NBA DFS Picks Breakdown (Friday, Nov. 18): Jaden Ivey Bounce-Back Spot

Friday features an 11-game 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 150 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. Use our FanDuel promo to get three months of free NBA League Pass. 

NBA DFS Point Guard Picks

Stud

Friday’s slate is large and loaded with tons of injury information to follow. I’m going to do my best to break down the slate as things sit currently, but there are going to be a lot of moving parts. Make sure to stay abreast of all the latest news before lineup lock, and late-swap could be even more important than usual.

One thing we know for sure is that Desmond Bane will remain out for the Grizzlies. That’s going to open up a few additional opportunities for Ja Morant. Morant has increased his usage rate to 42.9% with Bane off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.54 FanDuel points per minute. Only Luka Doncic has been more effective on a per-minute basis among Friday’s point guards, and he’s nearly $2,000 more expensive.

Morant also owns an excellent matchup vs. the Thunder, and the Grizzlies’ implied team total of 118.25 ranks third on the slate. He’s an outstanding pay-up option on FanDuel, where his $10,100 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 87%.

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Value

Nikola Jokic will miss his second-straight game due to health and safety protocols, and Jamal Murray will join him on the sidelines on Friday. Ish Smith is also doubtful, while Aaron Gordon is questionable after missing their most recent contest.

That leaves a lot of minutes for Bones Hyland. He’s been one of the most efficient fantasy players in the league this season, averaging 1.20 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models. He can do some serious damage with that much playing time at just a $5,000 price tag.

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Fast Break

The Hornets are another team where the injuries are piling up. LaMelo Ball has already been ruled out, while Dennis Smith Jr. and Gordon Hayward are doubtful. Theo Maleon could move into the starting lineup in their absence, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.85 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s projected for nearly 26 minutes at $3,900, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.38 (per the Trends tool).

Tyrese Haliburton continues to provide elite value, posting an average Plus/Minus of +7.20 through his first 13 games on FanDuel. He remains underpriced for a juicy matchup vs. the Rockets, who rank 28th in defensive efficiency.

NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks

Stud

Jaden Ivey is coming off a poor performance in his last game, finishing with just 29.0 DraftKings points in 27.8 minutes. However, he was a subpar 8-21 from the field and 1-7 from 3-point range, so he has the upside for a better performance Friday vs. the Lakers. The Lakers rank sixth in pace and 20th in defensive efficiency, so it’s a great spot for him to bounce back.

Ivey has also seen a price drop on DraftKings, and his $6,400 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 84%. He should continue to benefit from the absence of Cade Cunningham, averaging 1.10 DraftKings points per minute with his star teammate off the floor.

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Value

Immanuel Quickley’s playing time has steadily increased over the past four games. He’s coming off 27.8 minutes in his last outing, and Quickley has massive upside if he’s going to continue to play that much. He’s averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute this season, and his $4,400 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 91%. He also draws a solid matchup vs. the Warriors, who rank first in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency.

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Fast Break

Chris Paul is questionable to return to the lineup on Friday, but Cameron Payne would remain an outstanding option if he’s out. He’s averaged 1.04 FanDuel points per minute, and he’s scored at least 30.6 FanDuel points in three of his past four games. Payne has dual PG/SG eligibility on FanDuel, where his $6,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 93%.

Dillon Brooks has posted a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games on FanDuel, even though he’s shot just 13-40 from the field. Brooks is far from a deadeye shooter, but he has some room for growth Friday vs. the Thunder. His $5,000 salary on FanDuel also comes with a Bargain Rating of 98%.

NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

The Hornets are going to need someone to score the ball on Friday, and Terry Rozier is their best bet. He’s increased his usage rate to 30.8% with Ball, Hayward, and DSJ off the floor, and he’s averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute this season. He should be slightly better in that department on Friday, and he has the potential to play more than 36 minutes. He’ll have to navigate a tough matchup vs. the Cavaliers, but they rank dead last in defensive efficiency over their past five games. Rozier isn’t expected to garner much ownership, making him an interesting tournament option.

