NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (1/27)

It’s bizarre to see five games on a Friday, but here we are! It’s hard to understand the reasoning for the short slate, but I always tend to do better when we have fewer games to break down. There’s still plenty to discuss and some fun matchups to discuss, so let’s get started with the schedule and odds before diving into the players we like!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Schedule and Odds

• MIL at IND (MIL -8) O/U: 237
• MEM at MIN (MEM -3) O/U: 237.5
• ORL at MIA (MIA -7.5) O/U: 217
• CLE at OKC (CLE -1) O/U: NA
• TOR at GSW (GSW -5) O/U: 229.5

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Bobby Portis (knee) OUT
• Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT
• Andrew Nembhard (illness) Questionable
• Steven Adams (knee) OUT
• Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
• Jimmy Butler (old) Questionable
• Donovan Mitchell (groin) Questionable
• Andrew Wiggins (hip) Questionable

Core Plays

Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $9,500 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
Siakam needs to be discussed more in terms of superstardom. This guy has taken over this Toronto offense, averaging 25.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. That’s led to an absurd floor, scoring at least 33 fantasy points in all but one game while scoring 39 or more DraftKings points in 32 of 38 games. That makes him tough to fade against Golden State, who rank 26th in points allowed.

Darius Garland (PG – CLE): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
We expect Mitchell to miss this game, which means Garland will do everything for this offense. He’s played nine games without Mitchell this year and is averaging just shy of 50 fantasy points per game. He also scored a career-high 70 DK points without him earlier in the year, and it’s clear this stud is comfortable running the offense in his absence. It’s not like the Thunder are a terrifying matchup either, sitting 20th in total defense.

Cash Game Considerations

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,500 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
It’s nice to see Giannis back and fully healthy. This guy looked like a shell of himself before missing a few games because this is one of the best fantasy producers when he’s right. The Greek Freak has scored at least 40 fantasy points in all but two games this year, generating a 59-point average. He’s also flashed an 80-point upside on numerous occasions and should thrive against a 25th-ranked Indiana defense. In their most recent matchup, Antetokounmpo amassed 50 points and 14 rebounds if you needed any more incentive!

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $10,000 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Minnesota is one of the best matchups in fantasy. They currently play at the fourth-fastest pace in the NBA while sitting 21st in defense. That’s a recipe to success for Morant, scoring at least 33 DraftKings points in 38 of 40 games this year. He’s also just shy of a 50-point average, dropping 58 DK points in his most recent outing. He’s also mauled Minnesota this year, averaging 49 fantasy points per game in their two matchups.

TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
It’s strange to recommend McConnell as a cash-game option, but this stat-stuffer is a stud whenever he’s the starting point guard. That’s the case with Haliburton hurt, scoring at least 31 DraftKings points in seven of his last nine games. TJ is also averaging 37 fantasy points per game in that span and is playing 38 minutes a night over the last three fixtures. If he plays 35-40 minutes, this guy should be $8K on both sites.

GPP Targets

Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF/C – MEM): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
The only thing holding JJJ back over recent years has been injuries, his role, and his rebounding. All of those things could be solved here because JJJ is fully healthy and should do more in the absence of Steven Adams. That’s awesome since he’s averaging 36 DK points per game across just 26 minutes a night for the year. We have to assume he’ll play 30-35 minutes, and JJJ can be a $9K player in that sort of role. That makes him an elite option against a subpar Minnesota defense, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Lowry in this price range. The veteran has struggled over recent weeks, but he’s still too good to be this cheap. The former All-Star is averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game, and that alone is a fantastic total from such an affordable player. We also like that he’s starting to get healthy, playing at least 29 minutes in back-to-back outings. A matchup with the Magic is an excellent way to get him back on track, with Kyle collecting 44 fantasy points in their most recent matchup.

Value Plays

Brandon Clarke (PF/C – MEM): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
With Adams out for the next month, Clarke should get all the center minutes he can handle. The big man played 32 minutes on Wednesday in the first game without the Kiwi, scoring 34 fantasy points. This guy should be a $7K player if he’s going to play 30 minutes regularly, averaging 34 fantasy points per game in those circumstances this season. We’ve already discussed how bad Minnesota’s defense has been, and Clarke will have to play big minutes to oppose Rudy Gobert.

Caris LeVert (SG/SF – CLE): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
We’ve seen two different LeVert’s this season. The reserve LeVert is impossible to use, but this guy is a stud when he starts. Caris is averaging 32 DraftKings points per game as a starter this year and has shown that sort of play in the past. We believe he’ll get a start here with Mitchell nicked up, and it looks even better since he’s also for a 28 percent usage rate with DM off the floor.

Chris Duarte (PG/SG – IND): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
This guy is risky, but Duarte has looked great at times. The youngster played a season-high 39 minutes with Hali out on Wednesday, scoring 38 fantasy points in that defensive showcase. He did that damage despite making just four shots, and it’s clear Duarte can stuff the stat sheet when given the opportunity. Milwaukee is a scary matchup, but he had at least 26 DK points in two of their three meetings last year.

Advantageous Pricing

• Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF/C – MEM): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Pat Connaughton: $4,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert: $6,400 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
• Jaden McDaniels: $4,500 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Jarrett Allen: $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
• Jimmy Butler: $7,600 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
• Markelle Fultz: $5,600 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Cole Anthony: $4,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Precious Achiuwa: $4,200 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel

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