We have a seven-game NBA DFS main slate on Monday, January 22nd, on DraftKings and FanDuel. It's an interesting slate with three games of 10+ point spreads and three teams on back-to-backs. We have elite talent as Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Anthony Edwards taking the floor. Let's dive into our top plays of the day for today's NBA DFS main slate on DK and FD.

NBA DFS Tools to dominate tonight's NBA DFS slate!

Make sure to check out today's NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections before finalizing your lineups today. We also have the NBA Consistency Report to help identify players that have exceeded value based on their current price tag this season and of course our NBA DFS Lineup Generator!

Here's the NBA DFS Podcast for today's slate. Like the video and subscribe to our channel!

Notable NBA Injury Updates

QUESTIONABLE

OUT

PROBABLE

DOUBTFUL

Back-to-Backs

Pace Up Spots (January)

Pace definition: Pace is the total number of possessions a team uses in a game.

*key* Green is elite pace of play, Blue is decent pace of play, & Red is slow pace of play.

Green = Fast Paced team

Blue = Neutral Paced team

Red = Slow Paced team

Defensive Ratings (January)

NBA Game Totals

Top Tier Core Plays

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Despite two subpar games in a row, going right back to the well could be VERY fruitful. He has an 80 FP ceiling in three quarters, which is how this one is trending. This game has a 237.5 O/U but it has a 14.5-point spread attached. The Spurs are 5-18 on the road and Philly is 16-6 at home. If you’re playing Embiid, just know you may only have him for three quarters.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

We know what his ceiling can be and it was on display against the Lakers notching a 30-point triple-double. This is a tough match-up against the Celtics, but Boston has been human on the road and Doncic is going to be a low-owned star. With Kyrie Irving on the floor this year, Doncic has a 34.6% USG and averages 1.6 FP/min.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Similarly to Embiid, we’re unsure how much time we’re going to get out of Giannis here. They haven’t exactly put bad teams away a lot, just look at the Bucks last game against this Pistons team, which leads us to want more exposure in this one. Giannis has back-to-back 60 bombs, is averaging 59 DKP/game, and is simply too cheap at 11K.

Mid-Tier Core Plays

Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks

The Pistons are the worst defense and team on this slate so getting to some Bucks here isn’t a bad idea. We saw Lillard explode for 45 actual and 74.5 DKP last time out against the Pistons and he’s starting to play better overall, putting up 46+ DKP in three of four and 27+ points in those three as well. Lillard has scored 33+ points in all three meetings with the Pistons this year.

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Obviously, we need to know if he’s playing, but he’s too freakin’ cheap at a mid-8K price point. Without Mike Conley this year, Edwards is at 1.25 FP/min and has a team-leading 33.5% USG. He’s a triple-double threat when he’s running the show without Conley.

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

Barnes hasn’t been this consistently cheap since the beginning of the year and still has elite usage and positional eligibility. He struggled against the Knicks last time out, but the game prior showed off his ceiling posting nearly 60 DKP. Barnes averages 1.19 FP/min and a 27.3% USG with Siakam, Anunoby, Poeltl, and Achiuwa off the floor.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

In a 190-minute sample without Morant, Bane, Smart, Rose, and Biyombo, Jaren Jackson Jr. has a +10% USG bump tp 40.3% and averages 1.3 FP/min. Jackson’s posted a 30% USG or higher in each of the last four games and had a 47% USG vs. Minnesota during this recent stretch. This is a nice-paced game and if Memphis keeps it competitive, it’s because of Jackson.

DeMar DeRozan & Coby White, Chicago Bulls

I’d be OK getting to Nikola Vucevic here too, but I like DeRozan and White a bit more. All three guys are over 1 FP/min this year when they’re sharing the floor and with LaVine off and all sit between a 22-24% USG. White has the best match-up with the Suns struggling to defend opposing point guards and DeRozan’s the one the most likely to get off 20 shots.

Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

With Cade Cunningham out, Jadey Ivey has been fantastic in fantasy. He’s put up 36+ DKP in six straight games and without Cunningham and Marvin Bagley this year, Ivey has a 1.17 FP/min and a 28.7% USG (+4.8%) this year. Milwaukee has struggled to defend guards all year long.

Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

I wish the usage rate was higher, but with everyone out that’s out, Williams is hovering around about 1 FP/min. Williams has put up 25+ DKP in four straight games and 34+ in three of four as well. This is a nice-paced environment for Memphis and Williams.

Value Tier Core Plays

Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic

This isn’t an easy spot for Carter, but neither was Miami or Philly in the last two games when he scored 17+ points, which he’s now done for four straight games. Carter’s minutes have shot up during this span going from 19 to 24 to 26 to 34. Carter has 33+ DKP in three straight and re-entered the starting lineup yesterday. As long as he’s not limited on a back-to-back, fire him up.

Xavier Tillman, Memphis Grizzlies

The Raptors center room is one you attack and if Tillman suits up here, he’s a fantastic value. He’s started four straight games and has averaged 33.1 minutes, 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, 2.3 steals, and 31.1 DKP/game.

Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves

For whatever reason, Naz Reid’s price continues to fall and now at a sub-5K price point, he has a high ceiling. He’s played 24 and 26 minutes in each of the last two games and has 33 and 29 DKP games. Minnesota has already ruled out Mike Conley and Ant Edwards has been downgraded, so they might need Reid’s offense even more tonight.

Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls

With Zach LaVine out last game, the Bulls went to a starting lineup featuring Williams and he did not disappoint. His 23.8% USG rate was the highest mark he’s had since before Christmas and he stuffed the box score. There’s room for even more minutes here considering the assignment against Durant, Beal, and Booker that’s coming for him. Ayo Dosunmu is the pivot off Williams here.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Minnesota Timberwolves

In that overtime thriller we saw against Boston not too long ago we saw NAW start for an injured Mike Conley and NAW played 40 minutes (35 in regulation). In all likelihood, he starts again and could have an even higher offensive ceiling if Anthony Edwards, listed QUEST, sits too. He’s the chalk of the slate.

Kyle Anderson, Minnesota Timberwolves

There’s always a scenario where the TWolves continue to ice their backup point-guard room outside of NAW and use Anderson as their secondary ball-handler, which we’ve seen throughout the years. He’s put up 18+ DKP in all three games he’s played 20+ minutes in lately and that’s on the table without Conley tonight.

Late-News Core Play Section

*Section for players we are considering “core plays” based on late-breaking news & research

Check out our NBA DFS Livestream tonight at 5pm ET 

Remember to like the video and subscribe to our channel! 

Player Pool

$ Tier {{pos.alias}}

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-