With the NBA action heating up, January 6 brings exciting opportunities for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. With multiple teams dealing with injuries, savvy players can take advantage of undervalued assets, especially when crafting lineups for DraftKings contests.
This Monday, the matchup between the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks is particularly enticing, especially for fantasy players eager to maximize their returns. With Jalen Suggs sidelined due to back issues, rookie Jett Howard emerges as a strong value play, priced at just $3,000. Last Sunday, Howard made the most of his opportunity, scoring 21 points and securing 31 fantasy points against the Utah Jazz. "Jett Howard had the HOT HAND for the @orlandomagic! The 2023 NBA first round pick posted a career-high scoring night off the bench vs. the Jazz," reported the NBA G League.
Howard's recent performance marks him as someone to watch, especially as he continues to receive extended minutes due to Suggs’ and other key players' injuries. With Howard's ability to score and contribute across multiple statistical categories, he may be worth the risk for those seeking to fill their DFS roster.
Also noteworthy is the Memphis Grizzlies' matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies will be without key players Ja Morant, Santi Aldama, and possibly Desmond Bane. Despite the adversity, Memphis players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaren Jackson Jr. are stepping up significantly, having averaged strong fantasy points in games without Morant and Bane. Jackson, with notable usage rates, is particularly primed to take advantage of the Mavericks' defensive lapses.
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs face the Chicago Bulls, possessing the highest implied team total. Led by Victor Wembanyama, who has been putting up staggering fantasy points, the Spurs present multiple options to stack your lineup. Devin Vassell and Chris Paul complement Wembanyama’s impressive stats, making this matchup another fertile ground for fantasy strategy.
On the other hand, potential disadvantages loom over Brooklyn Nets players as they prepare to face the Indiana Pacers. Cam Thomas and Cameron Johnson are out indefinitely, leaving D’Angelo Russell's status as the key to deciding how to construct DFS rosters. If active, Russell poses tremendous upside, especially after showing consistent point production since rejoining the team. If he's unavailable, Keon Johnson and Tyrese Martin could emerge as leading options for fantasy outings.
While constructing your lineups for January 6, it’s also important to keep track of team rotations amid injuries. Managers must carefully evaluate matchups to maximize scoring potential, especially since several teams like the Rockets and Wizards battle for survival at the bottom of the standings.
Statistically, both the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards are interesting to analyze. The Rockets currently hold the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference with strong net and defensive ratings, whereas the Wizards have struggled significantly across the board, making this matchup one to leverage high-scoring opportunities.
For managers planning their strategies, the week of January 7 features 18 teams playing four times and 11 teams playing three times. The Phoenix Suns will be the outlier, playing only twice, signaling potential risks for owners of Phoenix players who might dominate lower-game weeks. Top players to evaluate include Grayson Allen, who without competition from Royce O'Neale, could excel, especially on his shooting nights.
The week also brings the opportunity for managers to assess players like Jonas Valanciunas and Clint Capela, whose results have varied significantly based on their minutes played and the teams they face. Given the competitive nature of streaming and start-sit decisions, this week poses strategic opportunities across the lineup spectrum.
Whether you're focused on the DFS scene, standard leagues, or sitting back, the upcoming NBA games can prove pivotal for both winning and gathering valuable insights for roster constructions. Fantasy managers should always keep their eyes peeled for last-minute injury updates, as each line-up decision could either make or break their weekly totals.
So gear up, do your research, and make those calls, because as this week rounds out, every point counts!