NBA DFS: Ghost’s Gems 01/22

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It’s Fajita Friday people – get up and get pumped for a juicy NBA slate! Ton of news to follow already as I’m typing this so make sure to look for updates in Discord.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like in this range, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

Point Guards

Trae Young ($9,900 FD / $9,600 DK)

With the Atlanta Hawks taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves on tonight’s NBA slate, there is no need to identify which matchup looks like one of, if not the most attractive to us. Two teams that play fast and no defense is exactly what we are looking for, and Trae Young fits the bill perfectly; possibly without both De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish again tonight, in addition to Bogdan Bogdonovic and Danilo Gallinari, Trae’s 31.9% usage rate and 24 PPG will be relied upon heavily to get them the win.

Kyrie Irving ($9,200 FD / $9,000 DK)

Kyrie Revenge Narrative 2.0 – not only did the Cavs beat the Nets in a double-overtime thriller just two days ago, but Kyrie saw Collin Sexton wearing his number in Cleveland, his shoes, and dropped 42/5/5. From a more analytical standpoint, Kyrie led the Big 3 with a 30.6% usage rate on the night and with the Nets now having the 28th-ranked defensive efficiency since acquiring James Harden, they need all the offense they can get on a nightly basis, and it starts with Kyrie Irving. Core Play

Others to Consider:

• Dejounte Murray ($7,800 FD / $7,400 DK)
• De’Aaron Fox ($7,800 FD / $8,800 DK)

Shooting Guards

Zach Lavine ($9,300 FD / $9,500 DK)

The price is getting high for Chicago’s lead man, but it’s well worth considering, nonetheless. Lavine sits 5th in the NBA scoring race, averaging 27.4 PPG across 35.6 MPG. Facing a Charlotte Hornets backcourt that allows over 47 FPPG to opposing ball handlers, Lavine is in a great spot tonight.

Victor Oladipo ($8,500 FD / $8,000 DK)

His price quickly increased after his move to Houston from Indiana, but Victor Oladipo is not only part of our cash core on tonight’s NBA slate, but is also worthy of GPP consideration despite high ownership expectations. Sporting a ridiculous 40% usage rate in two games for the Rockets, Dipo has averaged 27/5/7.5 on 44.4% shooting and will be tasked with an even greater load on offense considering the absence of Christian Wood.

D’Angelo Russell ($8,400 FD / $8,700 DK)

We love this game to begin with so it’s only natural to target the primary offensive weapon for the Timberwolves in the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns. Without his childhood friend, DLo has a 31.5% usage rate, including a 35.1% clip versus the Hawks just a few days ago, where he dropped 31 points in 32 minutes.

Others to Consider:

• James Harden ($10,700 FD / $10,800 DK)
• Fred VanVleet ($7,800 FD / $7,800 DK)
• Collin Sexton ($7,500 FD / $7,300 DK)
• Kevin Huerter ($5,900 FD / $5,900 DK)

Small Forwards

Jerami Grant ($8,400 FD / $8,100 DK)

An offensive force for the Pistons thus far, Grant will get ample opportunity to flourish in one of the best game environments on the NBA slate. Facing a Houston Rockets team that already struggles mightily on the defense end, they will be without Christian Wood tonight and inserting Boogie Cousins into the starting lineup. Grant, a 3-and-D wing with length and a good mid-range game, will be able to take advantage of the likes of Eric Gordon, David Nwaba, and Jae’Sean Tate on the wing all night long.

RJ Barrett ($6,900 FD / $6,800 DK)

Playing for Tom Thibodeau certainly has its perks: one of which, being a starter, you’ll likely be Top-10 in the NBA in minutes per game (MPG). Tied for second-most in the league along with teammate Julius Randle, Barrett’s 37.1 MPG has given him more than enough playing time to truly polish his game to the tune of 17.8 PPG and being an offensive catalyst for the Knicks this season. Facing the NBA’s worst defense in Sacramento, there’s no reason to believe Thibs won’t run his starters into the ground here again tonight.

OG Anunoby ($6,000 FD / $6,100 DK)

Not only has OG Anunoby been counted on tremendously this season given the Raptors’ struggles at center and in the paint, but now Pascal Siakam may not play tonight. Despite only having a mere 15.7% usage rate on the season, OG has been consistent on both ends of the floor, averaging 13.4 PPG and 2 steals per game, hitting 30+ fantasy points in five straight.

Others to Consider:

• Kawhi Leonard ($9,500 FD / $9,700 DK)
• Eric Gordon ($5,200 FD / $5,700 DK)

Power Forwards

Domantas Sabonis ($9,300 FD / $9,900 DK)

Sabonis featured as a Gem – surprise to no one. By now, if you don’t know that I consider him one of, if not the most underrated big man in the NBA, I don’t know what to tell you. The price is steep on DK and I likely won’t get there, but with a ton of questionable options at PF on FD, Sabonis is the rock you can use in your lineup tonight. Averaging the most minutes per game in the league, there isn’t anything this big man doesn’t do: averaging 21.9/12.6/5.6 in 14 games thus far, Indiana will not only need their star on the offensive end, but to also guard Vucevic on the perimeter.

Julius Randle ($8,900 FD / $9,100 DK)

Thibs gonna Thibs – Julius Randle is in the midst of arguably his best NBA season yet, not only thanks to improved play on the offensive end of the ball, but because of Coach Thibodeau’s reluctancy to take him off the court. Averaging 22.4/11.4/6.3 on a 27.1% usage rate, Randle will make Marvin Bagley and Richaun Holmes look silly tonight.

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,400 FD / $8,100 DK)

The Unicorn has come back in full force and really took a load off of Luka Doncic and Co. Sporting a 27.8% usage rate thus far, Porzingis is already averaging over 20 PPG and attacking the glass with 8.8 RPG. The 6.2 FGA from deep is surely only going to add to his value considering he is shooting a mere 29% from outside the arc, but Zinger will have his way with an ageing Spurs frontcourt tonight.

Others to Consider:

• Chris Boucher ($7,800 FD / $7,300 DK)
• PJ Washington ($6,800 FD / $6,800 DK)

Centers

Primary Options:

• Nikola Jokic ($11,200 FD / $11,000 DK)
• Clint Capela ($9,200 FD / $8,300 DK)
• Andre Drummond ($8,600 FD / $9,400 DK)
• Demarcus Cousins ($4,500 FD / $4,400 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