FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 1/15/23

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.

Guards

James Harden ($10,600): Philadelphia's guard has been in stellar form since his return in December, producing 1.32 FanDuel points, 0.16 rebounds, and 0.31 assists per minute while his FanDuel salary has jumped by 17.7% during this time period.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,200): In a matchup versus a Brooklyn Nets' team ranked ninth in defensive rating and points allowed in the paint, Oklahoma City's emerging star is second among guards with 49.1 expected FanDuel points at his second highest salary point during January. In 211.3 minutes this month, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 1.44 FanDuel points, 0.14 rebounds, and 0.14 assists per minute and a 29.9% usage rate.

Kyrie Irving ($9,300): Brooklyn's guard sees a 0.14 boost to 1.27 FanDuel points per minute in 333.5 minutes this season with Kevin Durant off the floor. Even at his highest salary during January, Irving is ranked first among his positions in value with a 5.12 rating and a 47.6 fantasy projection.

Damian Lillard ($9,200): Despite averaging 36.5 real-life points and 52.5 FanDuel points in his last four games, Lillard's FanDuel salary has only moved up 3.3%. In a matchup versus a Dallas Mavericks' team rated 19th in opposing true shooting percentage, "Dame Dolla" is ranked fourth among guards with 45.4 expected FanDuel points

De'Aaron Fox ($8,500): At his lowest salary this month, Fox is third among guards in value with a 4.96 rating and a 42.1 FanDuel point expectation versus a San Antonio Spurs' unit ranked last in defensive rating and 27th in fantasy production allowed to his position. In their previous encounter this season, the 25-year old accounted for 28 real-life points and 46.6 fantasy points at a salary point 12.9% higher than tonight's.

Russell Westbrook ($8,300): Since January 4th, the Lakers' veteran has been in stellar form, scoring at least 18 real-life points per game while also accounting for 1.37 FanDuel points per minute. In 215.1 minutes with today's current injuries, Westbrook is averaging 1.30 FanDuel points, 0.22 rebounds, and 0.22 assists per minute.

Josh Giddey ($7,700): The Thunder's second-year guard has been an underrated option even at his highest salary point this season, accounting for 1.20 FanDuel points, 0.25 rebounds, and 0.19 assists per minute since December 21st.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6,700): If Luka Doncic is inactive for the second half of their back-to-back, Dinwiddie's production per minute increases by 0.25 to 1.12 FanDuel points with a 28.1% usage rate.

Dennis Schroder ($5,700): Since December 28th, Schroder has averaged 36.2 minutes per game while producing 0.80 FanDuel points and 0.49 real-life points per minute and a 19.5% usage rate.

Luguentz Dort ($5,500): After a 5.1% salary decrease, Dort grades as an optimal mid-salary option with a 4.72 value rating and a 26.0 fantasy projection versus a Nets' team ranked 22nd in opposing three point percentage.

Forwards

LeBron James ($11,000): At his second lowest salary in January, "King James" is numberFire's top forward with 52.3 expected FanDuel points against a Philadelphia 76ers' team ranked fourth in defensive rating. In 227.3 minutes with Sunday's current injuries, Los Angeles' superstar has accounted for 1.44 FanDuel points per minute and a 36.1% usage rate.

Domantas Sabonis ($10,300): After a monster 71.0 fantasy performance, Sabonis' FanDuel salary has increased 3% to his highest salary this month against a Spurs' defense ranked last in points allowed per game in the paint and opposing true shooting percentage. Since his return from a thumb injury, the 26-year old is averaging 1.37 FanDuel points, 0.35 rebounds, and 0.22 assists per minute.

Paolo Banchero ($7,800): In an underrated spot versus a Denver Nuggets unit ranked 18th (44.8) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position, Banchero's FanDuel salary stands at his lowest point during January. Orlando's rookie is producing 1.18 FanDuel points, 0.22 rebounds, and 0.11 assists per minute this month.

Jerami Grant ($7,000): The Trail Blazers' power forward is fifth among his position in value with a 4.86 rating and a 34.0 fantasy projection at his lowest salary in the past month. Grant is averaging 31.5 FanDuel points and 20.0 real-life points in three previous meetings versus Dallas despite leaving one game early with back spasms.

Keldon Johnson ($6,800): At his second lowest salary since December, Johnson is ranked fourth overall in value with a 5.09 rating and a 34.6 fantasy projection against a Kings team giving up the most FanDuel points (45.0) to his position.

Royce O'Neale ($5,700): Despite a 9.8% salary spike, Brooklyn's veteran is fourth among forwards in value with a 4.91 rating and a 27.5 FanDuel point expectation while averaging 0.72 FanDuel points per minute with Durant off the floor.

T.J. Warren ($5,200): Even in a bench role, Warren is Sunday's top value option with a 5.42 rating and a 28.2 fantasy projection versus a Thunder team ranked 23rd in points allowed in the paint and 15th in opposing true percentage.

Dwight Powell ($3,800): If Christian Wood is ruled out versus a Trail Blazers' defense ranked 27th in FanDuel points (55.4) allowed per game to his position, Powell should see an increased role in Sunday's rematch. The Mavericks' big man sees his fantasy output boosted by 0.05 to 0.80 FanDuel points per minute with Wood off the floor.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($11,600): After a one game absence for injury management reasons, "The Joker" will challenge a Magic team allowing centers to score 21.6 real-life points and 52.5 FanDuel points per game. Denver's superstar is second overall in value with a 5.16 rating and a 59.8 FanDuel point expectation despite standing at his second highest salary this month.

Joel Embiid ($11,400): Philadelphia's star center has seen a 1.7% salary drop in his last three games to his lowest point this month while averaging 1.65 FanDuel points, 1.10 real-life points, and 0.32 rebounds per minute.

Jakob Poeltl ($6,700): Despite logging 26.0 minutes per game during January, Poeltl has provided efficient production with limited playing time, recording 1.30 FanDuel points, 0.41 rebounds, and 0.11 assists per minute.

Thomas Bryant ($6,500): In 227.5 minutes with Sunday's projected rotation, the Lakers' center sees a 0.05 increase to 1.25 FanDuel points per minute with a 20.8% usage rate.