RADIO
The season is flying by, as we're now well past the halfway mark and quickly approaching the Trade Deadline. 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 have a six-game slate on DraftKings and a seven-game slate on FanDuel tonight, with the blue site including the Suns-Blazers as the late-night hammer. None of the matchups stand out as elite game environments, making it slightly easier to differentiate lineups. The Kings-Thunder matchup features the highest implied total and fastest projected pace, but with OKC boasting a top-three defense (1st in defensive rating, 2nd in fantasy points allowed per game) and Sacramento ranking around league average defensively, it’s not the easiest spot to target. We could always get surprise scratches, but Alperen Sengun and Mark Williams are the only high-priced players with questionable tags.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 2/1/25. 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.
There are three key pieces I want exposure to on tonight's slate, and it's all about the sky-high upside they bring to the table. Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Anthony Edwards. We won't be able to fit all three in one lineup, but there should be enough value on this slate to get to one of the big guys with Edwards. Jokic gets a smash matchup against the Hornets, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to centers overall and the most to the position over their last seven games. He put up duds against the Knicks and Wolves recently, but he also has games of 62.25, 76, and 99 DK points over this last five. Don't get cute here; play Jokic.
Edwards should have no issues hitting 5x value against the moribund Wizards' defense. They allow the most fantasy points per game overall and the second-most fantasy points per game to SGs while ranking last in defensive rating and fourth in pace of play. It's a dream matchup for whoever gets the privilege of facing them. Edwards has shown his immense ceiling frequently lately, posting games of 69, 65.25, and 66 DK points over his last 10 games. The 66 DK point game came against this same Wizards squad on 1/13, so I'm entirely comfortable running it back with the three-time All-Star tonight.
Wemby hasn't shown the 70+ DK point ceiling, but he's worth taking shots on as he needs just 55 DK points to hit 5x value tonight on DraftKings and is averaging 57.7 DK points per game over his last four outings. Miami isn't the best matchup for centers, though, and this game has a mediocre implied total of 223 points and a slow projected pace. I don't want to miss out on a ceiling game from the young phenom, so he'll be mixed in as a Jokic pivot.
Top Core Plays:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN @ CHA - C ($12,000 DK; $12,700 FD)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. WAS - PG/SG ($9,900 DK; $9,600 FD)
- Victor Wembanyama, SAS vs. MIA - C ($11,000 DK; $11,800 FD)
- Bam Adebayo, MIA @ SAS - PF/C ($7,700 DK; $7,800 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:
Naz Reid is an elite value pick on this slate. He's a 1.05 FPTS/min player, and he will see a nice bump in minutes tonight as he should be starting with Julius Randle out of the lineup. He's projecting for 33 minutes, and the talented big man put up 42 DK points the last time he saw 33 minutes in a game (1/20 @ MEM). He can shoot the lights out, as he holds a 42% 3PT% overall and finishing January shooting 55% from deep for the month. Guess which team allows the most three-pointers per game?
Russell Westbrook doesn't look likely to play tonight, so we will see minutes opened up and solidified for the rest of the non-Jokic Nuggets. Peyton Watson, Aaron Gordon, Julian Strawther, and Michael Porter Jr. are all firmly in play tonight, though I prefer Gordon and Porter Jr. due to their 30+ minute projections. Neither has been remarkably consistent with their fantasy production, but this is a clear pace-up spot, and someone has to pick up the slack with Westbrook out. Watson and Strawther have been pretty bad, but that's reflected in their low salaries, and they'd see blowout minutes if this game gets uncompetitive.
Stephon Castle is the final value piece I'll highlight here. He's under $5,000 on DraftKings despite scoring 40.5, 28.25, and 35 DK points over his last three games. He's averaging 16.3 shot attempts per game and filling out the counting stats during that stretch, so I have no issues getting to him against the Heat tonight. Miami has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season, so this could be another ceiling spot for the rookie point guard.
Top Value Plays:
- Naz Reid, MIN vs. WAS - PF/C ($5,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. MIA - PG/SG ($5,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ CHA - PF/C ($4,200 DK) DraftKings Only
- Michael Porter Jr., DEN @ CHA - SF/PF ($4,900 DK) DraftKings Only
- Isaiah Joe, OKC vs. SAC - SG/SF ($3,900 DK; $4,200 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Mike Conley is questionable, and if he misses tonight's action, we can roll the dice on Rob Dillingham again. The rookie posted 32.5 DK points in just 23 minutes last game with Conley inactive, and he'd surely get blowout run if this game gets out of hand (MIN -15.5). If Conley plays, he profiles as a solid value option at just $4,000 in a favorable matchup against Washington.
Castle and Edwards are my top picks for the position, as detailed in the first few sections. Cason Wallace is another punt option, as he typically plays around 30 minutes per game and occasionally pops off for around 30 DK points. Jamal Murray is interesting at his higher mid-range pricing, too. He has put up impressive games of 52.25 and 60 DK points over his last two outings, and he'll need to take on more of the offensive burden with Westbook off the floor. Charlotte allows the second-least fantasy points per game to PGs, so I'm not overly excited about him in this spot.
Top PG Options:
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. MIA ($5,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. WAS ($9,900 DK; $9,600 FD)
- Mike Conley, MIN vs. WAS ($4,000 DK; $4,600 FD) / Rob Dillingham, MIN vs. WAS ($3,500 DK; $3,900 FD)
- Cason Wallace ($4,100 DK; $4,900 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Castle and Ant have multiposition eligibility at PG and SG, and they will be the two players I'm focused on at the positions. Isaiah Joe, Wallace, and Strawther are sensible punt options if you need them, but I'm hoping we can find value elsewhere as they don't have the ceiling I'm looking for in tournaments. We can also take shots on mid-range options in Devin Vassell, Christian Braun, and Duncan Robinson, but they all underwhelm more often than I'd like, and Castle is sitting right there at $4,900 on DraftKings.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker would be a top play at SG if Conley sits, as he's only $4,000 and produced 31.5 DK points in this situation a few nights ago.
