DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 14th, 2023

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 1/14:

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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Boston Celtics @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 232.0

Vegas Spread: Bos -8.0

We’ll kick off this slate with the Celtics, Jaylen Brown will miss this one again while Malcolm Brogdon will come in as questionable. We saw Grant Williams get the start in Brown’s place last time out and should be expected again tonight. Below is how this team operates with Brown off of the court this season:

• Jayson Tatum – 35.7% usage rate; 1.40 fpm
• Malcolm Brogdon – 26.6% usage rate; 1.24 fpm
• Grant Williams – 13.9% usage rate; 0.81 fpm
• Derrick White – 17.8% usage rate; 0.97 fpm
• Marcus Smart – 18.6% usage rate; 0.99 fpm

Tatum is pretty clear the top option in this one with a 35+% usage rate and is going to be a top spend-up option on the slate. Brogdon has some nice rates but can’t guarantee big minutes, that said, he had a great game in this matchup earlier in the season. Derrick White has been in sneaky good form as well and makes sense in all formats. Robert Williams flirted with 30 minutes last time out and now gets a matchup with the Hornets who rank dead last in fantasy points allowed per game against opposing bigs… he’s going to look awesome here. Then guys like Grant Williams and Al Horford make sense as well, I would probably prefer Grant Williams due to the price tag and minutes he’ll see. From 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. The price tag on LaMelo Ball has back down below $10k and is a guy I like going right back to even in a tough matchup with this Boston defense. Terry Rozier has been much more consistent as of late after a rough stretch a few weeks ago, I have no issue going right back to him in this spot. Mason Plumlee has been the sneakiest producer on the Hornets, he’s averaging 37.8 DraftKings points per game over his last five games. Then a guy like PJ Washington makes sense as a tournament option in a tougher matchup down low.

5-star play: Jayson Tatum, LaMelo Ball

4-star play: Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Jalen McDaniels, Mason Plumlee, Terry Rozier

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, PJ Washington

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Memphis Grizzlies @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: 239.0

Vegas Spread: Mem -8.0

Starting with the Grizzlies, we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on Brandon Clarke and Dillon Brooks as they come in as questionable in this one. I’ll operate under the assumption that they’re good to go for the sake of this article. Both of these guys would be more tournament options than anything as this team gets healthier with their main guys. Ja Morant gets an elite matchup against this Pacers defense and is going to look like a great spend-up option in all formats. Jaren Jackson has at least 50 FanDuel points in two of his last four games and will make plenty of sense here as well. Desmond Bane seems to be off of any sort of minutes restriction he may have been on and he feels a few hundred dollars too cheap. Then Steven Adams continued his great form last time out as well, I would prefer Clarke to be out again which solidifies his minutes, but I’ll have interest in him regardless. From the Pacers, we don’t have an injury report for them yet but Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith ended up missing their game last night along with Tyrese Haliburton who will be out for the next few weeks. I’m going to operate under the assumption Turner and Nesmith are back, but below is how this team operates with Haliburton off of the court this season:

• Bennedict Mathurin – 30.2% usage rate; 1.01 fpm
• TJ McConnell – 17.6% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
• Andrew Nembhard – 17.0% usage rate; 0.94 fpm
• Buddy Hield – 21.6% usage rate; 1.11 fpm
• Myles Turner – 24.8% usage rate; 1.30 fpm

McConnell didn’t get the start last night, instead, it was Chris Duarte who didn’t have a great night, but if he starts again tonight he’ll look like a nice option with multi-position eligibility. Bennedict Mathurin is the guy I love from this team, he started last night and he sees a +4.6% usage rate increase and +0.10 fantasy points per minute, he’s going to look awesome in a great matchup. Then guys like Nembhard, Hield, and Turner are nice options as well, this matchup looks great and has a big implied total with a small spread.

5-star play: Ja Morant, Bennedict Mathurin

4-star play: Jaren Jackson, Desmond Bane, Steven Adams, TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner

Deeper Value: TJ McConnell, Aaron Nesmith, Chris Duarte

GPP Sleeper: Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, Chris Duarte, Aaron Nesmith

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Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 232.0

