FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Thursday 2/1/24

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.

NBA DFS Picks

Guards

Top Plays

Jalen Brunson ($9,900) -- This will likely be the last time we see Jalen Brunson under $10K, so take advantage while you can. Brunson has been consistently productive in two full games without Julius Randle, going for 48.3 and 49.1 FanDuel points (FPs). He's yet to have a true ceiling game, but that's certainly on the table with the Indiana Pacers in town. Indy is a bottom-five defense overall, and they're second in pace. A healthy 235.5 over/under gives Brunson plenty to work with. He's my top target, regardless of position.

Derrick White ($7,400) -- Derrick White has cooled off after a torrid start to the season, but his salary reflects that. As a mid-range option, White makes a lot of sense tonight. The Los Angeles Lakers plummeted to 22nd in defensive rating over their last 15 games, and they've given up the most FP per game (FPPG) to SGs over that span, per FantasyPros. The Boston Celtics' slate-leading 126.5 implied total suggests plenty of counting stats to go around.

Scotty Pippen ($4,700) -- With a bargain bin salary and the Memphis Grizzlies' extensive injury report, Scotty Pippen Jr. figures to be heavily rostered on FanDuel's main slate. We don't have much of a sample for Pippen, but he went for 29.2 and 30.9 FPs in two of their last three games. It's hard to project exactly how this rag-tag group of Grizzlies shake out minutes-wise, but Pippen's low salary and recent production make him a top salary saver.

Others to Consider

Donovan Mitchell ($10,300) -- Donovan Mitchell figures to be way less popular than Brunson tonight, so he's a great pivot in larger tournaments. I get the hesitation with Mitchell at $10.3K now that the Cleveland Cavaliers are fully healthy, but he remained uber-productive in Darius Garland's last night, leading the slate with 71.2 FPs. Another ceiling game seems less likely tonight; the Memphis Grizzlies were a top-five defense in January, and this game only has a 215 over/under.

Jordan Clarkson ($6,700) -- Jordan Clarkson is in the midst of a horrific shooting slump, making just three of his last 21 threes, per Austin Swaim of The Daily Iso. Although the Philadelphia 76ers sport strong three-point defense numbers on the season, they've given up at least 12 threes in three straight outings. As home favorites with the slate's second-highest implied total (121), Clarkson is a fine mid-range option.

Wings

Top Plays

Jayson Tatum ($10,200) -- It's not always easy to figure out when to play Jayson Tatum, but he deserves a serious look on a four-game slate. Tatum went for 55 FPs in each of the last two games, and he flexed that lovely ceiling in last week's 74.7 outing. The Lakers have bled FanDuel points to wings of late, allowing the fourth-most FPPG to SFs over their last 15. You want a slice of this 242 over/under, and it doesn't hurt that Tatum's averaged 45.9 FPPG in his last six matchups with LA -- a mark right in line with his season average.

Josh Hart ($6,500) -- Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo ($7,200) have skyrocketed in salary over the last two games, but it's warranted. Hart went for 31.9 and 46.0 FPs, while DiVincenzo dropped 43.7 and 60.0. They've been the two biggest beneficiaries of Randle's injury, so there's plenty of upside in a matchup with Indiana. numberFire projects Hart and DiVincenzo for 35.5 and 38.6 FPs, respectively. As of Thursday afternoon, that makes them the two best point-per-dollar values on the board. I can't imagine not rostering at least one of them.

David Roddy ($5,000) -- There's a shortage of value wings tonight, but David Roddy makes sense as long as he starts for Luke Kennard (doubtful). Roddy notched 27.5 and 23.0 FPs as a starter in the last two games, and he's quietly averaged 22.4 FPPG over his last 10. There's not much upside given Cleveland's strong defense and the low total, but Roddy's 20.9-FP projection is about all you can ask for at that salary.

Others to Consider

LeBron James ($10,400) -- Over the last three seasons, LeBron James has faced the Boston Celtics five times. Twice, the Lakers kept the game within five points; LeBron exceeded 60 FPs in both contests. Three times, the Lakers lost by double-digits, and LeBron failed to eclipse 40 FPs in all three. Rostering LeBron is banking on the Lakers to keep things tight. Considering LA's -3.5 average scoring margin last month and tonight's 11.5-point spread, that feels like a leap of faith.

Tobias Harris ($7,700) -- Tobias Harris went for 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 45 FPs as Philly's primary option last time out, and he should continue to dominate usage with Joel Embiid (and potentially Tyrese Maxey) out. Tonight's matchup is certainly appealing as the Utah Jazz have given up the second-most FPPG to SFs and the most to PFs. Harris' 40-FP numberFire projection is the highest among sub-$8,000 players.

Aaron Nesmith ($6,300) -- Aaron Nesmith erupted for 53.9 FPs in his most recent game, and he's seen a gradual increase in minutes and FPs over each of the last four. The New York Knicks have a strong defense, but Indy's 116.5 implied total is plenty high enough for Nesmith to produce.

Bigs

Top Plays

Anthony Davis ($11,200) -- Anthony Davis is the highest-projected player on the slate, with numberFire pegging him for 50 FPs. AD is questionable, but he sat out their most recent game, and this is a prime-time matchup. I'm expecting him to play, and it's hard to see any other big man finishing close to him. Davis torched Boston for 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 62.6 FPs when they squared off in December. A high total puts that kind of ceiling game well within the range of possibilities.

Paul Reed ($6,200) -- With Embiid out again, Paul Reed figures to be one of the more popular values on the board. According to RotoGrinders' CourtIQ, he's averaged 30.4 FPPG in 12 games without Embiid this season. Utah is a middle-of-the-pack matchup for bigs, but they're 24th in overall defensive rating. Although he's only eligible at C, the five-highest-projected Cs all have PF eligibility. It's not hard to fit him alongside a stud big man.

Precious Achiuwa ($5,900) -- New York versus Indiana is my favorite matchup tonight, so there's no wonder I'm into Precious Achiuwa. Achiuwa's per-minute numbers (0.84 FP per min.) are nothing out of this world, but he just played 40 minutes in the second leg of a back-to-back, notching 31.5 FPs in the process. That kind of workload is more than enough to consider him at $5.9K, especially since the Pacers are bottom-10 in rebound rate.

Others to Consider

Pascal Siakam ($8,200) -- Pascal Siakam has settled in nicely with Indiana, averaging 39 FPPG in seven contests with his new squad. Even in a suboptimal matchup, Siakam has a high floor, especially if it lives up to the 235.5 over/under.

Myles Turner ($6,800) -- Both of Indiana's bigs make some sense tonight, and this is the lowest Myles Turner has been salaried all year. He's been quiet two games in a row but scored 40.3 FPs just three games back. He's numberFire's second-best point-per-dollar value among Cs thanks to a 33.5-FP projection.

Santi Aldama ($5,700) -- Santi Aldama went for 31.4 FPs in 34 minutes last time out -- his sixth 20-FP performance in the last seven games. Playing heavy minutes for the shorthanded Grizzlies puts Aldama firmly in the value big discussion, just don't expect a ceiling game. Cleveland is third in defensive rating and top-10 in FPs allowed to both big spots.

Dive into the action with FanDuel Sportsbook's No Sweat Same Game Parlay for the upcoming Lakers vs Celtics and 76ers vs Jazz games on February 1st. See the promotions page for more information.

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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.