UPDATE: LUKA DONCIC, JA MORANT AND STEVEN ADAMS HAVE BEEN RULED OUT. We have a nice six-game slate to dive into after football is over on Sunday, January 8th. Even with just six games, there is still plenty of star power tonight. This slate features Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Kyrie Irving. Players such as Ja Morant, Darius Garland, Anthony Edwards, and Chris Paul enter the day Questionable to play.

Be sure to check out our NBA DFS projections, powered by FanJections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and all of the rest of our NBA DFS content and tools! Let's break down Dylan's top plays of the day for DraftKings and FanDuel!

Pos
(Click to sort ascending)
Player
(Click to sort ascending)
Matchup
(Click to sort ascending)
DK
(Click to sort ascending)
DK Pts
(Click to sort ascending)
FD
(Click to sort ascending)
FD Pts
(Click to sort ascending)
PGJa MorantUTA @ MEM Sun 6:001070051.51040049.7

UPDATE: JA MORANT HAS BEN RULED OUT. TYUS JONES BECOMES AN ELITE PLAY EVERYWHERE AND SGA IS THE CLEAR SPEND UP AT THE POSITION. Uncertainty is afoot with Morant officially Questionable for this enticing game against the Jazz. Morant is on an unreal hot streak right now (48+ fantasy points in six of seven games), and his absence would open up a lot of usage for Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, and Jaren Jackson. If he does play, he will compete for the top PG on the slate with no Doncic today.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGShai Gilgeous-AlexanderDAL @ OKC Sun 7:0010000481000048.3

With no Doncic to worry about on defense, SGA has a chance to go nuclear again on Dallas. He averages 59 fantasy points per game in two contests against them this year 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGTrae YoungATL @ LAC Sun 9:00970054.6940050.5

Trae Young is a nice tournament pivot off of SGA for a slightly lower salary and in a better matchup. The Clippers are a bottom-10 team against PGs this year and Young has scored at least 42 fantasy points in all but one game over the last month. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGKyrie IrvingDAL @ OKC Sun 7:008700088000

Every game for Irving has been between 37 and 47 fantasy points for the past two weeks. That has value at $8,700 but I'm not going to crazy here with a tough matchup against the Heat. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGKevin PorterATL @ LAC Sun 9:007700079000

After a dud in New Orleans, Porter was back to over 35 fantasy points again against Utah and now gets the Timberwolves who are fifth in pace and just 15th in net rating this season. As a game with a 230+ total, this is an appealing game to stack. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGD'Angelo RussellBKN @ MIA Sun 6:007300070000

The Rockets are the absolute worst team against point guards, this year, allowing five more fantasy points per game to the position than any other team. With Anthony Edwards Questionable in this game, it could be a huge spot for Russell. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGSpencer DinwiddieDAL @ OKC Sun 7:00660031.7600030.5

When Doncic does not play, Dinwiddie has an amazing 28% usage rate and 1.18 fantasy points per minute. He also leads the team in minutes when Doncic is not on the floor, so the workload in this game should be huge. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGDuane WashingtonCHA @ IND Sun 5:003600040000

With no Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Cameron Payne, or Cam Johnson, Washington leads the Suns with a 34.5% usage rate and he also puts up 1.22 fantasy points per minute. One of many strong value guard plays today, but he is in the worst game environment. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGJaden HardyDAL @ OKC Sun 7:0031002.937002.9

Hardy ALSO has a 28% usage rate in a 98-minute sample with no Doncic on the floor this season. Now that Kemba Walker has been released, Hardy is likely to see a lot of minutes and is a clear punt value play against a weak Thunder team. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGAnthony EdwardsMIN @ HOU Sun 7:00910045.2870044

Edwards is Questionable for this game, but gets the best matchup of the day against the Rockets. He is coming off a stretch of seven of his last eight games with at least 42 fantasy points. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGDejounte Murray8300085000

