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Building the Perfect NBA FanDuel Lineup For Jan. 23

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By @RoKnowsDFS

Building the Perfect NBA FanDuel Lineup For Jan. 23

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The NBA is giving us 11 games to sift through in order to make the perfect lineup tonight, and there are literally thousands of ways to go about doing so. Many players may go for a balanced lineup to where they don't pay up for the high-priced stars, while others will go with a "Stars and Scrubs" approach. The lineup that I am about to show you takes both approaches into account and could possibly be your winning roster. Let's get to work.

9. (PG) Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls - $7,200

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9. (PG) Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls - $7,200

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His minutes restriction has been lifted, and after watching him tear up the San Antonio Spurs last night, I'm thoroughly convinced that the "old" Derrick Rose is back. Over his last five games, he has averaged 38.8 fantasy points and needs to score 36 to justify his price. He faces the Dallas Mavericks tonight, and their defense against opposing PGs is average, ranking 15th. D-Rose should have no issues scoring at least 36 tonight.

8. (PG) Elfrid Payton - Orlando Magic - $5,900

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8. (PG) Elfrid Payton - Orlando Magic - $5,900

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Over his last five games, Elfrid Payton has averaged 33.2 fantasy points and has really benefited from the Orlando Magic's change to a more uptempo offense. He needs to score 29.5 fantasy points to justify his $ 5,900 price tonight, and he has an excellent opportunity to that against the New York Knicks who can't seem to stop anyone on any given night. Payton has a great chance to go for 30-plus tonight.

7. (SG) Eric Gordon - New Orleans Pelicans - $5,400

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7. (SG) Eric Gordon - New Orleans Pelicans - $5,400

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Eric Gordon is one of those players I've been warming up to more and more lately. Over his last six games, he's averaged 27.7 fantasy points and has been justifying his current price. Tonight he gets to face the Minnesota Timberwolves and their defense against SGs that's currently ranked 21st in the league. Expecting Gordon to score 39 like he did in his last game may be a stretch, but he should be good for at least 26 fantasy points.

6. (SG) Louis Williams - Toronto Raptors - $5,300

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6. (SG) Louis Williams - Toronto Raptors - $5,300

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Louis Williams is in a very nice groove right now, as he has been averaging 24.8 fantasy points over his past three games. He gets to face the lowly Philadelphia 76ers tonight who currently rank 27th in defensive efficiency against SGs. Additionally, Sweet Lou should have some extra motivation facing his former team. He needs to score 26.5 fantasy points to justify his price, and he should score at least 28 with 32-plus upside.

5. (SF) LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers - $10,800

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5. (SF) LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers - $10,800

lebron james cleveland cavaliers sf small forward
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Ever since returning from a two-week "rest and recover" break, LeBron James has come back on fire and looks poised to have an incredibly strong second half of the season. Over his last five games, he's averaged 46.4 fantasy points and seems virtually matchup-proof. Therefore, I'm simply recommending to get The King in your lineup and enjoy a night where he will score at least 45. Personally, I feel like he will eclipse 50.

4. (SF) Andrew Wiggins - Minnesota Timberwolves - $7,400

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4. (SF) Andrew Wiggins - Minnesota Timberwolves - $7,400

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The pride of Thornhill, Ontario is quickly becoming the pride of the Minnesota Timberwolves, as Andrew Wiggins is proving that he was worthy of being the top overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Over his last five games, Wiggins has averaged 32.2 fantasy points and has a great matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans who don't defend SGs particularly well. He needs to score 37 to make value, and I feel that's exactly what his output will be.

3. (PF) Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks - $7,000

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3. (PF) Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks - $7,000

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I've been making it a habit of starting PFs against the Chicago Bulls since they simply don't defend the position well. They're currently ranked 25th in that regard for the season and only flash glimpses of improvement, but it's never sustainable. This bodes well for Dirk Nowitzki who has recently broken out of a shooting slump and has averaged 31.1 fantasy points over his last three games. Tonight, I feel confident that he will score 35-plus.

2. (PF) David Lee - Golden State Warriors - $5,800

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2. (PF) David Lee - Golden State Warriors - $5,800

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I absolutely love David Lee as a value play tonight against a Sacramento Kings team that's ranked 29th in defensive efficiency against opposing PFs. Although Lee is coming off of the bench, his game is starting to round into its proper form. Over his last three games, he's averaged 28.7 fantasy points, and he may get a few more opportunities to eclipse that tonight since the chances of a blowout are high. Lee should finish with 30-plus.

1. (C) Timofey Mozgov - Cleveland Cavaliers - $5,100

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1. (C) Timofey Mozgov - Cleveland Cavaliers - $5,100

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Over his past four games, Timofey Mozgov has averaged 26.6 fantasy points. Additionally, his output has spiked even more recently as he has averaged 36.6 fantasy points over his last two games. Coach Blatt has been giving him major minutes, and I expect that trend to continue tonight, especially against a Charlotte Hornets team ranked 11th against opposing centers. I wouldn't expect a 30-point game, but he should be able to get at least 24.

Rojé Smith is a Fantasy Sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RoKnowsDFS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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