutes. We could see some more Brandon Clarke as well and he’s looked good with at least 27 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. It’s always been a minutes issue with him, but he looks good when he’s out there and has a nice price tag. From the Cavs, keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as it sounds like Darius Garland has cleared Covid protocols which would be huge as their backcourt depth has suddenly vanished. If he’s unable to go we will likely see Kevin Pangos get the start but hasn’t been all that great of a DFS producer. I have no issue going right back to the well with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in all formats again here, while Kevin Love is probably more of a GPP guy for me due to the minutes volatility. That being said, the minutes have been up as of late with at least 29 minutes in four straight, so if you think that continues, I like going right back to him as he’s a great per-minute producer.

5-star play: Ja Morant

4-star play: Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, Darius Garland, Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley

Deeper Value: Killian Tillie, Kevin Pangos

GPP Sleeper: Brandon Clarke, Lauri Markkanen

I need to give VIP Member “TTG2436” a massive shoutout for his $100k takedown earlier in the season, congrats man! Our NBA Domination Station lineup optimizer is Powered by DFS Army proprietary projections. The Domination Station will help you create 150 of the highest projected lineups in a matter of minutes. With features that allow you to Like  Love  or Dislike  a player, you can create a fully unique pool of players to generate your lineups from every day. Combine the power of the Domination Station with our VIP Only Articles and the NBA Research Station to really take your game to the next level.

San Antonio Spurs @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 223.0

Vegas Spread: Tor -6.0

Starting with the Spurs, they’re expected to be without Dejounte Murray again as he works through some conditioning as he comes back from the Covid list. He’ll be joined by Lonnie Walker and Doug McDermott on the inactive list as Keita Bates-Diop comes in as questionable. We saw Tre Jones get the start last time out at point guard and looked pretty good in his 32 minutes, I’m assuming he gets the start again here and looks like a nice value again. Devin Vassell played a ton of minutes in that game as well with McDermott and Walker out, he should see more of the same here. He’s not a great per minute producer, but anyone getting that kind of run will be interesting to me at this price tag. Derrick White will continue to look like a great option in all formats, he has a 22.9% usage rate and 1.13 fantasy points per minute with Murray and White off of the court this season. Keldon Johnson was showing some consistency but is back with some volatility over his last few games. We know the upside is there with him, but probably more of a tournament guy for me. Then we can round out the team with Jakob Poeltl as a solid center option on a shorter slate. From the Raptors, they’re finally back to full strength after having to run their G-league team out for about two weeks. Fred VanVleet has returned in a big way with a 50 burger in back to back games and looks like a great option again here as we continue to target guards against the Spurs. The same can be said for Pascal Siakam who has at least 50 fantasy points in three straight games since returning as well, it’s tough to ignore the production from him at this price tag. Then we get to guys like OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes who are probably more of secondary options than anything for me but we know the consistency is there for them when they’re right. Gary Trent Jr. is probably more of a GPP guy as he has been held down over his last few games along with the rest of this team as the minutes will be a bit more spread thin with the team back and healthy.

5-star play: Tre Jones (if starting), Fred VanVleet

4-star play: Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Jakob Poeltl, Devin Vassell, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes

Deeper Value: Tre Jones

GPP Sleeper: Keldon Johnson, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr.

---

Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks

Vegas Total: 206.0

Vegas Spread: Nyk -1.5

Starting with the Pacers, they will be without Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, and Chris Duarte again here which will open up a bunch of minutes and usage in the backcourt. I would expect we see Duane Washington and Keifer Sykes get the start again here and look like solid value options. If you have the money to get up to Washington, he would be my preferred option, but if you have the chance to watch Sykes play, do it. He played college ball at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, so I got the opportunity to watch him live a few times and the guy can jump through the gym. Regardless, they both look like nice value options here due to the minutes they should see. Domantas Sabonis has benefitted quite a bit from these guys being out as well and has at least 53 DraftKings points in three straight games and a guy I like again here. Torrey Craig was popular on Sunday in this same scenario and just didn’t get the minutes for some reason, I would be underweight on him here but don’t mind taking a shot on him if you’re MME’ing. Justin Holiday will play all the minutes he can handle again here, he’s not exactly a sexy option, but a solid guy if you land on him. Then we can round out this team with Myles Turner as a nice tournament option and a secondary cash option due to the potential volatility. From the Knicks, they’ll be without Kemba Walker and Julius Randle again here, with these two and Derrick Rose off of the court this season, below is how this team operates:

• Immanuel Quickley – 25.6% usage rate; 0.98 fpm
• Obi Toppin – 18.5% usage rate; 0.90 fpm
• Miles McBride – 19.5% usage rate; 0.85 fpm
• RJ Barrett – 30.4% usage rate; 0.99 fpm
• Alec Burks – 24.7% usage rate; 1.18 fpm

These would be my favorite options on the Knicks and don’t mind taking shots on Mitchell Robinson either. His minutes should be more secure with Randle and Nerlens Noel out and looks like a solid tournament option. We should see Miles McBride and Obi Toppin back in the starting five again here and look like really nice value options in a great matchup with a Pacers team that isn’t playing any sort of defense. Toppin’s price is up but makes sense for tournaments at the very least after they finally gave him full minutes last time out.

5-star play: Domantas Sabonis

4-star play: Duane Washington, Keifer Sykes, Justin Holiday, Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, RJ Barrett

Deeper Value: Duane Washington, Keifer Sykes, Miles McBride

GPP Sleeper: Keifer Sykes, Miles McBride, Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson

---

Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans

Vegas Total: 219.0

Vegas Spread: Pho -9.0

Starting with the Suns, they’ll be shorthanded in the frontcourt again here with Deandre Ayton, JaVale McGee, and Jae Crowder continuing to be out again here. I would expect a bunch of minutes from Jalen Smith again here and has looked great. He has a 20% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per minute with these guys off of the court this season and looks like an elite option again here. Devin Booker came down to Earth over his last few games but I love this matchup for him and looks like a nice option on a shorter slate. Chris Paul is more of your cash option, but a solid play nonetheless in a nice matchup. Then we can round this team out with Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges as secondary options, neither are priorities, but guys I would be good with landing on as a last piece in. From the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram came in as a game-time decision yesterday but ended up playing… poorly at that, but should be good to go again tonight. He would be a tournament-only guy for me against a good defense. Jonas Valanciunas should do whatever he wants down low against Jalen Smith, he dropped 50 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season and looks like a great option again here. Then Josh Hart and Devonte’ Graham are more of secondary options while Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a solid tournament value with huge upside, but very volatile.

5-star play: Jalen Smith, Devin Booker, Jonas Valanciunas

4-star play: Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Devonte’ Graham

Deeper Value: Nickeil Alexander-Walker

GPP Sleeper: Cameron Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

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!

Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers

Vegas Total: 229.0

Vegas Spread: Lal -6.5

Starting with the Kings, they’ll be without Richaun Holmes again here so I would expect Marvin Bagley and Damian Jones to continue to get the start. Jones has looked great as of late and playing nice minutes, he looks like a great value option in this spot. Bagley would be more of a tournament guy for me due to the volatility he presents, but the upside is certainly there. The price tag on De’Aaron Fox has officially free fallen, but he looked good last time out. The price tag is finally at a point where I think I’ll get some interest even in cash games, as well as tournaments where he has huge upside. Tyrese Haliburton’s production has come down with Fox back, but the price tag is falling as well. I would like to see it come down just a bit more but is still in play as a secondary option. Then we can round this team out with Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes as tournament options in a solid matchup. From the Lakers, it’s going to be really hard not to like LeBron James here. The Kings defense is putrid and LeBron is steamrolling teams right now. He has a 31.6% usage rate and 1.56 fantasy points per minute with Anthony Davis off of the court this season. Russell Westbrook makes sense as a tournament pivot as well, he’s averaging 52.4 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Kings this season. We know the ceiling is there to outperform LeBron, but he doesn’t have the same floor. He has a 29.8% usage rate and 1.21 fantasy points per minute with Davis off of the court this season. I’ll continue to like Malik Monk here as well, he’s playing a bigger role on this team as of late and performing well as a third option on this team. Then guys like Carmelo Anthony and Talen Horton-Tucker would be GPP flyers at best to round out the slate.

5-star play: De’Aaron Fox, LeBron James

4-star play: Damian Jones, Tyrese Haliburton, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk

Deeper Value: Damian Jones

GPP Sleeper: Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Carmelo Anthony, Talen Horton-Tucker

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…

NBA Lock of the Day: Jalen Smith (DK – $5.5k; FD – $5.8k)

I’m going to go right back to the well with Smith again here with Deandre Ayton, JaVale McGee, and Jae Crowder continuing to be out tonight. With these guys off of the court this season Smith has a 20% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per minute. Smith will continue to start and play big minutes at a very fair price tag. 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!

The only thing you are missing at this point is the key to unlock the next level of your game.  Come inside and check us out!!  We have experts sharing their secrets and experience on a daily basis.  Combining that with the actual ability to ask them questions and get quick answers in return gives you a recipe for success that puts our army hats on leaderboards all over the face of DFS.

When you sign up, don’t forget to use promo code MADNESS to save 10% on your membership each and every month!

Editor’s Note – However, if you are more interested in simply betting the games, NBA is full of crazy action.  And, our dynamic modeling over at SharpBets adjusts in real time to help identify Vegas inaccuracies you can exploit.  Follow Ryan, Anthony, and Statsational for models and coaching advice that help you build any bankroll for any sport…