Friday features an 11-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
Luka Doncic is listed questionable to play, but the Mavericks will likely sit him due to having their playoff seed basically wrapped up. However, make sure to keep an eye on his status. The Knicks on the other hand are in an Eastern Conference playoff seeding battle, and Jalen Brunson is playing out of his mind. The first-time All-Star is averaging 39.4 points and 60.4 DraftKings points per game while shooting 54.3% from the field and posting a 38.9% usage rate in his last five games.
The Knicks draw a home matchup against the Nets as they look for the season sweep. They are double-digit favorites with the Nets falling to 20th in the league for defensive rating. Looking to stay hot going into the playoffs, expect another ceiling performance from Brunson tonight. He has the highest projected ceiling at the point guard position if we expect Doncic to sit.
Value
Leading the slate with by far the highest projected Plus/Minus is Grizzlies’ point guard Jordan Goodwin. Priced at $5,900 with point guard and shooting guard eligibility, Goodwin is the best value on the board. He is an incredible cash game option due to his slate-high 40% projected ownership, and he has a high ceiling to attack in tournaments. With so many players out for the Grizzlies, Goodwin is projected to play over 40 minutes tonight. That is more than enough time to exceed his salary-based expectations.
Over the last six games, Goodwin has displayed his knack for rebounding. He is averaging a double-double with 12 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Getting a double-double from a guard at this price point is incredible value. Despite having a usually big lineup, the Lakers rank 21st in rebounding percentage at 49.6%. Can we get another double-double in this spot?
Fast Break
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is another stud point guard that is playing in a meaningful game for the Thunder. After missing four games due to an injury, Gilgeous-Alexander picked up right where he left off Tuesday night with a 40-point performance. He followed that up with 26 points in a 38-point blowout victory. Gilgeous-Alexander will look to bounce back with a big game against the Bucks who’s defensive rating drops from 115.8 to 121.2 without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup.
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
Anthony Edwards added his name to the 50-point club on Tuesday night. The shooting guard scored a career-high 51 points on 17-for-29 shooting from the field, including six made 3-pointers. He followed that up with a relatively disappointing 25-point game in a loss to the Nuggets. However, the Timberwolves are still in the running for the top seed in the Western Conference. They are 14-point favorites against the Hawks, implied for the second-highest total on the slate at 120 points.
Edwards has been a boom-or-bust fantasy producer, which is enticing for tournaments. Given his inconsistencies, he is projected for less than 5% ownership. Karl-Anthony Towns is expected back for the Timberwolves, but their offense will continue to run through Edwards. The Hawks rank 26th in defensive rating, making this an elite matchup for Edwards.
Value
With Kyrie Irving already ruled out and the anticipation that Luka Doncic may sit, Mavericks’ guard Dante Exum is another great value option. With both Irving and Doncic off the floor this season, Exum has a +5.74% usage rate. Exum is projected to start and play around 33 minutes tonight. He has the second-highest projected ownership on the slate and is easy to fit into all lineup builds with dual eligibility and a $4,200 price tag. The matchup against the Pistons backcourt is also fantastic.
Cade Cunningham will likely continue to sit for the Pistons, making this an even juicer matchup for Exum in the backcourt. Since joining the Mavericks this season, Exum has become an elite shooter. It certainly helps playing alongside incredible point guards like Irving and Doncic, but Exum is shooting a career-high 53.5% from the field and 49.1% from behind the arc.
Fast Break
Patrick Beverley is another value guard worth getting exposure to on this 11-game slate. With Giannis out, Damian Lillard doubtful, and both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez questionable, tonight will likely become the Pat Bev show. The veteran guard has posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of his last four games. In those three ceiling games, Beverley is averaging 17 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. All he needs is an opportunity, and he will get just that tonight.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
LeBron James is questionable to play, but he is likely able to suit up tonight with the Lakers having a chance to climb into the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They have won nine of their last 12 games, and James is a big reason for their success. James has played in 10 of those 12 games and is averaging 25.5 points, 9.2 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game with five double-doubles and one triple-double. Now is the time with the playoffs near that King James starts to ramp it up.
The Grizzlies will continue to send out their reserves to try and compete against the Lakers tonight. The Lakers are 15.5-point road favorites, implied for a slate-high 120.5 points. With the Lakers ranking fourth in pace at 101.37 per game, expect an up-tempo game environment. Drawing a little over 5% projected ownership, James is another contrarian pay-up option.
