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

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

DraftKings Salary: $11,700

Russell Westbrook may seem a bit overpriced as the most expensive player on the slate, but with the way he has been playing recently, his price actually might not be high enough. Westbrook needs 58.5 DraftKings points to reach five-times his salary-implied value at this price, which he has accomplished in 8 of his past 10 games. He has averaged 65 DraftKings points during that time, and has displayed a ceiling of 70-plus DraftKings points on three separate occasions.

Tonight he'll face a Los Angeles Lakers squad that has nobody to match up with him individually and has no answer for him at the rim. No team has allowed more points from within five feet of the rim than the Lakers, which is great news for Westbrook, who ranks fifth in the league in shot attempts from that range. Westbrook's ceiling in this matchup was on full display last season, as he averaged 72.75 DraftKings points in three meetings with Los Angeles. It probably isn't fair to expect that sort of production, but it's never out of reach for Westbrook. He is an awesome play in any format, and is easily the top stud on the slate.