DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 22nd, 2023

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 1/22:

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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New York Knicks @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 222.0

Vegas Spread: Tor -1.0

This game is only on the FanDuel main slate, so if you want exposure to it you’ll have to bring your funds over there! Starting with the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson is going to miss the next few weeks after undergoing surgery on his thumb as well. Isaiah Hartenstein was the guy I thought we would see start in his place, but it was Jericho Sims instead. I would expect more of the same here which will make Sims look like a great value option. He’s averaging 0.87 DraftKings points per minute with Robinsons off of the court this season and looks solid. Julius Randle has seen his minutes come down over the last two games but he bounced back nicely last time out, I have no issue going right back to him in this one. Jalen Brunson’s price tag has come way up, but it’s warranted due to his production as of late. I don’t know how sustainable it is with RJ Barrett back… that said, it hasn’t stopped him to this point. Speaking of RJ Barrett he’s a guy I’ll go right back to here as well, he’s going to continue to play around 40 minutes per game and is too cheap here. Immanuel Quickley will lose minutes with Barrett back but his price tag has come down enough that I think he’s viable in GPPs. From the Raptors, Fred VanVleet ended up missing their game yesterday but has been in elite form with at least 48 FanDuel points in three straight. Pascal Siakam bounced back without him last time out and is another guy that’s going to play all the minutes he can handle. He dropped a 50-burger on the Knicks last week and is a guy I like here. Scottie Barnes came down to Earth last time out but has at least 46 FanDuel points in five of his last six games. Then guys like Gary Trent and OG Anunoby are secondary guys, Trent Jr. has been in better form. The nice thing about this game is both coaches love to run their starters into the ground with their minutes.

5-star play: Jericho Sims, Julius Randle, Pascal Siakam

4-star play: Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent, OG Anunoby

Deeper Value: Jericho Sims, Isaiah Hartenstein

GPP Sleeper: Isaiah Hartenstein, Immanuel Quickley, Gary Trent, OG Anunoby

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Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 239.5

Vegas Spread: Den -5.0

Starting with the Thunder, I love going right back to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander he’s been in awesome form and is averaging 51.5 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Nuggets on the season. He’s still too cheap under $10k on DraftKings, but still firmly in play on FanDuel as well. Josh Giddey has been in great form over the last few weeks and is a guy I like going back to, although the price tag is coming up on him. Jalen Williams has been a bit more volatile over his last few after being extremely consistent for a two-week timespan. I do like him as a player and is a solid secondary option at his current price tag. We kind of know the deal with Lu Dort by now, he’s going to play a bunch of minutes and is volatile, so more of a tournament option. Then we get to the frontcourt which remains a mess, I don’t think we can prioritize any of these guys and hopefully, we can find a better value on this slate. From the Nuggets, both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray come into this one as questionable, but this spread seems fishy… I would think one or both of them sit. I’ll operate under the assumption they both play for the sake of this article, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for who is impacted as we get closer to tip-off. Assuming he plays, Jokic will look like a top raw option on the slate against a terrible Thunder frontcourt. He’s averaging 61.6 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Thunder this season. Murray has been in great form and dropped a triple-double last time out, he’s a guy I have no issue going back to in this one. 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, but all of these guys would see a boost if Murray and/or Jokic sit in this one.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Lu Dort, Bones Hyland, Bruce Brown

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Memphis Grizzlies @ Phoenix Suns

Vegas Total: 232.5

Vegas Spread: Mem -9.0

Starting with the Grizzlies, Ja Morant was a guy I liked a ton against a bad Lakers defense last time out… and he was pretty disappointing in a competitive game. He’s going to be more of a tournament guy for me until we see more consistent 50+ production from him. Jaren Jackson has at least 42 FanDuel points in three of his last five games and makes plenty of sense in all formats here. Steven Adams was another guy I liked last time out, and he did not disappoint, his minutes have come down a bit over his last few games but so has his price tag, I have no issue going right back to him again in this one. Brandon Clarke had a big game last time out and is going to continue to float around that 20 minutes mark. He’s more of a GPP value option than anything. Finally, Desmond Bane is more of a secondary option as well due to the price tag, but he’s been pretty consistent as of late. From the Suns, Deandre Ayton, Chris Paul, and Cam Johnson all sat out last night but I would expect we get Ayton and Johnson back here at the very least. Even if Paul plays he won’t be a guy I have an interest in, I would imagine he’s limited if he returns. Johnson returned late last week against the Nets and looked great in 22 minutes. I would expect that’s his minutes floor in this one, but the price tag is already around where it should be which makes it harder to get to him. Ayton has struggled against the Grizzlies this season averaging just 26.5 DraftKings points per game in three games against them. Mikal Bridges continues to play well and will play all the minutes he can handle and makes sense in all formats. Then guys like Damion Lee and Saben Lee are solid value options at their respective price tags… that said, Damion Lee could lose just a little shine if Cam Johnson is able to go and the same for Saben Lee if Paul is able to go.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, Steven Adams, Desmond Bane, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Damion Lee, Saben Lee

Deeper Value: Saben Lee

GPP Sleeper: Brandon Clarke, Cam Johnson

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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Brooklyn Nets @ Golden State Warriors

Vegas Total: 236.5

Vegas Spread: Gsw -7.5

Starting with the Nets, they’ll be without Kevin Durant again in this one, Joe Harris will continue to start in his place and will be a solid value option at his current price tag. Below is how this team operates with Durant off of the court this season:

• Kyrie Irving – 35.5% usage rate; 1.38 fpm
• Joe Harris – 14.6% usage rate; 0.67 fpm
• Ben Simmons – 14.2% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
• Nic Claxton – 18.7% usage rate; 1.19 fpm
• TJ Warren – 22.4% usage rate; 0.87 fpm

These would be my favorite options on the Nets, Royce O’Neale will look good as well, he’s going to play all the minutes he can handle in a great matchup. Those big men in Claxton and Simmons will continue to look great considering the form they’re in against a small Warriors team. The Warriors are going to be running a small-ball lineup with Draymond at the five moving forward, so this spot sets up really well for these guys. Kyrie destroyed the Jazz last time out and has at least 65 FanDuel points in back-to-back games. From the Warriors, as I mentioned they’re going to keep Jordan Poole in the starting lineup moving forward while Kevon Looney moves to the bench which essentially kills Looney’s value at this price tag. He doesn’t have the type of usage rate to control a second until like Poole does. Then Poole moving into the starting lineup next to Klay and Curry is only going to take usage away from the rest of these guys… so it’ll be something to watch moving forward. Speaking of Steph Curry, he’s playing massive minutes and I love this matchup for him, he’s a nice option in all formats. I can’t say I love either Jordan Poole or Klay Thompson at their price tags, one of them could have a nice game, but they’re priced up and as I mentioned, they’re both going to be fighting for usage in that starting unit. I got to a lot of Andrew Wiggins in his last game before the Warriors rested everyone on Friday night. I like going right back to him in this one, the minutes will be there and he’s too cheap from where we saw him earlier this season. Lastly, Draymond Green moving to the five will be beneficial for fantasy purposes, he’s going to look great at this price tag, I would expect to see his rebound equity climb.

5-star play: Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, Draymond Green

4-star play: Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Royce O’Neale, Andrew Wiggins

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Joe Harris, TJ Warren, Seth Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson

Los Angeles Lakers @ Portland Trail Blazers

Vegas Total: 239.0

Vegas Spread: Por -6.0

Starting with the Lakers, LeBron James came down slightly against the Grizzlies last time out but is averaging 62.1 DraftKings points per game in his last five games. I love going right back to the well with him in a great matchup here. Russell Westbrook has been in much better form as of late but that’s reflected in his price tag, he’s probably more of a tournament option but I do like the pace we’re expecting in this one. Thomas Bryant is extremely hard to trust right now as his minutes continue to trend in the wrong direction, I don’t see how we can get to him here in anything other than MME. Wenyen Gabriel has stolen some of those minutes and makes sense as a GPP option as well. Then Dennis Schroder bounced back in a BIG way last time out, after being held under 20 fantasy points in three straight games he popped off for 49 DraftKings points. He’s the definition of a GPP guy to round out the team. From the Blazers, Damian Lillard has been on some kind of heater as of late, over the last two weeks he has a 35.3% usage rate and 1.52 fantasy points per minute. The Lakers aren’t playing any sort of defense right now, so he’s going to look like a great option in all formats yet again. The minutes on Jusuf Nurkic have been volatile due to foul trouble against Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic… can’t say I blame him, but tonight he gets a combination of Wenyen Gabriel and Thomas Bryant, he’s going to look like a great option especially if people are going to overlook him due to his game logs. Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons continue to float in that 30-40 fantasy point range which is fine at their price tags, but not guys I feel the need to prioritize. Finally, Josh Hart will play all the minutes he can handle but isn’t a big per-minute guy, so he’s more of a secondary option but he does get a revenge game!

5-star play: LeBron James, Damian Lillard

4-star play: Russell Westbrook, Jusuf Nurkic

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Thomas Bryant, Wenyen Gabriel, Dennis Schroder, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart

NBA Lock of the Day: Draymond Green (DK – $6.1k; FD – $6.8k)

I don’t think his price has adjusted for moving to the starting center in this offense. He sees fairly big rate boosts crossed the board as the center of this team with a 13.6% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per minute. That’s a +1.2% usage bump and +0.18 fantasy point per minute boost… he sees an increase in field goal rate, rebounding rate, and block/steal rate. 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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