FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Wednesday 1/5/22

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

The Slate and Key Injuries

COVID-19 Protocol Update
Due to the advanced number of players in COVID-19 protocols, I want to provide just a manual list of those players moving forward and then discuss the other injury news separately. Only players that significantly impact the slate are listed:

The COVID list may be shorter than in quite some time, but real injuries are the headline of this slate.

The most perilous situation appears to be in Denver. The Jazz added most of their rotation to the injury report, but the four notable players questionable are Rudy Gobert (shoulder), Royce O'Neale (knee), Hassan Whiteside (concussion), and Bojan Bogdanovic (finger). Joe Ingles is in COVID-19 protocols as well. The Nuggets are playing extremely poorly at the moment, so the Jazz may sense this as an opportunity for maintenance.

Miami and Portland will square off without their two best players; both Jimmy Butler (ankle) and Damian Lillard (abdomen) have already been ruled out for the game.

Trae Young was the explosive star on Monday's slate, but he apparently picked up a back issue that has him questionable for Atlanta's late-night meeting with Sacramento. Cam Reddish is also questionable with his ankle issue.

The Orlando Magic could welcome back Cole Anthony with open arms tonight. He has been upgraded to questionable with his long-term ankle injury.

Indiana has plenty of players in COVID-19 protocols, but they'll also be without Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb -- both of whom are working on conditioning. Torrey Craig (groin) is also unlikely to play tonight. On the other side, Brooklyn may once again be without LaMarcus Aldridge due to a foot injury.

Finally, Luguentz Dort will miss a second straight game for Oklahoma City with a knee issue.

Guards

Luka Doncic ($10,000): With Kristaps Porzingis in COVID protocols on Monday, Doncic occupied a 35.2% usage rate that he turned into a scorching 1.83 FanDuel points per minute. With just a six-point spread in a massive pace-up spot with Golden State, there's no reason Doncic can't do it again. As mentioned, Trae Young is questionable, and personally, with the late-night lock, Doncic is as solid an option, which justifies ignoring Young's lofty salary that carries a great deal of risk.

Anfernee Simons ($5,500): This salary figure is a massive bump following his 43-point game on Monday against the poor Atlanta defense, but it's more than fair. Simons carried a 29.8% usage rate -- second on the team to Jusuf Nurkic. He's likely popular with dual-guard eligibility, and Miami is a tough matchup, but it's hard to deny the potential of 30 real-life points at this salary. Dame Lillard said himself Simons is a future star, and we got the first taste of it in his last game.

Duane Washington Jr. ($4,100): The Pacers' backcourt will rightfully be popular with no adjustments in salary from Tuesday. From a game theory perspective, I still prefer Washington to Keifer Sykes, who will garner higher popularity after his massive performance last night. Washington still tied Sykes for the team lead in shots (16), and Washington's team-high 28.2% usage rate on Tuesday surpassed even Domantas Sabonis. Both are worthy of heavy exposure as top-shelf value plays.

Others to Consider:
Bradley Beal ($9,900): He's back. 32.5% usage rate since December 15th. A phenomenal matchup with Houston.
Donovan Mitchell ($8,600): One of the few Jazz players not in doubt to play. Already a solid floor; at least 44 FanDuel points in five straight.
Cade Cunningham ($7,500): 228.5-point total between the Pistons and Hornets. Team-best 27.8% usage rate in December to access it.
Keifer Sykes ($3,700): Monster game last night will just boost popularity, but plenty of usage in the offense to expect an encore.

Wings

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600): As 7.5-point home favorites, this isn't my favorite Giannis spot ever, but there's just a gaping hole at the high-end of wing with Kyrie Irving's return knocking Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum's return on a minutes limit dings both he and Jaylen Brown. A blowout on December 28th was the only thing that has kept Antetokounmpo under 53 FanDuel points since returning from COVID-19 protocols, so he's a safe bet for some points if the Raptors keep pace.

(Editor's Note: Antetokounmpo was ruled out on Wednesday after publishing of this article due to an illness.)

Tyler Herro ($6,500): The Heat are woefully undermanned in both bodies and talent, so Herro and Kyle Lowry will likely have to do a bulk of the heavy lifting with Butler and Bam Adebayo on the shelf. Herro actually led the Heat with a 30.6% usage rate in December amongst all of these injuries and ailments, but he has shot just 39.7% from the field since December 1st. He has known 30-point upside, though, and Portland's league-worst 114.8 defensive rating could help his shot quality on Wednesday.

Gary Trent Jr. ($5,100): The Raptors are back at full force, and that's left Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam insanely over-salaried, and Trent, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes all criminally under-salaried considering all three eclipsed value in a blowout on Tuesday at higher marks. They'll be popular on this slate, but it's a no-brainer to mix and match Toronto wings as the salaries return to the more normal five-way split we've seen most of the season. All three are well-projected by numberFire as a result.

Others to Consider:
OG Anunoby ($6,400): Likely the least popular option of Toronto with the same salary as Tuesday. A key tidbit for tournaments.
Scottie Barnes ($6,300): Definitely the safest floor of the three Raptors considering his ability to contribute in all columns.
Caleb Martin ($5,300): Doesn't need a ceiling game to pay off this salary. Hit at least 34 FanDuel points in his last two for the shorthanded Heat.
Deni Avdija ($5,200): Avdija started and played 40 minutes on Monday. No salary adjustment. Solid 227.0-point total, too.

Bigs

Joel Embiid ($10,800): The Embiid vs. Nikola Jokic game continues (I swear, these two always play on the same day), but I'll give the slight nod to Embiid's matchup here. Orlando is bottom-10 in the league in rebounds allowed, offensive rebounds allowed, and second-chance points, and Utah is top-10 in those same metrics against Jokic. Still, the two are comfortable the safest way to spend salary on the slate without sacrificing upside, and I'm inclined to do it even with Jusuf Nurkic lurking at the pivot.

Bobby Portis ($5,700): Portis returned to a 30-minute role on Monday -- more than enough to justify the low salary in this spot. Averaging 1.15 FanDuel points per minute this season, there's a lot of room for error in terms of Portis still paying off, and both he and Giannis should benefit from Toronto giving up the third-most second-chance points per game (15.1) in the NBA. There are a half-dozen quality game stacks on this slate with totals in the 220s, but this one stands out in raw value.

Trey Lyles ($4,800): The wing has been thrust into that role for Detroit so long as Isaiah Stewart sits in COVID-19 protocols, but Stewart's status is unknown for Wednesday. Assuming he remains out, Lyles is not a glamorous value play, but he's forward-eligible to still allow access to Jokic and Embiid, and we saw a 51.6-FanDuel-point eruption two games ago in this same role. With the minutes and conditioning confirmed okay in his first start back from protocols, he gets the green light.

Others to Consider:
Nikola Jokic ($11,400): Tremendous option that would get even better if Rudy Gobert's stingy defense were to sit out the contest.
Christian Wood ($7,200): Minutes are a wild question mark after the suspension and locker-room incident, but this salary is also low.
Jusuf Nurkic ($6,000): He's a great value play likely primed for 30-plus minutes, but I'd rather have a Toronto guy and Embiid than he and Giannis in one lineup.
Marvin Bagley III ($4,600): Minutes are not stable, but he's starting in a game with a 230.5-point total. Averaging 0.96 FanDuel points per minute since December 1st, so a slam dunk if he sees 30-plus.