Friday features a six-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate 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 300 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 NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Priced under $9,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel, Damian Lillard has the highest projected ceiling at the point guard position despite being much cheaper than his peers. The only caveat is Lillard being questionable with an ankle injury. He has missed the last two games, so make sure to monitor his status the closer we get to lock. Not only does Lillard have the highest projected ceiling on FanDuel, but he also has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position tonight.
What really sets Lillard apart from his peers is the elite matchup against the Hornets. Through 50 games, the Hornets continue to have the worst defensive rating in the league. In his only meeting with the Hornets, Lillard poured in 27 points while shooting 9-for-18 from the field and 5-for-10 from behind the arc. Lillard is a great pay-up option if he can suit up.
Value
Rockets rookie Amen Thompson erupted for a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double last game with Fred VanVleet out of the lineup. VanVleet is out again tonight, giving Thompson a second-straight start. He is projected to play 32 minutes and be the best value on the slate. Prioritize Thompson on DraftKings, where he is only $5,300 compared to his $7,200 price tag on FanDuel. With dual guard eligibility, Thompson is projected for 50% ownership on DraftKings with a 98% Bargain Rating.
Thompson has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 10 of his last 13 games, including three points and rebound double-doubles. The electric combo guard will have no trouble clashing the glass against the Raptors, who rank 22nd in rebounding percentage this season. Due to his popularity, Thompson is a staple in cash games and a fantastic option in all formats.
Fast Break
Projected for less than 10% ownership across the industry, Tyrese Maxey will be one of the best contrarian options on the slate. Maxey still has an incredibly high ceiling without Joel Embiid. He has a team-high +5.18% usage rate with Embiid off the floor this season. The 76ers are 2.5-point home underdogs but are playing in the best game environment on the slate against the Hawks. This game total has risen to 243.5 points, which is nearly 10 points higher than the next closest game.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Jayson Tatum is questionable with an illness, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he sat out due to the Celtics being 16.5-point home favorites against the Wizards. With Tatum projected to be out, Jaylen Brown will elevate to an incredible play. In the three games that Brown has played without Tatum this season, he is averaging 33 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 61.9% from the field and 61.5% from behind the arc. Brown’s usage rate also jumps from 27.7% to 32.1%.
The Celtics have a slate-high 126.5-point total with their league-best 24-3 record at home. The Wizards have doubled their win total on the road compared to playing at home, but they are severely undermatched in this contest. This is a superb spot for Brown, whether Tatum plays or not because the Wizards lead the league in pace and rank 27th in defensive rating.
Value
Kevin Huerter has scored double-digit points in 10 of his last 12 games while averaging 15.5 points per game during that time. Most of his production comes from his perimeter shooting, where he has made at least three 3-pointers in half of those 12 games. The sharpshooter is a career 38.3% shooter from behind the arc, with over half of his field goal attempts coming from long distance. Huerter has contributed in the peripheral department, but he is mainly a scoring-reliant fantasy producer.
Huerter will draw a difficult matchup against the Nuggets, who have only allowed 110.5 points per game, which is the fourth-best in the league. However, their defensive rating drops from 114.4 to 116.5 when playing on the road this season. Despite the tough spot for Huerter, he is simply too cheap on tonight’s slate. If his shot is falling, he will easily pay off his salary.
Fast Break
Jalen Green is another Rockets player who will greatly benefit from the absence of Fred VanVleet. With VanVleet off the floor this season, Green has a team-high +5.93% usage rate and a +4.87 DraftKings Plus/Minus. He has averaged 24 points per game and shot 52.9% from the floor in the three games that VanVleet has missed. Prioritize Green on FanDuel, where he is only $300 more expensive than Thompson, compared to $2,000 on DraftKings. They can also be played together.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
LeBron James has been a model of consistency recently, which makes him a strong cash-game option. He still has an achievable ceiling in tournaments, but James has finished with at least 40 DraftKings points in 11 consecutive games. During that stretch, he is averaging 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game with a 29.1% usage rate. James is drawing miniscule ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but expect that to rise if Jayson Tatum is ruled out.
The Lakers surprisingly did not make any moves at the NBA trade deadline, so they will roll with what they got, which is a heavy dose of LeBron James. The 20-year pro leads the team in points, assists, steals, and usage rate this season. The Lakers are playing at the sixth-fastest pace in the league, and James has another great chance for a ceiling game tonight.
