FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Sunday 1/21/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Tyrese Haliburton ($10,900): If Indiana's emerging star is able to play after he was given a questionable designation. Haliburton has an intriguing spot for a ceiling performance against a Phoenix Suns' defense allowing 51.4 FanDuel points per game to point guards. At his second lowest salary in January, Haliburton is fourth overall with a 47.6 fantasy projection.

Devin Booker ($9,900): After producing an eye-popping 63.3 FanDuel points on Friday night, Booker's salary has increased by 2.0% to his second highest point this month. In his last six games with Phoenix's big three active, Booker has averaged 1.21 FanDuel points per minute and 44.2 FanDuel points per contest.

Jamal Murray ($8,100): Since January 1st, Murray has been on a roll, recording 41.6 FanDuel points per game and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has somehow decreased by 3.5% despite his production.

Malcolm Brogdon ($7,400): The 31-year old could be in line for an increased role after Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson was listed as questionable. If both were to miss, Brodgon is averaging 1.43 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.0% usage rate with today's current inactives.

Derrick White ($7,300): With Jrue Holiday and Al Horford ruled out, White sees increased production, recording 1.30 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.6% usage rate in this split.

Bradley Beal ($7,200): After a 6.4% drop in salary, Beal is fifth in value among guards with a 4.82 rating and a 34.7 fantasy projection in an appealing matchup against an Indiana Pacers ranked 27th in defensive rating.

D'Angelo Russell ($6,900): In his last four starts, "D-Lo" has accounted for 1.09 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.7% usage rate. Even at his highest salary this month, Russell is sixth among his positions in value with a 4.84 rating and a 33.4 fantasy projection.

Tyus Jones ($6,700): Despite a tough matchup versus a Denver Nuggets' defense ranked fourth in FanDuel points (46.4) allowed per game to his position. Jones is still eighth among guards in value with a 4.65 rating and a 31.1 fantasy projection.

Austin Reaves ($6,300): With value a little hard to find on today's slate, Reaves offers some relief after he averaged 28.5 FanDuel points per contest and 0.86 FanDuel points per minute this month.

Buddy Hield ($6,200): If Indiana's three-point specialist remains in their starting lineup, Hield is fourth among guards in value with a 4.83 rating and a 29.9 fantasy projection.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($5,000): While KCP's 13.0% usage rate in January is a little concerning, Denver's 3-and-D role player rates as a viable value option with a 23.7 fantasy projection against a Washington Wizards' team ranked last in defensive rating.

Aaron Holiday ($3,900): After Fred VanVleet was ruled out, Holiday should see an increased role at point guard on Sunday. The 27-year old is producing 0.90 FanDuel points and a 25.2% usage rate with today's expected rotation.

Forwards

Anthony Davis ($11,500): In a ceiling matchup versus a Portland Trail Blazers allowing the fourth most FanDuel points (60.3) per game to his position, "AD" is second overall with a 56.0 fantasy projection if he is able to play with his questionable designation. The Lakers' big man has played well in January, accounting for 55.5 FanDuel points per contest and 1.47 FanDuel points per minute.

Jayson Tatum ($10,000): After a 2.9% salary decrease, Tatum offers appealing return with a 45.9 fantasy projection even in a tough matchup against a Houston Rockets' unit ranked ninth in defensive rating. Boston's superstar sees a boost to 1.63 FanDuel points per minute and a 35.8% usage rate with Sunday's injuries.

LeBron James ($9,800): At his second lowest salary this month, Los Angeles' future Hall-of-Famer is sixth overall in value with a 4.89 rating and a 47.9 fantasy projection. James has played well against Portland this season, recording 35 real-life points and 57.5 FanDuel points in their last meeting.

Kevin Durant ($9,700): Since his return on January 7th, Durant is averaging 1.14 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.7% usage rate while his salary has moved down by 3.9%.

Jimmy Butler ($8,300): After producing 1.16 FanDuel points per minute in his last three appearances, Butler offers underrated value on Sunday with a 4.65 rating and a 38.6 fantasy projection.

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,200): Boston's big man is seventh overall in value with a 5.0 rating and a 41.0 fantasy projection after producing 1.35 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.0% usage rate with the Celtics' rotation.

Pascal Siakam ($8,000): In his debut with the Pacers, Siakam ranked third among his team's starting unit in usage (20.9%) and fourth in fantasy production (1.01 FanDuel points per minute).

Jerami Grant ($7,700): Portland's veteran could be a sneaky option if their current questionable players are ruled out after he produced 1.03 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.4% usage rate in this split.

Michael Porter Jr. ($6,500): Despite some inconsistent performances this month, Porter Jr. offers some value with a 4.54 rating and a 29.5 fantasy projection. In his last nine appearances, the 25-year old has recorded 0.87 FanDuel points per minute and a 19.0% usage rate.

Aaron Gordon ($6,200): The 28-year old is third among forwards with a 5.13 value rating and a 31.8 fantasy projection against a Wizards' team ranked 24th in FanDuel points (48.6) allowed per game to power forwards.

Cam Whitmore ($4,900): With four key players out of today's rotation, Whitmore offers great value even in a second unit role, averaging 1.49 FanDuel points per minue and a 27.6% usage rate with Sunday's inactives.

Jae'Sean Tate ($3,900): Houston's forward is Sunday's top value option with a 6.85 rating and a 26.7 fantasy projection.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($11,700): Denver's versatile center is first overall with a 57.7 fantasy projection in a mouth-watering opportunity versus a Washington defense giving up the most production (63.1 FanDuel points per game) to his position. Jokic has produced 1.60 FanDuel point per minute and a 26.8% usage rate in January while his salary has decreased by 3.3% since January 1st.

Alperen Sengun ($9,000): At his second lowest salary in January, Sengun is third overall in value with a 5.48 rating and a 49.4 fantasy projection despite a tough spot against a Boston Celtics' team ranked fifth in FanDuel points (50.2) allowed per game to centers.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.