FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 1/22/22
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 NBA is very reliant on 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, and we also have player news updates. The projected numbers referenced below may change throughout the day.
We'll be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.
Guards
Darius Garland, PG/SG, (FanDuel Salary: $8,600) - This is a weird three-game slate, and there's blowout risk everywhere as all three games hold a spread of at least double-digits. We're hurting for high-upside plays as Garland -- at a projection of 38.3 FanDuel points -- is one of just six guys who we project for more than 38.0 FanDuel points. He is taking on an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that allows the second-most FanDuel points per game to point guards (46.7). Garland has put up at least 40.0 FanDuel points in five straight, with outputs of 61.0 and 53.8 in that time. He's carried a 26.9% usage rate over that five-game spell.
De'Aaron Fox, PG, $8,300 - We have some quality high-salary guards at our disposal, and while you could turn to Devin Booker ($9,200) or use Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9,000) in a game stack with Garland, I'm into Fox. The Sacramento Kings go up against the Milwaukee Bucks in the game with the tightest spread (albeit it's still 10.0 points) and highest total (233.0). That over/under is 13.5 points more than any other game's. This is the DFS game of the night, and our model has Fox producing 40.1 FanDuel points. That projection will rise if Tyrese Haliburton ($7,700) can't go.
Others to Consider: Devin Booker ($9,200), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($9,000), Jrue Holiday ($7,900), Josh Giddey ($6,100), Cameron Payne ($4,100)
Wings
Khris Middleton, SG/SF, $8,700 - Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful, which takes away the guy who was gonna be the clear-cut top play on the slate. Yay. As a result, Middleton becomes super appealing. With Giannis off the court this season, Middleton owns a 33.1% usage rate and posts 1.24 FanDuel points per minute, according to RotoGrinders CourtIQ. In a great spot versus the Kings, Middleton is a stellar play.
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, $8,000 - Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis are out for the Indiana Pacers, and Malcolm Brogdon ($6,600) is questionable. Even if Brogdon suits up, LeVert is a nice play. If Brogdon sits, LeVert will likely handle a lot of usage. As of Saturday afternoon, our model accounts for Brogdon playing and still projects LeVert for 38.9 FanDuel points despite a tough matchup with the Phoenix Suns.
Others to Consider: Luguentz Dort ($5,400), Kevin Love ($5,400), Jordan Nwora ($3,700)
Bigs
Bobby Portis, PF/C, $6,300 - Portis and Evan Mobley ($6,600) project as really good point-per-dollar plays. I plan on having plenty of both, but the Giannis news gives Portis the edge. With Giannis off the court, Portis holds a 25.4% usage rate and scores 1.22 FanDuel points per minute. He's projected for 36.5 FanDuel points (5.79 per $1,000).
JaVale McGee, C, $4,400 - Deandre Ayton is sitting once more, so McGee projects as an elite value option. The problem is he's flopped in two straight games sans Ayton, generating 18.6 and 10.8 FanDuel points the last two times out while seeing just 17 and 23 minutes. But we have him scoring 32.3 FanDuel points tonight versus an Indiana team that is without its best bigs. That comes out to a whopping 7.34 points per $1,000.
Others to Consider: Evan Mobley ($6,600), Goga Bitadze ($6,000)
