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NBA daily fantasy picks: Five players who could help your lineup for Jan. 6

Who should you start tonight in daily fantasy? Our NBA expert dishes his five picks for tonight.

Wednesday greets us with a healthy 11-game slate that features just two five-figure players in Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. At press time, Kevin Durant is considered a game-time decision because of his toe injury. You know the drill if he is out. Westbrook is an auto-play in that scenario, carrying a floor of 50 points and a ceiling that nearly touches 80, the only player who can a superstar floor combined with that sort of upside. The following five players make great fantasy teammates for Westbrook on Wednesday.

All prices are courtesy of FanDuel and based on a $60,000 budget.

PG: Goran Dragic ($5,800) vs. NY: In his last seven games, Dragic is averaging 35.9 minutes and 25.9 fantasy points per night. There are a lot of attractive options at point guard, but none come anywhere near Westbrook, and that means you’re going to need to find savings at your second slot at the position. Dragic gives you that, with the upside that he has flashed for the Heat in the last two weeks.

SG: Will Barton ($7,300) @ MIN: A few weeks ago, we said Barton would have to climb near $7,500 before we thought about going away from him in a daily fantasy context. He’s getting there, but he’s still well worth it at $7,300 on Wednesday. He’s coming off one of his worst games of the season, but in the two before that, he had 44-plus fantasy points. Barton plays starter’s minutes despite coming off the bench, and is averaging 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

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SF: Paul George ($8,900) @ ORL:

PF: Ryan Anderson ($5,700) vs. DAL: Anderson probably puts up the quietest 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in the NBA. He has a couple of dud outings in his last 10 games, but has been steady otherwise, giving the Pelicans and his fantasy owners his season averages, which you can more than live with at $5,700. The Mavericks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to power forwards, and Anderson lets you take advantage of that while also providing a pivot off of all the people who will roster his teammate, Anthony Davis.

C: Zaza Pachulia ($6,600) @ NO: I’m pretty sure we all figured we’d one day live in a world where Zaza Pachulia was one of the hottest fantasy players in the NBA. He has six straight games with at least 31.9 fantasy points, posting an average of 33.6 fantasy points per game in that game. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are dead last at defending centers from a fantasy perspective this year. Pachulia should be able to keep it rolling and remain among the league’s most productive fantasy players on Wednesday.