FREE 1/27 NBA Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

Tonight’s 10-game NBA slate offers plenty of opportunities to find an edge, with a mix of fast-paced matchups and high totals that should grab your attention. Two games stand out from a DFS perspective: Denver at Chicago (248.5 total) and Memphis at New York (242.0 total). Both feature strong game environments with high scoring potential, making them key spots to target for upside. The slate kicks off at 7:00 PM ET, so you’ll want to lock in your core plays early while keeping an eye on news for late swaps.

With a variety of team styles on display tonight, roster construction will be crucial. Balancing exposure to the top-tier totals while not overlooking value in other games could make all the difference. Whether you’re chasing ceiling performances or hunting for sneaky pivots, this slate has enough depth to reward smart decision-making. With that in mind… Our January 27 Starting Five is now LIVE!

Game Environment Analysis

DET @ CLE (O/U: 235.0, Spread: -11.0)

• Pace: DET (13th) vs CLE (6th)
• Off Eff: DET (19th) vs CLE (1st) 🔥
• Def Eff: DET (13th) vs CLE (9th)

LAL @ CHA (O/U: 222.0, Spread: 5.0)

• Pace: LAL (22nd) vs CHA (21st)
• Off Eff: LAL (12th) vs CHA (27th)
• Def Eff: LAL (20th) vs CHA (14th)

HOU @ BOS (O/U: 222.0, Spread: -6.5)

• Pace: HOU (18th) vs BOS (24th)
• Off Eff: HOU (14th) vs BOS (4th)
• Def Eff: HOU (4th) vs BOS (6th)

ORL @ MIA (O/U: 206.0, Spread: 1.5)

• Pace: ORL (30th) vs MIA (26th)
• Off Eff: ORL (29th) vs MIA (16th)
• Def Eff: ORL (3rd) vs MIA (11th)

SAC @ BKN (O/U: 226.5, Spread: 12.0)

• Pace: SAC (7th) vs BKN (28th) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: SAC (7th) 🔥 vs BKN (28th)
• Def Eff: SAC (18th) vs BKN (26th) 🎯

MEM @ NYK (O/U: 242.0, Spread: -3.0)

• Pace: MEM (1st) vs NYK (27th) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: MEM (5th) 🔥 vs NYK (2nd)
• Def Eff: MEM (5th) vs NYK (19th)

NOP @ TOR (O/U: 234.0, Spread: 2.5)

• Pace: NOP (15th) vs TOR (10th)
• Off Eff: NOP (25th) vs TOR (23rd)
• Def Eff: NOP (28th) 🎯 vs TOR (27th) 🎯

DEN @ CHI (O/U: 248.5, Spread: 9.5)

• Pace: DEN (5th) vs CHI (3rd)
• Off Eff: DEN (3rd) 🔥 vs CHI (15th)
• Def Eff: DEN (15th) vs CHI (23rd)

ATL @ MIN (O/U: 217.5, Spread: -10.5)

• Pace: ATL (2nd) vs MIN (25th) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: ATL (20th) vs MIN (13th)
• Def Eff: ATL (16th) vs MIN (7th)

WAS @ DAL (O/U: 231.5, Spread: -12.5)

• Pace: WAS (4th) vs DAL (12th)
• Off Eff: WAS (30th) vs DAL (9th) 🔥
• Def Eff: WAS (30th) 🎯 vs DAL (12th)

Legend:

🏃 = Significant pace mismatch

🔥 = Strong offense vs weak defense

🎯 = Poor defensive team

⚠️ = Blowout risk

Bold = Favored team

PG - Russell Westbrook ($6,200)

At $6,200, Russell Westbrook stands out as a strong value play in tonight’s slate with a 5.76x value projection and a 34.43% Boom percentage. While his offensive role has been secondary lately, he’s been highly efficient, shooting nearly 48% from the field over his last five games. Westbrook is projected for 30 minutes against the Bulls, and his 1.19 FPPM production makes him an appealing option in this price range. Chicago ranks middle of the pack defensively against point guards, which opens the door for Westbrook to contribute across multiple categories—something he’s done consistently with near triple-double upside in limited minutes.

The ownership projection (26.5%) is worth noting, as it places him in chalk territory for tournaments. However, his inclusion in 20.38% of optimal lineups suggests that he’s still a solid play even at high ownership due to his ability to rack up rebounds and assists alongside efficient scoring. The Nuggets’ fast-paced offense and favorable game environment could lead to additional opportunities for Westbrook to hit or exceed his ceiling tonight, making him a great mid-range target who offers both safety and upside in GPPs or cash games alike.

More PG Plays:

• Jamal Murray ($7,200)
• Kyrie Irving ($8,900)
• Jalen Brunson ($8,800)

SG - Jamal Murray ($7,200)

Jamal Murray ($7,200) stands out as a solid mid-range option on tonight’s slate with his 5.6x value projection and a projected 37 minutes in a favorable matchup against the Bulls. Chicago has struggled defensively against opposing guards, ranking in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency at the position. Murray’s 1.1 FPPM production and 31.2% Boom Rate suggest he has significant upside for tournaments, especially in what should be a competitive game environment with Denver slightly favored on the road. His recent performances have been inconsistent, but he’s shown ceiling potential, like his 59.8 DK-point outing just five games ago.

At 28.6% projected ownership, Murray is likely to be popular, but his combination of playing time and usage keeps him viable even at elevated ownership levels. The Nuggets will rely heavily on him alongside Nikola Jokic to create offense, and if his shot starts falling early, he could easily outperform his salary-based expectations. While not necessarily a leverage play due to the high ownership, his strong optimal lineup percentage (16.2%) makes him a reliable building block for both cash games and GPPs tonight.

More SG Plays:

• Kyrie Irving ($8,900)
• Zach LaVine ($8,100)
• D’Angelo Russell ($6,400)

SF - RJ Barrett ($7,700)

RJ Barrett ($7,700) stands out as a solid mid-range option on tonight’s slate, offering both a strong floor and some ceiling potential. With a 1.2 FPPM rate and a projection of 39.5 DK points, he provides excellent value at 5.1x his salary. Barrett has been consistent recently, averaging 20 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over his last five games while shooting an efficient 58.5% from the field. The matchup against the Pelicans is intriguing—New Orleans is middle-of-the-pack defensively against wings, and Barrett’s ability to contribute across multiple categories makes him a versatile DFS play.

At just 13.7% projected ownership, Barrett offers decent leverage in tournaments, especially given his strong tournament rank (4th) and Boom% of 19.2%. He’s appearing in over 10% of optimal lineups, which speaks to his upside in this spot. With the Raptors relying heavily on him for secondary playmaking alongside Siakam, Barrett’s minutes (33 projected) and usage remain steady in competitive matchups like this one against New Orleans. At his price point, he’s a safe yet intriguing option for both cash games and GPPs tonight.

More SF Plays:

• Zach LaVine ($8,100)
• Jayson Tatum ($9,700)
• Scottie Barnes ($9,300)

PF - PJ Washington ($6,900)

PJ Washington ($6,900) is in a great spot tonight against Washington, a team that struggles to defend bigs and has one of the weaker interior defenses in the league. Washington has been locked into heavy minutes recently, averaging 36.8 over his last five games, and he’s projected for 35 tonight. His 1.05 FPPM production combined with this workload makes him an appealing option at his price point, offering strong value at 5.35x. The Wizards’ poor defensive metrics against PF/C positions further solidify this as a matchup to exploit, especially with Washington’s ability to contribute across multiple categories.

At 20.3% projected ownership, he won’t exactly fly under the radar, but there’s still plenty of upside here with his 22.5% Boom percentage and appearance in nearly 10% of optimal lineups. He’s coming off two monster games where he showcased both scoring and rebounding upside, highlighted by a career-high 19 boards just days ago. With Dallas relying on him heavily in recent contests and this game environment favoring frontcourt production, Washington is a solid mid-range option who can anchor your lineup without breaking the bank.

More PF Plays:

• LeBron James ($9,900)
• Jayson Tatum ($9,700)
• Alexandre Sarr ($5,400)

C - Daniel Gafford ($6,700)

Daniel Gafford is in a strong spot tonight at $6,700, offering both solid value and upside in his matchup against Washington. With a 1.36 FPPM rate and a projection of 39.56 DK points, he’s one of the better mid-range center options on the slate. His recent performances have been impressive, including a monster 71.8 DK point game against Charlotte just a few games ago, where he dominated with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks in 34 minutes. While that ceiling game isn’t something you can bank on every night, it highlights his ability to produce elite fantasy numbers when given minutes—and he’s projected for around 29 tonight. With Dereck Lively out of the picture, Gafford continues to play an expanded role for Dallas.

Ownership is something to consider here, as Gafford is expected to be rostered by nearly 26% of the field. However, his Boom% of 34.5% and appearance in 12.7% of optimal lineups suggest there’s still room for upside even at that ownership level. Washington has struggled to contain opposing centers this season, making this an ideal matchup for him to capitalize on his increased role in the frontcourt. At a value of nearly 6x his salary and ranked fifth overall in tournament leverage metrics for tonight’s slate, Gafford makes for a great play in both cash games and tournaments despite being somewhat chalky.

More C Plays:

• Nikola Jokic ($12,000)
• Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,800)
• Anthony Davis ($10,400)

Good luck today! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!