FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 1/20/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,000): At his lowest salary this month, Gilgeous-Alexander is second overall with a 52.9 fantasy projection despite a tough spot against a Minnesota Timberwolves' unit ranked seventh in fantasy production (46.9 FanDuel points per game) allowed to his position. If Luguentz Dort were to sit again after he was listed as questionable, the 25-year old's production is boosted to an eye-popping 1.91 FanDuel points per minute and a 37.2% usage rate.

Donovan Mitchell ($10,600): In a great matchup against an Atlanta Hawks' team standing 26th in defensive rating and fifth pace, "Spida" is third overall with a 48.7 fantasy projection. Mitchell has crushed versus Atlanta this season, averaging 31 real-life points and 59.6 FanDuel points per game in two prior meetings.

Anthony Edwards ($9,200): Despite playing with a knee injury at some points during January, Edwards has remain productive, recording 1.15 FanDuel points per minute and 40.1 FanDuel points per contest while his salary has decreased by 4.1% since the start of the month.

Jalen Brunson ($9,100): Since his return on January 17th, New York's star point guard has unstoppable, producing 1.25 FanDuel points and 0.77 real-life points per minute. Even at his highest salary this month, Brunson is 12th among guards in value with a 4.74 rating and a 43.2 fantasy projection.

Fred VanVleet ($8,200): At his second lowest salary in January, VanVleet is sixth among guards in value with a 4.90 rating and a 40.2 fantasy projection in a great matchup against a Utah Jazz team allowing 51.0 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Coby White ($7,600): With Zach LaVine unlikely to play, White's production would move up to 0.96 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.3% usage rate with Saturday's expected rotation.

Devin Vassell ($6,900): In 681 minutes with San Antonio's current injuries, the 23-year old is averaging 1.0 FanDuel point per minute and a 22.1% usage rate. Vassell is second among guards in value with a 5.17 rating and a 35.7 fantasy projection.

Tyus Jones ($6,700): Despite recording a 18.2% usage rate in January, the veteran point guard has provided efficient production, accounting for 1.04 FanDuel points per minute and 30.2 FanDuel points per game during this time period.

Tre Jones ($6,600): Since the 24-year old was moved into San Antonio's starting five on January 4th, Jones has produced 1.03 FanDuel points per minute and 30.7 FanDuel points per contest while his salary has jumped by 32%.

Alex Caruso ($5,800): In 468 minutes with today's projected injuries, Chicago's reliable perimeter defender is third among his team in fantasy production. recording 0.90 FanDuel points per minute.

Luke Kennard ($5,300): With four guards sidelined for Memphis, Kennard is expected to see more time at his position, ranking eighth overall in value with a 4.92 rating and a 26.1 fantasy projection.

Gary Trent Jr. ($5,000): Toronto's guard is averaging 0.71 FanDuel points per minute and 21.4 FanDuel points per game in his last two starts.

Sam Merrill ($4,800): The 27-year old journeyman is set to play an increased role off the bench after Caris LeVert was listed as doubtful, producing 0.86 FanDuel points per minute and a 19.5% usage rate with today's current injuries. In 27.3 expected minutes, Merrill is Saturday's top value option with a 5.29 rating and 25.4 fantasy projection.

Forwards

Victor Wembanyama ($10,200): Despite playing with a minutes restriction, the Spurs' star rookie is fourth overall with a 45.8 fantasy projection versus a Washington unit allowing the most FanDuel points per game (63.1) to centers this season. In his last 171 minutes, Wembanyama has accounted for an eye-popping 1.94 FanDuel points per minue and a 37.7% usage rate.

Scottie Barnes ($9,000): In 206 minutes with his team's revamped roster, Barnes ranks first among Toronto's starting unit in fantasy production (1.22 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (27.3%).

Julius Randle ($8,800): After a 2.2% drop to his lowest salary this month, Randle is first among forwards in value with a 5.19 rating and a 45.7 fantasy projection.

Jarrett Allen ($8,600): Cleveland's big man is producing an underrated 1.51 FanDuel points per minute and a 21.2% usage rate in a 288 minutes sample size with Saturday's injuries.

Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8,500): The Grizzlies' forward should be their centerpiece of their offense with a short-handed roster, producing 1.28 FanDuel points per minute and a 37.5% usage in a 178 minutes sample size.

DeMar DeRozan ($8,100): After recording 1.14 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.8% usage rate with Chicago's injuries, DeRozan is fourth overall in value with a 5.16 rating and a 41.8 fantasy projection.

Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,500): In his last ten games, Hartenstein is averaging 1.11 FanDuel points per minute and 40.0 FanDuel points per contest despite accounting for a lackluster 9.7% usage rate.

Deni Avdija ($6,400): Washington's small forward has been a high floor option in his last seven appearances, averaging 32.5 FanDuel points per game and 1.10 FanDuel points per minute.

Jaden McDaniels ($4,900): At his median salary in January, McDaniels is ninth among forwards in value with a 4.75 rating and a 23.3 fantasy projection.

Patrick Williams ($4,500): In a potential starting role with Zach LaVine on track to miss tonight's game, Williams rates as an optimal value option with a 4.82 rating and a 22.6 fantasy projection.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($12,500): While Embiid's availability is worth monitoring for the second part of Philadelphia's back-to-back, the NBA's leading MVP contender is a great play in all formats, ranking first overall with a 57.9 fantasy projection versus a Charlotte Hornets' defense allowing 60.6 FanDuel points per game to centers. In their last meeting, Embiid destroyed Charlotte, scoring 42 real-life points and 69.5 FanDuel points at the same salary point.

Alperen Sengun ($9,000): Houston's third-year center leads his position in value with a 4.95 rating and a 44.5 fantasy projection at his second lowest salary this month.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.