NBA DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks - Today's Top Lineups (1/6/24)

It's my first NBA DFS article of the new year, so let's start with a bang, shall we? We have our typically small four-game Saturday slate on tap, featuring an appealing Celtics-Pacers game and the Knicks taking on the Wizards on the road. Joel Embiid is back in action tonight against the burnable Jazz frontcourt, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will face a Rockets team that just got the doors blown off by the Wolves last night.

As always, injuries are a key factor here and we will need to monitor for news and make adjustments as we learn more. There could always be surprise scratches with a group of teams playing the second half of a back-to-back set, but there aren't many impactful injury designations right now. Tobias Harris is the biggest name with a questionable tag, though De'Anthony Melton, Al Horford, Tari Eason, Aaron Nesmith, Dillon Brooks, Andrew Nembhard, and Robert Covington also carry questionable tags.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/6/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 pm EST.

I start my process with a "K-Grade" model shown below, which I've been fine-tuning for about three years. This model takes real metrics like the implied total, fantasy points per game allowed, defensive ratings, offensive ratings, and projected pace, and applies them to a model with weights. It should be used as a directional guide for the slate and I've had plenty of success with it, but stick to your process and DFS best practices. For example, a player on a team with a "D" K-Grade could easily be the top value on the slate due to a significant uptick in minutes and usage rate.

Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Tyrese Haliburton, IND vs. BOS - PG ($9,900 DK; $11,500 FD)

This DraftKings price tag is laughable. Tyrese Haliburton has been on fire lately, exceeding 60 DK points in five of his last seven games. He put up 54.5 DK points despite just 10 real-life points over 25 minutes last night as his scoring wasn't needed in a game the Pacers won 150-116. They're going to need his scoring tonight. The Celtics feature one of the top defenses in the league as they hold the second-best defensive rating and allow the second-least fantasy points per game to opposing teams. However, they're allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards over their last seven games, a development that we can take advantage of in this spot with one of the league's most explosive point guards. Fire up Hali and find value at other spots.

Donte DiVincenzo, NYK vs. WSH - SG/SF ($5,400 DK; $5,700 FD)

OG Anunoby is the shiny new toy in town, but Donte DiVincenzo is a player who greatly benefitted from the trade that brought him in. He's now starting and playing 25 (ish) minutes per night, making him a value piece we can consider at his salary and 1.00 FPTS/min rate. He's not going to hog usage and will defer to Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, but any players getting starters' run tonight have a chance at a ceiling game against this porous Wizards defense. Washington is allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and small forwards this season.

Others to consider: Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Damian Lillard, Fred VanVleet, Tyus Jones

Want more NBA DFS tools and content? Check out our premium daily content from proven winner Will Priester! 

Grab an NBA season pass and get access to our daily projections, optimizer, and Will's personal picks and advice. Use promo code BARNER at checkout to save 10%

Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Bruce Brown, IND vs. BOS - SG/SF ($5,100 DK, $5,600 FD)

We need to get to any kind of value we can if we're going to try to make Haliburton and/or Joel Embiid work tonight, so why not roll with the do-it-all wing in the best game environment on the slate? Bruce Brown returned from missing five games on Wednesday and has played in 28 and 22 minutes in his two games back. He hasn't done much, but he's in a comfortable price range for a player who averages about 0.9 FPTS/min. He should see around 28 minutes again tonight, and while the Celtics are a tough matchup, the projected pace and high total should play in Brown's favor here.

Kelly Oubre Jr., PHI vs. UTA - SG/SF ($5,800 DK, $8,900 FD)

Kelly Oubre is never what you'd call a "comfortable" selection, as he's wildly inconsistent both with his minutes and his production. However, the minutes should be something we can rely on tonight, as long as we get word that Tobias Harris and/or De'Anthony Melton will be sitting out with injuries. Oubre gains 6% in usage rate with those two off the floor, giving him a much better chance at replicating or exceeding the 31.25 DK points he has put up in two consecutive games. The Jazz are pitiful at defending small forwards, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position this season.

Others to consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Julius Randle, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

Today's DraftKings, FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Joel Embiid, PHI vs. UTA - C ($11,500 DK; $12,600 FD)

The reigning MVP is priced appropriately on FanDuel but way underpriced on DraftKings. He should be a core piece of lineups on both sites, regardless. He put up 54 DK points over 36 minutes last night in a blowout loss to the Knicks, and some will see that output and look to either Giannis or Haliburton as pivots. Looking past last night, you'll see Embiid has been putting up 65-80 DK points every single game. Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic aren't on this slate, so Embiid is the top choice for chasing a ceiling game at the high end of the salary pool. The Jazz surprisingly defend centers well, but they allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and the highest FG% from 5-9 feet (48.7%).

Others to consider: Isaiah Hartenstein, Alperen Sengun, Myles Turner

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis