RADIO
As teams around the league attempt to either develop methods for slowing down Bradley Beal (35.4 PPG) or acquiring him, we embark on a 10-game slate Friday that is full of both early-season rematches and inter-conference showdowns.
On one end of the spectrum, we have the defensive struggle that should be the Cavaliers and Knicks (206 total); on the other, Hawks-Wizards (232), which appears destined to be a veritable shootout with Russell Westbrook (quad) back on the floor. Aside from Dallas/Utah, all games are tightly packed into a 90-minute tip-off window, giving ample time for last-minute switches, making constant updates a key factor Friday.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/29/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor globally, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
DraftKings DFS Guards
Kyle Lowry - PG, TOR vs. SAC ($7,100)
Frequenters of this column know that focusing on point guards who are matched up against the Kings defense are a sure lock for consideration. But Lowry is a special case particularly due to his lowered price tag, which stems from the rare back-to-back performances where he delivered shaky production around an injury. His price point is the lowest that it’s been since Opening Night on Dec. 23, since which he has rattled off one of the league’s most stable floors of output.
Sacramento’s defensive woes have continued to proliferate, as their 116.1 defensive efficiency is firmly the highest mark in the league. Under DK’s scoring system, De'Aaron Fox and Co. are yielding the third-most points per contest (54.1) to opposing PG’s, making Lowry one of the premier cash plays on the slate, while tossing him into GPP consideration.
Reggie Jackson - PG, LAC @ ORL ($6,700)
Given the chance to rejoin the starting five with Patrick Beverley (knee) out of the equation, Jackson dialed back the clock to deliver high-level production Tuesday, going for 20 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds across 39 minutes. That hasn’t been Jackson’s niche since joining L.A., but with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (health and safety protocols) joining Beverley on the sidelines, the offensive void has had to be filled somehow.
Jackson’s price tag has commensurately risen with his newfound role, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he has been priced correctly. Having produced a gaudy 121 oRTG last time out, Jackson has the chance to deliver similar or better output Friday, making him highly appealing in GPP formats due to his ability to rack up points and assists quickly.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker - PG/SG, NO vs. MIL ($4,200)
It didn’t take long for Alexander-Walker to find his way back onto this list after a brief absence upon the return of Lonzo Ball. But now that Ball is hobbled by an ankle sprain that he sustained Wednesday, Alexander-Walker should see an increased role Friday, which has traditionally led to more production. In the three games this season where Alexander-Walker has hit the 30-minute threshold, he is averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest.
His three-game starting stint from earlier in January appears to have unlocked his aggressiveness, which he has carried over to his bench role. Having fired up 9.3 shot attempts as a reserve over the previous four contests, Alexander-Walker holds a solid floor for his price tag even in the case that Ball is able to suit up and/or other Pelicans cut in on the backcourt timeshare.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Kevin Durant - SF/PF, BKN @ OKC ($9,900)
Durant’s scoring prowess is the stuff of legend, but the former member of the Thunder has taken a particular interest in scorching the nets versus his former squad throughout his career. In 10 regular-season matchups against OKC, Durant -- who once won the NBA MVP in orange and blue -- has averaged 31.9 points and 8.7 rebounds, all while shooting 52.7 percent overall. Included in those meetings is the 36-point, 11-rebound showing that he produced versus the Thunder back on Jan. 10.
As the Nets’ Big 3 continues to develop a rapport -- and larger sample sizes -- it should be clearer to ascertain who may be in store for a monster showing ahead of time. For now, Durant retains his role of having a stable high floor with the upside of being a slate-breaker. From an eye-test perspective, OKC lacks a wing defender that could conceivably bother Durant consistently enough to keep him from accumulating his 16th straight 20-point outing to begin the year.
Domantas Sabonis - PF/C, IND @ CHA ($9,200)
It’s been a whirlwind of a week for Sabonis, who departed Monday’s contest with a knee injury that appeared as if it could derail his All-Star campaign, only for him to return Wednesday and post a triple-double against Charlotte. That knee looks plenty healthy after eviscerating the Hornets’ frontcourt to the tune of 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, shooting 9-for-10 from the floor overall.
Sabonis finds himself in play as a high-floor cash asset due to his recent success and whopping minutes total (36.7 per game), which ties him for the third-highest mark in the league.
Jeremy Lamb - SG/SF, IND @ CHA ($4,900)
Lamb’s return to the starting lineup Wednesday did not go as planned from a statistical standpoint as he scored just three points across 21 minutes. But with a pair of 22-point outings under his belt since his return, his GPP upside is considerable, especially now that he has found his way back into a starting gig.
The former Hornet averaged as high as a 15.3 PPG in 2018-19 before parlaying that breakout performance into a new deal with Indiana. Averaging just shy of 10 shot attempts per contest, Lamb is the likeliest candidate to take over the offensive workload that Victor Oladipo held prior to being dealt. Justin Holiday and Doug McDermott also figure to draw nightly appeal, but Lamb holds the highest ceiling of the trio due to his scoring acumen.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Clint Capela - C, ATL @ WAS ($8,900)
It’s no secret that the Wizards have had enormous difficulty in slowing opposing centers, and Capela seems in line to make sure those issues continue Friday. Having emerged as an elite fantasy asset with double-digit rebound totals in each of his last 14 games, Capela has buoyed his scoring with multi-block performances in six consecutive contests.
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