DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Monday 1/18 Main Slate

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Point Guard

Dejounte Murray FD - $10200 DK - $10000
Opponent - PHO
Proj Pts FD - 49.29 DK - 52.08

The Spurs as a whole have been a disaster this season but Murray has broken out in a big way in his fifth season in the league. Almost every single stat has taken a huge jump overall and he has been especially great lately where he has averaged 24.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 9.4 assists good for 55 DK/53.8 FD points per game over his last seven since returning to the lineup. He draws a tough matchup against the Suns tonight but on a five-game slate, this matchup has the 2nd highest total(225) and is expected to stay close(PHO -5). With the projected volume Murrya should continue to get, I am on board in all formats.

Anfernee Simons FD - $7600 DK - $8000
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 40.31 DK - 44.99

This is an interesting one this early in the day as the price has jumped even with CJ McCollum likely returning to action. I am not totally concerned with the latter as McCollum is likely limited in his return being out for nearly two months and the price jump is sort of warranted as Simons has been terrific in the starting lineup. He has averaged 28.8 points and 8.2 assists which are good for 47.8 DK/44.31 FD points per game in those six starts. Against an Orlando team that ranks 24th in defensive efficiency in a game expected to stay close, I will have a ton of exposure to Simons in all formats.

Shooting Guard

Donovan Mitchell FD - $8200 DK - $9000
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 43.45 DK - 46.76

Capping off this full day of basketball on Monday is the game with the highest total(232.5) and full of fantasy targets. For me, it starts with Mitchell who has been a very consistent fantasy producer all season and even better in the short term. At his prices, we are looking for a floor of about 40 FD/45 DK points and Mitchell has provided that in eight of his last 10 games and now gets a plus matchup to continue the trend as the Lakers are 19th in defensive efficiency and run the third-fastest pace in the league. Fire up Mitchell as a cash game core play on Monday night.

Jalen Suggs FD - $5400 DK - $4800
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 23.36 DK - 26.11

I just mentioned this game looks like it should be close throughout and adding to the fantasy goodness(official term TM) is the fact both teams lack defense. Suggs is a bit of a speculative play as he has been limited in both his games since returning from injury but the rookie appears primed to re-join the starting lineup on Monday. Even with a limit, Suggs looked good in those two games dropping 12 of 19 shots(63%) and averaging cash value for fantasy. If confirmed starting, I feel this is a buy-low situation as the price is bound to go up very soon.

Small Forward

Jimmy Butler FD - $9100 DK - $8900
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 41.39 DK - 42.81

After looking good in his return on Friday, Butler looked terrible on Saturday managing just one bucket on 11 shots in 35 minutes. That dud had DraftKings drop his price under $9K and the reason he is entering my article on this smaller, five-game slate. This game is expected to be played at a slower pace as these teams rank 26th and 28th in that area but the Raptors defense is nothing to write home about, especially against forwards and centers who have had their way down low. I don't think we need to force Butler with plenty of other payups on this slate but he could make a very low-owned pivot with upside, especially on DraftKings.

Luguentz Dort FD - $5500 DK - $5300
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 26.19 DK - 29.02

You guessed it? The small forward position is a mess once again but for cash games, I do like Dort for a couple of reasons. It starts with a price that is trending back down into the mid to low $5K range on both sites which leads us to his consistency, at least from a floor perspective, as he is averaging 27 DK/26.1 FD points per game on the season. The risky venture with Dort is the fact he is very shooting dependant but the good news is he is getting volume with double-digit shot attempts in 13 straight games. They will need him tonight to keep this one close with Dallas and if that happens, he should easily pay off his price tag.

Power Forward/Center

LeBron James FD - $11200 DK - $10900
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 57.91 DK - 61.15

Everything seems to be lined up here for Bron to be one of, if not the highest owned player on this smaller, five-game slate. First of all, we have a game with the highest total(232.5) of the entire day between two team that rank 3rd and 13th in pace. Even on DraftKings, where he is center only(silly beyond words), he is a good play as the price has dropped below $11K for the first time since Christmas Day and that alone makes him a near cash lock as he has tallied 50+ DK points in eight of his last 10 and is averaging an insane 61.5 in that time. Even with a poor shooting performance(9 for 23) last time out, he still managed 43 fantasy points. We are going to want a ton of exposure to this game and it starts with LBJ for me on the Lakers side.

Robert Covington FD - $5900 DK - $6400
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 33.01 DK - 33.1

The Trail Blazers are getting healthier with the return of CJ McCollum and possibly Norman Powell but Larry Nance is still out and that once again has me on Robert Covington. He has been terrific in Nance's absence averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 34.5 DK/36.7 FD points per game(six games). He now gets a plus matchup against the Magic who rank 24th in defensive efficiency, 15th in pace, and 24th in rebounding. Lock Covington in your lineups in all formats.

Jae Crowder FD - $5100 DK - $4800
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 26.24 DK - 27.9

Crowder was limited in his return from protocols on the 8th of January but has since been crushing value at these prices. Even in a blowout win on Sunday where he was limited to 23 minutes on the floor, he put up 32 DK points thanks to his work on the glass with his second straight game with 11 rebounds. We project him for a full run tonight in a game with the second-highest total(225) on the slate with two teams that rank Top 6 in pace with the Spurs having a below-average defense.  Fire up Crowder in all formats.

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