NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (1/4/25)

It’s great to be back in the swing of things in the NBA, RotoBallers. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.

We get to check out one of the most anticipated matchups of the NBA season tonight. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will host Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in San Antonio, marking the fifth meeting between two of the biggest stars in the game. The showdown also projects as the top game environment on the slate, so it will be one we're paying close attention to in real life and for daily fantasy purposes. Ja Morant, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and (likely) Bradley Beal won't be active tonight, so there should be plenty of value for us to fit at least one of the premier big men into our lineups.

The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/4/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.

If you follow me on Twitter or have read any of these articles when the Nuggets are playing, you may know how I will start this section. Nikola Jokic is the top priority on every slate he plays, and it doesn't get much more straightforward. I no longer look at his price tag because it doesn't matter. He has the highest median projection and potential ceiling on every slate he plays. The man has put up 83, 72.75, and 93 DK points over his last three games, and he gets a Spurs defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their previous seven games. Additionally, Jokic has averaged 33.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game over his four games against Wemby.

We can't get to these guys with Jokic in a lineup, but taking shots on the upside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Wembanyama, and Karl-Anthony Towns makes some sense. However, I'm more likely to get to guys like Jalen Brunson, Tyler Herro, Tyrese Haliburton, and Josh Hart with my lineup builds. Brunson, Herro, and Hart are in the best spots to produce, but Haliburton is coming back to life with games of 72.25 and 51.5 DK points over his last three contests. I'd rather be ahead of his salary spike than lagging - you should do the same.

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN @ SAS - C ($12,300 DK; $12,800 FD)
2. Tyler Herro, MIA vs. UTA - PG/SG ($8,700 DK; $8,000 FD)
3. Tyrese Haliburton, IND vs. PHX - PG ($8,300 DK; $8,900 FD)
4. Jalen Brunson, NYK @ CHI - PG ($8,900 DK; $8,600 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.

Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:

We'll have to get a little uncomfortable with the value plays, which is typical in NBA DFS. Dennis Schroder will get the start with Curry out tonight, and he will be a very popular value pick for many on this slate. The Grizzlies defend PGs well, but they allow the ninth-most fantasy points per game this season. If his ownership rises into the 70+% range, I'll pivot to other options on the Warriors, such as Buddy Hield, Moses Moody, and Andrew Wiggins. Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis also look excellent in this spot, as everyone gets a usage and production boost without Curry on the floor.

Brandon Clarke is very intriguing now that he's healthy. He played 35 minutes in his return to action last night, finishing with 22.5 DK points in a subpar effort. That's more than enough minutes for me to have interest in him again, and the Warriors don't defend PFs well, as they allow the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position this season. Lastly, I will mix in Stephen Castle and Devin Vassell, as they're too cheap and in the best game environment on the slate.

Top Value Plays:

1. Dennis Schroder, GSW vs. MEM - PG/SG ($5,200 DK; $5,700 FD)
2. Brandon Clarke, MEM @ GSW - PF/C ($3,400 DK; $4,700 FD)
3. Jonathan Kuminga, GSW vs. MEM - PF ($6,400 DK; $7,000 FD)
4. Andrew Wiggins, GSW vs. MEM ($5,600 DK; $6,100 FD)
5. Devin Vassell, SAS vs. DEN - SG/SF ($6,200 DK; $6,200 FD)

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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

Haliburton, Brunson, and Herro are my top pay-up options at point guard tonight. Haliburton is rounding into form and gets a prime game environment with a high implied total against the Suns. Brunson has been underwhelming over his previous two games, but he put up 72.25 DK points on 12/28 and gets a Chicago defense that allows the third-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season. Herro will face a Utah team that allows the most fantasy points per game to PGs and the third-most to SGs, and he'll be the focal point of the offense with Butler suspended.

I'll likely get to the value options in Schroder, Castle, Scoot Henderson, and Donte DiVincenzo. Henderson has 40+ DK point upside and should play around 30 minutes, making him a smash tournament option at under $5,000. DiVincenzo has started to get comfortable in Minnesota, averaging 29.2 DK PPG over his last five while exceeding 40 DK points twice during that stretch.

