RADIO
Good morning RotoBallers! It's only a four-game slate on this Thursday, and while I tried to wait it out overnight, we still don't have word on a few key injury situations that will really shape tonight's slate. Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Gary Harris are all questionable (although I've seen Porzingis listed probable in a few places as well). We also have the Kings and Heat to deal with, and both of those teams have been a turnstile in terms of rotations and minutes.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 1/25/18. I will break down the plays that I feel provide the most value based on price at each position. I'll also provide a few tournament plays you might consider using as well.
Hit me up on Twitter @BellRoto with any questions or comments throughout the day. I can help you make decisions based injury news as well. Let's do this.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Jamal Murray - PG/SG, DEN vs NYK (DK - $6,700)
Because we are working with a four-game slate, I will preface this by mentioning that I'm not using a safe, cash-game mindset on Thursday. I typically avoid any cash-game type contests when there are less than five games. With that said, I love Jamal Murray at the guard position. He's shown us a super scary floor with an elite upside the last few weeks. The Knicks provide a neutral, if not favorable matchup for poing guards, and there aren't many shooters who can get as hot as he can from three-point land. I like this price point for Murray, and he only gets more enticing if Garry Harris sits.
Other Guards to Consider: There's not a whole lot out there that I like right now at the guard positions. Harris and Butler sitting could change things. For now I think I would take a shot on someone who's been priced down due to matchup and recent struggles. At first glance John Wall, Bradley Beal, Klay Thompson, and Bogdan Bogdanovic stand out. They will surely be low-owned and have at least some upside in tournaments.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Paul George - SF, OKC vs WAS (DK - $7,600)
I don't typically play Paul George, but if I don't end up paying for Russell Westbrook on this slate I could see myself going to him instead. He's surely underpriced for what he brings in terms of upside, and the Wizards continue to struggle against wings who can fill up the scoreboard. George is never someone you'll feel good about rostering, but there is a decent chance he can get to 45 DK points tonight.
Skal Labissiere - PF/C, SAC @ MIN (DK - $5,000)
One of the great results of Sacramento's recent commitment to their young players is the rise of Skal Labissiere. He's playing both the four and the five next to and staggered with Willie Cauley-Stein, and he's flourishing. Labissiere has become much more aggressive on both ends of the floor, and he can rack up fantasy points in a hurry. I think 25 minutes is a solid floor projection for minutes, and he's above 1.0 FPPM going forward in my eyes. There's a chance he gets 30 minutes and explodes. I hope his increased price tag and seemingly tough matchup scare people off.
Other Forwards to Consider: Draymond Green, Michael Beasley, Will Barton
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Jokic - C, DEN vs NYK (DK - $8,900)
The last time Nikola Jokic played the Knicks, he cruised to 47 DraftKings points in 30 minutes. If we bump that up to 33-35 and incorporate a bit higher rebound and usage rate that we've seen since he shifted to exclusively playing the center position, I don't see any reason to fade Jokic here. Sure, he's burned us before, there's a chance this game gets out of hand, and Murray could get hot and steal some usage. However, if I'm spending big bucks on someone tonight, it's probably going to be Jokic.
Other Centers to Consider: Hassan Whiteside, Willie Cauley-Stein