Vegas Spread: Tor -6.5

Starting with the Hawks, We should see Onyeka Okongwu back in the starting lineup yet again tonight with Clint Capela out again and man did he have a night last night. I don’t know that I want to chase that game against a beat-up Pacers frontcourt, but it’s hard to ignore, that’s for sure. Trae Young kept it rolling last night and has at least 46 DraftKings points in four of his last five games which makes sense at his current price tag. John Collins is another guy who has been in great form with Capela out and this one sets up perfectly for him as well. Then guys like Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter are fine secondary options to round out this team. I mentioned in yesterday’s article not to chase that Bogdanovic game against Milwaukee and that turned out to be true after a dud last night. He’s hurt big time by Trae in there making him a tournament option for me. The same can probably be said for Dejounte Murray, but the floor and ceiling are much higher for him. From the Raptors, Pascal Siakam hasn’t been as elite as he had been over the last few weeks, but the minutes will continue to float around 40 minutes, and will look like a great option yet again in this one. Fred VanVleet has come down to Earth over his last couple of games but this is an elite matchup against this Hawks backcourt. 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: Trae Young, Pascal Siakam

4-star play: Onyeka Okongwu, Dejounte Murray, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dejounte Murray, Gary Trent Jr.

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!

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 225.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -5.0

Starting with the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell came down to Earth last time out after a massive game against his old team in Utah. The price tag on him is pushing $10k which makes it hard for me to love him, but it’s hard to ignore the upside if you’re playing a tournament. I haven’t gotten a ton of Darius Garland this season and it feels like he’s consistently priced right where he should be, he’d be more of a secondary option for me. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are solid options in this one as well, we saw a big game from Allen last time out, and are both guys I don’t have an issue going back to even in a tougher matchup with Gobert down low. 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 Wolves, we know they’ll be without Karl-Anthony Towns again in this one. Anthony Edwards bounced back nicely last time out and has been good with Towns off of the court this season with a 30.4% usage rate and 1.25 fantasy points per minute. I don’t love the matchup with Cleveland, but he’s a solid option at the very least. Rudy Gobert didn’t have the best game last time out but he’s been in better form as of late. We kind of know what we’re getting out of D’Angelo Russell at this point, he’s going to play big minutes and probably be pretty solid, but not someone I’ll feel the need to prioritize. Then guys like Kyle Anderson and Jaden McDaniels are fine secondary GPP options to round out this team.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, D’Angelo Russell

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Love, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson

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Philadelphia 76ers @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 235.0

Vegas Spread: Phi -5.0

Starting with the Sixers, Joel Embiid is going to look awesome here, the Jazz are giving up the second most fantasy points per game to opposing big men on the season. Embiid should do whatever he wants in this one and will look like a top spend-up option on the slate. James Harden has at least 50 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and makes sense here as well. Tyrese Maxey is probably more of a secondary option, but we know the minutes will be there and he’s not afraid to demand some usage in this offense. Then guys like Tobias Harris and De’Anthony Melton are fine tournament options, but not priorities by any means… keep an eye on Harris as well as he comes in as questionable. From the Jazz, Kelly Olynyk will be out again in this one, we saw Malik Beasley back in the starting lineup again last night, but expect to see more minutes for Walker Kessler as well… they’ll need size against this big Sixers frontcourt. Lauri Markkanen continues to put up good numbers with at least 50 DraftKings points in three of his last five games. I do like his price tag much more on FanDuel where he’s just $8.3k opposed to his $9.4k DraftKings price tag. Jordan Clarkson is going to continue to see massive minutes and has been extremely consistent all season long. Mike Conley missed their game last night and we saw Nickeil Alexander-Walker start in his place who didn’t really do a whole lot… if Conley plays, I would have no issue going back to him at this price tag. Then Jarred Vanderbilt is a solid GPP option as well, he’s been pretty volatile this season, however.

5-star play: Joel Embiid, James Harden

4-star play: Tyrese Maxey, Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, Malik Beasley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt

Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers

Vegas Total: 224.5

Vegas Spread: Por -1.5

Starting with the Mavericks, Luka Doncic is right up there with Embiid and Tatum as the top spend-up option on the slate and is likely the top raw option on the slate. He has at least 66 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. Christian Wood is seeing all the minutes he can handle right now but does come in as questionable, if he plays he’s going to look solid even at an elevated price tag, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding him. 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 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 slower-paced matchup. 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: Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard

4-star play: Christian Wood, Jusuf Nurkic, Jerami Grant, Josh Hart

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart

NBA Lock of the Day: Bennedict Mathurin (DK – $4.9k; FD – $5.6k)

The Pacers will be without Tyrese Haliburton for the next few weeks, so I want to go right back to the well with Mathurin here. We saw him start last night and has a 30.2% usage rate and 1.01 fantasy points per minute with Haliburton off of the court this season. He saw nearly 40 minutes last night and is a guy I’m going to continue to play until his price adjusts. 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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