Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 02/2:
Jan 30, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts to referee John Butler (53) during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-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!
Orlando Magic @ Indiana Pacers
Vegas Total: 221.5
Vegas Spread: Ind -5.0
We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Magic, I love the matchup for Cole Anthony, and honestly most of these Magic players. The Pacers are giving up points like they’re going out of style, so I like both the floor and ceiling for Anthony here. Wendell Carter Jr. was a guy I liked last night in a revenge game and someone I have no issue going right back to here. Franz Wagner continues to be a consistent option if you land in his price range. Jalen Suggs bounced back a bit last night but is similar to Anthony here in that I’ll have a good amount of interest in him again. Then we can round this team out with Mo Bamba as a GPP option, he just doesn’t get consistent enough minutes for me to absolutely love. From the Pacers, they’ll continue to be without Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and Goga Bitadze. Caris LeVert will run the offense again and has a 27.8% usage rate and 1.18 fantasy points per minute with Sabonis and Brogdon off of the court this season. He can be volatile, but still a guy I like in tournaments in this matchup. The same can be said for Chris Duarte but has struggled more with minutes with that ankle injury lingering. Justin Holiday had the big game last time out but isn’t generally a guy that I get to all that much especially on a decent-sized slate. Lastly, Isaiah Jackson has produced well as of late and will start again tonight. He looks like a great option in all formats especially if Oshae Brissett is forced to miss again.
5-star play: Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., Isaiah Jackson
4-star play: Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Caris LeVert
Deeper Value: Jeremy Lamb
GPP Sleeper: Terrence Ross, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, Chris Duarte
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Washington Wizards @ Philadelphia 76ers
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Wizards, they’ll continue to be without Bradley Beal here until at least the All-Star break, and will be interesting if the Wizards end up pulling the plug on a trade for him within the week before the trade deadline. Below is how this team operates with him off of the court this season:
- Spencer Dinwiddie – 25.6% usage rate; 1.13 fpm
- Montrezl Harrell – 23.7% usage rate; 1.19 fpm
- Kyle Kuzma – 26.6% usage rate; 1.15 fpm
- Aaron Holiday – 17.5% usage rate; 0.73 fpm
These would be the main pieces I’m looking at from the Wizards but if you really want to narrow them down we can look right at Dinwiddie and Kuzma as the top options. I would think Thomas Bryant ends up missing this game after leaving early last night so Daniel Gafford could look like an interesting MME option as they’ll need size down low. That said, with Rui Hachimura back it will hurt the minutes consistency of most guys in this frontcourt. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid should return here after missing the last game due to rest, so we can’t go back to the Andre Drummond well, unfortunately. It is a great matchup for Embiid who is averaging 52.4 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Wizards this season and has been in great form as of late. We know Tobias Harris is going to play around 35 minutes nightly and looks like a nice option in all formats in a great matchup. I’ll continue to take the security that Tyrese Maxey gives us. That said, his price came way up after his game last time out which was without Embiid, so I may wait for that to come down a bit. Then we can round this team out with Seth Curry as a solid secondary option in all formats.
5-star play: Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Joel Embiid
4-star play: Montrezl Harrell, Tobias Harris, Seth Curry
Deeper Value: Aaron Holiday, Daniel Gafford, Rui Hachimura
GPP Sleeper: Daniel Gafford, Rui Hachimura, Tyrese Maxey, Seth Curry
Charlotte Hornets @ Boston Celtics
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Hornets, they’ll be without Gordon Hayward here which will open up minutes for guys like Kelly Oubre Jr. and PJ Washington. LaMelo Ball is an interesting GPP option here as he is averaging 45.9 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Celtics this season. Miles Bridges looks like a solid secondary option in all formats but feels priced right where he should be. I do like the revenge game for Terry Rozier quite a bit, he dropped a 50 burger on them earlier this season. Lastly, Mason Plumlee looks like a solid MME and GPP option, he’s been in nice form as of late and the Celtics are not a good rebounding team. From the Celtics, it’s hard to predict which of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are going to have the big night on a nightly basis, but both have massive ceilings and get a great matchup against a pretty poor Hornets defense. Robert Williams continues to see around 30 minutes pretty consistently and looks like a nice option in all formats even off of a down game last time out. Dennis Schroder has moved to the bench and has been held under 20 fantasy points in five straight, he’s a pretty easy fade at this price tag. Al Horford had a nice game last time out and got his minutes over 30, so I don’t hate using him and Marcus Smart as secondary options.
