3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 1/23/18

Kyrie Irving, PG, Boston Celtics

DraftKings Salary: $8,900

Kyrie Irving also heads into tonight with an elevated price tag, but is still likely to be a very popular play against the Los Angeles Lakers. He's coming off a 60-burger on DraftKings, and this matchup is almost as juicy as Sunday's against the Orlando Magic. Los Angeles' league-leading pace of play has led to some huge fantasy totals for opponents -- they have allowed the fourth-most points per game and eighth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing point guards.

Irving has one of the highest floors on the entire slate, which makes him an appealing cash-game option in what should be a competitive game against the Lakers. The fact that you are almost guaranteed 30-plus minutes of Irving in a great spot makes his price tag a lot easier to stomach in cash formats. In tournaments, it is worth questioning Irving's ceiling, though. He needs 44.5 DraftKings points to hit five-times value, which he has accomplished in just two of his past 10 games. Irving has hit six-times value at this price tag twice in 44 games. He's far less to post a dud than the other point guards tonight, but he's also less likely to crush value.

If you'd prefer to chase higher variance point guards and fade a chalky Irving, it would make sense from a game theory perspective. He's a viable play in either format, just don't assume he's a lock-and-load type of play in tournaments.