FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Wednesday 1/3/24

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

Donovan Mitchell ($10,400) -- Dating back to last season, Donovan Mitchell has played six games without both Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. He's averaged 58 FanDuel points (FP) and posted a 31.9% usage rate in such outings, per RotoGrinders' CourtIQ. Expect a monster performance with those two shelved tonight against a Washington Wizards team that gives up the second-most FP to PGs and is dead-last in defensive rating.

Bradley Beal ($6,500) -- Knock on wood, but Bradley Beal has now played three consecutive games. He's clocked in with 34 minutes in each of the last two, scoring 25 and 21 points in them. While Beal hasn't eclipsed 35 FP since the season opener, he should operate as the clear No. 2 option with Kevin Durant sidelined. The Los Angeles Clippers aren't a great matchup, but the game environment is decent enough thanks to a 232.5-point over/under.

Kris Dunn ($4,900) -- Kris Dunn has started six consecutive games for the Utah Jazz. He's averaged 25.9 FP over that span -- though that's inflated by a pair of 40-pointers where he played 33 and 34 minutes. He's hovered around 20 minutes in the subsequent four but could see extended run against a Detroit Pistons team that lets up the most FP to opposing point guards. Dunn torched the Pistons for 13 points and 10 assists just two weeks ago.

Others to Consider

Tyrese Haliburton ($11,200) -- Tyrese Haliburton has already played the Milwaukee Bucks four times this season. He's averaged 51.5 FP in those games and has gone under 50 just once. I want a piece of this 256.5-point over/under, and it's worth noting the Indiana Pacers have gone more than 120 points in all four matchups with Milwaukee. He'll further benefit from their status as 3.5-point 'dogs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,500) -- Listen, you can't really go wrong with Mitchell, Haliburton, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. At salary and given the 10-game slate, they're the three top guards on the board in my eyes, and I want one of them in my lineup. SGA carries the highest salary of the bunch, and he'll be playing in the second night of a back-to-back -- though Atlanta's 27th-rated defense is certainly appealing.

Alec Burks ($4,700) -- I'm a sucker for revenge narratives, but Alec Burks has been playing well enough to back him at $4,700 against Utah regardless of any narratives. Burks has averaged 24.2 minutes and 22.2 FP across his last four games, most recently eclipsing the 20-point threshold for the first time since October. The Jazz are just 22nd in defensive rating and are bottom 10 in FP allowed to both guard positions.

Jevon Carter ($3,900) -- Jevon Carter could be a sneaky salary-saver if Coby White is held out for the Chicago Bulls. Carter posted 23.7 FP in a season-high 22 minutes last night. I don't want much to do with Chicago's 104.5-point implied team total, but you can't beat this salary if White is out.

Wings

Top Plays

DeMar DeRozan ($8,500) -- DeMar DeRozan totaled just 24.3 FP last night, but he'd previously been one of the most consistent forwards in fantasy. In 14 December games, DeRozan averaged 42.7 FP and was held under 35 just once. He's seen a 25.5% usage rate and averaged 41.6 FP without Zach LaVine this season -- both numbers that could rise even further if Coby White doesn't suit up. Even with Chicago's minuscule implied team total, there's a case for DeRozan at a manageable salary.

Eric Gordon ($5,200) -- Eric Gordon has been quiet of late, but he has five 20-point games to his name this season and is in a nice spot to step up with Kevin Durant out tonight. Gordon has averaged 21.6 FP and enjoyed a 22.8% usage rate in five games sans KD, while the Clippers -- his former team -- are in the bottom half of the league in three-point attempts allowed.

Issac Okoro ($4,900) -- When a starting forward facing the Wizards is salaried under $5,000, you jump all over them. Washington allows the most FP to SFs and the seventh-most to PFs. Tonight, the honor belongs to Isaac Okoro, who has put up at least 28 FP in five of his last eight games and has averaged 25.6 FP without Mobley and Garland. That's comparable to Caris LeVert (average of 29.8 FP) and Max Strus (28.4) -- both of whom are salaried over $6,600.

Others to Consider

Ausar Thompson ($5,100) -- After battling an illness and playing fewer than 15 minutes in three straight games, Ausar Thompson logged 24 minutes and finished with 16.8 FP in Detroit's first game of 2024. We're a month removed from Thompson's torrid November, but I'm bullish the rookie continues to get back on track tonight. Utah gives up the second-most FP to SFs and has the highest turnover rate in the NBA -- something Thompson (1.9 steals plus blocks per game) can take advantage of.

MarJon Beauchamp ($3,800) and Andre Jackson ($3,700) -- There's a chance Milwaukee is without both Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton, opening the door for increased run for MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr.. Beauchamp is the most appealing of the two -- he's averaged 21.2 minutes and 12.1 FP in Middleton's absences -- but either would be an enticing salary-saver given the eye-popping 258.0-point over/under and Indiana's 28th-ranked defense.

Bigs

Top Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,500) -- Giannis Antetokounmpo's salary is hard to swallow, but he's fresh off a 73.1-FP outing against the same Indiana squad he'll see tonight. He's averaged a staggering 72.8 FP against Indiana this season thanks to marks of 46.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.6 stocks (steals plus blocks). Giannis is well worth the cap hit given the monster over/under (256.5).

Jabari Walker ($5,700) -- Jabari Walker has played well with Deandre Ayton sidelined the last four outings, posting 28.2 FP in 26.7 minutes per game. He could get even more run tonight if Toumani Camara is ruled out, but Walker has the right matchup to produce either way. The Mavericks have given up the fifth-most FP to opposing power forwards and are just 23rd in defensive rating.

Chimezie Metu ($4,600) -- With Durant out again, expect Chimezie Metu to draw another start. He put up 22.5 FP in a start for KD earlier this week and has averaged 20.5 minutes and 18.5 FP in five total games without him. He's played 25 minutes just three times this season -- however, two of the instances have come in the last five games. With power forward and center eligibility, Metu's low salary is a quality pairing with Giannis if you want to get to one of the top guards, as well.

Others to Consider

Jarrett Allen ($8,700) -- High-salaried guards and wings are plentiful tonight, and that's where I want to allocate most of my salary. With that said, Jarrett Allen still has some appeal in a matchup with Washington. The Wiz have given up the most points, rebounds, and FP to opposing centers, while Allen has averaged 44.2 FP sans Mobley and Garland. A 239.5-point over/under doesn't hurt, either.

Walker Kessler ($6,600) and Kelly Olynyk ($6,100) -- Both of Utah's bigs carry some appeal against a Pistons team allowing the second-most FP to opposing centers. Kelly Olynyk's minutes fluctuate more than Walker Kessler's, but Olynyk put up 44.2 and 30 FP the last two games and he boasts a friendlier salary. That said, Kessler's defense gives him the higher ceiling. He ranks third in the league with 2.7 blocks per game, while Detroit has been blocked 6.0 times per game -- fourth-most in the NBA.

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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.