Christopher Day 
Happy New Year to all! The Win Daily team would like to wish you nothing but the best for 2021 and thanks you for your continuous support! There is no better way to kick off the new year than with a 10-game NBA slate.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
Point Guards
Stephen Curry ($9,900 FD / $9,600 DK)
The beauty of the condensed NBA schedule this season is the amount of star power we get to see on a nightly basis. Beginning at the one and only point guard position is the 2-time MVP and 3-time NBA Champion, Steph Curry. Facing off against someone he loves to go up against in Dame Lillard, Curry is set to post another impressive stat line having come off back-to-back wins for his Warriors. With the potential return of Draymond Green to the lineup, Curry is set to improve on his 33.5/3.5/6 scoring line in the past two games.
Trae Young ($9,700 FD / $10,100 DK)
When we discuss narrowing down the player pool on any given NBA slate, it begins with which games to target. Just a few days ago, we strongly recommended to have the ATL/BKN game at the top of your list and it did not disappoint – all three of Trae Young, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant were the studs we wanted on that slate and the game exploded for a whopping 286 points, with the three aforementioned studs combining for 88 points, 19 rebounds and 25 assists. WE saw what this game was already once before, and if you missed out for some reason, don’t make the same mistake twice. Trae is the engine to the Hawks offense as seen through his 34.6% usage rate and 33/4.5/8.3 scoring line; he’s been playing tremendously and has had improved success getting to the free throw line as well, averaging a whopping 15.5 FTA per game.
Kyrie Irving ($9,300 FD / $9,300 DK)
Was Kyrie a letdown in the very same game we just talked up? I mean, if you consider 45 DK points at a $8,900 price tag a letdown, then that just goes to show how high his expectations are on any given NBA slate. Kyrie still managed to hit value in a game that saw him start shoot 3/18 from the field through three quarters. He finished the night on a 7/9 run, including the dagger on the last possession, and is poised to be in for another great performance here tonight.
Damian Lillard ($9,300 FD / $9,800 DK)
If you are not stacking the ATL/BKN game, then the GS/POR game needs to be high on your list – entre the Damian Lillard low-owned stack with Steph Curry at the point guard position. Yes, CJ McCollum has a higher usage rate than Dame, who has been ice cold from behind the arc this season shooting only 28.9% from deep, but he is still averaging 23 PPG on 40% shooting; you’ll want exposure because a breakout game is coming any time now.
Others to consider
- Dejounte Murray ($7,400 FD / $6,900 DK)
- Jrue Holiday ($6,600 FD / $6,600 DK)
- Goran Dragic ($6,100 FD / $6,000 DK)
Shooting Guards
Bradley Beal ($9,500 FD / $9,400 DK)
With Russell Westbrook likely sitting out the second half of Washington’s back-to-back, Bradley Beal will see both an uptick in usage and offensive opportunity. Facing an equally as bad defense in Minnesota as a Bulls team that allowed him to drop 28/4/3 on 8/19 shooting in 34 minutes, yesterday’s game total is indicative of what to expect tonight albeit a different, yet awfully similar opponent: a ton of points, no defense, and a ton of exposure in our NBA lineups.
Jimmy Butler ($8,100 FD / $7,800 DK)
Listed probable for this one, the Miami Heat are likely going to get the heart and soul of their team back in the lineup tonight for their tilt versus Dallas. While he likely will not be a key component for my NBA lineups, Butler is still too cheap for someone that has his kind of upside. I’ll have very few shares on DK, but on FD, where the SG position is questionable at best, I’ll be overweight since we need to roster two.
CJ McCollum ($8,000 FD / $8,400 DK)
If you’re not playing Damian Lillard, you need to take a strong look at CJ McCollum, whether you’re playing Steph Curry or not. Averaging a quiet 28/3.5/6.3 on 44.3% shooting, McCollum has shouldered a heavier load on offense than he is typically accustomed to considering Dame’s struggles. Luckily for him, he’s also shooting 47.8% from deep and his 29.7% usage rate makes him a worthy candidate for tonight’s NBA GPPs.
