We made it to a new year, so HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are back again with another Fantasy Alarm NBA DFS Value Vault Article for Friday’s nice 10-game main slate! Lot’s of good options to go with for this slate, so let’s narrow down a few of my favorite value plays to help build those lineups!

DraftKings

1.) Tristan Thompson C (BOS) $4,200

OK, so Thompson sat out the Celtics last game against the Grizzlies to get some extra recovery and healing time on his hamstring, but coming into today’s game against the Pistons, he carries no injury designation and is ready to play again. So, what does DraftKings do? They make him the cheapest priced Center of the Boston Celtics at just $4.2K! Hooray! Thompson played 27 minutes, a season-high at the time as he was working his way on a minutes limit from the hamstring injury in the preseason, in the last game he played against IND and put up 14 points, 10 boards, and an assist for 29 DK fantasy points! I have a good feeling that as long as this game stays relatively close (BOS is an 8.5-point favorite), he could still be in line for another 25-28 minutes here. With the Pistons being down Blake Griffin tonight, they will look at Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee to man the frontcourt, and I believe this is a great match up here for TT!

2.) Thaddeus Young PF (CHI) $3,500

Young had been reported as the starter for the Bulls after it was deemed the Lauri Markkanen was not going to be available to play in their last game against the Wizards, but before tip this was changed, and Otto Porter got the start instead. This didn’t matter much as Thad still played 27 minutes in this game and put up 31.3 DraftKings fantasy points with 15 points, three boards, six dimes, and two steals. The 27 minutes was greatly encouraging, and now that Markkanen is set to miss yet another game here tonight against the Bucks, we could easily see the same scenario here for the rotation with Porter starting and Thad coming in as one of the first reserves off the bench. Great price on Thad tonight in a game with a total at 235!

3.) Desmond Bane PG (MEM) $3,700

The Grizzlies will travel into Charlotte to take on the Hornets, who just put a beat-down on the Dallas Mavericks in their most recent game. Let’s face it, without Morant this Grizzlies team looked bad in their last game against the Celtics, in which they were down a good margin by halftime. Bane was gifted 32 minutes on the floor in that game with the lead being as high as it was, and he recorded 25.5 DraftKings fantasy points as a result with 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Charlotte is just a five-point favorite tonight at home, as I am expecting a bounce back from Memphis here, but I just don’t see it. Either way, the Grizzlies are starting Tyus Jones , while De’Antony Melton is still out with Covid protocols, and Grayson Allen is now listed as “doubtful” to play with his ankle injury he sustained against the Celtics. Basically, all signs point to some extended run and up-tick in playing time for the rookie Bane here and at the price, he can help you get those high-priced studs!

FanDuel

1.) Otto Porter Jr. SF (CHI) $4,400

FanDuel decided that Otto didn’t need much of a price bump after his 55.9 FanDuel fantasy point effort last game against the Wizards as he took the place of Lauri Markkanen in the starting lineup. Otto recorded 28 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals in that game, while playing a hefty 30 minutes. Markkanen has already been ruled out for tonight again, so Otto should be in line for the start once again. The only worry here is that they are playing the Bucks in MIL, and the Bucks are a hefty favorite, but at the price, if Otto can still play 25-30 minutes, he can easily exceed this value on FanDuel.

2.) Carmelo Anthony SF (POR) $4,000

If you are a bit worrisome about the blow-out with MIL/CHI for Otto Porter Jr., maybe you should look a few hundred dollars down the SF list onto Carmelo Anthony here tonight as the Blazers will take on the Warriors in the Bay area. Melo was finally cleared from the health protocols that sidelined him for three-straight games to start the NBA regular season, and in his return game against the Clippers he went for 23 FanDuel fantasy points with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 25 minutes. I can easily see this minute range being a thing for Melo for the Blazers, as it fits right around what he was playing last season. This should be an up-tempo game with the Warriors and even though they are getting Draymond Green back, he may be on a pitch-count of his own coming off injury. The Warriors are also without Marquese Chriss , and Eric Paschall is “questionable”, so this could make Melo’s time on the floor a bit easier not having to deal with these guys on the second unit.

3.) Payton Pritchard PG (BOS) $3,700

With this game having almost a nine-point favorite in Boston, this could easily lead into a lead for the Celtics. Either way, Pritchard has been playing nice, stable minutes, and has seen 21, 27, 23, and 25 over his last four games while putting up at least 20 or more fantasy points in his last three-straight. With Teague moving into the starting role last game, this allowed Pritchard to run the second-unit and helped spark an offensive run in the fourth quarter of their last game to put the Grizzlies fully away. The price is cheap, and he should see 21-26 minutes in this one against a team in the Pistons who do not play a lot of defense.