FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Thursday 1/6/22

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

The Slate and Key Injuries

COVID-19 Protocol Update
Due to the advanced number of players in COVID-19 protocols, I want to provide just a manual list of those players moving forward and then discuss the other injury news separately. Only players that significantly impact the slate are listed:

Steve Kerr announced after last night's loss in Dallas that Stephen Curry was a question mark to play after a horrid game shooting and an apparent quad injury. Regardless of severity, it's more likely than not the Warriors sit Curry on Thursday against the lowly Pelicans. Otto Porter (foot) is out already.

The Grizzlies will likely be missing Desmond Bane (doubtful with a quad injury), but they could get back some combination of Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks, and De'Anthony Melton from COVID-19 protocols. It's likely a usage wash for the Grizz.

Kemba Walker will miss a fourth straight game for the Knicks with a knee injury.

The Clippers may or may not have Nicolas Batum available Thursday due to an ankle injury. That would create minutes for their other rotation wings.

Finally, Frank Jackson has a chance to eat into the minutes of some Pistons by returning from his ankle injury. He's officially listed as questionable.

Guards

Cade Cunningham ($6,800): The sole risk to Cunningham at this salary is whether or not Detroit can keep pace. At 1.01 FanDuel points per minute this season, and 1.00 since returning from COVID-19 protocols, the rookie has more than enough firepower to smash value at this salary. It's definitely a risk on Thursday, though. The Pistons are 13-point road underdogs to the surging Grizzlies, but the return of Isaiah Stewart from protocols could help their recent size issues.

Jordan Poole ($5,700): Poole is even decently projected as of this moment even with Steph listed as playing. If he doesn't, Poole is a lock button type of play at either guard spot. Without Steph on the floor this season, Poole has a team-best 32.3% usage rate that he's turned into 1.00 FanDuel points per minute. His upside is tremendous though; he posted 32 real-life points the last time he was in the lineup and Curry was not.

Others to Consider:
Chris Paul ($7,800): He's $1,000 less in salary than Devin Booker? Is this real? I'll happily take him over Book in that case.
Reggie Jackson ($5,700): My favorite Clipper. Team-best 30.5% usage rate without Paul George on the floor this season.
Damion Lee ($4,200): Could start for Curry, but still getting ramped up from protocols. He's a decent tournament option.

Wings

Jayson Tatum ($9,800): Assuming Steph sits, there's one single star with real 60-FanDuel-point-scoring upside, and that's Tatum visiting MSG tonight. It was encouraging to see him play 37 minutes last night despite shooting just 30.0% from the field for an awful final tally. Jaylen Brown is scoring better currently, but it's at a higher field goal rate on lower usage. Tatum will be popular with nowhere else to spend salary, but likely not as popular as his upside warrants.

Terance Mann ($5,000): Mann and Jackson -- from a Clippers fan -- should probably be the priorities for their date with Phoenix. Marcus Morris is fine, but he is salaried for the 29.0% usage rate that he enjoyed without Jackson, and that's only been 24.9% with Jackson and without Paul George for the entire season. Mann is under-salaried in a 30-minute role for the Clips in this spot, and numberFire's projection wholeheartedly backs up that statement.

Others to Consider:
Brandon Ingram ($7,900): One of the few above $7,000 with a real shot to hit a 5.00 value score. 30.0% usage isn't available here often.
Marcus Morris ($6,900): He could still dominate the offense at a mid-range salary. Prefer the other two, but he's fine.
Alec Burks ($6,000): Starting, he has been a quality option. 35 minutes and a 22.5% usage rate last game. Not bad for the salary.

Bigs

Julius Randle ($9,000): Randle's splits on and off national television are just bizarre, so it doesn't hurt he'll be on the big stage tonight. He returned from COVID-19 protocols to a 31.9% usage rate that he parlayed into 55.2 FanDuel points on Tuesday against the Magic. The usage is always there (28.0% this entire season), so it's frustrating that Randle so woefully underperforms in some spots, but his upside is fully present on a slate with few viable stars.

Bismack Biyombo ($5,500): With both JaVale McGee and Deandre Ayton out one more game, Biyombo may start is a massive statement game for his long-term standing on the roster. He's been sensational in two appearances (1.45 FanDuel points per minute), and he saw 29 minutes ahead of the struggling Jalen Smith (16) in the Suns' last contest. The lineup won't be available until after lock, but at his current production rate, he could still pay off in a 20-minute bench role.

Others to Consider:
Draymond Green ($8,000): Inflated popularity with Steph out, but he's seen a drop in usage with that floor situation this season. Tread carefully.
Jaren Jackson Jr. ($6,600): High points-per-minute upside (1.11), but he's always at the mercy of the Memphis coaching staff.
Isaiah Stewart ($5,400): We've seen dozens of players see their normal minutes after being cleared to play. Great value here if that's the case.