NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 1

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox is a player to watch as the Kings take on the Spurs on Wednesday night.

It was an interesting slate from a price point of view. I feel like the sites always have a ton of discrepancies, but I’ve never seen the prices so close. We still include players separated by $1,000 or more in the bargain price section, but there were only five of these guys on a nine-game roster. We usually have at least double that, and it’s hard to see why that’s the case. Nothing to write home about, but it’s just an intriguing observation and something worth watching.

injury report

Starting at 11:30 a.m. ET:

Daniel Gafford (illness) Available Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT Desmond Bane (knee) Unsure Steven Adams (knee) OUT Kevin Durant (knee) OUT Ben Simmons (illness/injury) OUT Marcus Smart (ankle) OUT Robert Williams (ankle) Unsure Luguentz Dort (hamstring) OUT Jalen Green (calf) OUT Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) OUT Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT Devin Vassell (knee) OUT OG Anunoby (wrist) OUT Trae Young (ankle) Likely Devin Booker (groin) OUT Cameron Payne (foot) OUT

Basic games

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,200 DraftKings, $10,700 FanDuel
This kid is amazing. The Oklahoma City stud is averaging precisely 50 DraftKings points per game this season, setting a low of 40 points. Both of those totals should be easy to come by here, with Houston giving up the most fantasy points to opposing guards. It’s on full display when you see SGA have at least a fantastic 40 points in each of their last four encounters.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
Fox takes on San Antonio, who sit last in runs allowed and defensive efficiency while giving up the most fantasy runs in the league. That’s bad news against a speedster like Fox, who is averaging 41 DraftKings points per game this season. He’s also had at least 46 DK points in four of his last five outings while averaging 38 points against Spurs this season.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $10,300 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
It was slow cooking for Chef Curry when he returned from injury, but the sniper is focused now. Steph has 66 and 72 DK points in his last two outings and has increased his season average to a fantastic 52 points per game. His good streak should continue against Minnesota, which ranks fourth in pace and 21st in total defense. Curry struggled with his shooting in their opener, but he still had 25 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a masterclass performance.

Gambling Considerations

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $11,200 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
Embiid remains in the MVP discussion, averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game over the past month. He has his season average up to 58 DK points per game with this recent surge, scoring a fantastic 88 points over the weekend. A cap like that is unmatched, and we’re not worried about him going up against a 19th-ranked Orlando defense. In their last three meetings, Embiid are averaging over a fantastic 69 points per game.

Domantas Sabonis (F/C – SAC): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
Sabonis is in an incredible period right now. The big man has scored at least 41 DK points in 18 of his last 21 games, flirting with a triple-double average over that span. He’s also averaging over 50 DK points per game in that streak and facing the worst defense in the NBA tonight. When he faced San Antonio three weeks ago, he finished with 18 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists.

Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $9,400 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Utah has quietly been a fantastic game all year. The Jazz rank 25th in defensive efficiency while giving up the second most fantasy points to opposing big men. It’s scary against a great all-rounder like Siakam, scoring almost a fantastic 50 points per game this season. He comes into this match in the middle of a little slump, but this match is a great way out.

MPE targets

Jabari Smith Jr. (PF/C – HOU): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
With so many injuries in Houston, Smith is finally experiencing his first push. The rookie has scored at least 24 fantasy points in eight of his last 11 games, averaging nearly 30 DK points per game over that span. That makes him a little too cheap, and he should keep that form flowing against Oklahoma City. The Thunder own a 25th OPRK against opposing power forwards, with Smith scoring a fantastic 36 points in their only game earlier in the year.

Cameron Johnson (SG/SF – PHX): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Not enough people realize this, but Cam is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He’s been hampered by injuries throughout his career, but Phoenix needs him to step up with the still-absent Booker. This has allowed Johnson to score at least a fantastic 36 points in three of his last six games, which is ideal for a player under $6,000 GPP. His precision shooting should be easy against Atlanta, which has a 23rd OPRK against the opposing wings.

Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
With Rui Hachimura shipped to Los Angeles, Avdija established a 30-minute role in Washington. This led Deni to score at least a fantastic 32 points in four consecutive games, generating an average of 37 points in that span. He’s been playing like this all season as he plays 30-35 minutes a night, and we’re not worried about him facing a 29th-ranked Detroit defense.

Value Games

Brandon Clarke (PF/C – MEM): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
We’re delighted to see Clarke start at center in Steven Adams’ absence. This guy has averaged close to 1.2 DK points per minute throughout his career, and the increase in playing time is huge for his fantasy value. In that expanded role, Clarke scored 33 DK points in two of his three starts. That could be his floor in a 30-minute role, especially as Portland allows the third-most fantasy points against opposing centers.

Kenrich Williams (SF/PF – OKC): $4,600 DraftKings, $4,800 FanDuel
Williams has always been a sneaky stat eater, and it’s exciting to have him back in the starting lineup at Oklahoma City. Over the past six games, Williams is averaging a fantastic 27 points per game over 26 minutes per night. This guy only needs 25-30 minutes to be good value under $5,000, and it’s hard to understand why he stays so cheap against a 28th-ranked Rockets defense.

Keegan Murray (PF – SAC): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Murray has really turned it on recently. The youngster is averaging 29 DK points per game over 37 minutes per night in his last seven outings. This production is incredible from such an affordable player, and he will only improve if he plays 35-40 minutes a night. The game is the icing on the cake, however, with San Antonio giving up the most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Advantageous pricing

Tyus Jones (PG – MEM): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,800 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel $6,800 FanDuel Dario Saric (PF/C – PHX): $3,600 DraftKings, $5,100 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.