Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 25

FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

January 25, 2023 6:57 PM

Nikola Jokic is always a dependable choice.

This slate is going to be nuts. Wednesday cards always tend to be wild because it’s one of the most stacked slates every week. We have 10 games making up this card, and it’ll be fun to watch these teams battle. There’s obviously a ton to discuss, so let’s look at the schedule and odds!

Injury Report

Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT
Kevin Durant (knee) OUT
James Harden (foot) Questionable
Joel Embiid (foot) Questionable
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
Brandon Ingram (toe) Questionable
Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) OUT
Kevin Porter Jr.(foot) OUT
Jabari Smith Jr.(ankle) Questionable
Nikola Jokic (B2B) Questionable
Michael Porter Jr.(personal) Questionable
Steven Adams (ankle) Questionable
Kelly Olynyk (ankle) Questionable
OG Anunoby (ankle) Questionable
Devin Vassell (ankle) OUT
Anthony Davis (foot) Questionable
LeBron James (B2B) Questionable
Onyeka Okongwu (leg) Questionable

Core Plays

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $11,700 DraftKings, $11,100 FanDuel
It’s been wild watching this man go nuts in his 20th year. The superstar has scored at least 50 DraftKings points in 11 straight games, generating a 61-point average in that span. That’s no surprise with how much LeBron is doing in the absence of Anthony Davis, posting one of the highest usage rates in the NBA without him. Facing the Spurs is the best part, ranked dead-last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. In their last matchup, King James collected 64 fantasy points!

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Ja’s price has been dropping, and it’s hard to understand why. The All-Star is still averaging over 48 fantasy points per game, scoring at least 40 DraftKings points in 12 of his last 13 games. That should be easy to reach against Golden State, surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. That was on full display when Morant had 57 DK points in their one matchup this season.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
It’s sad that New Orleans has been dealing with these injuries, but it’s forced McCollum into a monstrous role. He’s being asked to do everything with Zion and Brandon Ingram both injured, and this might be the final game without Ingram. This expanded role has led to CJ posting a 42-point average across his last 17 outings, scoring at least 40 fantasy points in 12 of those. A matchup with Minnesota should keep him rolling, with the Wolves owning a 24th OPRK against opposing guards while ranked third in pace.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
Jokic will be a cash game option for the next decade. This guy is a lock for 40-50 fantasy points every night, scoring at least 51 DK points in 25 of his last 26 games. He’s also got an average north of 60 DK points per game in that span, posting numerous 80-point outings. It doesn’t really matter who Jokic faces either, but it looks even better since he has at least 61 fantasy points in three straight meetings with Milwaukee.

Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $7,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
It’s crazy to see Beal sit in this price range. This guy is usually $1,500 more, and we have to assume he’ll get closer to that with Kristaps Porzingis injured. That means he will see a bump in shot attempts and usage, which is impressive since he’s already averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. Facing Houston is the icing on the cake, with the Rockets ranked 28th in defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Tre Jones (PG – LAL): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
With Vassell out for San Antonio, Jones has become a much more prominent piece to their offense. The point guard has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 13 games while totaling a 32-point average in that span. That’s great from a $6K player, and that should be his floor against the Lakers. Los Angeles ranks 26th in points allowed while posting a 25th OPRK against opposing point guards. Jones has faced them three times this year, averaging 36 fantasy points per game!

GPP Targets

Myles Turner (PF/C – IND): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Turner can be inconsistent at times, but this guy is too good to be sitting at $7K on DraftKings. The big man is averaging 36 DK points per game this season and has scored at least 38 fantasy points in 18 of 39 games this year. He’s also flashed a 63-point upside and is being asked to do more with Haliburton out of the picture. Orlando is an outstanding matchup, too, with Turner tallying 39 DK points in their most recent matchup.

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
We don’t like using these Atlanta centers when both guys are healthy, but they’re elite plays if the other one is nicked up. That’s what we have with Onyeka Okongwu sidelined, with Capela compiling 41 DK points in his most recent outing. This guy is averaging 32 DK points per game across 27 minutes a night for the year, and if he plays the 36 minutes we saw on Monday, he should be above $7,000 on both sites! Facing the Thunder is tantalizing, too, owning a 26th OPRK against opposing centers.

Tari Eason (PF – HOU): $4,400 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
Eason is not a good option when this team is fully healthy, but he’s been stellar since Kevin Porter went down. That’s forced the rookie into the starting lineup, playing at least 26 minutes in both of his starts. He’s also averaging 32 fantasy points per game in those outings, which is absurd for such an affordable player. It’s not like Washington is a worrisome matchup, ranked 19th in total defense.

Value Plays

Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
It’s been fun watching Fultz have this revival season and stay healthy for the first time in his career. The former top pick is averaging 33 DraftKings points per game across his last nine outings. You can’t ask for any more from a $6K player, especially since this is a stat-stuffing starting point guard that was once the most coveted prospect in basketball. Indiana is an incredible matchup, too, ranked 23rd in points allowed and 24th in defensive efficiency.

Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
I’m excited to see Avdija take on an expanded role with KP injured and Rui Hachimura getting traded. That means Avdija should enter the starting lineup and play 30-35 minutes a night. In the 20 games Deni has played at least 28 minutes, he’s averaging 32 fantasy points per game. That would make Avdija one of the best values in this price range, and it should be easy to duplicate against one of the worst defenses in the NBA.

Dennis Schroder (PG – LAL): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Playing opponents against the Spurs is a cheat code. They rank last in points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points in the NBA. That makes Schroder a sensational option as the opposing teams starting point guard, scoring 46 and 49 DraftKings points in his last two outings. Even half of that would be acceptable, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see another one of those ceiling games against the worst defense in the league.

Advantageous Pricing