NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Monday Playbook

Happy Monday, January 27th! We have a 10-game NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings and 12 games on FanDuel.

The stars are out as Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Davis, and Domantas Sabonis are taking the floor. There are some big-time injury statuses that we need to watch out for as Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl, and Dejounte Murray are questionable. Jalen Johnson and Trae Young are already ruled out for today.

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

• News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
• Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
• Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
• NBA DFS Projections
• Lineup Generator
• NBA Ownership

NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, January 27th

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Pre-Lock Update

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

3:40 pm ET

• With both Rui Hachimura & Gabe Vincent out, I expect Dorian Finney-Smith to start, but Dalton Knecht is an interesting DFS option. Knecht played 23 minutes last game and had a 19% USG and Vincent played in that one (including closing over Max Christie.)
• Another interesting note: Without Hachimura, Vincent, and D'Angelo Russell this year, LeBron James leads the Lakers in USG (34%) and FP/min (1.45)

6:45 pm ET

• Dyson Daniels & Larry Nance are OUT, De'Andre Hunter & Zaccharie Risacher are IN
• Firmly puts Keaton Wallace in play if starting, which should be the expectation.

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 1/27

• Giannis Antetokounmpo - PROB
• Trae Young - OUT
• Anthony Davis - IN
• LeBron James - IN
• Jalen Johnson - OUT
• Dejounte Murray - IN
• Josh Hart - QUEST
• Walker Kessler - OUT
• Jalen Suggs - OUT
• Cameron Johnson - OUT
• Cam Thomas - OUT
• Immanuel Quickley - OUT
• Ben Simmons - OUT
• Derrick White - OUT
• Jakob Poeltl - IN
• Goga Bitadze - IN
• De'Andre Hunter - IN
• Jordan Clarkson - IN
• John Collins - OUT
• Bobby Portis - OUT
• Khris Middleton - QUEST
• Tobias Harris - IN
• Naji Marshall - OUT
• Santi Aldama - IN
• Jake LaRavia - IN
• Rui Hachimura - OUT
• Dean Wade - OUT
• Zaccharie Risacher - IN
• Al Horford - IN
• Caris LeVert - OUT
• Cody Martin - OUT
• Cam Whitmore - OUT
• Ryan Dunn - OUT
• Gabe Vincent - OUT
• Sam Hauser - OUT
• Jaime Jaquez. - OUT
• Jimmy Butler - OUT
• Dyson Daniels - OUT
  Larry Nance - OUT

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.

Denver Nuggets vs. Chicago Bulls

• Total: 247.5
• Spread: DEN -9
• Nuggets are 6th in pace, Bulls are 3rd in pace
• Nuggets are 18th in DRtg, Bulls are 24th in DRtg

Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks

• Total: 241.5
• Spread: NYK -3.5
• Grizzlies are 1st in pace, Knicks are 25th in pace 
• Grizzlies are 6th in DRtg, Knicks are 15th in DRtg

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Utah Jazz

• Total: 236.5
• Spread: MIL -9
• Bucks are 11th in pace, Jazz are 13th in pace
• Bucks are 8th in DRtg, Jazz are 29th in DRtg

Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

• Total: 235
• Spread: CLE -10.5
• Pistons are 16th in pace, Cavaliers are 7th in pace
• Pistons are 13th in DRtg, Cavaliers are 12th in DRtg

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Toronto Raptors

• Total: 233
• Spread: NOP -1
• Pelicans are 15th in pace, Raptors are 10th in pace
• Pelicans are 28th in DRtg, Raptors are 27th in DRtg

Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks

• Total: 231
• Spread: DAL -12
• Wizards are 4th in pace, Mavericks are 12th in pace
• Wizards are 30th in DRtg, Mavericks are 11th in DRtg

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.

High

• Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo (FD), James Harden (FD), LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Scottie Barnes

Mid

• Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Zach LaVine, Josh Giddey, Jamal Murray, Malik Monk, Jordan Poole, Daniel Gafford, Josh Hart

Value

• Jaden McDaniels, Drew Eubanks (FD), Kyshawn George, Dalton Knecht, Jordan Clarkson (FD), Brook Lopez (FD), Aaron Gordon

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