DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 12th, 2023

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 1/12:

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 @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 232.0

Vegas Spread: Phi -9.5

We’ll kick off this slate with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was fine in a tough matchup last time out but did struggle against the Sixers earlier this season. That said, I’ll have no issue going right back to him in this one. Josh Giddey bounced back in a big way against the Heat last time out, dropping 55 DraftKings points. He’s priced right where he should be but obviously has some upside on that price tag. Lu Dort is probably more of a tournament option here, we kind of know what we’re getting out of him at this point in the season. I do like Jaylen Williams a decent amount, for whatever reason his price isn’t moving and has outperformed his DraftKings price tag in seven of his last eight games. Then we get to the frontcourt which is an absolute mess right now with Aleksej Pokusevski and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl out. We saw Eugene Omoruyi start at the five last time out but didn’t do anything, I don’t think any of these guys are in play… maybe Kenrich Williams if you want to get whacky. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid returned last time out but played just 24 minutes which I’m chalking up to the blowout they were involved in. Assuming he’s a full go here, he’s going to look like a great option and should do whatever he wants against this Thunder frontcourt. James Harden has at least 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and makes sense here as well. Tyrese Maxey was another guy that was bitten by the blowout bug last time out but should play 35+ minutes should the game stay competitive. Then guys like Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton are fine tournament options, but not priorities by any means.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid

4-star play: Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jaylen Williams, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kenrich Williams, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton

Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!

Milwaukee Bucks @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: 217.5

Vegas Spread: Mia -3.0

Starting with the Bucks, I’m going to operate under the assumption that Khris Middleton is out again, but it does sound like he’s getting closer to returning. I would anticipate we see Pat Connaughton right back in the starting lineup again here. Below is how this team operates with Middleton off of the court this season:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo – 38.0% usage rate; 1.67 fpm
• Brook Lopez – 18.8% usage rate; 1.05 fpm
• Bobby Portis – 21.7% usage rate; 1.17 fpm
• Jrue Holiday – 25.6% usage rate; 1.21 fpm
• Pat Connaughton – 15.7% usage rate; 0.71 fpm

The matchup kind of stinks for the Bucks here, so I don’t think I’m going to be getting to this team all that much, but although Giannis is in a bit of a slump, I wouldn’t look too much into it, he can bust out of it at any point and in a competitive game he should see 35+ minutes. Jrue Holiday kept it rolling last night and would be a guy I like going back to even though his price did come up a bit. Brook Lopez has been in sneaky great form as of late as well with at least 36 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. Then guys like Bobby Portis and Grayson Allen are secondary GPP options. From the Heat, they’ll be without Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro again while Bam Adebayo should return. I would think we see Gabe Vincent and Max Strus back in the starting lineup with those two off of the court. Both guys looked good in filling in last time out and should continue to see good minutes in this one. Jimmy Butler had a massive game last time out and has a 26.6% usage rate and 1.51 fantasy points per minute with Herro and Lowry off of the court this season. They’ll need Bam’s size down low against a big Bucks team as well and should see a nice increase in his rates. Then Victor Oladipo should continue to see good minutes as well and makes sense in all formats.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler

4-star play: Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent

Deeper Value: Pat Connaughton, Gabe Vincent, Haywood Highsmith

GPP Sleeper: Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen, Victor Oladipo, Haywood Highsmith

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Charlotte Hornets @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 231.5

Vegas Spread: Tor -7.5

We saw this matchup a couple of days ago, so we have a little bit of a sample size to go off of here. Starting with the Hornets, they’ll be without Kelly Oubre Jr. and Gordon Hayward again in this one. I would expect to see Jalen McDaniels right back in the starting lineup and has been someone who has looked great as of late. Below is how this team operates with Oubre and Hayward off of the court this season:

• Jalen McDaniels – 16.4% usage rate; 0.83 fpm
• PJ Washington – 22.9% usage rate; 0.97 fpm
• Terry Rozier – 30.9% usage rate; 1.14 fpm
• LaMelo Ball – 29.5% usage rate; 1.34 fpm
• Mason Plumlee – 15.2% usage rate; 1.17 fpm

I can’t say I love the matchup, but a lot of these Hornets have been producing really well as of late. LaMelo Ball bounced back in a big way last time out and is going to be a guy I have an interest in any time he’s under $10k. Terry Rozier is another guy that has bounced back nicely as of late after having a few down weeks. From the Raptors, Pascal Siakam hasn’t been as great as of late but continues to play all the minutes he can handle. The Hornets are the worst team in the league against opposing big men… this spot looks great for Siakam. Fred VanVleet has come down to Earth over his last couple of games but this is an elite matchup with the Hornets and we saw this game shootout last time out. Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. are all in similar price tiers and look like solid options as well. Barnes is probably my favorite option due to the consistency in his floor and ceiling, but they’ll all look solid.

5-star play: LaMelo Ball, Pascal Siakam

4-star play: PJ Washington, Terry Rozier, Jalen McDaniels, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr.

