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

LeBron James, SF/PF, Cleveland Cavaliers

DraftKings Salary: $11,300

If you're paying all the way up for a stud on this slate, it's going to be to chase the upside of LeBron James against the Orlando Magic. With so many other appealing studs coming in at $2,000+ discounts, there may not be a need for James in cash games, especially with a double-digit spread in this game.

With the large spread comes a slate-leading implied team total for the Cleveland Cavaliers, though. Cleveland comes into this game favored by 10.5 points and projected to score 119 points -- a 10-point improvement from their season average. The over/under in this one sits at 227.5, which also leads the slate by a fairly wide margin. The game script for this one is important, because James' ceiling has been seemingly limitless in projected shootouts this season. In 14 games with an over/under of 220 or more that finished with a point differential under 20 points, James has averaged 64.7 DraftKings points. So, as long as this game remains competitive, James has a very good chance to post another 60-burger.

The game script isn't the only thing going in James' favor, as he draws a terrific matchup against the Magic. His upside was on full display the last time he faced them, as he dropped 75 DraftKings points. If this game stays close enough that he sees his regular minute limit, that type of upside is not out of the question against an Orlando team ranked seventh in pace, 27th in rebounding rate, and eighth in DraftKings points per game allowed to small forwards.

In four of LeBron's last 10 games, he's gone for fewer than 40 DraftKings points, so the floor is scary for a player with such a heft price tag. That type of production from an $11,000+ player almost automatically sinks your lineup. But his upside is limitless in this matchup, so make sure you have at least one tournament lineup with James in it.