3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 1/28/20
While building a daily fantasy basketball lineup, it's important to make sure you find the right studs to anchor your team. As the most expensive players in your lineup, they need big-time production to match their high price tag.
You may find it hard to fit some of these guys in while staying under the salary cap, but you can check out our projections to find value players for your rosters. Let's take a look at the top high-priced DraftKings plays of the day.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
DraftKings Price: $12,100
Tuesday's slate is quite top-heavy, with five players at or above $10,000, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic checking in at $12,100 and $12,000, respectively. If you're paying for one of those top two, the Greek Freak should be your guy. He is only $100 more than a player who is averaging 1.5 fewer DraftKings points per game and will be operating on the second half of a back-to-back set. Giannis and his Milwaukee Bucks get the lowly Washington Wizards on their home floor in what projects to be a high-scoring atmosphere.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bucks and Wizards possess a massive 240-point over/under, and a 16-point spread gives Milwaukee a 128 total. In the nine games they have scored at least 128 Antetokounmpo has put up 60.5 DK points per game and 2.14 per minute over 28.3 minutes. The Bucks have won by 17-plus points in five of those nine contests, and that could play out again here.
Giannis could see his minutes limited by a blowout like that, but he's been a beast regardless. He's averaging 1.93 DK points per minute so he needs about 31.3 to reach value and make good as the building block of your cash lineups. Our models project him for 31.4 minutes and 58.7 DK points, all for a return of 4.85 points per $1,000.
Deandre Ayton, PF/C, Phoenix Suns
DraftKings Price: $8,200
Deandre Ayton is down in the third tier of studs, but he's been balling out of late in the fantasy department. He's averaging 44.2 DK points over the last 10 days (6 games), including four games with at least 48 and two in which he posted 50 or more. Ayton put together five double-doubles during this stretch.
Healthy and active, the big man has enjoyed his time with Devin Booker and others, but he could be without both point guard Ricky Rubio and backup center Aron Baynes. The former is questionable while the latter has remained without an update after missing four straight games. According to NBA Wowy, the young Phoenix big has averaged 1.22 DK points per minute and a 23.5% usage without those two compared to marks of 0.92 and 19.1% when they have been on.
Another thing in Ayton's favor has been playing time. In the last five he's averaged 36.1 minutes, or 3.6 above his average for the season. He logged 40 last game, and we conservatively project him for 32.4 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks. Our models like him to hit 40.7 DK points against what could be a tired Dallas Mavericks squad.
Pascal Siakam, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
DraftKings Price: $8,000
Once again, Pascal Siakam is tonight's buy-low candidate. It appears that after eight games post-injury the Toronto Raptors' go-to guy is hitting his stride, having tallied 35 points and 53 DK points in 37 minutes on Sunday evening. He knocked down 12 of 23 shots, putting his shooting percentage at 55.3% over the last two. His price is up by $300, but it's not enough in this particular spot.
A 12-point spread and 233-point total combine to hand the Raptors an implied total north of 120 points. And Siakam has been much more comfortable within the confines of Scotiabank Arena, where he has averaged 3.5 more fantasy points per game behind better shooting (46.9%) and a higher usage rate (29.4%). All signs point to a ceiling performance versus the Atlanta Hawks.
The young, rebuilding Hawks have won some games of late, but they are 28th in defensive rating and 5th in pace -- 11 spots ahead of Toronto. In the last five alone, they are second in pace though they are allowing 119.2 points per 100 possessions in that time. Siakam will take advantage, and he can be locked in for either format tonight.
Brett Oswalt is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Brett Oswalt also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username BrettOswalt__14. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