Murray's salary did not move after a 28-point dud against the Lakers on Friday, but before that he was smoking hot four straight games over 40 fantasy points. If Paul George sits tonight, it makes the matchup even better. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGJordan ClarksonUTA @ MEM Sun 6:00750035.4690033

Just plug him in on FanDuel and don't look back. Clarkson never scores less than 30 fantasy points and averages 33 fantasy points against the Grizzlies this year. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGDesmond BaneUTA @ MEM Sun 6:00670034.9660033.3

If Morant should happen to miss this game, Bane's usage would shoot up to 31% to go along with 1.32 fantasy points per minute. It's a great matchup regardless as the Jazz are the third-worst team against shooting guards over the last 30 days. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGJosh Giddey7000074000

Giddey is often a roller-coaster for DFS but he does have more than 40 fantasy points in three of his last five games and he is now playing more than 32 minutes every night. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGLandry Shamet4600052000

With no Booker, Paul, or Cam Payne, Shamet gets a very healthy 26.4% usage rate and 1.08 fantasy points per minute. There is blowout risk here if all of the Cleveland starters go in this one, but he is the clear value play on DK. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFKevin DurantCLE @ PHX Sun 8:00102000108000

Yes, the Heat represent a tough matchup, and this only has a 223 implied total tonight, but Durant has one game under 52 fantasy points in his last six and is approaching 30% usage every single night. There are a couple very good small forward options tonight, but none can touch the ceiling of Durant. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFLauri MarkkanenUTA @ MEM Sun 6:00930042.5840040.7

Just like his teammate Jordan Clarkson, Markkanen's salary is just way too cheap on FD. This guy is a lock for 40 fantasy points and he averages 49.6 over his last 10 days. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFKawhi LeonardATL @ LAC Sun 9:00820033.3860032.8

Kawhi, like the rest of the Clippers, didn't do anything in the blowout loss to the Nuggets, but he averaged 40 points per game in the four previous. Paul George is Questionable in this one, meaning Kawhi would take on an oversize role if PG13 sits. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFTim HardawayPHI @ DET Sun 3:005800054000

With no Doncic, Hardaway sports a 28% usage rate and 0.90 fantasy points per minute. The Thunder are bottom half of the league against small forwards, so all the pieces are coming together for Hardaway to have a big game today. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFLuguentz DortDAL @ OKC Sun 7:00480023.7560023.3

Dort always takes a back seat with SGA and Giddey are on the court, but he does have more than 30 fantasy points in three of his last five games and his salary is $300 less than it was to start 2023. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFJaden McDanielsMIN @ HOU Sun 7:00480025.4580026.2

Jaden is a tournament play who has a propensity to pop off from time to time, especially in high-scoring games. He already put up 25 on Houston once this season and also has more than 20 fantasy points in three of his last four games. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFJimmy ButlerBKN @ MIA Sun 6:00890042.4880043.3

Somehow Butler is not one of the nine Heat players on the injury report today. So he should be a full go for one one-on-one matchup against the Nets and Kevin Durant. Butler is starting to pick things back up again after a choppy start, going for more than 44 fantasy points in three of his last five. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFChristian Wood8000081000

Fire up Wood in all formats today with no Doncic. He was already on a hot streak and he puts up a 31% usage rate with 1.36 fantasy points per minutes when Doncic sits. The salary tag is not prohibitive and this is great matchup for power forwards (Thunder allow seventh-most fantasy points on the season). 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFJaren JacksonUTA @ MEM Sun 6:00710043730045.9

Jackson got a huge salary bump on DK, but it is well-deserved based on how well he is doing lately. He is averaging 39 fantasy points per game over the last 10 days, including seven rebounds and almost 3.5 blocks per game. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFJohn CollinsUTA @ MEM Sun 6:006800070000

Apart from one game against the Lakers, Collins has put up at least 33 fantasy points in every game since December 23rd. The Clippers also enter the day as a bottom-10 team against power forwards this season. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFTorrey Craig4200051000

