DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 15th, 2023

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 1/15:

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 @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: 230.0

Vegas Spread: Bkn -5.0

We’ll kick off this slate with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was great again last time out and gets a very nice matchup with a sub-par Nets defense in this one. I have no issue going right back to the well with him again here. Josh Giddey now has at least 51 DraftKings points in two of his last three games and will look to keep it rolling in this one. 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 Jalen Williams a decent amount, for whatever reason his price isn’t moving and has outperformed his DraftKings price tag in nine of his last ten games. Then we get to this frontcourt which is a straight-up mess right now. Mike Muscala started their last game at the five, but it feels like they’re just rotating who they start each game, I don’t like any of these guys even at dirt-cheap price tags. From the Nets, they’ll be without Kevin Durant again in this one, we saw Joe Harris start in his place last time out and looked good, so I would expect more of the same here. Below is how this team operates with Durant off of the court this season:

• Kyrie Irving – 36.2% usage rate; 1.32 fpm
• Joe Harris – 14.9% usage rate; 0.68 fpm
• Ben Simmons – 12.3% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
• Nic Claxton – 18.3% usage rate; 1.17 fpm
• TJ Warren – 22.5% usage rate; 0.87 fpm

These would be my favorite options on the Nets, you can make a case for Royce O’Neale due to the number of minutes he’ll see, but he’d be more of a secondary option for me. This is a great matchup for the Nets against a bad Thunder defense, so these guys are going to look good at their price tags.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kyrie Irving

4-star play: Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Joe Harris, TJ Warren, Royce O’Neale

Deeper Value: Seth Curry

GPP Sleeper: Lu Dort, Joe Harris, TJ Warren, Seth Curry

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Sacramento Kings @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 246.5

Vegas Spread: Sac -7.0

The implied total on this game is absolutely massive, so I would imagine we can find some nice pieces for DFS. We’ll start with the Kings, Domantas Sabonis kept it rolling with a huge game against the Rockets last time out. I love going right back to him here as one of the top raw options on the slate if we can find the value to get to him. The same can be said for De’Aaron Fox who is probably priced right where he should be but is still a guy I like getting some exposure to in this one as well, I love the matchup and he nearly dropped a 50-burger in this spot last time out. Kevin Huerter has missed their last couple of games and it sounds like he’s having some conditioning issues after being out with an illness… if he does play, I would want to know that he’s not going to be limited at all. Terence Davis has been filling in for him and would likely be the same today if he’s forced to miss. We can probably jump off of the Davis train if Huerter is good to go, however. Then the trio of Harrison Barnes, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray are more tournament options than anything, that said, this implied total is no joke, so the opportunity for them should be there. From the Spurs, Keldon Johnson has been extremely volatile as of late which doesn’t make for a comfortable roster, but I have no issues getting to him in an elite matchup and a nice price tag. He’ll continue to benefit from Devin Vassell being out. Jakob Poeltl has at least 43 DraftKings points in two of his last four but the minutes aren’t exactly huge. The price is coming up, as it should, but he would be more of a secondary option for me in this one. Then guys like Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones are solid and in good form as of late. I guess you can make a case for Josh Richardson, but with Keldon Johnson back he’s not seeing as many minutes.

5-star play: Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson

4-star play: Harrison Barnes, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, Jakob Poeltl, Tre Jones

Deeper Value: Terence Davis (if Huerter is out)

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Jeremy Sochan, Josh Richardson

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Orlando Magic @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 234.0

