Friday features a nine-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Point Guard
Stud
The Mavericks stand out as an elite team to target on Friday’s slate. They’re expected to be shorthanded – Luka Doncic is doubtful and Kristaps Porzingis is out – and they also draw one of the best possible matchups vs. the Rockets. They rank third in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency this season.
Jalen Brunson stands out as the Mavs’ primary target. He’s excelled in place of Doncic this season, averaging 36.25 DraftKings points in 14 games without his star teammate. His salary has also come back to reality on DraftKings, decreasing by -$900 over his past two games. He’s an absolute steal at just $5,300 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 98%, but he’s an elite option across the industry.
Value
The Spurs have been hit hard by COVID-19 recently. They did get Dejounte Murray back in their last game, but they’re still without Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and a few other key options.
That means Tre Jones should continue to see a slight bump in playing time. He’s been effective recently, averaging 0.90 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for 24 minutes in our NBA Models. That should be enough for him to pay off his $3,600 salary.
Fast Break
Anfernee Simons has seen a massive price increase recently, but he still stands out as an excellent value on DraftKings. His $6,200 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%, and he’s racked up at least 45.75 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. He should continue to warrant consideration for as long as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are sidelined.
Russell Westbrook is worth some consideration on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 98%. His price tag has decreased by -$1,000 over the past month, and he draws an elite matchup vs. the Hawks. His Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.42 ranks third at the position, so he’s a strong buy-low target.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Jordan Clarkson isn’t priced like a stud, but he has the potential for stud-like production on Friday. The Jazz’s injury report is jam-packed at the moment. Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Joe Ingles have already been ruled out, while Clarkson, Rudy Gay, Royce O’Neale, and Hassan Whiteside are questionable.
As long as Clarkson suits up, he should move into the starting lineup and serve as the team’s top scoring threat. He’s increased his usage rate by +8.3% with Mitchell and Conley off the court this season, resulting in an average of 1.11 DraftKings points per minute.
If Clarkson is ruled out, the Jazz are going to have to get very creative with their rotation vs. the Raptors. Make sure to monitor the injury report for updates and check in with our models for updated projections.
Value
If you want to go even cheaper with the Jazz, Trent Forrest is a potential option at $3,200 on DraftKings. He hasn’t excelled when given the chance to play this season, averaging just 0.52 DraftKings points per minute, but he should be able to return value through sheer volume. He’s currently projected for 29 minutes, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.86 (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Bryn Forbes is another potential value option on DraftKings. His $3,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%, and he should see plenty of minutes for the shorthanded Spurs. He’s also been significantly more productive with his minutes than someone like Forrest, averaging 0.89 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
James Harden’s price tag is down to $10,400 on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 83%. He has cooled off recently, scoring 36.8 FanDuel points or fewer in back-to-back games, but he still possesses one of the top ceilings in fantasy. The fact that Kyrie Irving will not be available should help Harden on Friday, as will the Nets’ slate-best implied team total.
Small Forward
Stud
Sticking with the Nets, Kevin Durant stands out as their preferred stud target on DraftKings. He’s increased his fantasy production to 1.49 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he continues to log more minutes than basically every other player in the league. His average of 37.1 minutes per game trails only Fred VanVleet’s average of 37.5, and Durant is coming off 41.4 minutes in his last outing.
Durant’s $10,300 price tag is extremely reasonable with Irving out of the lineup and results in a Bargain Rating of 83%. His nine Pro Trends also ranks first at the position.
Value
Rudy Gay is another player who should carry a sizable workload if he’s able to suit up. He’s historically been an excellent producer on a per-minute basis, and he’s averaged 0.91 DraftKings points per minute this season. He racked up 29 minutes in the Jazz’s last game, and he responded with 36.25 DraftKings points. Gay could see even more playing time if he’s active on Friday, making him a tough player to fade at his current price tag.
Fast Break
Furkan Korkmaz should also provide some value at small forward. He’s logged at least 36.2 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.78 FanDuel points per minute this season. The 76ers are also in a solid spot vs. the Spurs, giving Korkmaz an Opponent Plus/Minus of +1.39.
Scottie Barnes is priced at a massive discount on FanDuel. His $6,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 97%, and his 10 Pro Trends are tied for the most at the position. Barnes is coming off just 18.2 FanDuel points in his last outing, but he played nearly 38 minutes. He’s averaged 0.99 FanDuel points per minute over the past month, so that much playing time bodes well for his fantasy prospects moving forward.
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo has struggled to pay off his massive price tag recently, posting an average Plus/Minus of -5.59 over his past 10 games on DraftKings. However, he remains one of the best per-minute producers in the league. He’s averaged 1.72 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he could see a few extra minutes in a massive game vs. the Nets. These two teams are considered the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and they played a grueling seven-game series in last year’s postseason. In other words, expect to see the “A-Game” from Antetokounmpo in this spot.
Value
Sticking with the Bucks, Jordan Nwora could be thrust into a sizable role vs. the Nets. The Bucks have ruled out five players on Friday, so they have plenty of minutes available. Nwora logged more than 40.1 minutes in their last outing, and he’s capable of taking advantage of that much playing time. He’s averaged 0.88 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s increased his production to 1.01 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Fast Break
Nassir Little has seen a nice bump in productivity in the Blazers’ past two games. He’s played at least 33.8 minutes in both contests, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each. Little has averaged 0.88 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s also seen a bump in usage with Lillard and McCollum sidelined. He’s a strong option at just $4,800 on DraftKings.
Marvin Bagley has been a reliable fantasy producer of late. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games on FanDuel, and he’s averaged 0.94 FanDuel points per minute over the past month. He doesn’t need much playing time to pay off his $4,600 salary on FanDuel.
Center
Stud
There are plenty of strong fantasy options on Friday’s slate, but Nikola Jokic remains the king. The only thing that has been able to stop him recently has been a lack of playing time. As long as he’s gotten to 34.2 minutes, he’s scored at least 56.0 DraftKings points in 11 straight games. That’s remarkable consistency.
Jokic does it by being a savant in every statistical category. He’s capable of dominating as a scorer, rebounder, or passer, and he’ll even sprinkle in some defensive statistics from time to time. Add it all up, and he’s averaged 1.87 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He should be able to have a field day vs. the Kings, and the Nuggets’ implied team total of 117.25 ranks second on the slate.
Value
Rudy Gobert is also out for the Jazz, so Hassan Whiteside should see a nice boost in minutes if he can suit up. That’s very appealing for DFS. Whiteside has always been a per-minute monster, and he’s averaged a stout 1.51 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Only four centers have been better on a per-minute basis over that time frame: Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Love. The thought of Whiteside combining his per-minute productivity with an increased workload is tantalizing, especially at just $3,500 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Jusuf Nurkic stands out as one of the better pure values at the position on FanDuel. His $6,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 95%, and he’s scored at least 39.1 FanDuel points in back-to-back games. He’s also coming off 33.2 minutes in his last outing, and Nurkic can do damage with that much playing time. He’s averaged 1.29 FanDuel points per minute this season.
Bobby Portis is another potential option for the shorthanded Bucks. His playing time has waned as the team has gotten a bit healthier, but he’s currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models. Portis has averaged 1.13 FanDuel points per minute this season, so that should be more than enough to satisfy his $5,700 salary.