When all of Paul, Booker, Payne, and Johson are off the court for Phoenix, it pushes Torrey Craig to almost one fantasy point per minute. He is cheap enough for a dart throw and has more than 25 fantasy points in two of his last four games. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFKenrich WilliamsDAL @ OKC Sun 7:00360019.7460019.8

Williams likely won't start today, but will get 22-24 minutes on the court and score somewhere around 25 fantasy points. That's exactly what he has done in three of his last four games, and he is getting a lot of run with Robinson-Earl and Pokusevski out. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CBam AdebayoBKN @ MIA Sun 6:00920043920041.4

Bam Adebayo is on one of the best stretches of his entire career and has three straight double-doubles with a 3.3 blocks+steals average in those games. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CDeandre AytonPOR @ TOR Sun 3:307400075000

This is basically the best spot Ayton can get in terms of usage tonight, but it is a tough matchup against the Cavaliers that limits his ceiling. Still, he has a 27% usage rate and a crazy 1.50 fantasy points per minute with all of the guys out today, so he is the preferred mid-range center option. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CRudy GobertMIN @ HOU Sun 7:00690036.3760035.5

If there were any long-term concerns about Gobert's poor play, he put those to rest in the past two games when he averaged 49 fantasy points against the Clippers and Blazers. Now he gets the Rockets who are 28th in defensive rating and generally struggle against athletic centers. This could be the third big game in a row for the Stifle Tower. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CNic ClaxtonBKN @ MIA Sun 6:00600034.3710036.9

Wild salary discrepancy here between FD and DK, where Claxton is $1,100 cheaper. It's likely a pass for me on FD, but with 34.4 fantasy points per game in his last 10 days, I am definitely interested on DK. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CMike MuscalaDAL @ OKC Sun 7:00350022390021.8

In his last game, the Thunder gave Mike Muscala 24 minutes and he did not disappoint at all, going for 28 fantasy points including 10 points, five rebounds, and a couple blocks. If you need an ultra punt at the center position, Muscala might give you 20 fantasy points and reach 6x value. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFSanti AldamaUTA @ MEM Sun 6:00360021.6430021.9

With Steven Adams ruled out, Aldama likely slides into the starting lineup. Aldama has a 19% usage rate and 1.08 fantasy points per minute when Adams is not on the court and now is my preferred value play at power forward. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGTyus JonesCLE @ PHX Sun 8:004600050000

When both Ja Morant and Steven Adams are off the floor, Tyus Jones has a 25% usage rate and an elite 1.41 fantasy points per minute. Jones should be in line for 30+ minutes tonight and becomes one of the best point-per-dollar plays at any guard position. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
10700 , 51.5
51.5
10400 , 49.7
49.7

UPDATE: JA MORANT HAS BEN RULED OUT. TYUS JONES BECOMES AN ELITE PLAY EVERYWHERE AND SGA IS THE CLEAR SPEND UP AT THE POSITION. Uncertainty is afoot with Morant officially Questionable for this enticing game against the Jazz. Morant is on an unreal hot streak right now (48+ fantasy points in six of seven games), and his absence would open up a lot of usage for Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, and Jaren Jackson. If he does play, he will compete for the top PG on the slate with no Doncic today.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
10000 , 48
48
10000 , 48.3
48.3

With no Doncic to worry about on defense, SGA has a chance to go nuclear again on Dallas. He averages 59 fantasy points per game in two contests against them this year 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
9700 , 54.6
54.6
9400 , 50.5
50.5

Trae Young is a nice tournament pivot off of SGA for a slightly lower salary and in a better matchup. The Clippers are a bottom-10 team against PGs this year and Young has scored at least 42 fantasy points in all but one game over the last month. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
8700 , 0
0
8800 , 0
0

Every game for Irving has been between 37 and 47 fantasy points for the past two weeks. That has value at $8,700 but I'm not going to crazy here with a tough matchup against the Heat. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
7700 , 0
0
7900 , 0
0

