NBA Picks At Sleeper Fantasy Today, 1/9: Basketball Projections + More

The NBA slate for Friday, January 9, features a busy schedule with several interesting usage trends driven by high-profile absences. With lineups shifting due to mid-season attrition and lingering injuries to stars in Los Angeles and New Orleans, the DFS market presents massive potential value on specific player projections. For tonight’s action, we are focusing on the Lakers' veteran forward benefiting from a star teammate's gravity and a Pelicans rookie stepping up to fill a massive void on the glass. These projections appear to undervalue their current roles and recent production for the 1/9 slate.

Sleeper Fantasy Free NBA Picks, January 9th: NBA DFS Projections

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Now, let’s dive into today’s NBA DFS projections and the best Sleeper Fantasy NBA picks to help you build a lineup.

LeBron James Sleeper NBA Pick: More Than 22.5 Points

LeBron James' scoring prop of 22.5 presents strong value tonight largely due to his offensive correlation with teammate Luka Doncic. With Doncic currently leading the league in usage and drawing aggressive defensive attention, James has been able to operate efficiently in single coverage and transition, averaging 25.9 points over his last 10 games. The absence of Austin Reaves (calf) further consolidates the Lakers' offensive responsibilities between their two superstars, ensuring James maintains a high floor for shot attempts.

Tonight, the Lakers face a Milwaukee Bucks team that plays at a high pace and often engages in shootouts. This game environment is ideal for the James-Doncic tandem, as high-total games typically see both stars exceed their scoring averages. While Doncic operates as the primary engine, James’ ability to attack the seams created by Luka's gravity, combined with the Bucks' transition defense struggles, should allow him to clear this number efficiently.

Derik Queen Sleeper NBA Pick: More Than 8.5 Rebounds

The New Orleans Pelicans' frontcourt depth has been severely tested with Herbert Jones listed as doubtful and other key bodies banged up, forcing the team to rely heavily on their young talent. Rookie sensation Derik Queen has stepped up admirably to fill that void, solidifying his role in the rotation. Queen is averaging 8.9 rebounds over his last 15 games and is coming off a massive performance where he recorded a triple-double last month.

With Jones likely out, Queen faces significantly less competition for rebounds, and his minutes are secure in a rotation desperate for size. Facing a Washington Wizards team that ranks near the bottom of the league in rebounding rate, Queen is in a prime spot to feast on the glass. His high motor and ability to pursue loose balls make him a high-floor play, especially with the Pelicans needing his rebounding presence to control the paint.

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