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FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (1/5/18): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

You know what we deserve after a two game slate? Double digit games and good matchups. Tonight, we're getting both as there are 10 games across the Association. As usual, tip (and thus, FanDuel lock) is at 7pm EST. Two-thirds of the games are taking place in the Eastern or Central time zones, meaning we should have an ample amount of injury/start/sit news before our lineups lock. There are a quad of games tipping at 9pm or later - fingers crossed we know the status of the players on those eight teams.

Thanks to this being a monster slate, we've got quite a lot of injury news to monitor throughout the day. Vegas is monitoring said news closely, and because there is a lot of uncertainty as of this morning, we still have a few games without spreads or over/unders listed. I'll update the section when we have more information, but as of now, there are three games which I consider to have relatively elite point total projections. In no particular order, those games are the Raptors at Bucks (216.5), the Hornets at Lakers (216.5) and Bulls at Mavericks (213).

Below you will find our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/5/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options, to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too.

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FanDuel DFS Guards

Goran Dragic - PG, vs NYK ($6,800)

It seems like it has been a while since I've been able to comfortably suggest Dragic as a cash game play. Which is odd, seeing as he has generally been one of the most consistent point guards over the last few seasons. It appears that whatever was ailing Goran and the rest of this Heat squad (injuries) has gone away, and Dragic has looked really impressive over the last pair of games, dropping more than 46 FanDuel points in each. In that stretch, the price has risen by just $100, and with a fantastic matchup against the soft defense on the Knicks, I can see him continuing his streak of crushing value. This is a slight pace up game for Dragic, being played at home, against a team that ranks 26th in DVP versus point guards and 27th in defensive efficiency against the position. So long as the game stays close, Dragic should see minutes in the 33-36 range with a Usage rate hovering around his season average of 25%.

Also Consider: Ish Smith - PG, at PHI ($6,100); Tony Parker - PG, vs PHX ($3,900); Kris Dunn - PG, at DAL ($7,900)

 

Tyreke Evans - SG, vs WAS 

Extreme pace-up alert! The Memphis Grizzlies are going to be fantasy blessed today with a monstrous pace-up game, and the biggest beneficiaires (as the data has shown us before) in pace up games are the back court mates. Tyreke, who has essentially re-invented his offense, is posting totals in field goal percentage, field goal percentage from three, true shooting percentage, free throw percentage and PER. There's more, but you get the point. His price tonight is fairly steep, but he's been able to hit and/or exceed value in three of those four games, and none was as good a matchup as the one in front of him this evening. Yes, the Wizards ranks 8th in defensive efficiency against shooting guards, but I think the sheer volume of possessions and Evans' massive 30 Usage rate will help him to exceed value tonight.

Also Consider: Malcolm Brogdon - SG, vs TOR ($4,900); Khris Middleton - SG, vs TOR ($7,200); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SG, vs CHA ($5,500)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Denzel Valentine - SF, at DAL ($4,500)

No disrespect to Mr. Valentine or any of the other small forwards mentioned below, but this position is essentially a wasteland as it stands right now. This is a bit shocking and annoying seeing as we have a big, 10-game slate, but I'm just calling it as I see it. We've got studs in tough matchups or easy fade situations and the value plays, well, just aren't dripping with the value you'd hope for. Thanks to there being so many guards worth paying up for and this position being weak, it's best to spend down here and save your cash for positions with more elite options. Relatively speaking, I think Valentine finds himself in a good position to cash tonight. He's got a cheap price tag - one he's paid off several times and in two of his last three games - and a matchup that should feature a lot of offense and little defense. The thing I like most about Valentine tonight is that he should see in the range of 28-30 minutes as a player who averages 3/4 point per minute on the floor.

Also Consider: Evan Turner - SF, vs ATL ($4,800); Kyle Anderson - SF, vs PHX ($5,000); Robert Covington - SF, vs DET ($6,000)

 

Kyle Kuzma - PF, vs CHA ($6,000)

I really love Kuzma tonight in what should be an offensive slug-fest in Los Angeles. This is a slight pace down game for the Lakers, but Vegas and several other projections have this as one of the highest scoring games of the night. Why? Soft defenses on either side. Specific to the power forward, Kuzma has an excellent matchup, as the Hornets rank 25th in DVP and 27th in defensive efficiency. Thus far this season, Kuzma owns a really strong .322 points per touch and is no stranger to knocking down shots with consistency, posting a 57% True Shooting percentage.

