Friday features a seven-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage 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.
Stud
Friday’s contest between the Grizzlies and Cavaliers should be chock-full of fantasy goodness. The game leads the slate with a 244.5-point total, and the Cavs are listed as just two-point road favorites. Cleveland’s 123.5 implied team total is tied with the Nuggets for the top mark on the slate.
The Cavs are also currently playing without Donovan Mitchell. He’s set to miss his second straight game, so Darius Garland will be tasked with leading the offense. He posted a 33.7% usage rate without Mitchell on Tuesday, and he responded with 55.0 DraftKings points. Overall, Garland has increased his usage rate by +3.35% with Mitchell off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.35 DraftKings points per minute.
Garland’s price tag has come up slightly from his last game, but he’s still not nearly expensive enough. He stands out as an elite combination of value and upside.
Value
The hits keep on coming for the Spurs. They were already playing without Victor Wembanyama, and now they’ll be without De’Aaron Fox for the rest of the year. That leaves Chris Paul to play out the string as the team’s starting point guard.
The Spurs aren’t overwhelming Paul at this point in his career, but he’s still projected for 30 minutes Friday vs. the Hornets. That should be more than enough to pay off his meager $4,900 price tag. He’s averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and that figure increases to 1.11 with Wembanyama and Fox off the floor.
Fast Break
James Harden could be a bit overlooked at the top of the pricing spectrum. He’s all the way up to $10,500, but he’s been worth every penny recently. He’s scored at least 56.0 DraftKings points in six straight games, and no one at the position is projected for more than his 38 minutes. With most of the ownership at point guard concentrated around Garland, Harden makes for an intriguing contrarian option in an elite matchup vs. the Hawks.
The Grizzlies have been a bit shorthanded of late, which has opened the door for Scottie Pippen Jr. to play a few additional minutes. Pippen has averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially return value. If Jaren Jackson Jr. is ruled out once again – he’s currently listed as questionable – Pippen would make for an appealing value target at just $3,900.
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
It’s officially Stephon Castle season in San Antonio. The No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was considered a bit of a project, but he’s exceeded expectations in his first professional season. His jump shot remains a work in progress, but he’s still averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute. He’s increased that figure to 1.11 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and his role only figures to grow with Fox joining Wembanyama on the sidelines.
Castle is currently projected for 34 minutes vs. the Hornets, and that’s a big number for him. He’s never been projected for more than 33 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.63 with at least 30 projected minutes (per the Trends tool). Castle leads all backcourt options in projected Plus/Minus on Friday, so he’s an outstanding option in all formats.
Value
The 76ers are desperate for contributors at the moment. They’re without each member of their “Big Three,” and they have a handful of other players either out or questionable for Friday’s matchup vs. the Pacers. It leaves them with a ragtag group to handle most of the minutes.
That includes Jared Butler. He’s been awesome when on the floor this season, averaging 1.13 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s gotten the chance to play a bit more recently. He’s logged at least 29.4 minutes in two of his past three games, and he’s scored 32.5 DraftKings points in both contests. Butler is projected for another 28 minutes on Friday, making him an excellent value at just $4,600.
Fast Break
Bogdan Bogdanovic went off in the Clippers’ last contest, dropping 30 points and 10 rebounds en route to 49.5 DraftKings points. He won’t have to do quite as much on Friday – Kawhi Leonard will be back in the lineup – but he should still have a healthy role off the bench. He’s projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.89 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
The Rockets are currently dealing with some injuries, which has opened the door for Jalen Green to put together some big performances. He racked up 50.25 DraftKings points in his last outing, and he’s increased his production to 1.14 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He draws an advantageous matchup Friday vs. the Mavericks, who are 26th in defensive efficiency over their past 15 games.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Speaking of Kawhi, he’s the small forward most worth targeting at the top of the pricing spectrum. He should be back at full strength after resting on the second leg of a back-to-back, and the Clippers have maximized his workload recently. He’s played as many as 40.2 minutes in a game recently as the Clippers gear up for the playoffs.
When Leonard is on the floor, we know how dangerous he can be for fantasy purposes. He hasn’t been quite as productive this season as he was last year, but he’s still capable of filling up the box score. He did exactly that in his last game, racking up 51.0 DraftKings points vs. the Pelicans.