After a dud in New Orleans, Porter was back to over 35 fantasy points again against Utah and now gets the Timberwolves who are fifth in pace and just 15th in net rating this season. As a game with a 230+ total, this is an appealing game to stack. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
7300 , 0
0
7000 , 0
0

The Rockets are the absolute worst team against point guards, this year, allowing five more fantasy points per game to the position than any other team. With Anthony Edwards Questionable in this game, it could be a huge spot for Russell. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
6600 , 31.7
31.7
6000 , 30.5
30.5

When Doncic does not play, Dinwiddie has an amazing 28% usage rate and 1.18 fantasy points per minute. He also leads the team in minutes when Doncic is not on the floor, so the workload in this game should be huge. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
3600 , 0
0
4000 , 0
0

With no Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Cameron Payne, or Cam Johnson, Washington leads the Suns with a 34.5% usage rate and he also puts up 1.22 fantasy points per minute. One of many strong value guard plays today, but he is in the worst game environment. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
3100 , 2.9
2.9
3700 , 2.9
2.9

Hardy ALSO has a 28% usage rate in a 98-minute sample with no Doncic on the floor this season. Now that Kemba Walker has been released, Hardy is likely to see a lot of minutes and is a clear punt value play against a weak Thunder team. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
9100 , 45.2
45.2
8700 , 44
44

Edwards is Questionable for this game, but gets the best matchup of the day against the Rockets. He is coming off a stretch of seven of his last eight games with at least 42 fantasy points. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
8300 , 0
0
8500 , 0
0

Murray's salary did not move after a 28-point dud against the Lakers on Friday, but before that he was smoking hot four straight games over 40 fantasy points. If Paul George sits tonight, it makes the matchup even better. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
7500 , 35.4
35.4
6900 , 33
33

Just plug him in on FanDuel and don't look back. Clarkson never scores less than 30 fantasy points and averages 33 fantasy points against the Grizzlies this year. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
6700 , 34.9
34.9
6600 , 33.3
33.3

If Morant should happen to miss this game, Bane's usage would shoot up to 31% to go along with 1.32 fantasy points per minute. It's a great matchup regardless as the Jazz are the third-worst team against shooting guards over the last 30 days. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
7000 , 0
0
7400 , 0
0

Giddey is often a roller-coaster for DFS but he does have more than 40 fantasy points in three of his last five games and he is now playing more than 32 minutes every night. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4600 , 0
0
5200 , 0
0

With no Booker, Paul, or Cam Payne, Shamet gets a very healthy 26.4% usage rate and 1.08 fantasy points per minute. There is blowout risk here if all of the Cleveland starters go in this one, but he is the clear value play on DK. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
10200 , 0
0
10800 , 0
0

Yes, the Heat represent a tough matchup, and this only has a 223 implied total tonight, but Durant has one game under 52 fantasy points in his last six and is approaching 30% usage every single night. There are a couple very good small forward options tonight, but none can touch the ceiling of Durant. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
9300 , 42.5
42.5
8400 , 40.7
40.7

Just like his teammate Jordan Clarkson, Markkanen's salary is just way too cheap on FD. This guy is a lock for 40 fantasy points and he averages 49.6 over his last 10 days. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
8200 , 33.3
33.3
8600 , 32.8
32.8

Kawhi, like the rest of the Clippers, didn't do anything in the blowout loss to the Nuggets, but he averaged 40 points per game in the four previous. Paul George is Questionable in this one, meaning Kawhi would take on an oversize role if PG13 sits. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
5800 , 0
0
5400 , 0
0

With no Doncic, Hardaway sports a 28% usage rate and 0.90 fantasy points per minute. The Thunder are bottom half of the league against small forwards, so all the pieces are coming together for Hardaway to have a big game today. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4800 , 23.7
23.7
5600 , 23.3
23.3

Dort always takes a back seat with SGA and Giddey are on the court, but he does have more than 30 fantasy points in three of his last five games and his salary is $300 less than it was to start 2023. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4800 , 25.4
25.4
5800 , 26.2
26.2

