3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 1/9/18

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

DraftKings Salary: $11,500

There is no excuse for fading Russell Westbrook in cash games tonight. With Kyle Lowry and Damian Lillard both out, there is value galore on this slate, which makes it quite easy to pay up.

With the next-most-expensive option coming in nearly $3,000 cheaper than Westbrook, he has the clear top projected raw point total on the slate. There could be merit to fading Westbrook in tournaments -- instead filling your guard spots with value plays and paying up for Paul George ($7,800). But in cash games, your lineups may be dead in the water if Russ puts up another 60-spot, because it is going to be very difficult to get that production anywhere else on this slate.

While his price may seem excessive due to the difference between him and the next-highest-priced player, Westbrook needs just 57.5 DraftKings points to hit value -- 5 points per every $1,000 in salary. He has topped that number in eight of his past nine games -- a stretch during which he has averaged a ridiculous 64.2 DraftKings points.

In a head-to-head matchup against an undersized and offensive-minded Shabazz Napier, Westbrook should be able to get whatever he wants. The Portland Trail Blazers have a strong defensive unit as a whole, but Napier is a clear weak spot in that unit. Give Westbrook a long look in any format on this four-game slate.