The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson is shooting 64.1% from the field in six games in January.
It’s Tuesday, Jan. 13 and we have a total of seven games on the NBA slate. Below are our top NBA DFS picks and advice for tonight’s slate. We’re going to focus on the early-window games, which have tip-off times from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
NBA DFS core plays
Alperen Sengun (PF, C – HOU)
- DraftKings: $9,100
- FanDuel: $9,400
Alperen Sengun returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing a week due to an ankle injury. He scored 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting from the field in 35 minutes in a shocking 111-98 loss to Sacramento, while pulling down nine rebounds, recording four assists, two steals and a block. He also knocked down a 3-pointer. The good news is that he didn’t play with a minutes restriction.
Sengun has racked up 47.1 fantasy points per game while the Chicago Bulls have managed an opponent rank of 27th, so the frontcourt stud is a slam-dunk play, pun totally intended. The Bulls are allowing 120.8 points per game (PPG), ranking 26th in the NBA. Chicago has allowed teams to shoot 47.3% from the field (21st) and 36.7% from the 3-point line (22nd).
Kevin Durant (SG, SF – HOU)
- DraftKings: $8,900
- FanDuel: $9,300
Kevin Durant makes for a nice one-two punch, using Houston players as a stack against a very giving Chicago team. Durant is posting 42.4 fantasy points per game. Swingmen are putting up good points against the Bulls.
Durant is having his best month so far in January, averaging 28.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and 2.7 3-pointers per game in six contests this month. In 11 games against Eastern Conference teams this season, Durant is averaging 28.5 points.
Devin Booker (PG, SG – PHX)
- DraftKings: $8,700
- FanDuel: $9,200
Devin Booker has been a very dependable option, as he comes with a surprisingly affordable price tag lately. We’ve been leaning on him rather heavily, especially when the matchup is favorable, such as it is Tuesday night.
Booker has rolled up 41.7 fantasy points per game, and the Miami Heat have an opponent rank of 16th, which is rather neutral. However, Miami has been very giving lately, allowing 122+ points in five of the past seven games and 123 PPG in the past three contests.
NBA DFS cash game targets
Zion Williamson (PF – NOP)
- DraftKings: $8,200
- FanDuel: $8,500
Zion Williamson isn’t quite a bargain basement-priced player, but he has a rather favorable price tag for the toolset he brings to the table. He is averaging 37.4 fantasy points per game, and he should have a field day with Nikola Jokić sidelined for Denver. The Pelicans’ frontcourt should have a strong day.
Denver is 26th in opponent rank, so Williamson is in line for a huge outing. In the past three games, he is averaging 25 points, five rebounds and four assists, while hitting 64.1% from the field in six games in January. Williamson has hit 50% or better from the field in 13 consecutive outings.
Peyton Watson (SF, PF – DEN)
- DraftKings: $7,500
- FanDuel: $7,600
The 23-year-old from UCLA has really stepped up his game, seizing the opportunity with Nikola Jokić out of the mix. Peyton Watson has played regular minutes all season, but he has bumped up the totem pole in terms of offensive responsibilities on a nightly basis.
In January, Watson is averaging 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and one steal. He scored a double-double against the Hawks on Friday. Watson is shooting 49% from the field this month. He has stepped up his perimeter shooting, too, knocking down 14 3-pointers (4.5 per game) in the past four outings.
Bam Adebayo (C – MIA)
- DraftKings: $7,000
- FanDuel: $7,300
Bam Adebayo is such an underrated player. While he has struggled with his shot in January, which is why fantasy managers and DFS players are leery of him, Adebayo is a rebounding machine. He is averaging just 10.8 points in six games in January, hitting just 35.1% from the field. However, he is good for 10.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this month.
Phoenix has a solid defense, allowing just 111.8 PPG, but it is allowing 46.7% from the floor, ranking 14th, which is rather neutral. The Suns’ defense could be the elixir to cure Adebayo’s shooting ills. If not, he should still rack up his fair share of boards and a handful of assists.
NBA DFS GPP targets
Donte DiVincenzo (SG, PG – MIN)
- DraftKings: $6,200
- FanDuel: $6,600
Donte DiVincenzo is a tremendous option against the Bucks, a team with an opponent rank of 25. He is averaging 29.7 fantasy points per game, and he should exceed those totals against the very giving Milwaukee defense. The Bucks are so-so, allowing 115.1 PPG (14th) and a field goal rate of 46.4% (12th). The Bucks are extremely giving from behind the 3-point line, though, allowing 36.3% (20th) from behind the arc.
DiVincenzo is on fire lately, going for at least 15 points in three straight games, averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and two steals during that span. He has also made at least three 3-pointers, totaling 14 triples in the span. At this price, DiVincenzo’s production has been amazing.
Jabari Smith Jr. (PF, C – HOU)
- DraftKings: $6,200
- FanDuel: $6,200
Circling back around to the Rockets, another strong play is Jabari Smith Jr. He comes with a mid-tier price, but he has logged 30.3 fantasy points per game. That’s good news, facing a Bulls team that has an opponent rank of 29.
Smith has been a little erratic lately, posting three single-digit scoring nights in the past five outings. He has been dismal from behind the 3-point line, so hopefully the Bulls’ leaky defense will get him going. He has hit 5% (1-of-20) from behind the arc line in the past three games, thus the plummeting price tag. Take advantage, as he’ll snap out of his funk soon.
Collin Gillespie (PG, SG – PHX)
- DraftKings: $6,000
- FanDuel: $6,100
Collin Gillespie is a strong play against the Miami Heat. They’ve allowed 122+ points in five of the past seven games, and 123 PPG across the past three outings. Gillespie is going to exceed DFS salary expectations by quite a bit.
Another Villanova product, similar to Donte DiVincenzo, Gillespie is coming off an absolute stinker. That puts him in the bargain bin with plenty of upside. He is just 2-of-14 (14.3%) across the past two games, but he averaged 16.3 points, 5.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 3.3 3-pointers in 12 December games.
NBA DFS value plays
Bones Hyland (PG, SG – MIN)
- DraftKings: $3,100
- FanDuel: $4,000
Bones Hyland and Mike Conley should be leaned up as cheap options with upside while Anthony Edwards (right foot) rests his right foot with a back-to-back situation coming up this weekend. Hyland, in particular, is the stronger play.
Isaac Okoro (SF – CHI)
- DraftKings: $4,000
- FanDuel: $3,900
Isaac Okoro has played 25+ minutes in each of the past six games. While that hasn’t translated to a lot of success in the counting stats, he did post 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block with three triples across 29 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks last time out. If he can replicate that stat line, he’ll more than pay for himself.
Micah Peavy (SF – NOP)
- DraftKings: $3,400
- FanDuel: $3,800
Micah Peavy and swingman Bryce McGowens are seeing a bump in minutes and responsibilities with Herbert Jones on the shelf. Again, the Nuggets have an opponent rank of 26th, and Nikola Jokić is not available. It won’t take much for Peavy to exceed expectations.