Value
Jae Crowder is coming off a season-high 21 points against the Timberwolves last night. He also contributed with eight rebounds and five assists in his 37 minutes of action. Crowder has been playing heavy minutes with Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard out. Over his last three games, Crowder is averaging 39 minutes and 10 field goal attempts per game. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his last five games and looks like another strong value option in all lineup builds.
The Bucks are 14-point home favorites against one of the worst teams in the league tonight. Crowder is projected to play around 33 minutes and is a cheap way to get exposure to one of the best offenses on the slate. The Bucks are playing the second leg of a back-to-back, so keep an eye on the status of their stars. This is a spot that could get better for Crowder.
Fast Break
Given the right matchup, Brandon Ingram has displayed an incredible ceiling even when the Pelicans are fully healthy. He scored a season-high 41 points on Monday night and has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his last five games. With Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas both questionable, Ingram could be in line for a great game tonight. Since joining the Pelicans, Ingram has averaged 24.4 points per game against his former Lakers team. A strong revenge spot for Ingram.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The player with the highest projected ceiling on this six-game slate in our model is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The league’s top defense shut down Giannis last night, holding him to only 31.1 DraftKings points. He only played 27 minutes, so he should be well-rested for the second leg of this back-to-back. Tonight is a much easier matchup for Giannis against the Hornets, who have allowed 54.2 points per game in the paint, which is tied for the sixth-highest in the league.
The Hornets are also one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, with a 48% rebounding percentage. Even with the blowout factor, Giannis has shown he is capable of putting up monster games in limited minutes. If Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton continue to be out, this spot looks even better for the Greek Freak. Expect a bounce-back performance tonight.
Value
Wizards forward Eugene Omoruyi is by far the most popular play on FanDuel and the second-highest owned on DraftKings behind Amen Thompson. He has power forward and center eligibility on DraftKings and small forward only on FanDuel. He is projected to play around 25 minutes and is priced near the stone minimum on both sites. In his first game back in nearly a month on Sunday, Omoruyi recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, while shooting 6-for-12 from the field.
Omoruyi will likely continue to come off the bench for the Wizards and will play all of the garbage time if there is any. With the Celtics favored by over 15 points, expect a heavy dose of him in the fourth quarter. Despite a difficult matchup against the Celtics, Omoruyi is way too cheap across the industry. He makes it possible to fit in several studs on this slate.
Fast Break
Jabari Smith Jr. is second on the Rockets with a +2.72% usage rate when Fred VanVleet is off the floor this season. He is coming off a near double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds last game and remains incredibly affordable on both sites. Smith Jr. is the highest-owned power forward on FanDuel and the second-highest on DraftKings behind Omoruyi. Smith Jr. has looked much more comfortable in his second year in the league, averaging a career-high in all counting stats.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic is another player coming off a game last night where he recorded a near triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. The Nuggets recorded their ninth win in their last 10 games but are 1.5-point road underdogs against the Kings tonight. This is going to be an elite matchup between Jokic and Domantas Sabonis. In their one matchup earlier this year, the Kings came out on top, but Jokic put up a massive stat line with 36 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds.
Jokic has the second-highest projected ceiling on the slate behind Giannis. With his sub-$12,000 salary, Jokic is drawing nearly 10% ownership across the industry. This is the triple-double battle between Jokic and Sabonis. They are tied for the league lead with 15 triple-doubles a piece. Jokic gets the slight edge between these two studs due to his massive ceiling.
Value
Priced under $5,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel, KJ Martin is a strong value play in all formats. He has seen an uptick in playing time for the 76ers with the injury to Joel Embiid. Martin is coming off the best game of his season with 15 points and five rebounds. He played 28 minutes and shot 6-for-10 from the field, including two made 3-pointers. Projected to play over 30 minutes tonight, he looks fantastic in our Tournament Model. It helps this is the best game environment on the slate.
The Hawks are still playing without their starting center, Clint Capela, which makes their interior defense weaker. They have allowed 56.1 points per game in the paint this season, which is the third-highest in the league. Martin can score at all three levels and has displayed a rebounding ceiling. Given the matchup and high total, Martin is simply too cheap in this spot.
Fast Break
Alperen Sengun has the highest projected ownership at the center position on DraftKings and FanDuel tonight. He has recorded a double-double in 10 of his last 11 games and has a great chance to keep that streak alive against the Raptors. With no VanVleet on the floor, Sengun is averaging 6.7 assists per game compared to his five playing alongside him. It wouldn’t be shocking if he flirted with a triple-double. Add Sengun to the large list of Rockets players to get exposure to.
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