Zach Lavine ($7,900 FD / $7,600 DK)
Not only is Lavine too cheap in this matchup versus the Bucks, but the Bulls will also be without Lauri Markkanen, Chandler Hutchinson, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Tomas Satoranksy tonight. Is this game likely to be a blowout? Yes – but we don’t build NBA lineups based upon that and need to target the right players in the right game environment. Given that the Bulls will be bare in their rotation, Lavine will see enough minutes to take advantage of his opportunities on the offensive end of the ball.
DK Bonus Play: Donovan Mitchell ($6,800)
Others to Consider
- D’Angelo Russell ($7,500 FD / $7,500 DK)
- Dennis Schroder ($6,200 FD / $6,700 DK)
- Derrick Rose ($5,700 FD / $5,900 DK)
Small Forwards
Kevin Durant ($9,400 FD / $9,100 DK)
The disrespect for this man on both sites continues and we’re going to take advantage. Here is what I wrote for KD on John Collins before he dropped 33/11/8 on 50% shooting:
“The SF position is bare with talent, but deep enough to consider fading him on FD, but I won’t be. The upside is massive in a spot versus the Hawks that play at one of the fastest paces in the league and having John Collins on KD, someone who fouls anybody that moves, is no bueno for the Hawks tonight. Because of his foul trouble, where he is averaging 4.3 per game, Collins has only played 24 minutes per game – 24. Now, give me De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan/Gallinari/Reddish on KD? Please lock in the man who is shooting 53.2% from the field, 69.2% from 3, has a true shooting percentage of 56.5% and is averaging over 8 free throws per game.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,400 FD / $5,400 DK)
Bog has been proving to have been a key addition in the offseason for the Hawks and provides them with quite the scoring punch off the bench. Danillo Gallinari has already been ruled out for this contest and others are questionable, so the Hawks can be thin enough for Bog to get 30+ minutes; he’s averaging 15.3/6.3/2.5 off the bench thus far and sees favorable matchups on the offensive end of the ball all night long.
Others to Consider:
- Tyler Herro ($5,300 FD / $6,500 DK)
- Josh Jackson ($4,800 FD / $5,200 DK)
- Cam Reddish ($4,600 FD / $4,700 DK)
- Otto Porter ($4,400 FD / $5,600 DK)
Power Forwards
This is a terrible spot for payups on this NBA slate outside of perhaps Jayson Tatum – while Giannis is in a premiere spot, the -15 spread on the Bucks and thin rotation for the Bulls make me come off his salary on both sites. While we are not basing lineup decisions based on blowouts, I think there are studs that are $1000 or even cheaper than him that have the potential to outscore him on raw points alone on this NBA slate.
Potential Value Plays – check the projection model, but some early ideas:
- Naz Reid ($4,700 FD / $5,200 DK)
- Thaddeus Young ($3,700 FD / $3,500 DK)
Centers
Nikola Jokic ($10,200 FD / $10,600 DK)
Simply put, I am going to try to get all the Jokic that I can tonight, especially on FD where there are no dual-eligible players to slot in at the center position as there are on DK. Make it three triple-doubles now for Joker in 4 games, with the fourth falling just one rebound short versus the Clippers on Christmas Day. The Nuggets will be without Michael Porter Jr. in this one and Jamal Murray remains questionable, giving Jokic all the usage he can handle on the offensive end versus Deandre Ayton defense. Sign me up.
Others to Consider:
- Jonas Valanciunas ($7,700 FD / $8,300 DK)
- Mason Plumlee ($6,200 FD / $5,700 DK)
- Jarrett Allen ($5,600 FD / $5,800 DK)
Potential punts:
- James Wiseman ($5,400 FD / $5,300 DK)
- Bismack Biyombo ($5,000 FD / $4,900 DK)
Value Gems: Check the projection model here.
I will continue to stress the importance of having both the projection model and cheat sheet open when building lineups for a further player pool and to ease a decision between two players, in addition to finding additional value plays.
You can find me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost
