CBB DFS Playbook & Core Plays: January 14
Published: Jan 14, 2022
THE SLATE (Odds & Totals via DraftKings Sportsbook)
- 6:30 pm ET -- Nebraska at Purdue (-20) -- 156.5 O/U
- 7:30 pm ET -- VCU at St. Bonaventure (-2.5) -- 131 O/U
- 8 pm ET -- Akron at Kent State (-1) -- 133.5 O/U
- 9 pm ET -- Michigan at Illinois (-9) -- 144.5 O/U
- 9 pm ET -- Davidson at Richmond (-1) -- 146 O/U
- 11 pm ET -- Fresno State (-1) at UNLV -- 129.5 O/U
Top KenPom Projected Team Totals
- Purdue – 90
- Illinois – 76
- Davidson – 73
- Richmond – 72
- Michigan – 69
- Nebraska – 69
Top Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Jaden Ivey | PUR | NEB | 7700 | 30.73 | 7100 | 28.36 | |
| Even though he hasn’t been a DFS stud for most of this season, Ivey still has to be considered on this smaller slate without many top-tier guards in action. With his talent in a major pace-boost vs. Nebraska, we could easily see Ivey be the slate’s top performer. However, the blowout factor of this game limits him to GPPs. | |||||||
| Bryce Hamilton | UNLV | FRES | 7600 | 28.35 | |||
| Despite playing in a low total game, Hamilton can still finish as a top-tier player on this slate and he’ll give you exposure to the late-night hammer matchup. UNLV’s offensive catalyst sees heavy usage and shot volume to offer a safe DFS cash floor as he’s put up 30+ DK points in six of the last seven games. | |||||||
| Sincere Carry | KENT | AKR | 7300 | 34.65 | |||
| DK finally increased Carry’s price tag from the 5k range, but he’s still a bit underpriced compared to the other top guards of this slate. Kent State’s point guard has two 50-burgers in the last three games and is averaging 35 DK over the last 10 games. He stuffs the stat sheet and has one of the best cash floors among the top-tier. | |||||||
| Jaren Holmes | STBON | VCU | 7200 | 33.54 | |||
| The Bonnies’ backcourt duo of Kyle Lofton and Jaren Holmes are both firmly in play tonight with their heavy usage and offensive role. Considering the slight savings for similar production, Holmes may end up the more popular of the two tonight. Yet, both should be safe cash studs even in a lower-total game. | |||||||
Other Top Guards to Consider:
- Jacob Gilyard -- Richmond ($8,300 DK)
- Kyle Lofton -- St. Bonaventure ($7,800 DK)
- Eli Brooks -- Michigan ($6,100 DK / $6,700 FD)
Value Guards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Foster Loyer | DAV | RICH | 5300 | 27.81 | |||
| Davidson’s point guard looks like one of the better cash values on this slate with a too-low salary and a higher floor than most in the 5k price range. The Michigan State transfer is averaging 16 PPG and 28 DK over the last 10 games and should easily return value in this faster-paced matchup vs. Richmond. | |||||||
| Caleb Houstan | MICH | IL | 5100 | 19.6 | 5600 | 17.41 | |
| In GPPs, Houstan is an interesting value for the upside. The freshman has the raw talent to smash these cheap price tags but he’s been very inconsistent in real life and DFS this season. If Michigan wants to turn its season around, though, it’ll need Houstan to take on a bigger playmaking role - like when he had 31 DK last time out. | |||||||
| Michael Jones | DAV | RICH | 4200 | 23.96 | |||
| Another value from Davidson’s backcourt because Jones is way too cheap. Though he’s not as trustworthy from a DFS floor perspective as Foster Loyer, the guy is still averaging 24 DK points this season and has 25+ DK in five of the last seven. His three-point shooting gives him some more upside in tonight’s matchup too. | |||||||
| Ali Ali | AKR | KENT | 3700 | 22.46 | |||
| DK completely missed the ball on Ali here as he’s massively underpriced and should be very chalky in cash. Even though he’s coming off a complete bust outing of 1.5 DK points last time out, we can reasonably expect a bounceback tonight. Over the previous seven games, the Akron wing averaged 19 PPG and 27 DK points. Now he has some three-point upside in this matchup vs. Kent State. | |||||||
Other Value Guards to Consider:
- Anthony Holland -- Fresno State ($5,200 DK)
- Jordan McCabe -- UNLV ($4,200 DK)
