Friday features a nine-game NBA slate starting at 7 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.
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NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
For the first time since 2011-12, James Harden will not be headed to the All-Star Game. There’s always a chance he could be added later as an injury replacement, but the initial rosters have omitted the former MVP. However, Harden is still having an outstanding season, averaging 21.4 points, 11.0 assists, and 6.4 rebounds in his first full year with the 76ers. Add it all up, and he’s averaged 50.45 DraftKings points per game.
Friday’s matchup vs. the Spurs is the perfect opportunity for Harden to remind everyone of just how good he is. The Spurs rank seventh in pace and dead last in defensive efficiency, and the 76ers’ implied team total of 122.0 ranks first on the slate.
There’s also a chance that the team could be without Joel Embiid, and Harden would become a must-play in that scenario. He’s seen a 6.0% usage bump with Embiid off the floor, resulting in an average of 1.42 DraftKings points per minute. His price tag has also dipped below $10k across the industry, so this could be the perfect storm for a huge Harden performance.
Value
On the other side of that matchup, the Spurs are expected to be without starting point guard Tre Jones. He’s doubtful after suffering a foot injury in their last contest, while Jeremy Sochan, Romeo Langford, and Devin Vassell have all been ruled out.
That opens the door for Josh Richardson to take on a meaningful role. He’s been a fantastic fantasy producer of late, averaging 1.10 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for more than 32 minutes in our NBA Models. Richardson racked up 36.5 DraftKings points in 28.9 minutes on Wednesday, and he has the potential for a similar performance vs. the 76ers.
Fast Break
De’Aaron Fox has been ruled out vs. the Pacers for personal reasons, which should allow Davion Mitchell to pick up a few additional minutes. The second-year player has struggled to find consistent playing time in his sophomore season, but he’s priced at the minimum at $3,000 on DraftKings. The Pacers are also one of the best possible matchups, giving Mitchell an Opponent Plus/Minus of +3.17.
LaMelo Ball continues to stand out as underpriced on FanDuel, where his $9,100 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%. He draws a matchup vs. the Pistons, who rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and the total on this contest is a sky-high 240.0 points. Ball flashed his upside with 69.5 FanDuel points on Tuesday, and he brings a similar ceiling to the table in this spot.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Things have not gone particularly well for Dejounte Murray and the Hawks this season. They’re currently sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, which is not what they were hoping for after sacrificing massive draft capital to acquire Murray.
However, Murray has played some of his best basketball recently, posting an average Plus/Minus of +5.09 over his past 10 games on DraftKings. He wasn’t really needed in Wednesday’s romp of the Suns – he finished with 42.0 DraftKings points in 29.6 minutes – but he finished with 67.0 DraftKings points Monday vs. the Trail Blazers.
Murray is in a great spot to keep the good times rolling on Friday. He’s taking on the Jazz, and the total on that contest sits at a slate-high 242.0. The Jazz are also listed as just 1.5-point home favorites, which suggests a high-scoring affair with plenty of value on both sides. Murray owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +5.53 on DraftKings, which is the top mark at the shooting guard position.
Value
Malik Monk is another potential value option for the Kings. Monk has been an excellent per-minute producer all year, and he’s increased his production to 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s also seen a team-high +4.5% usage bump with Fox off the floor this season, so he brings even more upside than usual to the table vs. the Pacers. Monk should also pick up a few additional minutes, making him one of the best values of the day.
Fast Break
Malaki Branham is a nice value to consider on DraftKings, where his $3,600 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 88%. He’s projected for just under 32 minutes in our NBA Models, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.64 (per the Trends tool). Branham isn’t the best per-minute producer, but he should be able to return value through sheer volume.
Alec Burks has started each of the past three games for the Pistons, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus on FanDuel in each. He erupted for 35.0 FanDuel points in his first start of that stretch, and he followed that up with 25.4 and 24.3 FanDuel points in his past two. Overall, Burks has averaged 29.1 minutes in those contests, and he’s averaged 0.99 FanDuel points per minute this season. That makes him underpriced at $5,000.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Lauri Markkanen is breaking out in his first year with the Jazz. The former No. 7 overall pick has had a slow start to his NBA career, but he’s been given the opportunity to flourish with a change of scenery. He’s averaged 24.9 points per game – more than 10 additional points than he averaged last year with the Cavaliers – to go along with 8.7 rebounds per game. Add it all up, and he’s averaging a career-best 41.52 DraftKings points per game.
Markkanen is coming off 51.25 DraftKings points in his last outing, and he’s averaged a stout 1.35 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Only Jayson Tatum has been a better per-minute producer at small forward over that time frame, and he’s nearly $3,000 more expensive than Markkanen on Friday.