Leonard has plenty of upside vs. the Hawks, who have played at the third-fastest pace over their past 15 games. The Clippers are implied for 118.0 points in this matchup, which represents a significant increase from their season average (111.1).
Value
Keldon Johnson is another player who should benefit significantly from the Fox injury. He’s increased his usage rate by a team-high +3.77% with Fox and Wembanyama off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.06 DraftKings points per minute.
The big question is, how many minutes will he see on Friday? His playing time has been extremely inconsistent all season, and that’s been the case recently as well. He had just 17.1 minutes in his last outing, but he had 29.0 the game prior. We’re projecting him for more on the high end of his minute range, but he should be able to return value regardless. Even in his last contest, he still managed to get to 28.75 DraftKings points.
Fast Break
Devin Vassell is yet another potential option for the Spurs. Unlike Johnson, his minutes should be pretty stable. He’s also averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s seen a +2.45% bump to his usage rate with Fox and Wembanyama off the floor. He has a similar ceiling projection as guys like Naji Marshall and Jaylen Brown, both of whom are roughly $2,000 more expensive.
DaQuan Jeffries has not been very productive this season, but he’s tough to ignore at $3,400. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, and that’s a ton of playing time for a near-min-priced player. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.50.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Evan Mobley also gets a bump with Mitchell out of the lineup. He’s been the most productive member of the Cavs with Mitchell off the floor this season, averaging 1.39 DraftKings points per minute. He didn’t exactly crush sans Mitchell on Tuesday, but he’s averaged 44.8 DraftKings points in five games without his superstar teammate. There’s no reason to expect much different in a massive pace-up spot vs. the Grizzlies.
Value
Dillon Brooks is one of the safest value options on the slate. He’s locked into mid-30s minutes given the Rockets’ current injury situation, and he’s taken full advantage. He’s played at least 34.6 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s scored at least 26.0 DraftKings points in both contests. Brooks is projected for another 33 minutes on Friday, so he remains underpriced at $4,900.
Fast Break
Harrison Barnes hasn’t been nearly as productive as some of his teammates on a per-minute basis, but he’s capable of popping off for the occasional big game. We saw exactly that two games ago, erupting for 44.5 DraftKings points vs. the Mavericks. He might not command the same ownership as some of the Spurs’ other options, making him an interesting pivot.
Like Brooks, Tari Eason is another player who stands out for the Rockets. He’s not seeing quite as many minutes as Brooks, but he makes up for it with his superior per-minute efficiency. He’s averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s expected to see around 28 minutes vs. the Mavericks. Eason had 37.5 DraftKings points in his last outing, giving him a solid ceiling for his midrange price tag.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Jarrett Allen rounds out our tour of the Cavaliers on Friday. His playing time has been down since the acquisition of D’Andre Hunter, but the Mitchell injury changes things. He played 34.1 minutes in his last outing – his most in more than a month – and he responded with 47.75 DraftKings points.
Allen also stands out from an efficiency standpoint. He’s seen the largest usage bump on the team with Mitchell off the floor this season, and he’s averaged better than 1.30 DraftKings points per minute in that split. Ultimately, he’s still priced like he’s going to play less than 30 minutes, and that’s probably not the case on Friday’s slate.
Value
Wendell Carter Jr. has struggled to find consistent minutes for the Magic this season, but he’s at least back in the starting lineup. That should help him moving forward. He’s projected for 29 minutes on Friday’s slate, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.93 DraftKings points per minute for the year. If he sees that much playing time, he should be able to pay off his $4,900 salary. Only Allen owns a better projected Plus/Minus at the position.
Fast Break
Andre Drummond is officially questionable for the 76ers, but he’s always an intriguing tournament option when he’s expected to get minutes. He’s averaged 1.23 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has a game with 55.0 DraftKings points during that stretch. His playing time has been a bit more sporadic since then, but he always provides elite upside at a midrange salary.
Jabari Smith Jr. rounds out the Rockets’ frontcourt options. He’s not as safe as Brooks or as sexy as Eason, but he’s played at least 32.2 minutes in back-to-back games. He has one strong performance and one clunker in those outings, but he should at least have opportunities vs. the Mavericks.
