College Basketball DFS Playbook January 18: Top DraftKings and FanDuel CBB DFS Picks
It's time to dive into Thursday's college basketball DFS slate as we look at top plays and CBB DFS lineup picks for the evening. The DraftKings slate starts up at 6:30 pm ET with 8 games on tap while the FanDuel slate tips at 8:30 pm ET with 5 games. Some of the top matchups tonight include Illinois vs Michigan, Oregon vs Colorado, and Washington vs California. CBB DFS lineup construction will be very different depending on which site you're playing, so check out the top plays and values below before lineup lock. All college basketball odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and the KenPom team totals are up-to-date as of this publishing, but keep an eye on any line movement. Good luck with your college basketball DFS lineups tonight!
College Basketball DFS Slate January 18
- 6:30 pm ET – Minnesota at Michigan State (-11) – 140.5 O/U (DK Only)
- 7 pm ET – Wichita State at FAU (-15) – 154.5 O/U (DK Only)
- 7 pm ET – South Florida at Memphis (-11) – 158.5 O/U (DK Only)
- 8:30 pm ET – Illinois (-2.5) at Michigan – 153.5 O/U
- 9 pm ET – Washington at California (-2) – 154 O/U
- 9 pm ET – Oregon State at Utah (-15.5) – 144.5 O/U
- 10:30 pm ET – Oregon at Colorado (-6) – 146.5 O/U
- 11 pm ET – Washington State at Stanford (-3.5) – 146 O/U
Top KenPom Team Totals
- FAU – 84
- Memphis – 83
- Utah – 82
- Illinois – 80
- Washington – 80
- Colorado – 78
- California – 76
- Michigan State – 76
- Michigan – 75
- Oregon – 73
- Stanford – 73
- Washington State – 72
- South Florida – 71
College Basketball CBB DFS Picks
CBB DFS Top Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Jaylon Tyson | CAL | UW | 8700 | 37.83 | 8500 | 34.37 |
| Despite playing on bad Cal team, Jaylon Tyson is an absolute DFS stud this year. The wing playmaker is averaging 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 37 DK in a high-usage role as the offense basically revolves around him and Fardaws Aimaq. Since Pac-12 play began, Tyson is putting up 22.8 PPG and 40 DK. He gets a home pace-boost matchup here and should be a strong cash or GPP play again. | ||||||
| Johnell Davis | FAU | WICH | 8500 | 33.38 | ||
| On the DK slate, Johnell Davis is a top overall guard play in a favorable home matchup. Wichita St gives FAU a notable pace-boost and has one of the worst defenses in the AAC. Meanwhile, Davis comes in hot with 30 points and 42 DK last game while averaging 21 PPG and 38 DK over the past 10 games. We know he’s locked into heavy usage and shot volume as FAU’s alpha playmaker and the uptempo home matchup means we should get another strong performance. | ||||||
| Marcus Domask | IL | MICH | 8200 | 26.08 | 7800 | 24.13 |
| Ever since Terrence Shannon was suspended, Marcus Domask has been Illinois’ alpha playmaker on offense. He now has at least 29 DK in all five games since Shannon went out and is averaging 22 PPG and 37 DK over this stretch. Domask has scored 32, 26, and 26 points in three of the past four games and is stuffing the stat sheet with ancillaries. He’s a strong cash play moving forward as the Illini’s clear top player now. | ||||||
| Sahvir Wheeler | UW | CAL | 7700 | 32.08 | 7600 | 28.97 |
| Sahvir Wheeler was one of Washington’s lone bright spots in the double-digit loss to UCLA last game with 27 points and 35 DK. He’s now averaging a strong stat line of 16.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 30 DK over the past 10 contests. The Washington point guard is locked into shot volume as the offense leans heavily on him and Keion Brooks, which makes both safer cash plays. This is a favorable spot against a weak Cal defense and Wheeler should continue to put up numbers. | ||||||
| Jahvon Quinerly | MEM | USF | 7200 | 27.88 | ||
| Jahvon Quinerly has been an up-and-down DFS play this year but he’s on a heater lately. The Memphis point guard has scored 25 and 23 points in the past two games with 36 and 54 DK, respectively. The Memphis offense is putting up NBA-like totals right now and Quinerly is a big part of running the fast-paced attack. His shot volume is inconsistent, but the GPP ceiling for another big game is there tonight in an uptempo home matchup. | ||||||
| Kanaan Carlyle | STAN | WSU | 6500 | 23.94 | 5900 | 21.56 |
| We’ve mentioned Kanaan Caryle a few times in these Playbooks and we’re going back to him tonight with Stanford in action. The dynamic freshman has now emerged as Stanford’s top playmaker in the backcourt as he leads the team in usage (29%) and shot rate (26%) during conference play. Carlyle has started the past two games with Jared Bynum out and took on 38% and 41% usage as a starter. He has 46, 33, and 37 DK in three of the past five games and has major GPP potential with this increased role. | ||||||