Markkanen is the clear top option for the Jazz in a phenomenal matchup, and their implied team total of 121.75 ranks second on the slate. He’s still priced down compared to his peak across the industry, so he’s an excellent stud option on this slate.
Value
The Kings provide value at virtually every position on this slate, and Keegan Murray gets the nod at small forward. The No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has had a bit of a coming out party recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in 12 of his past 15 games on FanDuel. He failed to return value in his last contest, but he was limited to just 27.3 minutes vs. the Spurs. Murray played 38.6 minutes in his previous outing, so he has the potential to play significantly more vs. the Pacers.
Fast Break
Speaking of minutes, Gary Trent Jr. is projected to play around 37.5 minutes Friday vs. the Rockets. The Raptors remain without OG Anunoby, which should open up some additional scoring opportunities as well. The Rockets rank 28th in defensive efficiency, so Trent should be able to make the most of his massive workload. He’s particularly appealing on FanDuel, where his $6,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 82%.
Eric Gordon has been priced up to $5,500 on DraftKings, but if his recent production is any indication, that’s still way too cheap. He’s thrived with Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green out of the lineup recently, scoring at least 37.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. He’s increased his usage rate by +9.1% and his assist rate by +11.2% with both players off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 0.98 DraftKings points per minute. Gordon is projected for single-digit ownership vs. the Raptors, making him a strong pivot for tournaments.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Domantas Sabonis has PF eligibility on FanDuel, where his $9,900 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 88%. Sabonis continues to put up big numbers in his first full year with the Kings, and he’s coming off 62.2 FanDuel points in his last outing. Sabonis is capable of stuffing the stat sheet, and he should be asked to do a bit more than usual with Fox out of the lineup. He’s increased his usage rate (+1.6%), assist rate (+3.5%), and rebound rate (+0.7%) with Fox off the floor this season, so he has the potential for a huge game against the Pacers.
Value
If Sabonis is out of your price range, Harrison Barnes makes plenty of sense at the position as well. Barnes has played tons of minutes for the Kings recently, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.79 DraftKings points per minute this season. That hasn’t always resulted in the best fantasy numbers – he’s scored 25.0 DraftKings points or less in four straight games – but he should see an uptick in usage sans Fox. He’s seen a +3.5% usage bump with Fox off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 0.82 DraftKings points per minute. Ultimately, he stands out as one of the top per-dollar options at the position on Friday.
Fast Break
Kyle Anderson continues to deliver solid production with Karl-Anthony Towns out of the lineup. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +5.45 over his past 10 games on DraftKings, and he’s averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s capable of contributing in every category across the board, so he has plenty of paths to return value at $5,700 vs. the Magic.
The Blazers have the potential to be thin in the frontcourt on Friday. Jusuf Nurkic has already been ruled out, while Jerami Grant is questionable. Regardless of Grant’s status, Drew Eubanks should see a solid spike in playing time. He’s averaged 0.91 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he’s coming off 32.7 FanDuel points in his last game. His matchup vs. the Wizards is also solid, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.70. Eubanks is viable at center across the industry, but he has additional PF eligibility on FanDuel.
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NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
I’m going to continue riding Alperen Sengun for as long as humanly possible. He’s one of the most talented big men in basketball, and he’s seen more offensive responsibilities with KPJ and Green out of the lineup recently. He’s handed out at least six dimes in nine of his past 10 games to go along with excellent production as a scorer and on the glass. Overall, Sengun has averaged 1.35 FanDuel points per minute over the past month, which trails only Embiid among Friday’s centers.
While Embiid will set you back $11,500, Sengun will run you just $8,400 on FanDuel. His price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%, and he leads the position with 13 Pro Trends.
Value
Mason Plumlee continues to deliver outstanding performances for the Hornets, yet his price tag never seems to move. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +7.33 over his past 10 games on DraftKings, and he’s scored at least 39.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He’s increased his production to 1.27 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for just over 30 minutes in a solid spot vs. the Pistons. He should not still be priced under $7,000, so let’s take advantage while we can.
Fast Break
If Embiid suits up, he’s clearly worth some consideration against the Spurs. Embiid has been on a mission for most of the year, leading the league with an average of 33.5 points per game. He could do some serious damage against the Spurs’ soft interior, which has allowed the most points in the paint per game.
Myles Turner is slightly underpriced at $7,500 on FanDuel, and very few players in this price range can match his upside. He has even more ceiling than usual vs. the Kings, who rank 28th in points in the paint allowed per game this season.
