NBA daily fantasy picks: Five players who could help your lineup for Jan. 13
A 10-game Wednesday immediately after an eight-game Tuesday means that a lot of teams will be on the second leg of back-to-backs. Wednesday is also a star-studded night, with six players carrying five-figure price tags, and six more checking in at $9,000 or more. With all the different ways you can build a lineup on Wednesday night, no one should be considered a must-play.
All prices are courtesy of FanDuel and based on a $60,000 budget.
PG: Rajon Rondo ($8,000) vs. NO:When seven point guards are more expensive than Rondo, you know it’s a deep position. Still, Rondo is our play here over the likes of Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and John Wall. Rondo has at least 41.2 fantasy points in three of his last four games, though it was his most recent one that was a dud. He did, however, have 12 assists in that game, and is now averaging a ridiculous 11.6 assists per game on the season.
SG: James Harden ($10,000) vs. MIN: Harden is the superstar of choice in our lineup for Wednesday. Minnesota does not have a defense capable of slowing him down, and an over/under of 206.5 is attractive, even though it isn’t the highest on the board. You shouldn’t weigh Harden against the likes of C.J. McCollum and Klay Thompson, but rather Westbrook, Curry, DeMarcus Cousins, and the other five-figure players. Given some of the depth at the other positions, Harden makes the best play of the bunch.
Inside job: DeMar DeRozan’s interior approach paying off big for Raptors
SF: Otto Porter ($6,100) vs. MIL: Porter continues to churn out 30-fantasy-point nights with his all-around production. He gave fantasy owners 30.6 fantasy points his last time out, scoring 14 real points with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in Washington’s win over Chicago on Monday. Over his last eight games, he’s averaging 15.6 points, seven rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 steals 31.6 fantasy points. Milwaukee, meanwhile, has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to small forwards this season.
PF: Ryan Anderson ($5,500) @ SAC: Anderson turned in a solid, though not spectacular, game on Tuesday with Anthony Davis (back) out, going for 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block and 25.4 fantasy points. You’d justifiably hope for more with Davis on the shelf, but Anderson should get a shot at redemption on Wednesday. The Pelicans have listed Davis as questionable for their game with the Kings, but it appears he will miss his third straight game. The Kings have been awfully friendly to power forwards this season, allowing the fourth-most points to the position. Anderson should take advantage.
C: Rudy Gobert ($6,800) @ POR: Gobert has played in three games after an 18-game absence, increasing his minutes played each time out. Over his last two games, he has averaged 29 minutes, 9.5 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.5 blocks and one steal, coming out to 26.8 fantasy points per night. With Derrick Favors likely still out because of a back injury, and Gobert seemingly getting healthier every night, the center should get 30-plus minutes in a matchup with a Portland team that has surrendered the second-most points to centers this season.
