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It’s great to be back in the swing of things in the NBA, RotoBallers. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
We have another five-game slate on tap for Sunday night, and it will be nearly impossible to identify the best options until we get more injury news. Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden, Paul George, Cameron Johnson, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Deni Avdija, Malcolm Brogdon, and Deandre Ayton carry legitimate questionable tags. Those are just the mid-to-high-salary players - we'll also need updates on Guerschon Yabusele, Khris Middleton, Caleb Martin, Lonzo Ball, and Keon Ellis. Stay locked into news sources for updates and adjust accordingly.
NBA DFS success hinges on in-day adjustments to injury news, but having a game plan and top targets early is essential. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/19/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
I don't say this too often, but I'm aligned with the optimizer today. Domantas Sabonis is the clear priority on this slate, as he and the Kings get to face the Wizards on their home court. Sure, there is plenty of blowout risk, with Sacramento currently favored by 16.5 points. However, that's a gamble we should feel comfortable taking against a defense that allows the most fantasy points per game to opponents this season. Sabonis needs just 49.5 DK points to hit 5x value at his DraftKings salary, and he has exceeded that mark in five of his last six games while popping off for 65.5 and 70.5 DK points in that stretch.
De'Aaron Fox is also firmly in play against the Wizards, but I'm not sold on going overboard with my exposure to the Kings on a five-game slate. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic look excellent against a putrid Portland defense, but "Vuc" piques my interest the most. The veteran big man is in great form, and his 65.25 DK point outing in his latest game against the Hornets is a reminder that he can put up fantasy points with the best of them in the right matchups. The Blazers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their last 15 games, and they may be without Ayton tonight.
- Domantas Sabonis, SAC vs. WAS - C ($9,900 DK; $10,300 FD)
- Nikola Vucevic, CHI @ POR - C ($8,300 DK; $8,100 FD)
- Malik Monk, SAC vs. WAS - PG/SG ($7,300 DK; $8,000 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:
We will undoubtedly get a ton of injury news on this fine Sunday because that always happens. Instead of speculating on who will sit or not, I will focus on a few players who stand out as value options right now, such as Kyshawn George and Cason Wallace. George has seen his playing time fluctuate wildly this season, but it's encouraging to see him playing 31 and 30 minutes over his last two contests. He crushed value with 38.5 DK points against the Suns but then came back down to earth with 15.25 DK points against the Warriors in those games. He'll face the Kings in an excellent game environment tonight and only needs 18 DK points to hit 5x value at his (completely mispriced) DraftKings salary.
Cason Wallace regularly plays at least 30 minutes for the Thunder, and, more importantly, he typically doesn't get benched in blowout scenarios. Oklahoma City is favored by 17 points at home against the tanking Nets, so Wallace will likely see a lot of run against the bench unit for Brooklyn. He's not the best fantasy producer at just 0.79 FPTS/min this season, but I love his chances at hitting value in this spot. His teammate, Jaylin Williams, also projects as a solid value but doesn't seem to have the guaranteed minutes that Wallace does.
Top Value Plays:
- Kyshawn George, WAS @ SAC - SF/PF ($3,600 DK) DraftKings Only
- Cason Wallace, OKC vs. BKN - PG/SG ($4,300 DK; $5,300 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Jaylin Williams, OKC vs. BKN - C ($4,000 DK) DraftKings Only
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Fox and Monk lead the way at the top of the salary board for PGs, but I find myself prioritizing Monk at their respective pricing. Monk is $1,300 cheaper on DraftKings despite averaging more DK PPG (47 to 44.3) over his last five games. He has also shown a similar ceiling lately, so I'll gladly take the salary savings and move on with my lineups. As covered in the "Values" section, Wallace is a favorite punt play of mine due to his favorable matchup and guaranteed minutes.
Coby White and Anfernee Simons are other options for the position. White has been right around 5x value lately and hasn't popped off for a ceiling game in a while, but there isn't a much better time to do so than against a Blazers team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to PGs and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to SGs this season. Simons has been much more volatile, but the Bulls allow the most fantasy points per game to PGs this season. Both players are firmly in play at their mid-range pricing.
