NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Jan. 25

Nikola Jokic is still a reliable choice.

This slate is going to be crazy. Wednesday’s cards always tend to be wild as it’s one of the highest stacked slates each week. We have 10 games that make up this map, and it will be fun to watch these teams go head-to-head. There’s obviously a ton to discuss, so let’s take a look at the schedule and odds!

injury report

Tyrese Haliburton (knee) OUT Kevin Durant (knee) OUT James Harden (foot) Doubtful Joel Embiid (foot) Doubtful Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT Zion Williamson (hamstrings) OUT Brandon Ingram (toe) Doubtful Kristaps Porzingis (ankle ) OUT Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) OUT Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) Unsure Nikola Jokic (B2B) Unsure Michael Porter Jr. (staff) Unsure Steven Adams (ankle) Unsure Kelly Olynyk (ankle) Unsure OG Anunoby (ankle) Unsure Devin Vassell (ankle) OUT Anthony Davis (foot) Uncertain LeBron James (B2B) Uncertain Onyeka Okongwu (leg) Uncertain

Basic games

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $11,700 DraftKings, $11,100 FanDuel
It was crazy to see this man go crazy in his 20th year. The superstar has scored at least 50 DraftKings points in 11 consecutive games, generating an average of 61 points over that span. It’s no surprise with everything LeBron is doing in Anthony Davis’ absence, posting one of the highest usage rates in the NBA without him. Facing Spurs is the best part, ranked last in points allowed and defensive efficiency. In their last game, King James collected 64 Fantasy points!

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Ja’s price has gone down, and it’s hard to see why. The All-Star still averages over 48 Fantasy points per game, scoring at least 40 DraftKings points in 12 of his last 13 games. That should be easy to achieve against Golden State, giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. This was on full display when Morant had 57 DK points in their only game this season.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
It’s sad that New Orleans had to deal with those injuries, but it forced McCollum into a monstrous role. He’s being asked to go all out with Zion and Brandon Ingram both injured, and this could be the last game without Ingram. This expanded role has led CJ to average 42 points in his last 17 outings, scoring at least a fantastic 40 points in 12 of them. A matchup with Minnesota should get him rolling, with Wolves possessing a 24th OPRK against opposing guards while ranking third in pace.

Gambling Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
Jokic will be a cash game option for the next decade. This guy is a lock for a fantastic 40-50 points every night, scoring at least 51 DK points in 25 of his last 26 games. He’s also averaging north of 60 DK points per game over that span, posting plenty of 80-point outings. It doesn’t matter who Jokic is up against either, but it looks even better as he has at least a fantastic 61 points in three straight meetings with Milwaukee.

Bradley Beal (SG-WAS): $7,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
It’s crazy to see Beal sitting in this price range. This guy is usually $1,500 more, and we have to assume he’ll come close to that with injured Kristaps Porzingis. That means he’ll see an increase in shot attempts and usage, which is impressive considering he’s already averaging close to 40 fantasy points per game. Facing Houston is the icing on the cake, with the Rockets ranked 28th in defensive efficiency while giving up the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Tre Jones (PG – LAL): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
With Vassell out for San Antonio, Jones became a much bigger part of their offense. The point guard has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 13 games while averaging 32 points over that span. That’s great from a $6,000 player, and it should be his floor against the Lakers. Los Angeles ranks 26th in runs allowed while posting a 25th OPRK against the opposing leaders. Jones has faced them three times this year, averaging 36 fantasy points per game!

MPE targets

Myles Turner (PF/C – IND): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Turner can be inconsistent at times, but this guy is too good to sit at $7,000 on DraftKings. The big man is averaging 36 DK points per game this season and has scored at least 38 fantasy points in 18 of 39 games this year. He also posted a 63-point increase and is being asked to do more with Haliburton out of the picture. Orlando is also a stellar game, with Turner totaling 39 DK points in their last game.

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
We don’t like to use those Atlanta centers when both guys are healthy, but they’re elite plays if the other is nicked. That’s what we have with Onyeka Okongwu sidelined, with Capela compiling 41 DK points in his last outing. This guy is averaging 32 DK points per game over 27 minutes per night for the year, and if he plays the 36 minutes we saw on Monday, he should be over $7,000 on both sites! Facing thunder is also tempting to own a 26th OPRK against opposing crosses.

Tari Eason (PF – HOU): $4,400 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
Eason isn’t a great option when this team is fully healthy, but he’s been stellar since Kevin Porter’s downfall. That forced the rookie into the starting lineup, playing at least 26 minutes in both of his starts. He’s also averaging a fantastic 32 points per game in those outings, which is absurd for such an affordable player. It’s not like Washington is an ominous game, ranked 19th in total defense.

Value Games

Markelle Fultz (PG – ENT): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
It was fun to see Fultz have this revival season and stay healthy for the first time in his career. The former first pick is averaging 33 DraftKings points per game over his last nine outings. You can’t ask for more from a $6,000 player, especially considering he’s a stat-packed starting point guard who was once basketball’s most coveted prospect. Indiana is also an incredible game, ranked 23rd in points allowed and 24th in defensive efficiency.

Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
I’m delighted to see Avdija take on an expanded role with KP injured and Rui Hachimura traded. This means Avdija should come into the starting lineup and play 30-35 minutes per night. In the 20 games Deni has played at least 28 minutes, he is averaging a fantastic 32 points per game. That would make Avdija one of the best values ​​in this price range, and it should be easy to double up against one of the worst defenses in the NBA.

Dennis Schroder (PG – LAL): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
Playing opponents against Spurs is a cheat code. They rank last in points allowed and defensive efficiency while giving up the most fantasy points in the NBA. That makes Schroder a sensational option as the starting point guard for opposing teams, scoring 46 and 49 DraftKings points in his last two outings. Even half of that would be okay, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see another one of those ceiling games against the league’s worst defense.

Advantageous pricing

Markelle Fultz (PG – ENT): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel Tobias Harris (SF/PF – PHI): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG/SF – ATL): $4,900 DraftKings , $6,000 FanDuel Larry Nance Jr. (PF/ C – NOP): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel Tyus Jones (PG – SAS) $4,900 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel Jarred Vanderbilt (PF/C – UTA): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel Thomas Bryant (C – LAL): $5,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel Josh Richardson (SG – SAS): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more on Joel, check out his archives and follow him @Bartilottajoel.