Daily Fantasy NBA Basketball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 1/26/18

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Point guard

Chris Paul FD - $9600 DK - $9300
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 48.93 DK - 50.97

Welcome to NBA Friday! After a sluggish 4-game Thursday slate, we have 10 games on our hands tonight. There are plenty of games to decipher through and none of which we can just throw away with low totals. We’re going to start in New Orleans, where the Pelicans will host Houston in what should be a competitive and high-scoring game. As of Thursday night, Vegas has it slated at a 229 over/under with just a 3.5 point spread. It’s the highest on the night and a game we’ll be all over. Chris Paul has been tremendous on the Rockets all year long and is sitting over 40 fantasy points in just about every single game. He’s one of the most consistent players in the league, but is still getting over 50 far too often at the price tag. He faces off against his former Pelicans squad and while he’s been away for plenty of years, you have to think there’s still some juice. On the season, the Pelicans rank 29th against point guards. Rondo is a bad defender and the Pelicans are one of the worst rim protecting defenses in all of the league. James Harden is obviously going to take some shots from CP3, but you can lock in 40+ with the upside for 70 if the game stays close. A 229 over/under is something you need to pay attention to. Paul is elite in all formats.

Eric Bledsoe FD - $7600 DK - $7500
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 37.72 DK - 37.97

The Bucks have been without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the past couple games, and Eric Bledsoe has taken full advantage. Antetokounmpo is looking to return tonight, but is still officially questionable. We're going to assume he plays, but just know that Bledsoe is close to a must if Giannis ends up sitting for one reason or another. They are still facing the Brooklyn Nets and there will be a lot of FP up for grabs. Bledsoe saw just a 2% usage increase with Antetokounmpo out of the lineup, so he's still remotely the same player. We know the Nets play absolutely no defense and rank dead last against PG's. Not only is Spencer Dinwiddie a terrible defender, but he also has less help behind him than anyone else in the league. You combine that with the speed and athleticism of Bledsoe and I can't see the Nets containing him. He is obviously the 2nd or 3rd option on the team, but the Bucks will likely put up 110 and there will be FP up for grabs. Bledsoe has been seeing the floor for 30+ minutes in most games and has gotten up to 35 in close ones. His price is still affordable on both sites and makes sense in an ideal match-up in all formats.

Darren Collison FD - $5400 DK - $6000
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 27.31 DK - 27.66

If you're looking for a guy in the mid-range, Darren Collison is an amazing option in all formats. He missed last game due to personal reasons, but will be right back in there for his usual 30+ tonight. His price is far too low on both sites and he'll only need to get you in the mid-20's in cash games. He gets there just about every night and will often be over 30. He's held a 20% usage on the season and has been shooting a lot more as of late. Tonight, he matches up with the Cavs and Isaiah Thomas. If you've been watching these recent Cavs games, Collison has already been plugged into your lineup. IT2 is a terrible defender and doesn't have any help behind him. They play fast and have been one of the 3 worst defensive teams in the league as of late. Collison is fairly priced on all sites and makes for a strong play in all formats. He will not be the guy who hurts you.

Shooting Guard

Devin Booker FD - $8000 DK - $8400
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 39.71 DK - 41.4

We'll open up shooting guard with a guy that's finally back in his groove after returning from injury a few weeks ago. He's back to full health and seeing 35+ minutes in every close contest. His price is fair at $8k on both sites and manageable in all formats. He matches up with Courtney Lee and a Knicks squad that ranks 15th against the position. Lee s actually a pretty good perimeter defender, but not nearly good enough to stop Devin Booker. He also has no backup in this game and one of the weaker interiors in all of the game. Booker is the only real scorer on this team and especially if T.J. Warren sits. Vegas hasn't yet dropped a line on this game, but it's safe to assume a 20-218 total and a spread in the single digits. Booker is the only option on this Suns team to put up points and is a great guy to combo with a Greg Monroe and Courtney Lee.

Courtney Lee FD - $5100 DK - $5300
Opponent - PHO
Proj Pts FD - 28.09 DK - 28.02

\We know the Knicks are comfortable playing him huge minutes and the production will flow when the opportunity is there. The Knicks don't have any guards who dictate the ball, so Lee is able to grab a 20% usage without worry. You'll even see him run a few isolations in most games, which Courtney Lee should never be doing. This match-up against the Suns is absolutely ideal and there isn't much to not love. On the season, they rank 28th against shooting guards and play at the league's fastest PACE. Aside from Courtney Lee being a rather lackluster NBA player, the opportunity is guaranteed in a stellar match-up. Lock in 20 fantasy points with the upside for so much more. At just $5k on both sites, he's an elite play in all formats.