Top SG Options:
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. MIA ($5,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. WAS ($9,900 DK; $9,600 FD)
- Cason Wallace ($4,100 DK; $4,900 FD)
- Isaiah Joe, OKC vs. SAC ($3,900 DK; $4,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Again, we have low-ceiling punt options galore with Peyton Watson, Keldon Johnson, Isaiah Joe, and Haywood Highsmith, none of which are projecting to play more than 24 minutes tonight. I'd rather get to two mid-range players with much higher upside in Michael Porter Jr. and Jaden McDaniels. Porter Jr. has been inconsistent over his last ten games, but he has produced games with 24.5, 28.75, and 34.5 DK points over his last five contests, and he only needs 27 DK points to hit 5x value on DraftKings tonight. Charlotte isn't the most favorable spot to attack on the slate, but the game should be among the fastest-paced, allowing for more opportunities to score fantasy points for both teams.
We can't play everyone from the Wolves, but Jaden McDaniels remains favorably priced, considering his potential upside in this spot. The versatile forward had averaged 36.9 DK PPG over his previous four games before a 9.5 DK point dud against the Jazz on 1/30, a stretch that included a 50.5 DK point masterpiece against the Mavericks. The Wizards allow fantasy points to everyone, so I want to mix in McDaniels as an option at SF.
Top SF Options:
- Michael Porter Jr., DEN @ CHA ($5,400 DK) DraftKings Only
- Jaden McDaniels, MIN vs. WAS ($5,500 DK; $6,000 FD)
- Isaiah Joe, OKC vs. SAC ($3,900 DK; $4,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
It's all about Naz Reid at power forward tonight. It's a huge bonus that he qualifies at PF because we can get to him and then at least two centers with the UTIL position on DraftKings. He's a guy you must play when he is projecting for an increased role, as he is tonight with Randle ruled out. This is a golden opportunity for him to shine, too, with Washington allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams, opposing PFs, and opposing Cs.
Aaron Gordon is another top target at the position, as he's still too cheap, considering he's now starting and projected to play at least 30 minutes. He hasn't played well, and the matchup isn't particularly great, but we have to lean on his 0.89 FPTs/min rate for the season to come into play sooner or later.
I'm not sure I'll be able to get to him, but Bam Adebayo is in solid form and gets a favorable matchup against the Spurs tonight. The big man is averaging 45.6 DK PPG over his last three games, and the Spurs are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing Cs over their previous 15 games.
Top PF Options:
- Naz Reid, MIN vs. WAS - PF/C ($5,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ CHA - PF/C ($4,200 DK) DraftKings Only
- Bam Adebayo, MIA @ SAS - PF/C ($7,700 DK; $7,800 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
I don't need to review why Jokic is the top priority tonight, but I will anyway. His ceiling is unmatched, as evidenced by his 99 DK point game on 1/23 and his mind-blowing 1.85 FPTS/min rate over his last six games. He gets the Hornets tonight, a team that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to Cs over their previous 15 games. Don't overthink this one - make it work with Jokic and move on with your life.
Wembanyama is intriguing, but the opportunity cost is too high to get to him as he doesn't possess the Jokic-esque ceiling. Instead, I'll take shots on Rudy Gobert in a smash spot against the Wizards. The big man has been crushing value lately, posting games of 42.25, 37, 48.5, and 30 DK points over four of his previous five outings. I also don't hate getting to Mark Williams against the Nuggets, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season.
As stated above, I like this spot for the Miami bigs against the Spurs tonight. Adebayo, Kel'el Ware, and Nikola Jovic are all reasonably priced and in a favorable matchup, and I can see any or all of them reaching value tonight. Jimmy Butler remains suspended, and we've already seen this trio step up their fantasy production in his absence.
Finally, I have to mention Luka Garza. Garza holds an astounding 1.23 FPTS/min rate this season, and he is already projecting to see increased playing time tonight with Randle ruled out. He doesn't look too appealing right now at just 14 projected minutes in the optimizers. However, his path to playing time can quickly shoot up with Gobert (and McDaniels) prone to foul trouble and an uncompetitive game looking likely against the Wizards. He racked up 24 DK points over just 14 minutes on 1/30, and he could demolish his price tag if things break right tonight.
Top C Options:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN @ CHA ($12,000 DK; $12,700 FD)
- Naz Reid, MIN vs. WAS ($5,500 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Rudy Gobert, MIN vs. WAS ($5,800 DK; $6,500 FD)
- Mark Williams, CHA vs. DEN ($5,800 DK; $6,500 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ CHA ($4,200 DK) DraftKings Only
- Bam Adebayo, MIA @ SAS ($7,700 DK; $7,800 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Kings @ Thunder (o/u 236.5; 103.2 projected pace)
- Nuggets @ Hornets (o/u 221.5; 103.1 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
With Nikola Jokic on the slate, there is zero chance I will be getting to the rest of the high-priced studs not named Wembanyama. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, and Domantas Sabonis are the expensive trio I'm referring to. While they could end up in the winning lineup if Jokic has a down game, that's not a gamble I like to take, especially with Jokic is such an incredible spot for a mega-ceiling performance.
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: Rob Dillingham (if Conley sits) | Luka Garza
- My favorite value play: Stephon Castle
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