Deeper Value: Mark Williams, Chris Boucher

GPP Sleeper: Mason Plumlee, Mark Williams, Gary Trent Jr., Chris Boucher

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Boston Celtics @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: 228.0

Vegas Spread: Bos -2.5

Starting with the Celtics, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams missed their game last night, but I’ll operate under the assumption that they’re good to go for the sake of this article. Both guys will look like solid secondary options at their respective price tags. Jayson Tatum has back-to-back games with at least 54 DraftKings points and gets an elite matchup in this one. Jaylen Brown showed off his ceiling last night against the Pelicans and saw his price tag come DOWN. I have no issue going right back to him in a great matchup against the Nets tonight. Lastly, Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White take a hit with Smart potentially back but still make sense as secondary options in their price range. I will say, Al Horford has been serviceable over their last two games, so I won’t talk you off of him if you want to get some exposure. From the Nets, they’ll be without Kevin Durant for the next couple of weeks, so I would expect to see one of Seth Curry, TJ Warren, or Joe Harris jump into the starting lineup. Below is how this team operates with Durant off of the court this season:

• Kyrie Irving – 36.3% usage rate; 1.35 fpm
• Seth Curry – 24.4% usage rate; 0.90 fpm
• Ben Simmons – 12.8% usage rate; 0.99 fpm
• Nic Claxton – 18.4% usage rate; 1.21 fpm
• TJ Warren – 20.8% usage rate; 0.85 fpm

Kyrie looks like the best option from the team in a revenge game against the Celtics, but these ancillary pieces are certainly in play at their price tags. I kind of wish we see Warren in the starting lineup, he fits that Durant role perfectly, but we’ll see, whoever starts for him will see a good minutes boost.

5-star play: Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving

4-star play: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton

Deeper Value: Seth Curry, Joe Harris, TJ Warren

GPP Sleeper: Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, Derrick White, TJ Warren, Seth Curry, Joe Harris

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Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers

Vegas Total: 233.0

Vegas Spread: Dal -3.0

Starting with the Mavericks, Luka Doncic is right up there with Giannis and Embiid as the top raw option on the slate yet again here. He had a really slow start last time out but ended up with 69.7 FanDuel points, so no issue going right back to him here if we can find the salary. Christian Wood had a down game last time out but is seeing much more consistent minutes as of late and will look great against a Lakers team that is bleeding fantasy points to opposing big men. Spencer Dinwiddie is probably more of a secondary GPP option, I just don’t like guys who need to fight for usage with these ball-dominant players like Luka. Tim Hardaway Jr. has been much better as of late and makes sense in all formats as well. He’s playing all the minutes he can handle right now. From the Lakers, we kind of know the story with them at this point, they’ll be without Anthony Davis yet again along with Lonnie Walker and Austin Reaves. Below is how this team operates with Davis off of the court this season:

• LeBron James – 35.3% usage rate; 1.55 fpm
• Dennis Schroder – 20.6% usage rate; 0.86 fpm
• Russell Westbrook – 29.8% usage rate; 1.34 fpm
• Thomas Bryant – 19.5% usage rate; 1.15 fpm

These are my favorite options on the Lakers and honestly, I think we can make a pretty strong case for each of them. It’s not a great pace spot for the Lakers as the Mavericks are one of the slowest teams in the NBA, but we’ve seen some big games out of the ancillary pieces on this team as of late and they’re playing big minutes.

5-star play: Luka Doncic, LeBron James

4-star play: Christian Wood, Russell Westbrook, Thomas Bryant, Dennis Schroder

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroder

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Portland Trail Blazers

Vegas Total: 220.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -3.0

Starting with the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell was quite vengeful in his return to Utah last time out and gets a great matchup again in this one. The price tag is definitely up, but he’s a good option in all formats yet again. The price tag on Darius Garland feels like it’s right where it should be for his production as of late, I don’t mind getting some exposure to him as well. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are solid options in this one as well, they haven’t really shown any ceiling games as of late and this is a tougher matchup down low against Nurkic, but they feel underpriced. Then Kevin Love will continue to be a tournament option due to his volatility, we know the minutes won’t be high, but he’s an elite per-minute guy. From the Blazers, Damian Lillard comes in as questionable, so we’ll need to keep an eye one the Breaking News Feed for updates regarding his status, but I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here. I mentioned it last slate, but any time he’s under $10k I’ll have interest even in a tough matchup tonight. I’ve been playing a ton of Jusuf Nurkic as of late due to his price tag, it did come up a bit but I think he’s a great option again. I never love Anfernee Simons when Dame is healthy, so he’ll be a tournament-only option… but I do think Simons is a very solid play ESPECIALLY if Dame sits. Then Josh Hart and Jerami Grant will continue to play all the minutes they can handle and will make sense at their respective price tags.

5-star play: Damian Lillard

4-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jusuf Nurkic, Jerami Grant, Josh Hart, Anfernee Simons

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Caris LeVert, Kevin Love, Anfernee Simons

NBA Lock of the Day: Kyrie Irving (DK – $8.8k; FD – $9.3k)

The Nets will be without Kevin Durant for the next few weeks and I want to jump on the Kyrie train before his price catches up to him… I would expect he’s around $10k by this time next week. He has a 36.3% usage rate and 1.35 fantasy points per minute with Durant off of the court this season. 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!

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