3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 1/31/18

LeBron James, SF/PF, Cleveland Cavaliers

DraftKings Salary: $11,100

LeBron James heads into this matchup with the Miami Heat needing 55.5 DraftKings points to hit value. That may seem like a lot given the way he has played lately, but the absence of Kevin Love makes it appear much more realistic. James has a DraftKings points per minute rate of 1.64 without Love on the floor, while his usage rate has jumped from 32.3% to 35.1%.

At an efficiency of 1.64 points per minute, James would need just 34 minutes to reach 55.5 DraftKings points. Even on the second halves of back-to-backs, James has averaged 36.7 minutes, so reaching the 34-minute threshold should be no issue.

He's nearly averaged a triple-double without Love over the last two seasons -- putting up an average line of 27.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 58.5 DraftKings points. One of said games was a monster 30-point, 17-rebound game against Miami last season, a level of production that is definitely within reach tonight.

Our projections like James as not only the top scorer on the slate, but also one of the best values on the board. You'll have to look all the way down the board to Spencer Dinwiddie at a price of $6,200 to find a player with a better value score on DraftKings. Don't let the slower-paced matchup against the Heat scare you off -- James is undoubtedly the top stud on this slate.