What’s going on, everybody Josh Engleman is with today’s DraftKings NBA DFS picks. The Thursday, Jan. 9, NBA slate has a good mix of guys at different price points. I’m excited to see how this slate unfolds, so let’s dive into the picks using Stokastic’s NBA DFS Sims, NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections!
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks Today, January 9
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5 – Anfernee Simons
Position: PG | Salary: $6,700
Projections: 20.4 Points, 3.2 Rebounds, 6.0 Assists, 1.0 Stocks
Portland has been playing these guys big minutes, and Dallas is still without Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, which puts Simons in a great spot. I’ve projected him for 36 minutes today, and with point guard eligibility, he’s a solid play at $6,700. We know the scoring is going to be there, and that’s really what you need with him. When you roster Simons, you’re hoping it’s the day he’s on fire, hitting a ton of 3’s and going for over 30 real points. He has the potential for a big game today, especially with the matchup against a shorthanded Dallas team.
4 – Cole Anthony
Position: PG/SG | Salary: $5,800
Projections: 16.8 Points, 4.9 Rebounds, 5.4 Assists, 1.4 Stocks
The key here is that Orlando is very injured right now, with no Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and possibly no Paolo Banchero. If Anthony is starting, he’s going to see real minutes, and he’s underpriced for his potential role. The matchup against Minnesota isn’t great — it’s a slow, defensive game — but Anthony should still get plenty of opportunities. With the minutes he’s likely to play, he’s definitely worth considering at that salary.
3 – Fred VanVleet
Position: PG | Salary: $7,200
Projections: 17.4 Points, 4.5 Rebounds, 6.9 Assists, 2.3 Stocks
The minutes are back up for VanVleet, and I’ve projected him for 38 today. The matchup is a little unclear, as several key Memphis players — Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama — are all questionable, but VanVleet is in a good spot regardless.
VanVleet’s going to play heavy minutes in a fast-paced game. With the matchup looking favorable and the pace of play working in his favor, he is a strong option today.
2 – Kevin Durant
Position: PF/C | Salary: $9,200
Projections: 28.0 Points, 6.5 Rebounds, 4.4 Assists, 2.0 Stocks
The Hawks are without Jalen Johnson, and Durant should have no problem getting his shots up in this one. The new-look Phoenix starting lineup with Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee instead of Jusuf Nurkic and Bradley Beal should free up more usage for both Durant and Devin Booker. Durant has the potential for a huge game here, and with limited pay-up options on the slate, he’s one of the better value plays today.
1 – Deandre Ayton
Position: C | Salary: $6,000
Projections: 15.5 Points, 10.7 Rebounds, 1.9 Assists, 1.9 Stocks
Ayton is likely to take advantage of a favorable matchup if there’s no Daniel Gafford, and with Dallas still working through injuries, Ayton should be able to dominate the boards. At his salary, you don’t need a massive game from Ayton to consider him a good value play. If he goes for 35-plus fantasy points, you’re looking at a really solid performance, especially at the center position, where the slate doesn’t feature the usual big-name studs like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid.