Jaden is a tournament play who has a propensity to pop off from time to time, especially in high-scoring games. He already put up 25 on Houston once this season and also has more than 20 fantasy points in three of his last four games. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
8900 , 42.4
42.4
8800 , 43.3
43.3

Somehow Butler is not one of the nine Heat players on the injury report today. So he should be a full go for one one-on-one matchup against the Nets and Kevin Durant. Butler is starting to pick things back up again after a choppy start, going for more than 44 fantasy points in three of his last five. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
8000 , 0
0
8100 , 0
0

Fire up Wood in all formats today with no Doncic. He was already on a hot streak and he puts up a 31% usage rate with 1.36 fantasy points per minutes when Doncic sits. The salary tag is not prohibitive and this is great matchup for power forwards (Thunder allow seventh-most fantasy points on the season). 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
7100 , 43
43
7300 , 45.9
45.9

Jackson got a huge salary bump on DK, but it is well-deserved based on how well he is doing lately. He is averaging 39 fantasy points per game over the last 10 days, including seven rebounds and almost 3.5 blocks per game. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
6800 , 0
0
7000 , 0
0

Apart from one game against the Lakers, Collins has put up at least 33 fantasy points in every game since December 23rd. The Clippers also enter the day as a bottom-10 team against power forwards this season. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4200 , 0
0
5100 , 0
0

When all of Paul, Booker, Payne, and Johson are off the court for Phoenix, it pushes Torrey Craig to almost one fantasy point per minute. He is cheap enough for a dart throw and has more than 25 fantasy points in two of his last four games. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
3600 , 19.7
19.7
4600 , 19.8
19.8

Williams likely won't start today, but will get 22-24 minutes on the court and score somewhere around 25 fantasy points. That's exactly what he has done in three of his last four games, and he is getting a lot of run with Robinson-Earl and Pokusevski out. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
9200 , 43
43
9200 , 41.4
41.4

Bam Adebayo is on one of the best stretches of his entire career and has three straight double-doubles with a 3.3 blocks+steals average in those games. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
7400 , 0
0
7500 , 0
0

This is basically the best spot Ayton can get in terms of usage tonight, but it is a tough matchup against the Cavaliers that limits his ceiling. Still, he has a 27% usage rate and a crazy 1.50 fantasy points per minute with all of the guys out today, so he is the preferred mid-range center option. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
6900 , 36.3
36.3
7600 , 35.5
35.5

If there were any long-term concerns about Gobert's poor play, he put those to rest in the past two games when he averaged 49 fantasy points against the Clippers and Blazers. Now he gets the Rockets who are 28th in defensive rating and generally struggle against athletic centers. This could be the third big game in a row for the Stifle Tower. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
6000 , 34.3
34.3
7100 , 36.9
36.9

Wild salary discrepancy here between FD and DK, where Claxton is $1,100 cheaper. It's likely a pass for me on FD, but with 34.4 fantasy points per game in his last 10 days, I am definitely interested on DK. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
3500 , 22
22
3900 , 21.8
21.8

In his last game, the Thunder gave Mike Muscala 24 minutes and he did not disappoint at all, going for 28 fantasy points including 10 points, five rebounds, and a couple blocks. If you need an ultra punt at the center position, Muscala might give you 20 fantasy points and reach 6x value. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
3600 , 21.6
21.6
4300 , 21.9
21.9

With Steven Adams ruled out, Aldama likely slides into the starting lineup. Aldama has a 19% usage rate and 1.08 fantasy points per minute when Adams is not on the court and now is my preferred value play at power forward. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4600 , 0
0
5000 , 0
0

When both Ja Morant and Steven Adams are off the floor, Tyus Jones has a 25% usage rate and an elite 1.41 fantasy points per minute. Jones should be in line for 30+ minutes tonight and becomes one of the best point-per-dollar plays at any guard position. 

Game Type: CASH & GPP