DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Jan. 8th, 2023

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 1/8:

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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Brooklyn Nets @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: 222.0

Vegas Spread: Bkn -3.5

We’ll kick off this slate with the Nets, Kevin Durant has been great as of late and gets an elite matchup against this Pelicans’ defense. He has a 33.1% usage rate and 1.53 fantasy points per minute over the last two weeks and makes sense as a spend-up option on this slate. The same can be said for Kyrie Irving, he’s been much less volatile as of late, but I don’t love the matchup against a good Miami defense. Ben Simmons and Nicolas Claxton are in a similar price range and are guys I don’t have an issue with getting to here, their price tags have come down as of late. Then guys like Royce O’Neale and TJ Warren will be fine secondary GPP options to round out this team. You can probably throw Seth Curry in that group as well, he’s shown us a nice ceiling. From the Heat, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro come into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. I’ll operate under the assumption they’re good to go for the sake of this article, however. Bam has been in great form as of late, averaging 50.1 DraftKings points per game over his last six games, and gets a great matchup here. I still don’t love the price tag on Herro but it has come down a good amount, he would be a fine tournament option yet again. We haven’t seen a ceiling game from Jimmy Butler in a while, but we have seen some floor games. He’s a fine option here, but not someone I’m forcing in by any means. Kyle Lowry has not been good over his last handful of games but the minutes will obviously be there, he’s a solid secondary option. While guys like Victor Oladipo and Max Strus are solid secondary options.

5-star play: Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo

4-star play: Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Seth Curry, TJ Warren, Max Strus, Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo

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!

Utah Jazz @ Memphis Grizzlies

Vegas Total: 236.0

Vegas Spread: Mem -7.5

Starting with the Jazz, Kelly Olynyk has been fairly volatile as of late but the minutes should be there in a fine matchup. He’s more of a tournament option than anything, however. Lauri Markkanen has been on a heater as of late averaging 49.6 DraftKings points per game over the last six games I love the matchup with a 2360 implied total. Jordan Clarkson continues to float in the 30-40 fantasy point range which is just fine considering his price tag. He’s going to look like a solid option in all formats as well. Then guys like Malik Beasley and Mike Conley are both fine secondary options and should benefit/see a few extra minutes with Collin Sexton out. Conley has been pretty good as of late now that he’s getting 30+ minutes consistently again. Finally, Jarred Vanderbilt and Walker Kessler should split the center minutes, I wouldn’t pair them together, but one of them will likely have a good game. Lately, it’s been Vanderbilt more often. From the Grizzlies, Ja Morant and Steven Adams come into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates, but I’ll operate under the assumption they’re good to go for the sake of this article. Adams was chalk last time out and completely tanked most people’s lineups, so there’s going to be a sour taste in a lot of the public’s mouths. I really like going right back to him here, the Grizzlies will be without Brandon Clarke again which secures his minutes and the Jazz are bleeding fantasy points to opposing big men. Morant has been fine relative to his price tag, but that price has come way up, he’s probably more of a GPP option for me here. Jaren Jackson Jr. had a massive game last time out as he took on a lot of that Adams production, he’s a solid option. Then, Desmond Bane should return here and will look great at this price tag, I think today is the day he gets over 30 minutes… he’s too cheap for that type of role and will be a guy I like going right back to here.

5-star play: Steven Adams, Desmond Bane

4-star play: Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr.

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kelly Olynyk, Malik Beasley, Mike Conley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler

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Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 227.5

Vegas Spread: Okc -3.5

Starting with the Mavs, Luka Doncic has cooled off a bit over his last couple of games but dropped a triple-double last night to bounce back a bit. He gets an elite matchup with the Thunder here and will look great. He does come in as questionable, so keep an eye on that news. Christian Wood has at least 40 DraftKings points in five of his last six games and has locked down some consistent minutes. He’s a solid GPP option now that his price tag has come up. 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. that said, if Luka ends up sitting, he’s going to look like one of the better options on the slate. 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 Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 59 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Mavs this season and will look like an elite option yet again in this one. Josh Giddey bounced back nicely last time out as well and will make sense as a secondary option. 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. They’ll be without Aleksej Pokusevski for potentially the rest of the season and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl doesn’t have a timetable to return… they added one more to the list, Jaylin Williams will come in as questionable. They’re quickly running out of frontcourt options, but it’s still going to be a flip of a coin as to who sees the minutes here. That said, outside of these main guys it’s hard to trust anyone on this team regardless of who’s out. I will add, Jalen Williams has been in great form and looks like a nice option again here.

