NBA DFS Expert Survey: Thursday, January 8th

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2026-01-08 19:26:27 Premium Content Part of the product NBA DFS

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on NBA DFS today for the 1/8 main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. They’re ready to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial lineup-building decisions. Curious to know headChopper’s favorite tournament play? Or perhaps you’re wondering about Noto’s favorite salary saver? Read their thoughts below!

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Thursday, January 8

Who is your favorite player to spend up for in cash games?

Notorious: Pascal Siakam (FD) / Anthony Davis (DK)
headChopper: Anthony Davis
Dean78904: Anthony Davis

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What is your preferred tournament format (e.g. large-field, single-entry) to play on this slate? How do you plan to beat that field of opponents? What tactic or strategy will set you apart?

Notorious: I love small-field tournaments. We’ll see what Utah’s injury report looks like when it’s released, but either way, I want to be overweight on the final game of the slate. The Mavericks have the best matchup on the board (the Jazz are dead last in points allowed per game and defensive rating), while the Jazz aren’t garnering much pOWN% despite their players routinely putting up ceiling performances.

headChopper: I prefer small-field tournaments that have limited entries. It’s a small slate, and Dallas is shaping up to be very chalky, so I want to cap my Dallas exposure at a maximum of 2 players, which should go a long way toward creating uniqueness. From there, I’ll look to grab a high-upside player coming in at lower projected ownership (relative to a small 4-game slate), like Pascal Siakam.

Dean78904: I only make a few main lineups and mostly focus on single-entry and smaller-field type contests. I like Dallas as much as the next guy, but I’m not going to play 5 Mavericks in GPPs on DK as our current optimal is showing. I’ll likely have 3, and, news pending, I may be open to 4 Mavs. I expect to play at least one of Anthony Davis or Cooper Flagg in every lineup I make. That number and slate dynamics can certainly change, as we have several players to monitor. Anthony Edwards, Andrew Nembhard, and Darius Garland are all currently questionable, and Utah has yet to report. As always, stay tuned to the news flow.

Who is your favorite contrarian play (when considering price, matchup, projected ownership, etc.) on the board and why?

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