Also Consider: Derrick Favors - PF, at DEN ($6,400); Taj Gibson - PF, at BOS ($5,800)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Joel Embiid - C, vs DET ($10,500)

A well rested Joel Embiid has a matchup I am really digging today. Whether or not Andre Drummond plays (currently Questionable - my guess is he sits), I think this is a game where we can witness Embiid's ceiling. Detroit slows it down a bit, and that actually suits Embiid's half-court game quite well. So far this season, he's posting an elite point-per-minute rate of 1.46 and a Usage rate at 31%. Both of those figures are extremely attractive, and I see Embiid as an elite play tonight, particularly for tournaments.

Also Consider: Dwight Howard - C, at LAL ($8,600); Enes Kanter - C, at MIA ($4,900); Miles Plumlee - C, at POR ($3,700)



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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cutter Gauthier

Scores Twice at MSG
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
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Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff
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Nets 11th Career Hat Trick
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Pots Two Goals Against Lightning
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Hurt Versus Stars
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Injured in Monday's Win
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Makes Early Exit Monday
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Becomes Youngest 40-Point Scorer in NBA History
Victor Wembanyama

May Come Off the Bench Again Tuesday
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Nikola Jovic to Undergo MRI Tuesday
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Tweaks Left Ankle Monday
Peyton Watson

Not Expected to Be Out Long-Term
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Darren Waller

Hauls in Two Touchdowns in Monday Night Loss
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Still Out Monday
Rome Odunze

Considered Week-to-Week With Foot Injury
James Harden

Officially Active on Monday Night
Ja Morant

to Remain Under Minutes Restriction Monday
James Harden

a Game-Time Call Monday
John Konchar

to Be Re-Evaluated in Three Weeks
Julian Strawther

Active on Monday
James Harden

Good to Go Monday
Tari Eason

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Daniel Gafford

to Be Limited to 17-20 Minutes Monday
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Kyle Filipowski

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Out Monday
Tyler Herro

a Late Scratch on Monday
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Anthony Davis

Misses Monday's Action, Daniel Gafford Available
Georges Niang

to Be Re-Evaluated in Two Weeks
Jamison Battle

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Will Smith

Sharks Place Will Smith on Injured Reserve
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Expected to Return Before Christmas
Dylan Holloway

to Miss Six Weeks
Patrick Kane

Expected to Miss at Least Two Games
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Connor Bedard

Out Until 2026
Bhayshul Tuten

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Joe Burrow

Will Start the Rest of the Season
Jayden Daniels

to be Shut Down for Final Three Games
Philip Rivers

Will Start Again in Week 16
Drake London

Falcons "Very Hopeful" Drake London Can Return in Week 16
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Dylan Raiola Entering His Name into Transfer Portal
Micah Parsons

MRI Confirms Torn ACL for Micah Parsons
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Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby Plans to Transfer When Portal Opens
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia, Phillies Finalizing One-Year Deal on Monday
Jaylen Warren

Questionable for Monday Night Due to Illness
Bam Knight

has "Bad Sprain," Unlikely to Play in Week 16
Brandon Royval

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
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Baylor, LSU, Miami Among Potential Suitors for DJ Lagway
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Aidan Chiles Will Enter Transfer Portal
Manel Kape

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Jets Fire Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks
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Gets Second-Round Knockout Win
Christian Watson

Avoids Long-Term Injury, Status for Week 16 Unclear
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Quarterback DJ Lagway Entering Transfer Portal
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And Marcus Buchecha Fight To Draw
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has Third Two-Touchdown Game on Sunday
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Records First Multi-Touchdown Game of the Season
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LaNorris Sellers to Return to South Carolina in 2026
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Washington State Expected to Hire Kirby Moore as Next Head Coach
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Kyle Whittingham Stepping Down as Utah Head Coach
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Kevin Vallejos

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Giga Chikadze

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Cesar Almeida

Set To Welcome Cezary Oleksiejczuk To The UFC
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Set To Make His UFC Debut
Maikel Garcia

Royals Agree on Five-Year Extension
Melquizael Costa

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Looks to Win Second Consecutive Fights
Marcus Buchecha

Looks To Bounce Back
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Sherrone Moore Charged with Home Invasion, Among Other Charges
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Freddie Kitchens Fired from North Carolina Coaching Staff
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Bryce Underwood Could Leave Michigan Without Buyout
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Chris Brazzell II Declaring for NFL Draft
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Fernando Mendoza Named AP College Football Player of the Year
Raisel Iglesias

to Remain the Braves Closer
Robert Suarez

Agrees on Three-Year Deal With Braves
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Sherrone Moore Remains in Police Custody
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Joe Klanderman Joining Baylor Coaching Staff
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Kentucky Hiring Jay Bateman as Next Defensive Coordinator
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2025 Season a Step Back Despite Spring Win
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Louisville Receiver Chris Bell has a Torn ACL
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Alex Noren Wins Twice on European Tour This Year
Wyndham Clark

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Michigan Fires Head Coach Sherrone Moore
Corey Conners

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