5-star play: Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

4-star play: Christian Wood, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort

Deeper Value: Mika Muscala

GPP Sleeper: Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., Lu Dort

10 Under 10 – 10 GPP Options under 10% Ownership on Draftkings and Fanduel (Week 18 Main Slate)

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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets

Vegas Total: 230.0

Vegas Spread: Min -2.0

Starting with the Wolves, they’ll continue to be without Karl-Anthony Towns while Anthony Edwards comes in as questionable, so definitely news we’ll need to keep an eye on, but it’s another case where I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go. We saw Rudy Gobert drop a 50-burger last time out and now gets an elite matchup with a bad defense, he’s a great center option on this slate. Anthony Edwards has been great as of late and has a 31.5% usage rate and 1.25 fantasy points per minute over the last two weeks and gets a nice matchup against the Rockets. D’Angelo Russell is playing massive minutes right now and has been pretty consistent over the last few weeks, I wouldn’t have an issue going right back to him in this spot. From the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. has been much better as of late and makes sense in all formats, he’s playing all the minutes he can play right now. Jalen Green is a similar option if you need to save a couple of hundred bucks, he’s going to look like a solid option as well, but probably doesn’t have the same ceiling as Porter. Alperen Sengun has at least 31 FanDuel points in three straight games and is a solid option again in this one. Then Jabari Smith Jr. is going to be volatile which isn’t unexpected to come from a rookie, but the price tag is nice for tournaments. Lastly, Eric Gordon and Jae’Sean Tate are fine value options to round out the team.

5-star play: Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards

4-star play: D’Angelo Russell, Jaden McDaniels, Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun

Deeper Value: Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate

GPP Sleeper: Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Jaylen Nowell, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Jae’Sean Tate

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Phoenix Suns

Vegas Total: 213.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -4.5

The implied total on this slate is disgusting, but I guess we’ll start with the Cavs here. I would expect Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to come in questionable here, they’ve both missed some time as of late, and honestly, I would need one of them to be out in order to get a ton of interest from this team. I don’t mind getting to Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the frontcourt, they’ll need the size down low against Ayton as well. Caris LeVert is dependent on the news of Mitchell and Garland as well, he would start if either of them sit. Then Kevin Love is always in play as a GPP option, he’s not going to play a ton of minutes, but the production is elite per minute. From the Suns, Chris Paul comes in as questionable, but it’s going to be another case where I’ll assume he’s in until we get definitive news on him. They’ll continue to be without Devin Booker which means we should see Landry Shamet back in the starting lineup. Below is how this team operates with Booker off of the court this season:

• Chris Paul – 22.4% usage rate; 1.12 fpm
• Mikal Bridges – 20.1% usage rate; 0.80 fpm
• Landry Shamet – 21.5% usage rate; 0.88 fpm
• Deandre Ayton – 26.2% usage rate; 1.17 fpm
• Torrey Craig – 13.5% usage rate; 0.85 fpm

I hate the matchup against a good Cavs defense, but guys like Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, and Deandre Ayton all make sense at their respective price tags. I’ll continue to be underweight on Shamet, he’s too scoring-dependent for me to love at this price tag in a terrible matchup.

*** The below is completely dependent on Mitchell, Garland, and Paul news ***

5-star play: TBD

4-star play: TBD

Deeper Value: TBD

GPP Sleeper: TBD

Atlanta Hawks @ Los Angeles Clippers

Vegas Total: 234.0

Vegas Spread: Lac -3.5

Starting with the Hawks, they’ll continue to be without Clint Capela which means we should see Onyeka Okongwu back in the starting lineup yet again. He’s continued to look good and would be a guy I like going right back to in this one. Trae Young has seen his price tag come way down and will be a guy I want to go back to here, we’re used to seeing him up over $10k. Dejounte Murray came down to Earth last time out but will continue to play all the minutes he can handle and makes sense as a tournament option. 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. From the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard sat last time out and saw just 18 minutes the game before, so he should be well-rested in a great matchup here. Paul George has been in good form as of late with a 32.5% usage rate and 1.35 fantasy points per minute over the last two weeks. Ivica Zubac has seen his minutes trend in the wrong direction and has lost minutes to Moses Brown who has looked really good over their last two. I do still think Zubac will see his minutes and could be more due to blowout than anything, but it doesn’t feel great right now. That said, I have no issue with him in tournaments. Then guys like Normal Powell, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, and John Wall are all secondary GPP options.

5-star play: Trae Young

4-star play: Onyeka Okongwu, Dejounte Murray, John Collins, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George

Deeper Value: Moses Brown

GPP Sleeper: Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, John Wall

NBA Lock of the Day: Steven Adams (DK – $6.1k; FD – $7.3k)

I love going right back to Adams after he let everyone down as chalk last time out. Most will be trigger-shy after that game, but if he was chalk last time out, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be tonight as well. The Jazz are giving up the second most fantasy points per game to opposing centers in the league this season. The Grizzlies will be without Brandon Clarke again here which should solidify his minutes as well. 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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