Friday features a seven-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
With Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young both questionable and in difficult matchups, LaMelo Ball is the stud point guard to get exposure to on this seven-game slate. Since coming back from a long injury layoff, Ball has struggled with efficiency, shooting 38.6% from the field and 29.4% from downtown. However, he continues to put up respectable outputs, averaging 48.8 DraftKings points per game over his last three games with a massive 38% usage rate in only 29.3 minutes per contest.
Editor’s note: Trae Young was ruled out after this article was submitted.
Opposite of his point guard peers, Ball will have a cupcake matchup against the Spurs. This is a battle of two fast-paced offenses and atrocious defenses. The Hornets are 4.5-point home favorites, implied for 120.75 points, which is the second-highest total on the slate. With his playing time expected to ramp up, Ball looks exceptional on DraftKings at only $8,800.
Value
D’Angelo Russell continued his great recent play with a 29-point game in a victory over the Mavericks. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in four consecutive games and is one of the best value guards on the slate. During that four-game stretch, Russell is averaging 25.3 points and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 52.8% from the field and 50% from behind the arc. His usage rate has jumped to 27.4%. Priced at $6,200 on DraftKings, Russell has a 90% Bargain Rating tonight.
The Lakers are looking for their fifth win in the last seven games with a home matchup against the Nets. They are a slate-high seven-point favorites, implied for 117 points. The Nets rank 20th in defensive rating, while opponents are shooting 38% from behind the arc against them. Russell is a cheap way to get exposure to a Lakers offense that has played well recently.
Fast Break
After several bad games in a row, Malcolm Brogdon broke out of his slump, scoring 16 points and contributing with six assists and five rebounds. With his salary plummeting to $5,400 on DraftKings, Brogdon has a 92% Bargain Rating with point guard and shooting guard eligibility. That is $2,400 cheaper than what he was priced to start the new year. The Trail Blazers draw an up-tempo matchup against the Pacers, who rank second in pace and 27th in defensive rating this season.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Sticking with the Trail Blazers’ backcourt, Anfernee Simons has the highest projected ceiling at the shooting guard position despite also being a great value option. Priced under $8,000 across the industry, Simons has been playing heavy minutes with a high usage rate. Since giving the keys to the car with Damian Lillard out of town, Simons is averaging a career and team-high 22.9 points per game this season. He is also averaging a career-high in both assists and rebounds per game.
Simons is the most popular player on FanDuel tonight at his 47% projected ownership. He has the fourth-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate and has a 90% Bargain Rating with point guard and shooting guard eligibility. This matchup has the highest total on the slate at 237.5 points. If the Trail Blazers can keep this game competitive, Simons will look even better.
Value
Right behind Simons in projected ownership on FanDuel is Spurs shooting guard Devin Vassell. He is projected for 46% ownership on FanDuel and has the fourth-highest projected ownership on DraftKings. With Victor Wembanyama out, Vassell is one of the main beneficiaries. He has a +2.73% usage rate and a +2.66 DraftKings Plus/Minus with Wembanyama off the floor this season. Vassell is second on the team in scoring behind the No. 1 overall pick with 17.7 points per game.
The Spurs are tied for the second-worst record in the league at 7-33, but this is a matchup they can compete in tonight. The Hornets rank last in defensive rating at 121.2 and are allowing 120.4 points per game. Opponents are shooting a league-high 40.2% from downtown against the Hornets, which bodes well for Vassell. This is a great matchup for the sharpshooter.
Fast Break
Devin Booker is drawing miniscule ownership on DraftKings and FanDuel despite coming off a 16-point, 11-assist double-double. Booker is capable of putting up ceiling performances even when the Suns are fully healthy. In his previous two games before his double-double, Booker scored 30+ points and 50+ DraftKings points. With a 29.7% usage rate and leading the Suns in assists, Booker will have the ball in his hands early and often. He is a contrarian option worth getting exposure to.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Similar to Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum will always be a contrarian pay-up option when the Celtics have a healthy roster. In what could potentially be an NBA Finals preview against the Nuggets, the Celtics are 6.5-point home favorites. Tatum continues to lead the Celtics in scoring, rebounding, and usage rate this season. He is the first option in arguably the best offense in the league this year. Tatum is averaging 27.1 points per game while shooting a career-high 47.5% from the field.
Tatum has been dialed in from the perimeter in his last nine games, shooting 49.3% from long distance. He has continued to be a monster on the glass with three 13+ rebound games in that nine-game stretch. Tatum has a ceiling regardless of the matchup. With so many studs to get to on this slate, don’t forget about him at his sub-$10,000 salary on DraftKings.
