Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 1

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

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

February 1, 2023 6:20 PM

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox is one player to watch as the Kings face the Spurs on Wednesday night.

This was an interesting slate from a pricing perspective. It feels like the sites always have a ton of discrepancies, but I’ve never seen the pricing so close. We always include players who are $1,000 or more apart in the advantageous pricing section, but there were only five of those guys on a nine-game slate. We usually have at least double that, and it’s hard to understand why that’s the case. There’s nothing to make of it, but it’s just an intriguing observation and something worth monitoring.

Injury Report

As of 11:30 a.m. ET:

Daniel Gafford (illness) Available
Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
Desmond Bane (knee) Questionable
Steven Adams (knee) OUT
Kevin Durant (knee) OUT
Ben Simmons (illness/injury) OUT
Marcus Smart (ankle) OUT
Robert Williams (ankle) Questionable
Luguentz Dort (hamstring) OUT
Jalen Green (calf) OUT
Kevin Porter Jr.(foot) OUT
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
Devin Vassell (knee) OUT
OG Anunoby (wrist) OUT
Trae Young (ankle) Probable
Devin Booker (groin) OUT
Cameron Payne (foot) OUT

Core Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,200 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
This kid is incredible. The Oklahoma City stud is averaging precisely 50 DraftKings points per game this season, establishing a 40-point floor. Both of those totals should be easy to reach here, with Houston surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards. That’s on full display when you see that SGA has at least 40 fantasy points in each of their last four meetings.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
Fox faces San Antonio, which sits last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points in the league. That’s bad news against a speedster like Fox, who’s averaging 41 DraftKings points per game this season. He’s also got at least 46 DK points in four of his last five outings while generating a 38-point average against the Spurs this season.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $10,300 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
It was some slow cooking for Chef Curry in his return from injury, but the sharpshooter is zoning in now. Steph has 66 and 72 DK points in his last two outings and has bumped his season average up to 52 fantasy points per game. His hot streak should continue against Minnesota, which ranks fourth in pace and 21st in total defense. Curry struggled with his shot in their first matchup, but he still collected 25 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in a masterclass performance.

Cash Game Considerations

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,200 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Embiid remains in the MVP discussion, averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game over the last month. He’s got his season average up to 58 DK points per game with that recent surge, scoring 88 fantasy points over the weekend. A ceiling like that is unmatched, and we’re not scared of him facing a 19th-ranked Orlando defense. In their last three matchups, Embiid is averaging over 69 fantasy points per game.

Domantas Sabonis (F/C – SAC): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
Sabonis is in an unbelievable stretch right now. The big man has scored at least 41 DK points in 18 of his last 21 games, flirting with a triple-double average in that span. He’s also averaging over 50 DK points per game in this stretch and faces the worst defense in the NBA tonight. When he faced San Antonio three weeks ago, he finished with 18 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists.

Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $9,400 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Utah has quietly been a fantastic matchup all year. The Jazz rank 25th in defensive efficiency while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing big men. That’s scary against a versatile big like Siakam, scoring nearly 50 fantasy points per game this season. He comes into this matchup amid a minor slump, but this matchup is an excellent way to break out of it.

GPP Targets

Jabari Smith Jr. (PF/C – HOU): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
With so many injuries in Houston, Smith is finally having his first surge. The rookie has scored at least 24 fantasy points in eight of his last 11 games, averaging nearly 30 DK points per game in that span. That makes him a bit too cheap, and he should keep that form flowing against Oklahoma City. The Thunder own a 25th OPRK against opposing power forwards, with Smith scoring 36 fantasy points in their one matchup earlier in the year.

Cameron Johnson (SG/SF – PHX): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Not enough people realize it, but Cam is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’s been hampered by injuries throughout his career, but Phoenix needs him to step up with Booker still out. That’s allowed Johnson to score at least 36 fantasy points in three of his last six games, which is ideal from a sub-$6K GPP player. His sharpshooting should be easy against Atlanta, which owns a 23rd OPRK against opposing wings.

Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
With Rui Hachimura getting shipped to L.A., Avdija has established a 30-minute role in Washington. That’s led to Deni scoring at least 32 fantasy points in four straight games, generating a 37-point average in that span. He’s been playing like that all season when he’s playing 30-35 minutes a night, and we’re not worried about him facing a 29th-ranked Detroit defense.

Value Plays

Brandon Clarke (PF/C – MEM): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
We’re ecstatic to see Clarke starting at center in the absence of Steven Adams. This guy is averaging nearly 1.2 DK points per minute throughout his career, and the boost in playing time is massive for his fantasy value. In this expanded role, Clarke has scored 33 DK points in two of his three starts. That could be his floor in a 30-minute role, especially since Portland allows the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Kenrich Williams (SF/PF – OKC): $4,600 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
Williams has always been a sneaky stat-stuffer, and it’s exciting that he’s reentered the starting lineup in Oklahoma City. Over the last six games, Williams is averaging 27 fantasy points per game across 26 minutes a night. This guy only needs 25-30 minutes to be a good value below $5,000, and it’s hard to understand why he remains so cheap against a 28th-ranked Rockets defense.

Keegan Murray (PF – SAC): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Murray has really turned it on recently. The youngster is averaging 29 DK points per game across 37 minutes a night over his last seven outings. That production is incredible from such an affordable player, and he’s only going to get better if he plays 35-40 minutes a night. The matchup is the icing on the cake, though, with San Antonio surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Advantageous Pricing