CBB DFS Value Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Selton Miguel | USF | MEM | 6300 | 26.38 | ||
| South Florida already likes to play fast, but it still gets a pace-boost against Memphis here. If you want to game stack this one, then Selton Miguel is a top play from the USF side. During conference action, the senior guard has a 27% shot rate and 24% usage while shooting 47% from three on the year. He’s averaging 15.4 PPG and 27 DK over the past 10 games. The sub-7k price is actually a bargain compared to others in his price range. If you want a cheaper USF player, then Jayden Reid and Kobe Knox are in play. | ||||||
| Jalen Cone | CAL | UW | 5500 | 23.04 | 5800 | 20.70 |
| If you want some cheap exposure to one of the higher totals of the slate, Jalen Cole is a decent salary-saver. The senior guard is averaging 13.7 PPG and 22 DK over the past 10 games and has GPP upside for 25-30 DFS points when he’s hitting threes. Cone takes the most threes per game for Cal and usually launches 8-10 from deep. The pace-boost home matchup should put him on the higher end of his potential tonight. | ||||||
| Harlond Beverly | WICH | FAU | 5300 | 23.53 | ||
| A road matchup at FAU is tough, but Harlond Beverly is still in play as a GPP value at this mid-5k price. This is the cheapest he’s been since November despite putting up 28 and 22 DK in the past two games. Beverly had been underperforming before scoring 17 points last game, though he’s shown the upside for 30+ DK earlier this year. Again, roster with caution because of the matchup, but Beverly is a decent GPP buy-low candidate. | ||||||
| Nick Boyd | FAU | WICH | 5100 | 16.5 | ||
| After recently returning from injury, Nick Boyd is now starting to see an increased role for FAU. He’s moved back into the starting lineup in the past two games and played 29 and 30 minutes in those starts. Boyd has also taken 10, 15, and 9 shots in the past three games with 19, 21, and 9 points scored, respectively. He’s a great bargain in the low-5k range on DK tonight in a favorable home pace-boost matchup vs Wichita State’s below-average defense. He can easily give us 5x return. | ||||||
| Cole Bajema | UTAH | ORST | 4900 | 16.54 | 4900 | 15.02 |
| After missing last game, Rollie Worster is questionable to play tonight with a leg injury. If he sits, then Cole Bajema should be locked into 30 minutes or so. Bajema was already starting, but he’s now played 31, 27, and 32 minutes over the past three games with 22, 20, and 15 DK, respectively. He’s still just a role player for Utah, but Worster’s absence would give Bajema an uptick in shot volume and minutes again as a decent value sub-5k on both sites. | ||||||
| Braeden Carrington | MINN | MSU | 4400 | 15.12 | ||
| Keep an eye on Elijah Hawkins’ status for Minnesota tonight. Hawkins is a game-time decision after hurting his ankle last game. If he’s out, then Braeden Carrington likely movies into a bigger role in the Gophers’ backcourt. He’s been a decent role player for Minnesota since returning from a three-game absence, but his DFS floor and minutes would be a lot safer if Hawkins sits. | ||||||
CBB DFS Top Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| David Jones | MEM | USF | 8400 | 36.44 | ||
| David Jones is putting together an All-American caliber season and he continues to be a strong DFS play in all formats. The wing playmaker is averaging 22.6 PPG and 37 DK over the past 10 games. Jones is locked into heavy shot volume as Memphis’ leading scorer for a fast-paced attack. He also offers plenty of ancillary stats. We can expect 30 DK or so on a regular basis but tonight’s uptempo game flow could give us one of those 45-50 DK outputs. | ||||||
| Keion Brooks Jr. | UW | CAL | 8000 | 34.15 | 8000 | 31.69 |
| Keion Brooks is coming off one of his worst games of the season in the double-digit loss to UCLA. Still, he’s averaging 19 PPG and 31 DK over the past 10 games and is always a good bet to score 20-25 points with 40 DK or so most nights. Cal has one of the worst defenses in the Pac-12 and Brooks is in a prime bounceback spot to return to his regular DFS cash stud production. | ||||||
| Fardaws Aimaq | CAL | UW | 7800 | 35.07 | 8100 | 32.16 |
| While Jaylon Tyson is Cal’s headliner, Fardaws Aimaq is basically the 1B for DFS and real life. The big man is averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 34 DK over the past 10 games and we can pencil him in for 30 DK and a double-double on most nights. This is a great spot for Aimaq to keep it going against a weaker Washington frontcourt and a pace-boost home matchup. He’s a top cash forward tonight. | ||||||