Small forward

LeBron James FD - $10900 DK - $11100
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 51.86 DK - 53.1

Here we are again. LeBron sucks and the Cavs have no hope. We've only gone through the same song and dance EVERY SINGLE SEASON for the past decade. While I think it's clear these guys don't have much of a shot at the Warriors, it should also be clear that they will murder this Eastern Conference like always. LeBron hasn't ever played with a guy like Isaiah Thomas and it is going to take a few weeks of getting used to. LeBron is still the same player and we shouldn't be looking at him much differently than usual. He was over 60 fantasy points twice earlier this week and still has his coveted 70 point upside. This match-up against the Pacers is one that LeBron has dominated plenty of times and just put up 60 against them just a week ago. His price is down a bit after his last few games and he needs you just 50 in cash games. Without many other ways to pay up on this slate, LeBron is a tremendous option in all formats.

Kyle Anderson FD - $6300 DK - $5600
Opponent - PHI
Proj Pts FD - 30.19 DK - 28.92

With Kawhi Leonard out, Kyle Anderson is back to his old ways. He's getting some minutes with the ball in his hands and has started taking full advantage. He's been over 35 fantasy points in 3 of the last 4 and it has a lot to do with the added responsibility. The Spurs don't really have a reliable PG, so Anderson stepping in like he has is a huge deal with his athleticism and size. His price is too low for his recent production and this match-up with the Sixers is borderline ideal. On paper, the 76ers are strong against small forwards. However, we'll likely see a mixture of Robert Covington and TLC, who Anderson is much faster or bigger than. His price is still fair on both sites and he'll barely need to get you 25. This game is fully expected to be close and you can count on 25+ out of Kyle Anderson with the real possibility for 40 if the game stays close.

Power forward

Thaddeus Young FD - $6300 DK - $5800
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 31.12 DK - 30.58
Domantas Sabonis FD - $6700 DK - $6300
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 34.3 DK - 36.43

With Myles Turner questionable, we could be looking at 2 of the better values on the day. He's missed the last 2 weeks and we've seen both Sabonis and Young benefit. Sabonis is the better real-life player, but is also just a little more expensive across the board. Assuming Myles Turner is out, we can look at both of these guys once again. Starting with Sabonis, he's a lot more dependent on the status of Turner. If he gets the start, he'll see 30+ minutes against an extremely weak Cavs interior. He's been well over 30 fantasy points in most games and doesn't go under 25 if given the minutes. Thad Young is a bit more interesting. As a guy who is usually very underwhelming, he's been over 35 fantasy points in 3 of the last 4. He is a streaky player and it's nice to see his shot falling with consistency. He now sees a match-up with a Cavs team that ranks 26th against opposing PF's. Assuming Myles Turner is ruled out, both of these guys can be considered in all formats. Sabonis is preferred in cash games and Young has a lot more upside.

LaMarcus Aldridge FD - $9400 DK - $8300
Opponent - PHI
Proj Pts FD - 0 DK - 0

Aldridge was held out of last game due to rest, so no worries on last game against the Grizzlies. With Kawhi Leonard out for a while, Aldridge has been absolutely dominant. He’s been at 37+ minutes for 4 straight games and has been at 45+ fantasy points in 4 of the last 5. He’s looking like classic LaMarcus Aldridge with the ball in his hands every possession and is locked in over 40 FP. The match-up against the 76ers is tremendous with guys like Dario Saric and Amir Johnson on him. They rank 24th against power forwards on the season and have been trending downwards since the new year. Aldridge is an absolute stud when getting the ball this often as you can lock in 15-20 shots. He’s expensive, but worth a look in all formats if you have the funds at PF.

Center

Greg Monroe FD - $4700 DK - $5700
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 25.89 DK - 25.9

Greg Monroe has been at 29 and 30 minutes over the last 2 games and put up FP totals of 35 and 40. He’s been playing exceptionally well since returning to the lineup and you have to think he’ll stay in the lineup for at least 25+. He’s always been well over an FP per minute and it just comes down to whether or not he gets the minutes. Tonight, he’ll have no trouble against a brutal Knicks interior. Enes Kanter is a brutal defender and it’s why the Knicks rank 20th against centers. Porzingis and Hernangomez are little better defenders, but nothing at all to be afraid of. Especially with a guy like Greg Monroe that can spread it out so evenly. Make sure Len remains out and plug Monroe into your cash games. Monroe is a lock in all formats if given the minutes.

Kevin Love FD - $7100 DK - $7300
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 37.51 DK - 40.54

A lot of the talks around this Cavs team have to do with Kevin Love, which obviously isn't fair. He's probably the guy who wants his name in the mix the least, and has played perfectly fine, but just doesn't get the respect. You have to think these Cavs are going to start meshing soon and it's going to start with Kevin Love. He's the way the Cavs are able to spread the floor without having both Kyle Korver and Channing Frye in. Vegas is putting this game a 222 total with the Cavs favored by 6, telling us it should be high-scoring and competitive. Love has been seeing inconsistent minutes as of late, but has gotten over 32 plenty of times. Monroe is obviously the safest option at the position, but Love has plenty of upside and the price is perfectly fair. Good luck tonight and feel free to comment below if you have any questions.

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