- Bryan Timble Jr. -- Akron ($3,200 DK)
- Jalen Sullinger -- Kent State ($3,000 DK)
Top Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Kofi Cockburn | IL | MICH | 9100 | 43.25 | 8500 | 40.29 | |
| Cockburn continues to be a DFS stud every time out and he should be pretty popular on this slate. The Illini center is averaging 22 PPG, 13 RPG and 44 DK over the last 10 games and should continue posting these types of numbers with heavy usage and shot volume as long as Andre Curbelo remains out. | |||||||
| Osun Osunniyi | STBON | VCU | 8100 | 28.46 | |||
| The VCU defense allows the majority of opposing scoring inside, so look for Osunniyi to take advantage of this matchup. The Bonnies’ center is coming off a massive performance last game when he posted 46 DK with 15 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks. That’s the ceiling we can hope for in tonight’s matchup, though 30 DK or so is more realistic. | |||||||
| Trevion Williams | PUR | NEB | 8000 | 31.62 | 8300 | 29.54 | |
| Williams moved back to the bench last game and was more productive while Edey got the start and played just 10 minutes. This has become a trend for Purdue’s center spot this season with Williams/Edey splitting time. Whichever guy comes off the bench, that’s who we want to play in DFS because he faces either back-up bigs or opposing starters in foul trouble. So pay attention to Purdue’s starting lineup tonight and play the guy coming off the bench. | |||||||
| Hyunjung Lee | DAV | RICH | 6500 | 31.7 | |||
| The Davidson frontcourt duo of Lee and Brajkovic are both good plays in this higher-total matchup vs. Richmond. Lee, though, is the better per-dollar option for cash in his playmaking wing role with a slightly safer floor. The price tag is very attractive for a guy that’s averaging 32 DK over the last 10 games while stuffing the stat sheet. | |||||||
Other Top Forwards to Consider:
- Orlando Robinson -- Fresno State ($8,900 DK)
- Hunter Dickinson -- Michigan ($8,200 DK / $8,200 FD)
- Tyler Burton -- Richmond ($7,900 DK)
- Grant Golden -- Richmond ($7,100 DK)
Value Forwards
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Moussa Diabate | MICH | IL | 5700 | 19.35 | 5300 | 18.26 | |
| Outside of Hunter Dickinson, it’s Diabate who’s arguably been Michigan’s best player this season. Since returning from a non-COVID illness, the true freshman has put up 31 DK in two of the last four games and is taking on a bigger offensive role for the Wolverines. He’s a decent mid-range play on this slate if he continues to see an increased role. | |||||||
| Donovan Williams | UNLV | FRES | 4700 | 23.15 | |||
| The Texas transfer is now a key piece of UNLV’s rotation and his 28% usage and shot rates trail only Bryce Hamilton for the team lead. Since rejoining the starting lineup the last three games, Williams has put up 32, 28 and 34 DK points and just exploded for 29 real points last time out. He’s also not far removed from a 50 DK performance. This is a really good value to get exposure to the late night tip. | |||||||
| Mason Gillis | PUR | NEB | 4600 | 12.77 | 4900 | 11.83 | |
| Gillis has now started the last three games at power forward for Purdue with Caleb Furst making a slow return from COVID protocols. Even though Furst is back, Gillis is still getting starts in the last couple games. He’s put up 21, 14 and 21 DK points in these three starts and is a solid salary-saver at sub-5k in a pace-boost matchup tonight. | |||||||
| Enrique Freeman | AKR | KENT | 3400 | 30.4 | |||
| Another glaring mispricing by DK from the Akron squad and it should make Freeman chalky in cash. The big man is averaging 12 PPG, 11 RPG and 30 DK points this season and is basically a double-double waiting to happen. There’s potential for Freeman to return 7x or 8x value here with another 30+ DK points. | |||||||
Other Value Forwards to Consider:
- Hason Ward -- VCU ($4,900 DK)
- Lat Mayen -- Nebraska ($3,500 DK / $4,400 FD)
DraftKings Core Plays
- Kofi Cockburn – Illinois ($9,100)
- Foster Loyer – Davidson ($5,300)
- Enrique Freeman – Akron ($3,400)