NBA daily fantasy picks: Five players who could help your lineup for Jan. 18
The NBA observes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a 10-game slate that tips off at 1 p.m. ET. Don’t fret if you can’t get a lineup in before the Sixers and Knicks start the day in New York. FanDuel offers games starting at four different times on Monday, so you’ll be able to get your daily fantasy basketball fix, no matter when your day begins. Whenever it does, these five guys should be on your radar.
All prices are courtesy of FanDuel and based on a $60,000 budget.
PG: Reggie Jackson ($7,200) vs. CHI: This is another early game, with the Bulls and Pistons jumping at 3:30 p.m. ET in Detroit. Jackson has loved seeing the Bulls on the other side of the floor this season. In two games against Chicago, Jackson has averaged 26.5 points, 10 assists and 6.5 rebounds. To be fair, one of those games went to four overtimes with Jackson logging 50 minutes, but this remains a great matchup for him. The Bulls have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this year.
SG: C.J. McCollum ($7,800) @ WAS: Here’s yet another early start, but one you’ll be happy you beat to the punch if you get McCollum in your lineups. The Blazers and Wizards get going at 2 p.m. ET. Shortly thereafter, McCollum should start abusing the Wizards. He’s in a bit of a slump, scoring fewer than 30 fantasy points in five of his last six games, but this matchup should be the cure for what ails him. The Wizards have surrendered the fourth-most points per game to shooting guards on the season.
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in Boston and Sacramento, respectively. Crowder has been hot of late, scoring at least 39.7 fantasy points in both of his last two games. Going back over his last 10, he’s averaging 32.4 points per game. The Mavericks have done well against small forwards this year, but Crowder is going to well to ignore at $6,800.
PF: Pau Gasol ($8,600) @ DET: Joakim Noah’s minutes didn’t have a ton of bearing on Gasol this season, but his absence should result in a bit more playing time and usage for Chicago’s starting center. Yes, Gasol qualifies as a power forward on FanDuel, but he’s a center in reality, and one who should take advantage of the Pistons on Monday. Over his last eight games, Gasol is averaging 38.8 fantasy points, slightly better than his full-season average.
C: Rudy Gobert ($6,900) @ CHA: Gobert had his best game on Saturday since returning from injury, posting 18 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks and 48.6 fantasy points. That was against the Lakers, a team that is ridiculously generous, from a fantasy perspective, to all positions generally and centers specifically, allowing the third-most points per game to the position. The matchup with Charlotte isn’t nearly as beneficial, but Gobert’s defense and rebounding always make him a threat to turn a huge profit with a price tag south of $7,000.