Value
We can go back to the Grizzlies for value with forward Jake LaRavia. The second-year pro has started in four games this season and is averaging 16.8 points per game in those starts. That includes a career-high 32-point game Wednesday night against the Cavaliers where LaRavia shot 10-for-18 from the field and a ridiculous 8-for-11 from distance. The sharpshooting big man was also able to grab seven rebounds in that contest. He is only $4,300 and another great value play on this slate.
One of the best ways to attack the Lakers defense is on the perimeter. They are allowing opponents to make and attempt the third-most 3-pointers per game this season. That should be music to the ears of LaRavia, who is coming off a game where he poured in eight 3-pointers. He will be a popular value play but rightfully so given how well he has played and the matchup.
Fast Break
DeMar DeRozan leads the small forward position in both projected ownership and projected Plus/Minus. He is a great mix of ceiling and value once again. DeRozan is coming off a 39-point game and his third 30-point game in a row. The matchup gets even better for DeRozan tonight against the Wizards, who leads the league in pace and ranks 28th in defensive rating. Priced at $8,100, DeRozan has a 90% Bargain Rating and 10 Pro Trends. He is the best mid-range option on the slate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis should be well rested after leaving Sunday’s game after only playing 12 minutes with an injury. He sat out Tuesday’s game, but he is probable to play tonight. If Davis can stay on the floor, this is a great matchup for him against the depleted Grizzlies frontcourt. Davis’ price point is also very intriguing at $10,300, which is resulting in a 97% Bargain Rating. In his last nine games before the injury, Davis was averaging a double-double with 26.8 points and 16.1 rebounds per game.
Davis is drawing the third-highest projected ceiling on the slate and a 23% projected ownership. He would look even better if James was unable to play. In the 10 games that Davis has played without James, his usage rate jumps to 30.1%, and he is averaging 26.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. However, even if James plays, Davis is still an elite pay-up option.
Value
Noah Clowney is starting to get valuable minutes for the Nets, who are out of the playoff picture. The rookie from Alabama has started the last two games and played an average of 37 minutes per game. In fact, Clowney has a positive Plus/Minus in each of his last four games and is averaging 14 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. His salary has skyrocketed to $4,500, but that is still not high enough with Clowney having a 99% Bargain Rating and being projected for around 25% ownership.
With power forward and center eligibility, Clowney is easy to fit into all lineup builds. The big man displayed his ceiling last game that included seven blocks. The matchup is certainly not ideal against the Knicks, who have been the best rebounding team in the league and a defensive juggernaut. However, the cheap price tag negates the difficult matchup for Clowney.
Fast Break
With Sandro Mamukelashvili still priced under $5,000, he is worth getting exposure to on tonight’s slate. Even after a disappointing 0-for-8 shooting night last game, Mamukelashvili managed to pull down 11 rebounds and still nearly exceed his salary based expectations. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in six of his last eight games and has displayed 40 DraftKings point upside. He nearly had a double-double last game against the Nuggets, with 10 points and nine rebounds.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
After a huge home victory against the Timberwolves on Wednesday night, the Nuggets own the top seed in the Western Conference, with two road games remaining. Given how well the Spurs have played recently, the Nuggets cannot afford to sit Nikola Jokic. Expect the favorite for MVP to suit up and play a big role for the Nuggets tonight. In his last meeting against the Spurs, Jokic dominated with 42 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, finishing with 77 total DraftKings points.
Even with the league leader in blocks on their side, the Spurs have had difficulty guarding the paint and rebounding the ball. They rank 24th in rebounding percentage and are allowing 54.7 points per game in the paint, which is the third-highest in the league. With Luka Doncic likely sitting due to rest, Jokic has the highest projected ceiling on the slate in our Player model.
Value
Trey Jemison is once again the value center to target on this 11-game slate. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last six games and is averaging 9.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during that time. Jemison is projected to draw his 13th start of the season and play heavy minutes against Anthony Davis and the Lakers frontcourt. This is not as bad of a matchup as it may seem. The Lakers rank 21st in both rebounding percentage and points allowed in the paint this season.
The Grizzlies don’t have much to play for other than spoiler to the Lakers trying to boost their playoff seeding. They are heavy underdogs implied for only 105 points. However, with how fast the Lakers play, this is a great game environment for paint touches and rebounds. He may flirt around with a double-double, and that is more than enough to exceed his salary.
Fast Break
Victor Wembanyama sat out the second half of the Spurs back-to-back on Wednesday night but is not on the injury report going into tonight’s game. In his last meeting against the Nuggets, Wembanyama nearly had a quadruple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, nine blocks, and eight assists in the Spurs’ five-point loss. Looking to play spoiler, Wembanyama is one of the best pay-up options on the slate tonight. He has averaged 67.5 DraftKings points per game in his last six contests.
