NBA Fantasy: Top DFS Lineup Picks for Jan. 21

It's a busy Tuesday in the NBA on January 21st, with five games scheduled including a doubleheader on TNT/truTV/Max. The action kicks off with a matchup between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center, followed by a showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tune in to catch all the excitement on national television!

NBA DFS Core Plays

Tyler Herro (PG, SG – MI)

DraftKings: $8,300FanDuel: $7,900

Tyler Herro is averaging 24.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.8 3-pointers per game in 11 games this month. In the first meeting with the Trail Blazers on January 11th in Portland, Herro was good for 32 points, five rebounds, five assists, and seven 3-pointers.

Portland has allowed 116.7 points per game to rank 24th in the NBA while allowing teams to hit 47.9% from the field and 37.8% from behind the 3-point line.

Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI)

DraftKings: $9,900FanDuel: $9,700

Tyrese Maxey has a favorable matchup against the Denver Nuggets, who have an opponent rank of 20th. The point guard is averaging 44.9 fantasy points per game.

Maxey has been a powerhouse scorer, and he is coming off a 37-point showing in 41 minutes at Milwaukee on Sunday. He was 14-of-28 from the field, including six 3-pointers, while adding seven assists and six rebounds with a steal. That’s seven straight games with 28+ points. He has grabbed at least six rebounds in three of the past five, with five or more assists in nine games in January. You get maximum effort with Maxey, and you also get what you pay for.

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – NYK)

DraftKings: $9,700FanDuel: $10,000

Karl-Anthony Towns hits the floor against the Brooklyn Nets with an impressive 52.1 fantasy points per game. He is facing a Nets defense with an opponent rank of 23rd. In eight games this month, he is averaging 28.3 points, 16 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.3 3-pointers per game.

Towns is coming off an off night, though, hitting just five of his 18 attempts from the field, and scoring only 13 points. It was his lowest scoring total since December 21st in New Orleans. In his most recent meeting with the Nets on November 17th, he went for 26 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and one blocked shot on 10-of-16 shooting. Look for a bounce-back performance tonight.

NBA DFS Cash Game Targets

Deni Avdija (SF, PF – POR)

DraftKings: $6,800FanDuel: $6,900

Deni Avdija has racked up a respectable 30.1 fantasy points per game. He faces a Heat team ranked in the bottom third of the league defensively against opposing frontcourt players.

Avdija has managed back-to-back double-doubles with 17.5 points, 12 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in the past two outings. He has four double-doubles in the past seven games. At this price point, he is a tremendous value.

Jimmy Butler (SF, PF – MIA)

DraftKings: $7,500FanDuel: $7,500

Jimmy Butler has been a bit erratic since his seven-game team-imposed suspension. He had 18 points against the Nuggets on Friday in his return, but he managed just eight points on 3-of-7 shooting with seven assists, three rebounds, and two blocks on Sunday.

Butler has a favorable matchup with the Trail Blazers. He missed the first meeting between these two teams when he was suspended. His salary is super low for his skillset. This value won’t last long.

Austin Reaves (PG – LAL)

DraftKings: $8,000FanDuel: $7,700

The Lakers are hosting the struggling Washington Wizards, and you always want to have a couple of opponents of the Wiz in your lineup, if not a healthy DFS stack. The Wizards are horrific defensively, allowing 122.8 points per game (30th in the NBA) while allowing teams to hit 47.6% from the field and 36.4% from downtown.

Austin Reaves didn’t do so hot last time out against the Clippers, going for 14 points with five turnovers. Before that, in a favorable defensive matchup, Reaves dropped 38 points on the Brooklyn Nets with four 3-pointers.

NBA DFS GPP Targets

Cole Anthony (PG, SG – ORL)

DraftKings: $6,500FanDuel: $6,500

With

Jalen Suggs

ruled out for another game due to a strained back, Cole Anthony and

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

should see bumps in usage. Anthony is coming off a poor 4-of-13 shooting night against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, ending up with just nine points.

However, he had 11+ points in the previous seven outings. He is averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 3-pointers per game across 10 games in January while averaging just short of 30 minutes.

Mikal Bridges (SG, SF – NYK)

DraftKings: $6,200FanDuel: $6,400

Mikal Bridges was good for 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting in just 27 minutes on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. He also tacked on four assists, one rebound, and a 3-pointer. Bridges has come alive in the past four games, going for at least 23 points in three of those games, while hitting 15 total 3-pointers. If he can replicate those stats, he’s a steal at this price.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SG, SF – PHI)

DraftKings: $6,300FanDuel: $6,800

Kelly Oubre Jr. has been rolling along in January, posting 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 3-pointers per game in eight contests. He has gradually improved throughout the season, averaging 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in December and 10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in November.

Don’t expect this price to last for long, as his role continues to remain constant and his production picks up.

NBA DFS Value Plays

Adem Bona (C – PHI)

DraftKings: $4,100FanDuel: $4,000

The Philadelphia frontcourt is a problem right now, especially in the middle.

Joel Embiid

continues to sit with his knee injury, while

Andre Drummond

(toe) is a question mark to return. In addition,

Guerschon Yabusele

, a favorite of ours in recent weeks, is uncertain to go due to a knee ailment. Adem Bona and

Pete Nance

could see meaningful minutes in the frontcourt.

Bona has looked good in his past two games with extended minutes, averaging 11 points and six rebounds per game. He is a perfect 9-for-9 from the field in that span. Across the past four games, he made all 13 of his field-goal attempts.

Dalton Knecht (SG, SF – LAL)

DraftKings: $3,900FanDuel: $4,000

Dalton Knecht is occasionally worth a look when the matchup is favorable. Facing Washington on Tuesday night is one of those situations. The Wizards are horrible defensively, and if the game turns into a blowout, Knecht could see a larger-than-usual role.

Even if it is relatively close, Knecht should shake a few for double-digit points and a handful of 3-pointer opportunities. Rostering Knecht will allow you to spend more lettuce up top on high-ticket items.

Jonas Valančiūnas (C – WAS)

DraftKings: $5,000FanDuel: $5,600

Jonas Valančiūnas turned back the clock on Sunday in Sacramento, going for 23 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists, connecting on nine of his 11 attempts from the field in 23 minutes.

If you need a cheap option in the middle, Valančiūnas has been playing fairly well in January, averaging 11.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in just over 19 minutes per game.