| Olivier Nkamhoua | MICH | IL | 7600 | 32.59 | 7600 | 29.89 |
| Olivier Nkamhoua continues to be a strong cash forward with consistent play and stat lines. He has at least 27 DK in nine straight games and is averaging 16.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 32 DK over the past 10 games. Even with Dug McDaniel back for Michigan last game, Nkamhoua still put up 20 points and 33 DK with a stuffed stat sheet. This is a pace-boost spot at home and the Michigan power forward should continue to be a safe cash option. | ||||||
| Tristan da Silva | COL | ORE | 7300 | 29.79 | 7500 | 27.46 |
| Since returning from an ankle injury, Tristan da Silva has 27, 32, and 28 DK in the past three games and has gone right back to his high-usage role for Colorado. He’s now averaging a strong 15.6 PPG and 29 DK over the past 10 games while consistently taking double-digit shots and adding enough ancillary stats. He should keep it going with Oregon having the worst interior defense in the Pac-12, though N’Faly Dante is back for the Ducks. | ||||||
| Coleman Hawkins | IL | MICH | 7000 | 26.64 | 7200 | 24.58 |
| Tonight presents a nice buy-low opportunity to roster Coleman Hawkins after he “only” had 23 DK last game. Still, he had at least 28 DK in seven straight games beforehand and is averaging 13.5 PPG and 31 DK over the past eight games now. Like Marcus Domask, Hawkins is also a key part of Illinois’ offense with Terrence Shannon suspended. He gets a good matchup vs Michigan’s weaker frontcourt and is a nice bounceback candidate here. | ||||||
CBB DFS Value Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG |
| Brandon Angel | STAN | WSU | 5900 | 23 | 6200 | 21.18 |
| While Kanaan Carlyle is the headliner in Stanford’s backcourt now, Brandon Angel has also seen an increased scoring role from the wing. He’s put up 18, 19, and 16 points in the past three games with 33, 25, and 30 DK. Angel’s shot volume and usage have been fluctuating all year but we can ride him right now while he’s playing like this. The prices on both sites are cheap enough to take a chance in GPP contests. | ||||||
| Tarris Reed Jr. | MICH | IL | 5700 | 20.32 | 5500 | 18.95 |
| Tray Jackson is likely out again for Michigan, so Tarris Reed should be locked into more playing time. He logged 28 minutes last game with Jackson out. Unfortunately, Reed’s stat lines aren’t good enough or consistent enough to trust in cash with a lower floor. Still, he has shown slate-breaking potential at times this year when he dominates down low. Michigan should need his size more in this matchup with Illinois having a stronger frontcourt with plenty of length down low. | ||||||
| Joshua Ola-Joseph | MINN | MSU | 5500 | 16.62 | ||
| Joshua Ola-Joseph isn’t really a flashy value play, but he’s been reliable lately. He’s scored double-digit points in nine straight games and is averaging 13 PPG over this recent stretch. Ola-Joseph doesn’t offer much cash floor outside of his points, but this consistent scoring and solidified role for Minnesota is hard to ignore. He would also get a boost tonight if Pharrel Payne sits as a game-time decision. | ||||||
| Keba Keita | UTAH | ORST | 5400 | 21.2 | 5900 | 20.40 |
| After getting hurt last game, Lawson Lovering is questionable to play tonight and could easily sit out. If he is sidelined, then Keba Keita gets a boost and will be locked into more minutes. Keita played 23 minutes after Lovering left early last game and put up 20 DK in the extended playing time. He also had 20 DK vs UCLA the game prior. Keita has had some ceiling performances already this year when he got more minutes and another could be coming tonight if Lovering sits. | ||||||
| Tre Carroll | FAU | WICH | 3300 | 6.3 | ||
| With Giancarlo Rosado now out for the next four weeks, Tre Carroll should be the main backup big for FAU moving forward. The team loved using Rosado to split time at center with Vladislav Goldin and it looks like Carroll is now that guy. Last game after Rosado got hurt, Carroll had 9 points and 15 DK in 14 minutes. He’s risky until we see if he’ll consistently get playing time, but Carroll is worth a GPP or cash dart at this dirt-cheap DK price. | ||||||
CBB DFS Core Plays
DraftKings Cash
- Jaylon Tyson – California
- David Jones – Memphis
- Nick Boyd – FAU
DraftKings GPP
- Jahvon Quinerly – Memphis
- Coleman Hawkins – Illinois
- Brandon Angel – Stanford
FanDuel Cash
- Jaylon Tyson – California
- Olivier Nkamhoua – Michigan
- Cole Bajema – Utah (if Worster out)
FanDuel GPP
- Marcus Domask – Illinois
- Kanaan Carlyle – Stanford
- Tristan da Silva – Colorado
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