NBA

3 NBA DraftKings Value Plays to Target on 1/15/21

A major key to success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays. If you're looking to roster a stud or two, you need to consider squeezing one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at three players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup on DraftKings tonight.

Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Dallas Mavericks

DraftKings Salary: $4,500

The Dallas Mavericks continue to be down a number of bodies as a result of either positive tests or health and safety protocols. Among them are big men Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber, who are without timetables to return and could miss as much as 14 days, according to reports. For as long as they're out, Willie Cauley-Stein will play an even bigger role from his starting spot.

In Wednesday's win over Charlotte, Cauley-Stein knocked down only two shots, but he contributed elsewhere, chipping in 14 boards to go with 3 blocks, 2 assists and a steal. He totaled 31.5 DraftKings points, but maybe the biggest takeaway is his 30 minutes of playing time. It marked a season high for WCS, whose situation has not changed over the last 48 hours.

As if he needed any more appeal, an up-tempo matchup with Milwaukee will do it. The Bucks are seventh in defensive efficiency, according to NBA.com, yet they rank 17 spots ahead of the Mavs in pace as well as in the middle of the pack against opposing centers.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans

DraftKings Salary: $4,400

Nickeil Alexander-Walker turned a lot of heads in his Wednesday night breakout for the New Orleans Pelicans. Drawing the start in place of Eric Bledsoe, the 22-year-old took 23 shots toward a 37-point night. His peripheral numbers gave him 52.5 DK points in 33 minutes of work, and he used a sky-high 34.2% of his team's offensive possessions.

Things haven't changed for the Pels. Bledsoe is questionable, and Lonzo Ball is already out for Friday night, leaving an opportunity for NAW to show out once again. But whether Bledsoe is in or out shouldn't dictate his minutes. He clearly showed that he should get more minutes off the New Orleans bench.

A clash with LeBron James and the first-ranked Los Angeles Lakers' defense is on tap, but Alexander-Walker didn't shy away from torching the Clippers' D. NAW will likely be popular tonight, but he's easy to like at this salary.

Grant Williams, SF/PF, Boston Celtics

DraftKings Salary: $3,500

As with Dallas, Boston is also dealing with absences related to COVID. Jayson Tatum tested positive for the virus, so he will remain sidelined for a 10- to 14-day period, while Robert Williams -- who also tested positive -- is set to miss another game or two as he rounds out his quarantine. And though Tristan Thompson will return, there are opportunities at both forward spots for the Celtics.

Williams has proven that he can play the three or the four and produce when given the chance. Over the last two games, he's tallied 24 and 28 minutes and finished with 27.5 and 20.0 DK points. Even 20 points is beyond what he needs (17.5) for a return of five-times value at this salary.

By pace, Orlando and Boston are right next to each other at 19th and 18th, respectively. However, Orlando ranks 11th in pace and 26th in defensive rating on the road, amounting to 116.8 points per game for their opponents. Williams should play a part of that for the undermanned Celtics.



Brett Oswalt i
s not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Brett Oswalt also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username BRO14THEKID. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.