NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 1/8/16
If you've never played daily fantasy basketball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every NBA night.
Today's lineups can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the night completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until tip-off, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Oh, and if you're interested, check out our daily fantasy basketball heat chart for today's slate. It's full of information like tonight's Vegas lines, team offensive and defensive efficiency ratings, pace, fantasy points against and so much more.
As for today's picks -- let's get to it.
The Best of the Best
Anthony Davis (FD: $10,400) - The Brow comes into tonight red hot, averaging 28.5 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game over his last two outings. He draws a plus matchup against a Pacers' squad that has allowed the 12th most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards and should be in store for monster game in what should be a very competitive, high-scoring game.
Paul George (FD: $8,800) - The Pelicans have been one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA this season, ranking inside of the bottom three in the league in both Defensive Rating (109.4) and opposing points per game (106.2) while playing at the ninth fastest pace in all of basketball. George, who has topped 30 points in three of his last four outings, should have little trouble taking advantage of the porous New Orleans defense en route to another huge fantasy outing.
Russell Westbrook (FD: $10,800) - Westbrook gets a dream matchup against a Lakers' backcourt that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards in the league in what Vegas expects to be the night's highest scoring affair. The Thunder star, who now finds himself ranked fourth in our player power rankings with a 17.5 nERD, should dominate Los Angeles and has an excellent chance to reach value regardless of whether or not he plays his full workload in what could be a blowout.
Top Mid-Range Values
Nikola Vucevic (FD: $7,400) - Vucevic's playing time and production have been somewhat inconsistent this season, but much of that can be attributed to the Magic being involved in a number of blowouts. Tonight's matchup with the Nets is expected to be a very close game and, given the fact that Brooklyn has allowed the fifth most fantasy points per game to opposing centers on the year, the Magic big man will more-than-likely see his full compliment of minutes and should have an impressive outing against the defensively-challenged Nets.
Victor Oladipo (FD: $6,000) - Oladipo has looked spectacular in the two games that Elfrid Payton has missed with an ankle injury, scoring 19 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.5 steals in 38 minutes per game. With Payton doubtful to suit up tonight, Oladipo immediately becomes dollar for dollar one of the best values on the board against the undersized Shane Larkin and his terrible career 109 Defensive Rating.
Brook Lopez (FD: $8,700) - Last time Lopez matched up against Vucevic and the Magic he poured in 24 points with 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in 39 minutes of action. With Jarrett Jack out for the year, the Nets' star big man will continue to be the focal point of the offense and should have his way with the Magic interior defense once again.
Basement Ballers
Mario Chalmers (FD: $4,900) - Chalmers is coming off of his best game of the season in a fill in start for Mike Conley, dropping 23 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds on the Thunder in a whopping 39 minutes of action on Wednesday night. With Conley and Courtney Lee both considered doubtful for tonight's matchup with the Nuggets, the Grizzlies' veteran point guard should see another massive workload in one of the best matchups on the board against a Nuggets' defense that ranks 27th in the league in Defensive Rating (108.6).
T.J. Warren (FD: $4,500) - Warren continues to see huge minutes with Eric Bledsoe out of commission and is coming off of a 17-point, 3-rebound, 2-assist, 2-steal outing in 37 minutes two nights ago. Although a matchup with the Heat is less-than-ideal, it's hard to ignore an accomplished scorer with such a huge workload at less than $5,000 on FanDuel.
Devin Booker (FD: $3,900) - Similarly to Warren, Booker has seen a substantial uptick in both minutes and production since Bledsoe was lost for the season. He is coming off of his first double-double of his young career -- he posted 17 points with 10 boards in the Suns last game against the Hornets -- and should be in store for 30-plus minutes once again tonight.
