NBA Daily Fantasy Picks - Jan. 14
Ariel Epstein breaks down her top plays for the NBA DFS slate on Friday, Jan. 14
Video Transcript
ARIEL EPSTEIN: Welcome to "Yahoo Daily Fantasy" in the NBA. I'm the prop queen, Ariel Epstein. It is Friday, January 14th, and I've got three different plays for you for NBA DFS. My first play, for $39, I'm putting the Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet in my lineup. He's been one of the hottest players in the NBA. In the last 10 games, VanVleet is averaging just under 28 points per game, just over four rebounds, and just over seven assists.
It helps that he's up against one of the worst defenses in the NBA in the Detroit Pistons. Not only has Detroit been bottom 10 all year in points allowed, they've allowed just over 111 points per game. That number has gone up to 117 points per game allowed in the last 10. Against bottom 10 defenses, VanVleet is averaging just under 21 points per game. I'm putting VanVleet in my lineup.
My second play is for a player that I wish that I gave out earlier in the week. I just totally forgot about him. It's the Houston Rockets center Christian Wood. He's only $27 on Yahoo Fantasy. He's playing one of the worst defenses in the NBA in the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento is bottom 10 in points allowed, points in the paint allowed, and rebounds allowed.
Wood has been crushing it when up against bottom 10 defenses. In fact, when he's up against a team that's bottom 10 in points and rebounds allowed, Wood's averaging just under 22 points per game, just over 11 rebounds, and 2 and 1/2 assists. Don't make the mistake I did earlier in the week by paying too much money for Joel Embiid. Save some money and put $27 of Christian Wood in your lineup.
For my value play, it's all reliant on if the Suns play their point guard Chris Paul. Paul's actually in health and safety protocols. He has COVID testing, and he's questionable for the game. That said, the backup would be a $10 value play on Cam Payne. Last year, Chris Paul missed four games, and Cam Payne played in three of those games, averaging just under 20 points per game.
The matchup helps, too, because the Indiana Pacers allow the 10th most points per game to guards. Well, that's what Cam Payne is. I'm putting him in my lineup for 10 bucks as long as Chris Paul's sitting out tonight.
Here's your NBA DFS recap. For $39, I'm playing Fred VanVleet. For $27, Christian Wood is my center. And for a $10 value play, put Cam Payne in your lineup as long as Chris Paul is out. That's it for me, your prop queen Ariel Epstein here at Yahoo Daily Fantasy. Good luck tonight, and have a great weekend.
