What's up, everyone? We are cruising through January, and we have an 8-game DFS main slate with a ton of questionable tags on Thursday.

Jokic keeps pumping out big scores in limited minutes due to blowouts. We also have MVP candidate SGA on the slate, as well as a well-rested Giannis.

Make sure to tune into the 5 p.m. show, check back a few times before lock for core plays updates, and hash things out with us in Discord.

It's probably not worth writing up every hypothetical injury scenario in the playbook, but here are some key ones to follow, which could lead to critical pieces of the slate (or core plays).

The Clippers play on an island game. Depending on who's out, Kevin Porter Jr. could be an incredible option if other bodies are missing. The same could be said about James Harden and Norman Powell if one or the other sits. Ivica Zubac was poked in the eye and missed some time, he could dominate the glass if he plays regardless of whoever is out. This is tricky as the lone island game on the slate.

Portland

If Simons misses, Scoot could be in an incredible spot and soak up more usage like we saw a few weeks ago. Banton may be forced to play 15-20 minutes, which could be enough in a perfect world for large-field GPPs. If Camara is out, look for other value pieces or possibly bump Deni up projections-wise. It's a really tough matchup, but if Camara (and/or Simons) sit, Grant should play major minutes and Sharpe should do the same. Both are very cheap. If Ayton is out, Robert Williams becomes a real thing., and one of the best GPP plays on the slate at $3,200 DK.

Golden State

We've seen them pull the rug before, and they're already missing Kuminga and Draymond. It's worth keeping an eye on due to a fantastic matchup. If Kevon Looney doesn't play, TJD could have a field day. If Looney is in, I might have interest in a punt there.

Boston

If Jrue Holiday sits, the biggest bump minutes-wise goes to Pritchard, and he will inherit more primary ball-handling duties.

Chicago 

Coby White is doubtful, which makes me very interested in Giddey. If Ayo is also out, he could see much more extended run again like we just witnessed.

Orlando

What a mess. I am still interested in Paolo. I doubt Franz plays more than 20-25 minutes in this spot if he returns. If Cole Anthony sits, I think we can certainly still go back to Anthony Black, just don't expect the same type of shot attempts.

 

 

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 Thursday, January 23rd

Be sure to like and subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel!

 

 

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.

UPDATE - 4:20 p.m ET

  • Jordan Miller - OUT
  • Kris Dunn - OUT
  • Norman Powell - Not On Injury Report
  • Ivica Zubac - Not On Injury Report
  • James Harden - Not On Injury Report
  • Jrue Holiday - Not On Injury Report
  • Kristaps Porzingis - Not On Injury Report
  • Jaylen Brown - Not On Injury Report
  • Al Horford - Not On Injury Report

UPDATE - 4:48 p.m. ET

  • Stephen Curry - Q
  • Trayce Jackson-Davis - Q
  • Lindy Waters - Q
  • Brandin Podziemski - Not Listen On Injury Report
  • Kevon Looney - Not Listed On Injury Report
  • Gary Payton - P
  • Moses Moody - P
  • Kyle Anderson - OUT

UPDATE - 5:20 p.m. ET

  • Gary Harris - OUT
  • Franz Wagner - IN
  • Jonathan Isaac - IN
  • Jett Howard - IN

UPDATE - 5:38 p.m. ET

  • Deandre Ayton - OUT
  • Anfernee Simons - IN

UPDATE - 5:56 p.m. ET

  • Cole Anthony - OUT

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 1/23

  • Klay Thompson - OUT
  • Dwight Powell - OUT
  • Jaden Hardy - OUT
  • Naji Marshall - OUT
  • Dereck Lively - OUT
  • Immanuel Quickley - OUT
  • AJ Green - OUT
  • Isaiah Joe - OUT
  • Clint Capela - OUT
  • Cole Anthony - Not Present At Shootaround
  • Jimmy Butler - OUT
  • Isaiah Hartenstein - OUT
  • Zaccharie Risacher - OUT
  • Draymond Green - OUT
  • Jonathan Kuminga - OUT
  • Kyle Anderson - OUT
  • Goga Bitadze - OUT
  • Coby White - D
  • Ivica Zubac - Q
  • Anfernee Simons - Q
  • Toumani Camara - Q
  • James Harden - Q
  • Norman Powell - Q
  • Kawhi Leonard - Q
  • Kris Dunn - Q
  • Deandre Ayton - Q
  • Franz Wagner - Q
  • Gary Harris - Q
  • Jrue Holiday - Q
  • Ayo Dosunmu - Q
  • Kevon Looney - Q
  • Ochai Agbaji - Q

 

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

We've got a lot of games with either lower game totals or spreads suggesting blowout for tonight's matchups. That said we do have a handful of games where we are expecting close, competitive and high scoring which is where the majority of the ownership tonight is going when building out our DFS lineups and those games are below.

Denver Nuggets vs. Sacramento Kings

  • Total: 242
  • Spread: DEN -8.5

Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors

  • Total: 236.5
  • Spread: ATL -5

Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls

  • Total: 228.5
  • Spread: GSW -1.5

LA Clippers vs. Washington Wizards

  • Total: 225.5
  • Spread: LAC-14
  • Tons of Clippers with Q tags in an island game. Should be a nice matchup for whoever is active.

 

 

 

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. (Updated 5:44 p.m. ET)

 

High

  • Nikola Jokic, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Domantas Sabonis (GPP), Scottie Barnes, Stephen Curry (if active)

Mid

  • Oneyka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson, RJ Barrett, Andrew Wiggins, Kel'el Ware, Paolo Banchero (GPP), Josh Giddey, Daniel Gafford (DK), Ivica Zubac, Tracye Jackson-Davis (only core if Looney out), Malik Monk (DK, GPP), Jakob Poeltl (DK, GPP)

Value

  • Jaime Jaquez (GPP), Robert Williams (mostly DK due to price), Quentin Grimes, Kevon Looney (only core if TJD out), Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Kevin Porter (GPP), Christian Braun (GPP)

 

 

 

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