DraftKings NBA Lineup Advice: Saturday (1/26)

We have a small four-game NBA slate on DraftKings for Saturday night, but it is still full of intrigue with big-name players already ruled out and a marquee matchup between the Warriors and Celtics on the docket. The Sixers are a strong source of DFS options with Joel Embiid out and Jimmy Butler also unlikely to play. With no NFL this weekend (no, the Pro Bowl doesn’t count), we can focus our DFS attention to the NBA hardwood.

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last-five-games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.

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One Stud

Ben Simmons (PG/SF – PHI): $9,600 @ DEN
You get two for the price of one in the “stud” section since there is only one healthy player over $10K on Saturday’s slate (Nikola Jokic). Instead, I recommend rostering at least two from the $9K range that includes Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Simmons comes in as my top play with Philadelphia’s injuries causing a big usage bump (6.5%). He is coming off a strong triple-double in which he posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Spurs.

Kyrie Irving (PG – BOS): $9,300 vs. GS
While I am fine with rostering either Curry or Durant in this spot and might try to get Irving and one of them along with Simmons in a GPP lineup or two, Irving is my preferred play to pair with Simmons in cash games. While the Warriors work out the “problem” of having too many All-Stars in the lineup, Irving is the main man in Boston. He sat out the last game, so he should be well rested. He has dominated recently, scoring at least 25 points in five straight games and putting up more than 63 DraftKings points in three of his last four outings.

Core Plays

DeMarcus Cousins (PF/C – GS): $6,200 @ BOS
Since returning, DeMarcus Cousins has seen his minutes increase with each outing, starting from 15 in his debut up to 24 in his last game. Look for that trend to continue for a few more games until he settles in around the 30-minute mark. His salary has only crept up slightly, and he has consistently hit about five times his salary while he gets accustomed to his role in the high-powered Warriors offense. A spike game is coming for Cousins, possibly as soon as Saturday night.

Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,700 vs. GS
Like Irving, Al Horford sat out the Celtics’ last game. He should be well rested to play significant minutes against Cousins and the Warriors on Saturday night. Horford has returned to form over his last four games, averaging 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for 33.7 DK points per game. He should get a small increase in production against the Warriors, who have allowed more points (+4.3%) and assists (+24.0%) to opposing big men this season.

JJ Redick (SG/SF – PHI): $5,600 @ DEN
JJ Redick will also be a big beneficiary of the depleted Sixers lineup on Saturday. He actually sees the biggest usage increase (+11.8%) with the combination of players who will be off the court against the Nuggets. Redick is already posting consistent scoring and DK points every night, and the increasing usage and expected shot volume should allow him to easily exceed value on his $5,600 salary.

Darren Collison (PG – IND): $5,600 @ MEM
The other big injury news for Saturday (and the rest of the season) is the loss Victor Oladipo for the Pacers. Darren Collison should see a significant production increase along with Tyreke Evans ($5,200) and Cory Joseph ($4,100). Collison will have the ball in his hands far more than when Oladipo plays, as seen by his increase of three assists per game without Oladipo this season. All three Pacers guards are potential options at their current salaries.

Value Plays

Gary Harris (SG – DEN): $4,800 vs. PHI
Gary Harris, who has bounced in and out of the Nuggets’ lineup over the last couple of months due to injuries, should ramp up his minutes into the 30s after playing each of the last four games. He has reached double-digit points in three of his those four games in limited minutes but should see his fantasy production rise with more court time against the 76ers. This is a perfect time to pounce on his low salary.

Mike Muscala (PF/C – PHI): $4,200 @ DEN
The last two value plays benefit directly from Embiid and Butler missing Saturday’s game. Mike Muscala should replace Embiid in Philadelphia’s starting lineup and see close to 30 minutes. In three games without Embiid this season, Muscala has averaged 27 minutes while putting up 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks for 25.2 DK points per game. He presents a solid floor with some upside if he can build up those rebound numbers.

Corey Brewer (SG/SF – PHI): $3,800 @ DEN
Since joining the Sixers, Corey Brewer has logged big minutes when Butler sits. Brewer has played at least 28 minutes in each of the last two games while averaging 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. He could compile even more production on Saturday without the combination of Embiid, Butler, and Wilson Chandler.

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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and Correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.