Top PG Options:

1. Dennis Schroder, GSW vs. MEM ($5,200 DK; $5,700 FD)
2. Tyrese Haliburton, IND vs. PHX ($8,300 DK; $8,900 FD)
3. Tyler Herro, MIA vs. UTA ($8,700 DK; $8,000 FD)
4. Jalen Brunson, NYK @ CHI - PG ($8,900 DK; $8,600 FD)
5. Scoot Henderson, POR @ MIL ($4,800 DK; $5,800 FD) Prefer on DraftKings

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

We can also get to Schroder, Castle, Vassell, and DiVincenzo at SG, but we have other options. Buddy Hield has been very disappointing lately, but he's a streaky shooter who should see enough minutes (around 24) to have a shot at smashing his price tag tonight. Ditto for Lindy Waters III and Moses Moody, though I have less confidence in them in this spot.

Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson are worth taking shots on, as they're both in an excellent matchup to produce and, like Herro, won't have Butler to contend with. I give Rozier the edge there, but only slightly, as he is more expensive.

Top SG Options:

1. Dennis Schroder, GSW vs. MEM ($5,200 DK; $5,700 FD)
2. Devin Vassell, SAS vs. DEN ($6,200 DK; $6,200 FD)
3. Stephon Castle, SAS vs. DEN ($3,400 DK) DraftKings Only
4. Terry Rozier, MIA vs. UTA ($4,900 DK; $5,200 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

Small forward is typically an oddball position to try to fill, and tonight is no different. I like banking on players who have guaranteed minutes and a solidified role on their team, and that's the case for both Andrew Wiggins and Josh Hart. Wiggins gets a usage bump without Curry on the floor, and he's only $5,600 while producing at a 1.00 FPTS/min rate. That will get the job done every time.

Hart, meanwhile, could see upwards of 44 minutes. That's not a typo - he has averaged an absurd 43.3 minutes per game over his last three contests, which has led to a 52.5 DK PPG average during that stretch. Don't fade him now, especially against a Bulls defense permitting the second-most fantasy points per game to PFs this season.

Top SF Options:

1. Andrew Wiggins, GSW vs. MEM ($5,600 DK; $6,100 FD)
2. Josh Hart, NYK @ CHI ($7,500 DK; $7,800 FD)
3. Deni Avdija, POR @ MIL ($6,100 DK; $6,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
4. Jaden McDaniels, MIN @ DET ($4,000 DK) DraftKings Only

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

The top PF options don't interest me, aside from Hart. I will be going mid-range and below at the position tonight, with Clarke, Wiggins, Kuminga, Draymond Green (*yikes), Harrison Barnes, and Deni Avdija all looking intriguing at their respective salaries. Clarke is massively underpriced, and the three Warriors are too cheap with Curry out of the lineup. Barnes is a low-ceiling play, so I'd instead take shots on Avdija and his all-around game if I want to pivot off the chalky Warriors.

Top PF Options:

1. Josh Hart, NYK @ CHI ($7,500 DK; $7,800 FD)
2. Brandon Clarke, MEM @ GSW ($3,400 DK; $4,700 FD)
3. Jonathan Kuminga, GSW vs. MEM ($6,400 DK; $7,000 FD)
4. Andrew Wiggins, GSW vs. MEM ($5,600 DK; $6,100 FD)
5. Deni Avdija, POR @ MIL ($6,100 DK; $6,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center

Clarke also qualifies at center, as does Trayce Jackson-Davis and Draymond. Myles Turner looks solid, and cheapies like Nikola Jovic, Mason Plumlee, and Naz Reid can be used, but you know where I'm going. It's Nikola Jokic season whenever he is playing. Full stop. Don't get cute.

Top C Options:

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN @ SAS ($12,300 DK; $12,800 FD)
2. Brandon Clarke, MEM @ GSW ($3,400 DK; $4,700 FD)
3. Trayce Jackson-Davis, GSW vs. MEM ($5,000 DK; $5,800 FD)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. Nuggets @ Spurs (o/u 236.5; 103.4 projected pace)
2. Knicks @ Bulls (o/u 233.5; 104 projected pace)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

I won't be playing a group of notable stars on this slate (i.e., Jokic is playing). Giannis, Cade Cunningham, Kevin Durant, Nikola Vucevic, Devin Booker, and Zach LaVine won't be in my player pool tonight. Giannis, Cade, and Durant are too expensive to afford with Jokic in a lineup. Vucevic doesn't bring the median projection or upside to the table, and neither Booker nor LaVine project well with their current situations.

My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today

Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.

• My favorite overall play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Tyler Herro
• My favorite value play: Brandon Clarke

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