Value
Keldon Johnson has taken the biggest hit playing alongside Victor Wembanyama this season. His scoring is down to 16.9 points per game, which is a big drop-off from his 22 per game last season. However, in the five games he’s played without Wembanyama this season, Johnson is averaging 22 points and seven rebounds per game with a 25.7% usage rate. He is also shooting 53% from the field over that time. Johnson gets the highest usage rate bump with Wembanyama off the floor.
In three of those five games without Wembaynama, Johnson has scored 26 or more points. Even though his game log shows inconsistencies, this is a fantastic spot for Johnson at his mid-range price tag. Not only are the Hornets horrendous defensively, but they also rank 26th in rebounding percentage at 48.1%. This is a sneaky double-double spot for Johnson.
Fast Break
Jimmy Butler has returned to action after another long break due to injuries. In his first game back, Butler played 40 minutes and scored 31 points. With Butler, the Heat like to play a slow-paced game, but that is nearly impossible against the Hawks, who rank fourth in pace this season. They also rank 26th in defensive rating, making this a great matchup for the Heat forward. Prioritize Butler on DraftKings, where he is criminally priced at $7,600. He has a 94% Bargain Rating tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
With power forward and center eligibility on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Anthony Davis is one of the best studs to get exposure to on this slate. Davis has the third-highest projected ceiling and is still only $10,200 on DraftKings. He has a slate-high 12 Pro Trends and a 95% Bargain Rating. Davis is third in the league with 12.1 rebounds per game and is averaging over 25 points per game for the second straight year. He should be able to feast on the Nets frontcourt tonight.
There is always a chance that LeBron James sits with his questionable tag, which would make Davis look even better. Keep an eye on James’ status per usual because Davis’ scoring rises to 28.3 points per game without James. The Nets, on paper, are a great interior defensive team, but in their last meeting, Davis erupted for 37 points and 18 rebounds against them.
Value
Jeremy Sochan is yet another Spurs value worth getting exposure to. He has one of the biggest pricing discrepancies between the two sites. Sochan is $6,600 on FanDuel, but only $5,200 on DraftKings. He is projected for the highest Plus/Minus on the slate and has a 96% Bargain Rating. His cheap price tag is also drawing the highest ownership tonight.
Sochan had one of his best games of the season Monday night against the Hawks. He stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. Sochan shot 8-for-16 from the field with a 23.4% usage rate. In a similar matchup against the Hornets tonight, Sochan can showcase his skillset against this weak defense. In his five games without Wembanyama this year, Sochan has seen an increase across the board in his scoring, rebounding, and distributing.
Fast Break
Miles Bridges has taken a little bit of a backseat with LaMelo Ball back, but this is a fantastic opportunity to get back on track. Priced in the midrange on DraftKings and FanDuel, Bridges is drawing a healthy amount of ownership on both sites. The Spurs have been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, while Bridges has shown his ceiling in scoring the ball and on the glass. He is averaging a career-high in both categories and has a great chance to dominate this Spurs frontcourt.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
After missing three straight games, Joel Embiid picked up right where he left off with back-to-back games, scoring 41 points. Embiid dominated elite big men Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun, shooting 58.1% from the field. He will draw a much easier matchup against the smaller Magic frontcourt. Embiid continues to lead the league in scoring and usage rate at 38%. He has the highest projected ceiling in our models but is drawing less than 5% ownership on both sites.
It is remarkable how much Embiid has paid off his salary despite being one of the highest-priced players on every slate. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 16 of his last 17 games, with his only miss being against the Knicks, where he still put up 30 points and 10 rebounds. Jokic is close to his projected ceiling, but Embiid has proven to be the best fantasy center.
Value
Nic Claxton will have his hands full with the Lakers’ frontcourt, but he is having the best year of his career. He is averaging a double-double for the first time ever with 12.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting 63.8% from the field and is also averaging 2.3 blocks per game. Priced in the mid-range, Claxton has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the center position. Over his last 12 games, he has averaged 12.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game with nine double-doubles.
Despite having Anthony Davis patrolling the paint, the Lakers rank 20th in rebounding percentage this season and have been an average defensive team. Claxton has a good opportunity to record another double-double in this matchup. Due to his relatively cheap price tag, Claxton is drawing over 20% projected ownership. This is a great game environment for him.
Fast Break
Bam Adebayo is the most popular center on the slate with the highest Projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel at this position. Adebayo is coming off just his second game without a double-double in his last 13 games. During that time, Adebayo is averaging a double-double with 20.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. The Hawks are an elite matchup for opposing big men. They are allowing 56.2 points per game in the paint, which is the third-highest in the league.
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