The NBA seems to have taken away the big and small slates. They have now had between six and eight games for quite some time, and we get another eight game slate tonight. That leaves us with a few good options, but very few value plays at this point.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/6/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @BalesSJustin.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Isaiah Thomas – PG, vs PHI ($8,300)
Thomas has been on fire recently, as he’s averaging 33.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.0 steal per game over the last 10 days. He has scored 62.0, 60.0, and 51.75 fantasy points in his last three games, and he gets an elite matchup against the Sixers tonight. He dominated the Sixers in their only matchup this season, and he comes with a reasonable price tag. Thomas can be used in all leagues tonight.
Kyrie Irving – PG, at BKN ($7,800)
Irving is expected to return for the Cavs tonight, but there have been reports that he has been ready to return for at least a game and Cleveland has held him out. He was on fire before his injury, though, as he has scored at least 60 fantasy points in three of his last five games. He comes with a cheap price tag, and he gets an elite matchup against the Nets, who have one of the worst defenses in the NBA. If Irving is announced the starter, he can be used in all leagues tonight.
Raymond Felton – PG/SG, at SAC ($4,700)
Chris Paul is listed as doubtful tonight, which means Felton will slide into big minutes again. He has played at least 30 minutes in each of his last four games, and he has scored at least 32 fantasy points in three of those four games. He also had a huge 45.75 fantasy point performance against the Rockets a few games ago. He gets a decent matchup against the Kings tonight, and Felton is still a bit too cheap. He can be used as a salary relief option in all leagues tonight.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Kevin Durant – SF, vs MEM ($9,400)
Durant has been an elite option for the Warriors recently, as he has displayed an ability to contribute in each of the five categories. He has scored at least 50 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including two games with 60 or more fantasy points. He gets a tough matchup against the Grizzlies, but Durant is a matchup proof type of player. He comes with a surprisingly cheap price tag, and he’s a great option in all leagues tonight.
Kristaps Porzingis – PF, at MIL ($7,000)
Porzingis practiced on Thursday, and he’s expected to suit up tonight. He has been an elite option for most of the season, and he’s a huge part of the Knicks offense. He’ll continue to display elite upside, and he comes with a low price tag because of his recent injury. He gets a tough matchup against the Bucks, but Porzingis is a bit too cheap to ignore on this slate. He will be locked into big minutes for New York tonight, and he’s an elite option tonight.
Amir Johnson – PF/C, vs PHI ($3,800)
Johnson has been playing a solid role for the Celtics recently, as he has played at least 20 minutes in eight of his last nine games. He has displayed a bit of consistency in those games, but he also displayed great upside, as he was able to score 36.5 fantasy points against the Thunder. He gets a great matchup against the Sixers tonight, and Johnson is a great salary relief option on a slate that doesn’t have many sub-$4k options.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Vucevic – C, vs HOU ($6,300)
Vucevic is playing a big role off the bench for the Magic, and he’s averaging 15.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game over the last 10 days. He has been a better fantasy player at home this season, and he gets a decent matchup against the Rockets tonight. Vucevic’s price tag will likely be on the rise soon, as he has scored 40 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games, and he can be used in all leagues tonight.
Greg Monroe – C, vs NY ($5,800)
Monroe has been playing a much bigger role for the Bucks recently. They could be showcasing him for potential trade partners, which would mean he will see big minutes again tonight. He’s averaging 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals in 25.5 minutes per game over the last 10 days. He’s coming off a huge game against the Knicks, and he gets a rematch against them tonight. He comes with a much higher price tag than his last game, but he can safely be used in all leagues again tonight.
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