DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Thursday 1/26

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Guards

Chris Paul FD - $8000 DK - $7700
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 42.71 DK - 44.94

The Suns are getting a bit healthier with Chris Paul returning this past Sunday and looking good with back-to-back double-doubles leading to wins in both games. He checks all the boxes on Thursday starting with the matchup against the Mavs who rank 25th in defensive efficiency and fantasy points against guards. He should also continue to see an uptick in volume as the Suns will be without Booker, Payne, and Shamet and with that is definitely a nice buy-low candidate that is in play in all formats.

Darius Garland FD - $8400 DK - $8600
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 39.59 DK - 41.07
Caris LeVert FD - $5500 DK - $5600
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 17.29 DK - 17.89

Donovan Mitchell sat out Wednesday's practice after aggravating his groin injury upon returning to the starting lineup on Tuesday. As of now, I assume he is not playing, which leads to Garland and LeVert again getting the opportunity to shine. With Mitchell out last week, Garland crushed for fantasy with 21 or more points in all three games, double-doubles in two of three while tallying 45 or more fantasy points in each of those. LeVert stepped into the starting lineup for those three games and was also terrific for fantasy getting double-digit shots in each and providing 30 or more fantasy points in each game. With an elite matchup against the Rockets, Garland is in play for me no matter what but we will need to stay tuned on the Mitchell news and if he is out, LeVert is a top play in all formats.

Jalen Green FD - $8100 DK - $7800
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 35.64 DK - 39.89

The other side of this game isn't providing as friendly of a matchup as the Cavs are #2 in defensive efficiency but there is a lot to like about Jalen Green tonight. You likely aren't using him in cash games at his elevated price but for the Cavs to hit their ceiling the Rockets will need to keep it close and Green is the player who can lead that charge making this an excellent GPP stacking situation. Even with a dud last week(10 Fpts), Green is still averaging over 38 fantasy points per game with Kevin Porter out and has hit 55+ fantasy points twice in that time. Green has received a 4% usage boost with Porter off the floor this season and becomes a near 1.1 DK points-per-minute player. Maybe not the highest floor but Green has big-time upside tonight.

Also Consider: Terry Rozier(CHA) if LaMelo Ball were to sit out again

Small Forward

Kawhi Leonard FD - $9500 DK - $10000
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 48.04 DK - 50.35
Keita Bates-Diop FD - $3700 DK - $3000
Opponent - LAC
Proj Pts FD - 18.03 DK - 19.41

We have a couple of options at small forward in this Clippers/Spurs game and it starts with one of the best defensive players in the league Kawhi Leonard. After missing a bunch of time early in the season and then dealing with a minutes restriction, Kawhi has returned to form recently and become an excellent fantasy play once again on the back of a very balanced attack. Over the last eight games, he has played at least 32 minutes in each(36.5 average), dropped at least 24 real points in each, and is averaging just shy of 50 fantasy points per game. He has a very solid floor and the upside is there in a matchup against the Spurs who run a top 5 pace and rank dead last in defensive efficiency.

On the other side of the ball, we have a possible punt play in Bate-Diop should he receiver a second straight start. He played 25 minutes in the Spurs last game making 5 of 10 shots, adding seven rebounds, and tallying 29 DraftKings points. Stay tuned for his status but if starting, would become a top PTS/$ value play on this slate helping us to build out stars and scrubs lineups.

Power Forward/Center

Nikola Vucevic FD - $8400 DK - $9000
Opponent - CHA
Proj Pts FD - 43.2 DK - 46.6

We have a projected fantasy-friendly matchup here as this game has the highest total on the slate. I am currently holding off on the Hornets' side of things with the questionable tag for Ball but the Bulls are front and center of my exposure tonight and Vucevic leads the way with his extremely consistent floor. Going all the way back to December 28(14 games), Vucevic is averaging a double-double on 19.1 points and 13.1 rebounds and has provided at least 40 DraftKings points in 13 of those 14 games while averaging 47.3 along the way. Facing the Hornets' who run at a top 10 pace and rank 27th in defence, Vucevic is an elite play for me in all formats.

Cameron Johnson FD - $5400 DK - $5300
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 30.41 DK - 32.95

Cameron Johnson is back in the lineup after missing an extended period of time due to a knee injury. He faced a minutes limit in his first few games back but was still very productive for fantasy providing us with 35 or more DK points in two of those three games. We have him for 30 minutes tonight which gives him a very high PTS/$ projection given the suppressed price which likely won't be at this level for long. Buy low in all formats.

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Chris Durell