Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks for Draftstreet and FanDuel 1/27/14

After a crazy Sunday in which it seemed like every single center stunk, the Cavs played only one half of basketball, the Brow grabbed every ball that came off the rim and Steph was, well, Steph, we're back to start your week the right way. By getting you ready for some more daily picks in the NBA. Let's do this thing Monday!

Quick reminder about these picks. At DFSR we employ a system that seeks to gain the most points-per-dollar. When we give a recommendation, it’s because we believe that player has the best chance to meet or exceed his price. On any given the night the highest dollar player can be expected to score the most points, but that doesn’t always make him the best play for the money. Want an in-depth look at how we set our lineups each night? Sign up for our email list and get a free eBook on the 6 steps every pro takes before setting his lineup, either by clicking that link or signing up through the sidebar. On to the picks.

Point Guard

Goran Dragic - FD $8,100 DS $16,196-
We liked him yesterday and it wasn't looking so good for a bit. And then the second half happened. No secret why he's the top PG pick for today. You guessed it: he plays the Sixers. He will be a high percentage play. But that's what happens when you face a defense that's 10-20% worse in every category against point guards (and really every position for that matter). I don't suggest fading Dragic here as the matchup is too juicy and the game should stay close.

Shelvin Mack FD $4,300 DS 10,652-
Our system liked Mack before we even updated it to account for a theoretical increase in playing time with Teague out. I say theoretical because his minutes weren't there last game, but that was because the Hawks crushed Milwaukee and sat the starters for the fourth quarter. Even in limited minutes Mack was paying off (or close) these prices. The only real problem is the blowout factor going the other way. But, especially on FanDuel, I think the salary is worth it.

Trey Burke FD $5,900 DS 12,218-
I liked Burke a lot more when Gordon Hayward wasn't around, but still think this is a good enough matchup and price to warrant a pick. Sacramento is no great shakes against point guards, trending a little better of late, but pretty bad on the season. Like I said, Burke's production got a big bump when Hayward went down, but I still like the matchup here enough put him in some lineups.

DJ Augustin FD $6,500 DS 13,925-
Sometimes a change of scenery works. That and having all other available, warm bodied PGs get hurt around you. Augustin's production has been a perfect mix of circumstance and skill. He's playing out of his mind and getting insane minutes because the Bulls have no one else who can dribble. Tonight they get Minnesota. Rubio will get steals but he isn't a good on the ball defender. Augustin is a great play again.

Isaiah Thomas FD $8,400 DS 15,999-
A slightly better deal on DS but in play on FD as well, Thomas gets an even bigger bump if Gay can't play again. But even if Rudy is back, Isaiah faces the Jazz who are about league average defending the position. This rec is more about pricing and production than the opponent. Thomas can be a heavy volume guy and that translates to points in the right scenario. At the very least Boogie is sitting which will get Thomas more shots.

Shooting Guard

Across the board value coming from this position today.

Kyle Korver FD $6,100 DS $9,549-
Fantastic prices on both sites for today and that is even accounting for the possible blowout. Honestly though, the Thunder are a completely different team without Westbrook. Starting Jackson limits their second unit's ability to help them pull away. That's a little dimestore analysis for ya. Our system likes a lot of Hawks today, but it likes Korver the most. He adds more than just the three to his stat line and Korver can pay this price going away.

Jimmy Butler - FD $6,100 DS $11,672 -
Butler is on here because our system is giving him a major bump because of opponent. Minnesota can't defend shooting guards even a little bit. They get torched by the position. His shot hasn't been falling with any consistency lately, but the good news is the minutes are there. Also his last three games have been against teams who were average or above defending shooting guards. Butler, if he finds the range, could help you win a tournament.

Gordon Hayward - FD $7,800 DS $14,510 -
Hayward has played big minutes the last two games which makes me less concerned with any nagging injury problems. He is especially a deal on DraftStreet against the Kings who really get lit up in the scoring department against opposing shooting guards. I feel like his a relatively safe play at these prices because of the talent and matchup.

DraftStreet Value

Jamal Crawford - FD $12,810-
Price remains in that mid-tier. This is less about his last game but more about his overall production and the chance the Milwaukee gets railroaded giving Jamal some garbage time run at the end. I like his upside even if that isn't the case, but he could really pay the day in the right scenario.

Small Forwards

Not too many solid options here tonight.
Kevin Durant - FD $12,400 DS $23,867-
Until he gets like hit by a bus or something, I'm going to recommend KD pretty much every time he plays. He is on some other planet right now with Westbrook out. It's insane really, to the point that I'm wondering what price we can't pick him. I mean, in four of his last five games he's paid these prices and then some. That's out of hand. The problem on a light night, without a variety of punting prospects, getting the money in is tough. If you can do it comfortably, do not fade.

PJ Tucker - FD $5,100 DS $10,150-
You might remembered yesterday when we gave you PJ Tucker as a strong play and he obliged with a 13/10/6 line as a low percentage start. Boom. Tonight he gets Philly. So, there's that.

Evan Turner FD $6,700 DS $12,796-
I'm putting him on here more out of need than want. Because there are so few options today, if you can't afford KD you need to play someone. Turner is a viable option, I guess. He's the next highest SF in our system.

FanDuel Value

Rudy Gay FD $7,500-
Never like picking a guy coming back from injury. But again, there is a small forward problem tonight. If he is for sure playing, then I think you can risk it and play him at this price. Oof.

Power Forward

Every forward on the Suns. This is a copout for sure, but honestly our system has Channing Frye, Miles Plumlee, Markieff Morris (and even Marcus Morris, but I wouldn't) grouped right together with subtle differences depending on whether its recent performance or season average. I think you can kind of pick and choose between them, or even hedge a bit (at least on FanDuel) by mixing and matching. Against the Sixer they are all quality options. It's just so hard to know who will have the big night.

Derrick Favors - FD $6,700 DS $13,178-
Needs to play his minutes. And needs the right opponent. And when those two contingencies meet, Favors makes a great play. That is the case tonight. Sacramento is trending in the wrong direction against power forwards greenlighting Favors for a nice line. Like I said, his minutes can fluctuate, and there's been some nagging injury stuff but he should get into lineups tonight.

Blake Griffin - FD $10,100 DS $18,565-
A great price on DraftStreet (he's the top PF option over there, though since they don't make the distinction I like Hayward and Durant a bit more for the $), Blake might reduce the Bucks' interior to small crying children before it's all said and done (DeAndre will help). The Bucks have been getting murdered by opposing big men. Literally.

Carlos Boozer - FD $6,200 DS $11,409-
As you can see, there's a decent drop off after the first three sets of picks (even if one set was essentially picking the whole team). Boozer can go stretches in games in which he looks like he'll be a stud every night. And then he disappears. Sometimes it comes together for a whole game, but rarely. His matchup against Minnesota isn't even choice, but the prices are in range for a possible play. Though I'd stick to getting Blake and a Sun-bro in the lineup.

Center

Only two options here tonight to consider because I think you want to steer clear of Joakim Noah and Nikola Pekovic battling each other.

DeAndre Jordan FD $7,500 DS $16,509-
Has anyone ever killed a person by grabbing a rebound out of the air and smacking the ball so hard that it explodes in the face of the opposing center and that center dies from the shock? That could happen tonight with DeAndre and like Larry Sanders or whoever the Bucks have out there.

Spencer Hawes FD $6,900 DS $14,712 -
I like Deandre better (but so will everyone else presumably). If you want to go a little contrarian without too much of a dropoff in dollar to point expectation, Hawes is your man. His production fluctuates a great deal more than Jordan's, making him a tournament play. But this is a decent matchup in what should be a high scoring game.