Friday night features a big 10-game slate of NBA action to analyze. And with so many high-profile player’s statuses for tonight’s games up in the air such as Kawhi Leonard, Hassan Whiteside, Joel Embiid, and DeMar Derozan it makes the slate very difficult to navigate until we get further information. That said, I’ll give it a shot.
Sticking with my new format by picking “One Stud” who is priced over $9,000 on FanDuel as my stud to pay up for on the night. Then for each position, I will continue to give a “Top Play” who comes in under $9,000 and finally a “Value Pick” that is under $6,000. Hit me up on Twitter @Rotopilot if you have any feedback on the new format.
As always be sure to watch for late-breaking news before finalizing your lineup. So, with that here are my FanDuel player recommendations for the Friday slate…
NBA DFS FanDuel lineup advice for January 27
One Stud
James Harden (HOU) $12,000
Going with Harden as the “stud of the night” to own in cash games. It seems like all of the other “stud” options have some kind of strike against them, whether it is a tough matchup for Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Raptors, blowout potential for LeBron James or just a lot of other good cheaper options at their position like center with DeMarcus Cousins. Harden has a solid match up against the up-and-coming Sixers in a game on national TV and is at a position without a lot of other top tier plays tonight.
Point Guards
Top Play
Kyrie Irving (CLE) $8,400
Irving has been playing at a very high level lately averaging 48.9 FanDuel points over his last three games. He gets a very favorable matchup against the Nets who give up huge production to opposing PG in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Irving has faced the Nets twice so far this season and has scored 45.0 and 45.6 FanDuel points respectively in the two meetings.
Value Pick
Darren Collison (SAC) $4,800
Searching for value at the PG position tonight is a little difficult at the moment. Hopefully, some value options open up like maybe in New York if Derrick Rose is forced to miss a game (Brandon Jennings). However, if no other value options appear then Collison is a solid, cheap option who has the potential for a good game. He put up 37.1 FanDuel points in his last game and will face one of his former teams, the Pacers tonight who he scored 34.9 FanDuel points against last week.
Love our content? Check out the GoingFor2 Live Podcast Network!
Other Options: Isaiah Thomas (BOS) $9,800 / Kemba Walker (CHA) $7,900 / Elfrid Payton (ORL) $6,500
Shooting Guards
Top Pick
Dwyane Wade (CHI) $7,900
On paper, the matchup against the Heat tonight is not a favorable one for Wade. However, I’m going with the double narrative street and his recent production to push him to the top after James Harden tonight at the SG position. Wade, of course, played for the Heat his entire career until this season and with his comments following the previous game, expect Wade to increase his intensity and desire even higher than normal. Also, Wade has been on fire lately averaging over 50 FanDuel points in his last three games.
Value Pick
Courtney Lee (NY) $4,200
On a night with so many high and medium price options, you are going to need to find some consistent value options. Lee fits the mold with his $4,200 price tag and consistent production. Lee has scored at least 22 FanDuel points in four of his last five games which bring him to 5x value. He also has a decent matchup against the Hornets who have allowed increased production in points (+1.2%), rebounds (+13.2%) and assists (+10.2%) to opposing SG.
Other Options: CJ McCollum (POR) $8,100 / Bradley Beal (WAS) $7,100 / Iman Shumpert (CLE) $4,100
Small Forwards
Top Pick
Paul George (IND) $7,300
George is coming off his best two-game stretch of the season scoring 43.3 and 44.9 FanDuel points with back-to-back 30+ point games. His price is still very reasonable for his production and he gets a solid matchup tonight at home in what is expected to be a close game with the Kings who have given up increased production to opposing SF in points, assists and steals and will be without Rudy Gay to defend him.
Value Pick
Robert Covington (PHI) $5,600
Covington plays big minutes for the Sixers every night with at least 31 minutes played in five straight games. He enters into a good situation tonight in an up-tempo game against the Rockets which should allow Covington to exceed his typical production and reach at least 5x his $5,600 salary (28 FD points).
Other Options: LeBron James (CLE) $10,800 / Carmelo Anthony (NY) $8,000 / Jae Crowder (BOS) $5,900
Power Forwards
Top Pick
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) $7,900
If Kawhi Leonard misses his third straight game tonight, then Aldridge should see an uptick in his production on the road against the Pelicans. Even if Leonard plays, Aldridge will still be in a favorable matchup against a Pelicans’ team that has struggled to stop opposing PF this season allowing increased production in points, rebounds and assists. Kevin Love is a potential pivot at the same price if Leonard plays and you want to get off of Aldridge.
Value Pick
Nerlens Noel (PHI) $4,600
Noel has been the cheap DFS darling over the past two games with Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor out. While Okafor is doubtful for Friday night, Embiid is shaping up as a game-time decision. If they are both out, then Noel is an automatic play at just $4,600. If Embiid plays, then Noel is still playable but his upside could be vastly limited, potentially forcing us to look elsewhere.
Other Options: Kevin Love (CLE) $7,900 / Zach Randolph (MEM) $5,900 / David Lee (SA) $5,700
Centers
Top Pick
Marc Gasol (MEM) $8,700
Gasol went off in his last game scoring the first 16 points of the game for the Grizzlies on his way to 42 points and 57.4 FanDuel points. Gasol has topped 41 FanDuel points in five straight games and will look to make it six on Friday night against the Blazers. The Blazers have been a positive matchup for opposing C allowing more points, rebounds and assists this season.
Value Pick
Lucas Nogueira (TOR) $3,900
Center is often a position where there is some cheap or value options that emerge. For example, if Hassan Whiteside doesn’t play then Willie Reed ($3,900) becomes an interesting option. However, if no other options present themselves then Nogueira is a decent cheap option at the position who has put up at least 19 FanDuel points in each of his last three games while averaging 28 minutes per game during that stretch.
Other Options: DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) $10,700 / Al Horford (BOS) $7,600 / Nikola Vucevic (ORL) $6,600
[wysija_form id=”10″]ATTN Dynasty Commissioners: Do you want to do something cool for your league? How about a 1-hour live show dedicated to YOUR league? Team-by-team breakdowns, rankings, and more. For details and to book a show, visit: GoingFor2.com/plp.