Vegas Spread: Den -10.5

Starting with the Magic, Paolo Banchero has been much more consistent as of late but his price tag still feels slightly too high. He does have a ceiling which is why the price is so steep, but he’d be more of a GPP guy for me in a tougher matchup. Franz Wagner bounced back nicely last time out but is rarely a guy I prioritize, so he’s more of a secondary option for me. I do like continuing to go back to Wendell Carter Jr. now that his minutes’ restriction is gone. We’re seeing him about $1k cheaper than we did earlier in the season and he has at least 40 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. Markelle Fultz has been in good form as well but is another guy that seems like he’s priced right about where he should be. Then guys like Bol Bol and Cole Anthony would be GPP darts at best to round out this team, you could probably throw Moe Wagner into that group as well. This team is slowly getting back to full health and they’re one of the deepest DFS teams in the league which can make it hard to prioritize a whole lot here. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic should return here after missing their last game and is going to look like a top spend-up option on this slate. He should do whatever he wants in a great matchup here. Jamal Murray was popular last time out with Jokic out and looked solid, I would have no issue going right back to him here, he’s going to see all the minutes he can handle. Aaron Gordon is probably more of a GPP option for me, but a guy I could be talked into for cash games at this price tag. I think I would just take the savings on Michael Porter Jr., who does come with some more volatility but I love the upside on him. Then guys like Bones Hyland and Bruce Brown are fine GPP darts.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr.

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Markelle Fultz, Bol Bol, Cole Anthony, Bones Hyland, Bruce Brown

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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Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Trail Blazers

Vegas Total: 225.0

Vegas Spread: Por -6.0

We saw this game last night, so we have at least a small sample size of what to expect in this one. We’ll start with the Mavs, we don’t have an injury report out for them quite yet but we know Christian Wood missed their game last night and Tim Hardaway Jr. left the game early. I’m going to operate under the assumption that Wood will be good to go while Hardaway Jr. misses which would set up more minutes for guys like Reggie Bullock, Jaden Hardy, and even Davis Bertans. All three would be GPP darts at best but I do have a soft spot for Hardy, the guy is a walking bucket when he’s out there. The Blazers did a really nice job on Luka Doncic last night and would expect they do something similar tonight, but I wouldn’t expect Doncic to shoot so poorly again, I would have no issue going right back to him in this one. Then Spencer Dinwiddie has been in good form with at least 31 DraftKings points in four straight but is priced right where he should be, he’s a GPP guy. From the Blazers, Damian Lillard kept it going last night and now has at least 56 FanDuel points in back-to-back games. Any time he’s under $10k I’ll have interest and will be a guy I like going right back to the well on here. 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. 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, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jusuf Nurkic, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Spencer Dinwiddie, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart

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Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Lakers

Vegas Total: 234.0

Vegas Spread: Phi -3.0

Starting with the Sixers, Joel Embiid was a guy I was all over last night due to the matchup, and he was fine… but I’m going right back to the well here. The Lakers are bleeding production to opposing big men with Davis out as of late. Embiid dropped 62 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season and is one of my favorite plays on the slate at this time. James Harden has at least 50 DraftKings points in four straight games and makes sense in all formats again in this one. 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 after missing last night’s game. From the Lakers, they’ll continue to be without Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker, and Austin Reaves in this one. Below is how this team operates with Davis off of the court this season:

• LeBron James – 35.1% usage rate; 1.53 fpm
• Russell Westbrook – 29.9% usage rate; 1.33 fpm
• Thomas Bryant – 19.6% usage rate; 1.14 fpm
• Dennis Schroder – 20.3% usage rate; 0.84 fpm

These are my favorite options on the Lakers, I suppose you could make a case for guys like Max Chrisie and Troy Brown if we get desperate for value, but I don’t love it even in that scenario. LeBron has been in great form as of late and is right up there with Embiid, Luka, and Jokis as a top spend-up option on the slate. Westbrook has been sneaky consistent as of late and makes plenty of sense in this one again here.

5-star play: Joel Embiid, James Harden, LeBron James

4-star play: Russel Westbrook, Thomas Bryant, Tyrese Maxey

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, Dennis Schroder

NBA Lock of the Day: Jalen Williams (DK – $5.1k; FD – $6.2k)

I do like the price tag for Williams much more on DraftKings, but I still think he’s playable on FanDuel as well. As I mentioned in the game breakdown, his price tag is simply too cheap, particularly on DraftKings where he’s outproduced this price tag in nine of his last ten games. He has an 18.4% usage rate and 1.06 fantasy points per minute over the last two weeks and is a guy I want to go right back to in a great matchup. 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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