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Value

No team is more banged up at the moment than the Heat. They’ve already ruled out Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo is not expected to play. Caleb Martin is also questionable, so there are plenty of minutes and shots available Friday vs. the Wizards.

Duncan Robinson could move into the starting lineup, and while he’s struggled to an average of 0.67 DraftKings points per minute, this seems like the perfect spot for him. The Wizards are allowing opposing teams to shoot 38.5% from 3-point range, which is the fourth-highest mark in the league. Robinson is a 3-point shooting specialist, knocking down 40.2% of his 3-point attempts for his career.

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Fast Break

The Magic are still without Paolo Banchero, which gives Franz Wagner a boost in value. He leads the team with a 28.8% usage rate with Banchero and Cole Anthony off the court, resulting in an average of 0.94 FanDuel points per minute. His salary has also come down slightly for Friday’s matchup vs. the Bulls, giving him a Bargain Rating of 84%.

Klay Thompson is still struggling with his jump shot, but that hasn’t stopped him from posting a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games on FanDuel. He’s priced at a point where he can pay off his salary on an off shooting night, and he has massive upside if his jumper ever starts falling.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

With the amount of value that will likely open up before lock, paying up for Giannis Antetokounmpo is definitely viable. Giannis has not provided his typical value recently, but the upside is obviously still there. He’s posted a usage rate of at least 45.6% in two of his past three games, but his minutes have been cut short due to blowouts. He’s still averaging 1.76 DraftKings points per minute, and very few players in basketball can match that mark.

Giannis has a subpar matchup Friday vs. the 76ers, but he scored 58.75 DraftKings points in his first meeting vs. Philly this year. He only posted a 25.0% usage rate in that contest, which highlights the diversity of his skill set.

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Value

Brandon Clarke stands out as one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings, where his $4,200 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 98%. His minutes have been inconsistent this season, but he’s coming off 33.3 minutes in his last outing.

I doubt he reaches that figure again, but he doesn’t need to at his current price tag. Clarke has averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s capable of succeeding in limited playing time.

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Fast Break

Zeke Nnaji saw a bit of run for the shorthanded Nuggets on Wednesday and racked up 18.25 DraftKings points in 26.3 minutes. He could see a similar workload if Gordon remains sidelined, which would make him a nice value at just $3,200.

Draymond Green is not the most exciting player to roster in fantasy at this point, but he continues to provide value on FanDuel. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his past nine games, and his salary hasn’t budged over that time frame.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

Myles Turner has been priced up a bit on Friday’s slate, but he remains underpriced for his recent production. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games on DraftKings, and he’s gone for at least 40.25 DraftKings points in three of his past four games.

Those numbers are fantastic on the surface, but the best part is that there’s still some room for growth. Turner has played 27 minutes or less in two of his past three games, and he has the potential to play much more moving forward. He’s averaged 1.36 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he erupted for 62.5 DraftKings points the last time he played more than 31 minutes. Ultimately, he’s priced for his floor production at the moment, but his ceiling is significantly higher.

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Value

DeAndre Jordan started in place of Jokic on Wednesday, and he played a season-high 26.0 minutes. He responded with 18.5 DraftKings points, but Jordan has averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season. He could be looking at a slightly better performance with a comparable workload on Friday.

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Fast Break

Mason Plumlee has quietly been one of the best sources of value at the position recently, posting an average Plus/Minus of +8.95 over his past 10 games on FanDuel. He’s averaged 1.05 FanDuel points per minute this season, and his role should be secure given all the Hornets’ injuries. He’s too cheap at $5,700, and he owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +4.46 vs. the Cavaliers.

Deandre Ayton’s price tag has dipped to just $6,200 on DraftKings, which is too cheap for a matchup vs. the Jazz. Ayton owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +8.86, which is the top mark at the position. Ayton has also averaged just 1.01 DraftKings points per minute this season, but he has historically been a much better fantasy producer than that. It’s a prime buy-low spot.