5-star play: Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum
4-star play: Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Marcus Smart
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Kelly Oubre, PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee, Al Horford
Memphis Grizzlies @ New York Knicks
Vegas Total: 217.0
Vegas Spread: Mem -3.5
Starting with the Grizzlies, Ja Morant was right around that 50 point fantasy range against last time out. I have no issue going right back to him here, he has a 38.3% usage rate and 1.48 DraftKings points per minute over the past two weeks. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been pretty good as well and this isn’t a matchup that really scares me off of him much, he looks like a nice tournament option at the very least. Desmond Bane bounced back in a big way last time out going for a 50 burger against the Sixers but has seen his price take quite the hike as well, he’s a fine secondary option. Steven Adams has been in great form but comes in as questionable so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed, Brandon Clarke would get a nice boost if he were to miss again. Then De’Anthony Melton came crashing down to Earth last time out with just 15 minutes, I would consider him more of a GPP option than anything. From the Knicks, Julius Randle has not been in good form as of late and the price isn’t reflective of that, so I’ll continue to be underweight on him. I do like his price more on FanDuel if you do want to get exposure to him somewhere. RJ Barrett had a tough game last time out in a great matchup as well, but I think we can go right back to him in this spot. I won’t talk you off of Evan Fournier but I’m generally lower on him in general, I just don’t think he’s a great basketball player. Mitchell Robinson bounced back nicely last time out and is a guy I don’t mind going back to in tournaments but the minutes won’t be as secure with Nerlens Noel back. Kemba Walker hasn’t been in good form so he will be strictly a tournament-only option for me. Then guys like Alec Burks and Cam Reddish will be fades for me until we see some consistent minutes from them.
5-star play: Ja Morant
4-star play: Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Julius Randle (FanDuel), RJ Barrett
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, De’Anthony Melton, Mitchell Robinson, Evan Fournier
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 @ Houston Rockets
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Cavaliers, Darius Garland will be out again here and we saw Cedi Osman get the start for him last time out. I wish they would start Rajon Rondo, he would become a pretty elite value option but he should see an increase in minutes at the very least. Osman looks like a good option here as well in a great matchup with Lauri Markkanen also out for the Cavs. Then Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley get nice matchups as well, the Rockets’ interior is not good defensively. Kevin Love has at least 40 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and got his minutes over 30 minutes last time out. He could see more consistent minutes with Markkanen out for the next few weeks. From the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. has been pretty consistent as of late with at least 34 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. This is a tougher matchup but still a guy I think we can get to in tournaments. Christian Wood has been in a similar boat but will get a tough matchup with Mobley and Allen down low here, I would consider him more of a GPP option as well. Jae’Sean Tate is never a sexy option, but a guy they’ll likely need for size tonight. Then guys like Jalen Green and Eric Gordon are fine for GPPs as well but not guys that I’ll be forcing in by any means.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr.
Deeper Value: Rajon Rondo
GPP Sleeper: Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love, Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Eric Gordon
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Dallas Mavericks
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Thunder, they’ll be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again tonight, below is how this team operates with him off of the court this season:
- Josh Giddey – 23.2% usage rate; 1.08 fpm
- Lu Dort – 26.9% usage rate; 0.86 fpm
- Tre Mann – 24.1% usage rate; 0.81 fpm
- Kenrich Williams – 18% usage rate; 0.81 fpm
For as much usage and production they’ll be missing with Gilgeous-Alexander out, there really isn’t a ton that I feel like I NEED to get to here. The Thunder are pretty good at spreading out that lost production, but I do think Josh Giddey is someone I’ll want here in a great matchup. They’re going to have trouble hanging in games without Gilgeous-Alexander with that said. From the Mavs, they’ll be without Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis again here which gives Luka Doncic a 39.6% usage rate and 1.67 fantasy points per minute on the season and should do whatever he wants in this matchup. Jalen Brunson is another guy I’ll like here particularly on FanDuel where he’s still under $6k. Maxi Kleber should take on the Porzingis role here and looks like a nice value option. Then we can round this team out with Dorian Finney-Smith who looks like a fine option in all formats but not a guy that I’m forcing in.
