FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 1/8/23

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,000): At this lowest salary point this month, Oklahoma City's leading scorer is numberFire's top option at the guard positions with 48.7 FanDuel points. The 24-year old has flamed Dallas in his two previous meetings this season, averaging 40.0 real-life points and 60.3 FanDuel points.

Trae Young ($9,400): In the past week, Young's FanDuel salary has moved down 6% while averaging 1.28 FanDuel points, 0.11 rebounds, and 0.26 assists per minute.

Donovan Mitchell ($9,300): If Darius Garland is unable to suit up on Sunday night, Mitchell's fantasy production sees a 0.14 boost to 1.32 FanDuel points per minute while his usage rate jumps by 3.1% to 35.2%.

Kyrie Irving ($8,800): Despite a tough matchup versus a Miami Heat team ranked fifth in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position, Irving is fourth among guards with a 41.9 FanDuel point projection.

Kevin Porter Jr. ($7,900): After a 5.9% salary decrease, Houston's point guard is an underrated option with a 4.61 value rating and 36.5 expected FanDuel points against a Minnesota Timberwolves unit ranked 21st in fantasy production allowed to his position.

D'Angelo Russell ($7,000): "3'Angelo" could become Minnesota's top offensive option against a Houston Rockets unit allowing the most fantasy production to point guards if Anthony Edwards is inactive on Sunday night. In 186.4 minute with Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns off the floor this season, Russell is averaging 0.97 FanDuel points and team-leading 28.1% usage rate.

Desmond Bane ($6,600): Even in a restricted role, Bane could play an expanded offensive role if Ja Morant were to sit, averaging an efficient 1.24 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.6% usage rate in a 224.7 minute sample size.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6,000): The Mavericks' veteran ranks fifth in value among guards with a 5.7 rating and a 34.2 fantasy production after Luka Doncic was ruled out on Sunday.

Dillon Brooks ($5,500): At his lowest salary in the past month, Brooks is an optimal mid-range option with a 5.34 value rating and 29.4 expected fantasy points.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,400): In an underrated spot versus a Thunder team ranked 19th in opposing three point percentage, Hardaway ranks fourth among guards in value with a 5.74 rating and a 31.0 fantasy projection.

Landry Shamet ($5,200): Since January 2nd, Shamet is averaging 0.57 FanDuel points per minute in his last three starts while his production would jump to 0.99 fantasy points per minute if Chris Paul and Devin Booker were to sit.

Tyus Jones ($5,000): In 455.8 minutes with today's current rotation, Jones is averaging 0.98 FanDuel points, 0.10 rebounds, and 0.24 assists per minute.

Damion Lee ($4,100) / Duane Washington Jr. ($4,000): In potential expanded roles if Paul is ruled out, Lee ranks second among guards in value with a 6.4 rating and 26.3 expected fantasy points while Washington Jr. is third with a 5.85 rating and 23.4 expected FanDuel points.

Jaden Hardy ($3,700): The Mavericks' rookie is recording 1.07 FanDuel points and a 29.4% usage rate in 71.6 minutes with Sunday's current inactives.

Forwards

Kevin Durant ($10,800): Brooklyn's forward has seen his FanDuel salary move up 3.8% to his highest point in the past month while producing 1.37 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.16 assists per minute.

Jimmy Butler ($8,800): In his past five appearances, Butler has regained his form, averaging 1.25 FanDuel points, 0.59 real-life points, and 0.16 assists per minute while his FanDuel salary has dropped 6.3%.

Kawhi Leonard ($8,600): "The Claw" could be his team's top offensive option versus an Atlanta Hawks' team ranked 16th in defensive rating if Paul George cannot play on Sunday with his hamstring injury. Leonard is producing 1.26 FanDuel points and a 29.7% usage rate in 132.8 minutes with George off the floor.

Lauri Markkanen ($8,400): After a 6.6% salary decrease, Utah's forward is a underrated option to consider in a great spot against a Memphis Grizzlies team allowing to second most fantasy points to his position.

Christian Wood ($8,100): The Mavericks' big man sees an eye-popping 0.52 increase in his fantasy output to 1.83 FanDuel points with today's inactives. In a favorable matchup against a Thunder team ranked 25th in points allowed in the paint, Wood ranks second among forwards with 42.1 expected FanDuel points.

Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,300): Despite frequent foul trouble, the Grizzlies' defensive enforcer produces an efficient 1.56 FanDuel points per minute with Morant and Steven Adams off the floor this season.

Mikal Bridges ($6,100): Phoenix's durable forward is an optimal mid-range option with a 5.2 value rating and 31.7 expected FanDuel points at his second lowest salary point this month.

Centers

Rudy Gobert ($7,600): After producing a monster double-double and 51.2 fantasy points in his last outing, Gobert will attempt to sustain his recent momentum against a Rockets' team allowing centers to score 21.0 real-life points and 52.0 FanDuel points.

Deandre Ayton ($7,500): If Paul were to sit, Phoenix's center could be their lead offensive option with a 26.8% usage rate while his fantasy production would jump to 1.43 FanDuel points per minute with the Suns' current injuries.