DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Monday 1/23

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Guards

Damian Lillard FD - $10200 DK - $10100
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 48.41 DK - 50.77

There are only four players at $10K and above on DraftKings tonight and somehow Lillard is the cheapest of that group despite being in one of the best stretches of his season. Over the last seven games, he is shooting over 50% from the field on 22 shots a game(11 from beyond the arc) while tallying 50 or more fantasy points in six of those games while averaging 56.5 combined. He and the Trail Blazers now get the best matchup on the board against the Spurs who are dead last in defensive efficiency and fantasy points to guards. Fire up Lillard in all formats.

Derrick White FD - $5500 DK - $5400
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 31.62 DK - 31.49

Both Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon have already been ruled out for this game which opens up about 20 shots per game and a ton of minutes at the point guard position. White is a very shooting dependant guard who has been a roller coaster for fantasy but the good news is that he sees a near 3% usage boost with both Brogdon and Smart off the floor and becomes a near fantasy point-per-minute player. At a mid $5K price tag combined with a plus matchup against the Magic's 23rd-ranked defence, I have White as a core play in all formats.

Mike Conley FD - $5700 DK - $5300
Opponent - CHA
Proj Pts FD - 27.59 DK - 28.07

The game totals on this slate are a buffet of points with all seven coming in at 230 or higher but this game is one of my favorites to target as these teams run 10th and 11th in pace and both rank outside the Top 25 in defensive efficiency. The first piece that stands out is Mike Conley who has been very consistent in the short term tallying 30 or more fantasy points in four straight on the back of 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 45 assists per game. Despite this nice run, Conley's price has stayed flat and in the mid $5K range which, in this matchup, make him a core play for me in all formats.

Also Consider: Terry Rozier(CHA) if LaMelo ball sits out again. He has seen a huge uptick in usage over the last two games(24 & 25 shots) dropping 44 and 55 fantasy points and also gets a plus matchup against the Jazz

Small Forward

Jayson Tatum FD - $11100 DK - $10900
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 56.12 DK - 60

It was great news to see the Celtics remove Tatum from the injury report on Sunday after sitting out Saturday. It was likely a rest day after a monster 48-minute overtime performance on Friday where Tatum dropped 34 points and added a ridiculous 19 rebounds. He has been very good all season but extremely good over the last month averaging 33.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while posting 48 or more fantasy points in 13 of his last 17 games with a 55.8 average(DK). With Smart and Brogdon out, Tatum is very likely to continue seeing monster volume and in this plus matchup, is one of the top plays in our system on Monday.

Also Consider: Gordan Hayward(CHA) who is at a season-low price in a plus matchup and should see his minutes restriction get dropped. 

Power Forward/Center

Lauri Markkanen FD - $8600 DK - $9400
Opponent - CHA
Proj Pts FD - 43.69 DK - 47.37

Markkanen returned after a two-game absence and picked up right where he left off posting double-doubles in both games. Overall, it has been a breakout season for Markkanen that only got better after the Christmas break as he has seen an uptick in usage getting about 19 shots a game over his last 12 while averaging a double-double with 30.1 points and 10.5 rebounds. The price is on the rise but in this matchup, I am on board in all formats for a player who consistently gives us a 40-45 fantasy point floor with 60 point upside.

Nikola Vucevic FD - $8700 DK - $9100
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 44.67 DK - 48.14

Speaking of providing a solid fantasy floor, Vucevic has been a model of consistency this season and especially good lately. He comes into Monday night posting a double-double in 10 straight games while averaging 20 points and 13.6 rebounds and going back to December 28, has tallied 40 or more fantasy points in 11 of 12 games while averaging 47.6(DK). He and the Bulls now get a plus matchup against the Hawks who may be 12th in defense overall but rank 23rd in fantasy points given up to centers. I will have exposure in all formats.

Also Consider: Naz Reid(MIN) if Rudy Gobert is out for a fourth straight game

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image sources

  • Damian Lillard, Raul Neto: (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Chris Durell