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Jake Finnen highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 1/1/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
The new year starts off strong with a 10-game slate filled with the league's top offenses. Apologies for the late-ness, but you can find me in the NBA Chat room all the way up until tip-off to make up for today's article. Both the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are heavy favorites to win, so make sure you are getting the most out of your roster.
Jerami Grant has developed a decent amount of attention and for good reason. He's the Pistons most consistent player on both sides of the ball and now that his price is starting to reflect his impact, we're only a few games away from him being an easy fade. His upside doesn't change going up against another quality team, so take advantage of the pricing while you can.
This post will be recommending daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 1/1/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Keep an eye on Rotoballer’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
FanDuel DFS Guards
Ricky Rubio, PG - MIN vs WAS ($5,300)
Not only are the Wizards winless, but adding Russell Westbrook doesn't help their defensive backcourt problems. Ricky Rubio might not be producing at his best right now, but the consistency is there and as long as he gets on the court, he's a safe play for a mid-level price. Being in the starting lineup is a clear and obvious benefit, but even if that isn't the case, playing against a much softer defense than the Clippers or Lakers is going to be a relief.
Khris Middleton, SG - CHI vs. MIL ($7,900)
The spread of this game is pretty wide and that doesn't bode well for the Bulls as a whole, but it could leave space for someone like Zach LaVine to establish a new season-high. Being on the safe side, you'll notice the Bulls haven't beaten Milwaukee in the last four games between the two, and now that the Bucks are slightly better, it's even less likely. With that, it's a safe bet to take the players that are going to get the most shots, which is going to be the Bucks wing shooters and Jrue Holiday.
With Bradley Beal's price sitting near $10,000, it wouldn't hurt to look for a cheaper option that could mimic the production. Since Beal is lined up to demolish the Timberwolves defense, Middleton could also provide a bit of relief if you decide to go with Beal as the heavy hitter today.
Andrew Wiggins, SG - GSW vs. POR ($6,400)
The Warriors are struggling, but that isn't all bad news. Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins are the hot hands and even with a sketchy game log, his upside against a terrible defense is too good to pass up for his price. Eventually Kelly Oubre, among other Warriors will pull from his production, but for the time being the Warriors need every second of the near 40-minutes he's going to play.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Kevin Durant, SF - BKN vs ATL ($9,400)
This might be a counterproductive pick after hyping up Bradley Beal, but it's always nice to offer multiple viewpoints, including going with Kevin Durant as the top option tonight. The Nets ended their game against the Hawks on a high-note, with nearly every Brooklyn player watch the Hawks defense scramble to stay with Kyrie Irving. It was almost comical and that is going to be a focus of next game. Atlanta won't be able to stop him individually, but they can force him to make tougher shots and pass-out of more situations.
This is where Durant thrives. If Irving has all the attention, Durant becomes the most-lethal wing player in the league. If Atlanta's defense isn't ready for that, he is going to torch them for way more than 33.
Brandon Clarke, PF - MEM @ CHA ($4,800)
It already wasn't looking great for the Grizzlies when they had Ja Morant playing, it's even worse without him, but at least the fantasy production is easy to pinpoint. Brandon Clarke's jump shot has arguably become a meme, but he's still shooting and that's all that can really be asked of him. With the options available at PF, Clarke can be the perfect low-end option that has a ridiculous amount of upside heading into Charlotte. The Hornets rank 15th in rebounding and even if there is a blowout, Clarke's minutes will remain consistent.
Joe Harris, SF - BKN vs ATL ($4,500)
When the Hawks and Nets met earlier this week, three Nets players were the focal point of the win. The momentum started with Joe Harris, was held up by Kevin Durant, and was capped off by Kyrie Irving. That formula is impossible to stop and seeing how the Hawks needed 26-points from John Collins just to hang close, it's tough to be sold on Atlanta reversing the outcome. Going back to Harris, his shot attempts have remained consistent and there was no shortage of open attempts. If you need value and are willing to gamble on a shooter, Harris is the must-play.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Jusuf Nurkic, C - POR @ GSW ($7,000)
After posting a dud versus the Clippers, the Trail Blazers get a chance to rebound against one of the worst teams. There is no reason to fade Jokic and playing against the Suns is more than a viable play, but for value, there aren't other centers in better positions. The Warriors are bad enough to to get beat in any aspect, but not bad enough to get entirely rolled over. It's a battle of bad defenses and Nurkic is looking for a rebound game.
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