Top PG Options:
- Malik Monk, SAC vs. WAS ($7,300 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Cason Wallace, OKC vs. BKN ($4,300 DK; $5,300 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Coby White, CHI @ POR ($6,500 DK; $6,500 FD)
- Anfernee Simons, POR vs. CHI ($6,600 DK; $6,800 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Monk, Wallace, and White qualify at SG, so they will be my top priorities tonight. Corey Kispert is worth mentioning due to his cheap salary, though his minutes aren't locked in, and his ceiling leaves much to be desired. He's a punt option in a game that could turn into a blowout, so I will focus on the trio until we receive more injury updates.
Top SG Options:
- Malik Monk, SAC vs. WAS ($7,300 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Cason Wallace, OKC vs. BKN ($4,300 DK; $5,300 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Coby White, CHI @ POR ($6,500 DK; $6,500 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
George and his ridiculous salary lead the way at SF, though he's not an option at $5,000 on FanDuel. I'll take some shots on DeMar DeRozan as he's only $7,000 on DraftKings and in the same matchup as Sabonis, Fox, and Monk, but as stated earlier, I don't want to put all of my eggs in the Kings' basket.
Toumani Camara is a little sneaky, though. He feels underpriced, considering he has games of 33.75 and 42.25 DK points over his last three outings, and tonight, he gets a Bulls defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game this season. He's a gamble I'm more than willing to take at an awkward position tonight.
Top SF Options:
- Kyshawn George, WAS @ SAC ($3,600 DK) DraftKings Only
- DeMar DeRozon, SAC vs. WAS ($7,000 DK; $7,900 FD)
- Toumani Camara, POR vs. CHI ($5,100 DK; $5,100 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
It's George and a few other options for me at PF tonight. Keegan Murray, Kyle Kuzma, and Alexandre Sarr are the different pieces I will rotate in, with Sarr being the priority of the three, considering his recent form and potential upside. The rookie is averaging 33.4 DK PPG over his last three games, and he should see his full allotment of playing time even if the game is uncompetitive.
Top PF Options:
- Kyshawn George, WAS @ SAC ($3,600 DK) DraftKings Only
- Alexandre Sarr, WAS @ SAC ($5,800 DK; $6,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Keegan Murray, SAC vs. WAS ($5,100 DK; $6,000 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Sabonis is the clear priority at center tonight, but there are a few others I want to get into my lineups. Vucevic was covered in the "Core Picks" section, but it's worth a reminder that he's looking like an excellent play against an overmatched Portland frontcourt.
If he plays, Ivica Zubac will be a target of mine. He puts up 30+ DK points with ease and can spike for 50+ DK points in the right situations, and this might be one of those spots as the Lakers allow the 13th-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season. If the Lakers are missing Davis, we can feel even better about firing up Zubac, as they won't have anyone to slow him down at the rim.
Jaylin Williams and Brook Lopez are viable value options, but most of my exposure will be focused on Sabonis, Vucevic, and Zubac on this slate.
Top C Options:
- Domantas Sabonis, SAC vs. WAS ($9,900 DK; $10,300 FD)
- Nikola Vucevic, CHI @ POR ($8,300 DK; $8,100 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. LAL ($7,200 DK; $7,700 FD)
- Jaylin Williams, OKC vs. BKN ($4,000 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Bulls @ Blazers (o/u 237; 104.9 projected pace)
- Wizards @ Kings (o/u 235.5; 104.7 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
This could come back to haunt me, but I won't be getting to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on tonight's slate. Giannis has the highest ceiling on the slate, but he is prohibitively expensive, and I'm not willing to hamstring my lineups without more value options.
Davis has been in decent form, but he's questionable for tonight's game, and he's not likely to hit a true ceiling game against a solid Clippers' frontcourt. SGA has exceeded 60 DK points once over his last nine games, and he is likely to see reduced minutes against a Nets team that isn't remotely trying to be competitive.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Domantas Sabonis
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Malik Monk
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Nikola Vucevic
- My favorite value play: Kyshawn George / Cason Wallace
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