5-star play: Josh Giddey, Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson (FanDuel)
4-star play: Lu Dort, Tre Mann, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber
Deeper Value: Dwight Powell
GPP Sleeper: Tre Mann, Kenrich Williams, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell
Brooklyn Nets @ Sacramento Kings
Vegas Total: 230.5
Vegas Spread: Bkn -4.5
Starting with the Nets, they’ll have Kyrie Irving available in this one as it’s an away game for them but will still be without Kevin Durant. The Kyrie price tag is something I’ll have issues stomaching, but if you want to play him here I won’t talk you off of him in an elite matchup. James Harden looks like a nice option here as he returns from missing a game due to his hand flaring up, I have no issue going right back to him in a great matchup. The rest of this Nets team is pretty blah for me, I guess you can make a case for Patty Mills or Nic Claxton with LaMarcus Aldridge out, but I think we can do better on this slate. From the Kings, De’Aaron Fox comes in 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 out again since it’s been 10+ days since we’ve seen him. Tyrese Haliburton has a 20.2% usage rate and 1.05 fantasy points per minute with Fox off of the court this season and would look like a solid play in a nice matchup. I’ve been all over Richaun Holmes since he’s returned from injury due to the price tag on him and the minutes have slowly increased by the game. I love the matchup for him here and a guy I’ll go right back to here. Then the mid-range of this team would be more GPP-type guys than anything, but guys like Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, and Chimezie Metu are fine. Metu should see an increase in minutes with Marvin Bagley out which leads to a higher minutes floor for Holmes as well.
***Assuming De’Aaron Fox is OUT***
5-star play: James Harden
4-star play: Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton, Richaun Holmes, Harrison Barnes
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Patty Mills, Nicolas Claxton, Buddy Hield, Chimezie Metu
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Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz
Vegas Total: 226.5
Vegas Spread: Utah -2.0
Starting with the Nuggets, it will be hard not to like Nikola Jokic again here against a banged-up Jazz team that will be missing their best interior defender in Rudy Gobert, he’s an elite spend-up option on this slate. Aaron Gordon has been in good form as of late but still would be more of a tournament guy for me due to the volatility he can show. The same can be said for Will Barton but still guys that I like in GPPs. Monte Morris has been in good form as well and a nice secondary option if you fall in his price range. From the Jazz, they’ll be without Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert again while Hassan Whiteside comes in as questionable. We’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed because if Whiteside misses they’ll be extremely shorthanded in the frontcourt and will need size tonight against Jokic down low. Mike Conley looks like a solid option again, he doesn’t benefit as much as people think with Mitchell off of the court but a solid producer nonetheless. Jordan Clarkson looks like a nice option as well and could see an extra few minutes with Joe Ingles out for the season. I would think he still comes off of the bench and they start someone like Trent Forrest in Ingles’ place but a good play regardless. Lastly, Rudy Gay and Royce O’Neale will need to provide some size for the Jazz tonight and look like solid value options in tournaments.
5-star play: Nikola Jokic
4-star play: Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Monte Morris, Hassan Whiteside, Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley
Deeper Value: Trent Forrest
GPP Sleeper: Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Rudy Gay, Royce O’Neale
Portland Trailblazers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Vegas Total: 222.5
Vegas Spread: Lal -3.5
Starting with the Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic is a guy I like going back to here as he dropped 46 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season. CJ McCollum looks like a nice option as well, he’s so consistent and has a big ceiling with Damian Lillard continuing to be out in a great matchup. The same can be said for Anfernee Simons who has been in incredible form as well. Norman Powell will continue to play big minutes and looks like a solid mid-range guy, but not someone I’m looking to force in at this price tag. Then Robert Covington looks like a solid option again with Larry Nance and Nassir Little both out. From the Lakers, LeBron James is doubtful here so guys like Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis will see a really nice boost here. With James off of the court this season Westbrook has a 31.2% usage rate and 1.33 fantasy points per minute while Davis is at a 29.8% usage rate and 1.39 fantasy points per minute, they’ll both look great here. Malik Monk should return here and is coming off of a 50 point fantasy night last time he played, he’ll look like a nice option as well. Then Carmelo Anthony and Talen Horton-Tucker would make for better GPP options due to the volatility they’ve shown.
5-star play: Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis
4-star play: Jusuf Nurkic, CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simons, Malik Monk
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Robert Covington, Carmelo Anthony, Talen Horton-Tucker
NBA Lock of the Day: (See the NBA Cheatsheets for My CORE PLAYS!)
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