FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 1/22/23

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 ($10,100): Despite scoring 54.7 FanDuel points in his last appearance, Oklahoma City's 24-year old guard did not see a change in his salary against a Denver Nuggets' team allowing 26.2 real-life points and 49.6 FanDuel points per game to his position. In three previous meetings, Gilgeous-Alexander has played well against Denver, averaging 50.7 FanDuel points and 32.0 real-life points on 20.3 shot attempts .

Damian Lillard ($10,000): In the past two weeks, Lillard has been in premier form, accounting for 1.45 FanDuel points, 0.10 rebounds, and 0.20 assists per minute while his salary has moved up 12.3%. Portland's leading scorer is second among guards with a 47.3 fantasy projection versus a Los Angeles Lakers team ranked 29th (51.5) in FanDuel points allowed per game to point guards this season.

Ja Morant ($9,900): At his lowest salary point this month, Morant is ranked fourth at his position with 45.6 expected FanDuel points against a Phoenix Suns ranked 18th in opposing true shooting percentage.

Stephen Curry ($9,700): Since his return on January 10th, Golden State's Splash Brother is averaging 1.16 FanDuel points, 0.15 rebounds, and 0.11 assists per minute with a 30.6% usage rate.

Kyrie Irving ($9,600): After scoring a season-high 81.2 fantasy points on Friday, Irving's FanDuel salary has increased 4.3% to his second highest point this season. The 30-year old sees a 0.18 boost to 1.35 FanDuel points per minute in 449.2 minutes with Kevin Durant off the floor.

Jalen Brunson ($8,600): In 398.3 minutes during January, Brunson has produced 1.15 FanDuel points, 0.12 rebounds, and 0.14 assists per minute while his FanDuel salary has moved up 11.6% to his second highest point this season since the start of 2023.

Russell Westbrook ($8,100): Even in a bench role, Los Angeles' veteran guard has provided underrated production, recording nine straight games with at least 18 real-life points and 1.36 FanDuel points per minute during this time period.

Josh Giddey ($7,900): Oklahoma City's 20-year old guard is having his best month this season, averaging 19.3 real-life points per game on 15.6 shot attempts and 1.26 FanDuel points per minute.

Jamal Murray ($7,900): While Denver's guard is listed as questionable, Murray's fantasy output could increase by 0.09 to 1.14 FanDuel points per minute if Nikola Jokic is unable to suit up on Sunday.

Ben Simmons ($7,000): Despite a 14.2% usage rate during January, Simmons has still been able to fill up the stat sheet, producing 1.10 FanDuel points, 0.26 rebounds, 0.27 assists, and 0.07 steals per minute.

Anfernee Simons ($6,100): After a 7.5% salary decrease, Portland's fifth-year guard is third among guards in value with a 5.16 rating and a 31.5 fantasy projection against a Lakers' team ranked 14th (41.0) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position.

Dennis Schroder ($5,500): The Lakers' veteran has seen a noticeable 12.2% salary jump after the 29-year old scored a season-high 51.6 FanDuel points in his last outing. Even with the recent salary bump. Schroder still ranks third overall in value with a 5.23 rating and a 28.8 fantasy projection.

Seth Curry ($4,800): Brooklyn's three-point specialist has seen a recent increase in playing time to 26.0 minutes per game this month while his fantasy production stands at 0.87 FanDuel points per minute.

Forwards

LeBron James ($11,200): At his second highest salary point this month, "King James" is second overall with 55.1 FanDuel points against a Portland Trail Blazers' squad ranked 21st in defensive rating and 23rd in points allowed in the paint. In two previous meetings, James is averaging 56.5 FanDuel points and 31.0 real-life points.

Julius Randle ($9,800): Since the start of January, Randle's FanDuel salary has dipped 3.9% to his lowest point this month despite producing 1.32 FanDuel points, 0.37 rebounds, and 0.11 assists per minute.

Pascal Siakam ($9,300) / Scottie Barnes ($8,400): If OG Anunoby is unable to suit up after leaving Saturday's game with an ankle injury and Fred VanVleet is ruled out again, Siakam could play a lead role on Sunday, averaging 1.33 FanDuel points per minute with a 33.9% usage rate while Barnes' output stands at 0.90 fantasy points per minute.

Jerami Grant ($6,600): At his lowest salary point this month, Grant is ranked second overall in value with a 5.27 rating and a 34.8 fantasy projection versus a Los Angeles' unit allowing 45.4 FanDuel points per game to power forwards.

Jalen Williams ($6,100) / Luguentz Dort ($5,900): The Thunder's rookie is producing his best overall month in his first season, accounting for 1.00 FanDuel point, 0.14 rebounds, and 0.12 assists per minute while Dort has recorded 0.87 FanDuel points per minute during January.

Royce O'Neale ($5,500): In his last eight starts this month, the Nets' veteran has recorded 0.73 FanDuel points, 0.16 rebounds, and 0.11 assists per minute despite a low 14.7% usage rate.

Precious Achiuwa ($4,900): Toronto's big man could see an increased role versus a New York Knicks' unit ranked 12th in defensive rating, averaging 1.03 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.0% usage rate in a 146.7 minute sample size if Anunoby and VanVleet are inactive.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($11,700): Even at his highest salary point this month, Denver's two-time MVP is numberFire's top option with a 57.6 fantasy projection against a Oklahoma City Thunder unit allowing 55.5 FanDuel points per game to his position. "The Joker" has averaged a triple-double in this matchup, recording 24.3 real-life points, 13.0 rebounds, and 12.0 assists.

Jericho Sims ($4,600): Despite a 27.7% salary increase, Sims rates as viable value option at the center position, averaging 0.90 FanDuel points per minute in a 432.6 minutes sample size with Mitchell Robinson off the floor this season.