DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Thursday 1/20

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Point Guard

Luka Doncic FD - $10900 DK - $10400
Opponent - PHO
Proj Pts FD - 49.75 DK - 54.87

We have a much smaller three-game slate on Thursday and with the return of Klay Thompson in Golden State, which limits the usage for Curry, the top payup is an easy decision for me tonight. I know it's a smaller slate but love seeing the price on Doncic trending down, especially on DraftKings where it's at a season-low. The matchup isn't great as the Suns rank 2nd in defensive efficiency but I am not worried as Luka has been scorching hot coming off his best performance of the season(72.5 DK/67.3 FD) and is nearly averaging a triple-double(23.9 pts, 10.7 rebs, 9.3 ast) and 55.5 DK/46.5 FD points per game in the month of January. I will have exposure to Luka in all formats.

Malcolm Brogdon FD - $6600 DK - $7400
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 34.46 DK - 37.69

Brogdon returned from injury last night and while he was limited to 26 minutes, he put up a solid line with 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists for 34 fantasy points. I am speculating a bit here but would expect him, even on a back-to-back, to get closer to his full run tonight and that is great news as he is coming at a fantastic price point on both sites. Like Luka, he also draws a tough matchup as the Warriors are the top defensive team but we have a very small slate and limited options so I am taking a shot with the excellent PTS/$ value in all formats.

Shooting Guard

Devin Booker FD - $9000 DK - $8300
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 40.57 DK - 44.73

This feels a bit like chasing as he is coming off a monster 48-point performance but it's hard to ignore the price, especially on DraftKings, this smaller slate. What I like here is that it hasn't been just one game for Booker as he has now dropped 30+ points in three straight and isn't just shooting reliant averaging 4.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game on the season. I am not expecting another monster usage game where he takes 33 shots but the good news is he provides a high floor and has taken 15 or more shots in 14 of his last 15 games and has taken 20+ in eight of those. Fire up Booker in all formats.

Klay Thompson FD - $6500 DK - $5300
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 24.31 DK - 27.44

It is abundantly clear, in his return after two years, how much Klay means to not only the Warriors as a team but as a franchise and fanbase. I get he has been on a minutes limit but even playing in the low 20's he has averaged 25 DK points per game which is a terrific floor from a player in the low $5K range. It is very speculative at this point of the day as we are not sure if the Warriors will give him a longer leash but if he gets to 24 or more minutes, the DK price is a buy-low and won't be in this territory much longer.

Small Forward

Brandon Ingram FD - $8200 DK - $8000
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 39.92 DK - 43.65
Josh Hart FD - $6500 DK - $6300
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 32.38 DK - 35.29

The theme of this article appears to be buy-low value as so many players have seen their prices trend down since mid to late December. Ingram is another one of them and it is a bit perplexing considering he has averaged 18.5 shots, 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 40.8 DK/39.3 Fd points per game since the start of January. Like Ingram, Hart has been a rock in terms of hitting his floor for cash games as he is averaging 34.4 DK/29.1 FD points per game during January and it comes down to contributions across multiple categories as he is averaging 8.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists in that time. The matchup may not jump off the page as the Knicks are 13th in defensive efficiency but they have given up an average of 106 points per game over the last three. All things considered, both Ingram and Hart are in play for me in all formats on both sits.

Also Consider: Justin Holiday(IND) as a cheap flyer who has taken double-digit shots in four straight

Power Forward/Center

Julius Randle FD - $8700 DK - $9100
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 41.67 DK - 46.04

To say Randle's relationship with the fans in New York is shaky would be a massive understatement and to be honest, giving them the finger kind of warrants it. The good news is that it hasn't really affected his performance on the court, at least from a fantasy perspective as he is averaging over 40 fantasy points on both sites since the start of the month. This game does have a low total but beggars can't be choosers on a three-game slate so I will be locking Randle's consistent floor into my lineups on both sites.

Kevon Looney FD - $4900 DK - $4500
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 23.38 DK - 23.67
Jonathan Kuminga FD - $5900 DK - $4300
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 26.53 DK - 28.51

There really isn't a whole lot of value on this small slate so I will lump these two together as both are projected to start and present value with Draymond Green out of the lineup. Looney doesn't get a lot of minutes and lacks upside but has been productive from a PTS/$ floor perspective with Green out averaging around 25 fantasy points per game. If you need salary relief at the center position in cash games, this is where I am turning.

As for Kuminga, he entered the starting lineup on Tuesday and despite playing just 25 minutes against the Pistons, tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He is projected to start again tonight and both he and Looney get a bit of an upgrade with Sabonis getting hurt last night and unlikely to play this evening.

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