Happy New Year, everyone! The 2021 NCAA Basketball action starts with a small four-game slate on DraftKings and a $2k top payout in the featured $10 Big Jam contest. Without a marquee game today, FanDuel isn't offering any contests and will be back Saturday for a busy day of games.
Targets
Jhivvan Jackson, G, UTSA ($7,600 DK) 
The UTSA-Rice match-up is projected to have the most points scored, making it a good place to start and target having at least a few players from this contest in your lineup with only four games on the slate. Jackson has been the clear go-to-guy for the Roadrunners, taking nearly one-third of the team's shots. He's a career 34 percent three-point shooter but has struggled thus far. If he can find some of his old form, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him post one of the multiple 27+ point games he's already recorded this season.
Kalu Ezikpe, F, Old Dominion ($6,900 DK) 
Today is a good time to get Old Dominion players in your lineup as well, with an FIU opponent on tap that plays fast and doesn't put up much resistance on the defensive end. They are one of the smallest teams in the country, typically only starting one player over 6-5. That should open things up for Ezikpe who does his damage in the paint. He's an elite rebounder at over seven per game and should have a great chance to post a double-double tonight.
Tevin Brewer, G, FIU ($5,400 DK) 
Brewer has been an efficient offensive option for FIU, connecting on over half of his three-point attempts this season. Old Dominion has struggled to defend the three, allowing teams to shoot 40 percent against them from deep. That fits into Brewer's strength (over three made per game against D-I opponents), and he's also likely to see around 35 minutes, which is often hard to come by in this salary range.
Fades
Ladavius Draine, G/F, Southern Miss ($7,100 DK) 
The lowest over/under of the day is in the Southern Miss-UTEP meeting, with both teams being much better on the defensive side of the ball. Draine typically isn't a big help in the various statistical categories and relies on his scoring for the bulk of his fantasy points. With UTEP ranking first in the country in opponent three-point percentage at 16 percent, it's a difficult spot to use Draine when he's averaging over three makes per game from deep.
Tydus Verhoeven, F, UTEP ($6,700 DK) 
Verhoeven has impressively made 86 percent of his field goals this season (all from inside the arc) but has also averaged less than five attempts per game. That limits his upside at an above average salary, especially considering he's often in foul trouble and on the bench for several minutes as a result. Southern Miss has the length and post defense to provide a tough match-up for him and they're more vulnerable at defending the perimeter.
Obinna Anochili-Killen, F, Marshall ($6,000 DK) 
Anochili-Killen is only playing about half of the team's minutes and will need to be incredibly efficient to live up to his price-tag, but yet he's only shooting 43 percent from the field this season. While this game will likely be high-scoring, Andrew Taylor ($5,200 DK) is a slightly cheaper option for Marshall that will see more minutes and contributes in a variety of statistical categories.
