Friday features a eight-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 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
Trae Young’s seven-game streak of 30+ points and 10+ assists ended Tuesday night with Young “only” scoring 21 points and dishing out 13 assists. Over his last eight games, he is averaging a massive double-double with 31.3 points, 13.3 assists, and 60 DraftKings points per game. Despite having a much cheaper salary than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Young has a higher projected ceiling for this position. Young also leads the slate with 13 Pro Trends on DraftKings and FanDuel.
A big reason why he looks like one of the best pay-up options on the slate is due to the Hawks and Kings 252-point game total. The Hawks have a 125.5 implied total and have had no trouble offensively on the back of Young’s playmaking. They rank fifth in offensive rating while averaging 122.3 points per game.
This is a fantastic game environment for him.
Value
Joel Embiid will miss his third consecutive game, opening the door for role players like De’Anthony Melton to have ceiling performances. With Embiid off the floor this season, Melton has recorded a team-high +10.53 DraftKings Plus/Minus and is second on the team with a +5.51% usage rate. Melton has back-to-back great games, averaging 18.5 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and 38.8 DraftKings points per game. His salary has increased on both sites, but it is deserving.
The extra usage rate and opportunity with Embiid out negates the difficult matchup. Melton’s last two games were against the Heat and Magic. It doesn’t get easier tonight with the Rockets being another team that ranks in the top five in defensive ranking. This game has the lowest total on the slate at 224.5 points, but don’t let that deter you from getting Melton exposure.
Fast Break
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite pay-up option on FanDuel due to his league-leading 2.8 steals per game. Priced at nearly $12,000, Gilgeous-Alexander has the second-highest projected ceiling on FanDuel tonight. In the month of December, he has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 10 of his 11 games and is averaging 31.9 points, 7.0 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game. Gilgeous-Alexander has 55+ fantasy points in five straight games and is a great option.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
If he is able to play, Donovan Mitchell is the best expensive shooting guard on the slate. Mitchell has missed the last four games due to an illness and hasn’t played since December 18th. Make sure to monitor his status the closer we get to lock. If he is out, continue to roster Craig Porter Jr., who has been great in not only Mitchell’s absence but also Darius Garland.
Mitchell was fantastic before his illness, with three straight games playing over 40 minutes and averaging 30 points and 8.3 assists per game. In the six games that he has played without Garland this season, he is averaging 32 points per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 40.4% from behind the arc. Evan Mobley also remains out which is even more added usage and production for Mitchell if he is able to suit up.
Even in a tough spot against the Bucks, Mitchell looks great.
Value
After sitting out the last game due to rest, Spencer Dinwiddie will be a full go against the worst defensive team in the league. Not only do the Wizards rank dead last in defensive rating at 121.5, but they also lead the league in pace. They are allowing a league-high 126.8 points per game while their opponents shooting 50.3% from the field. In his most recent game against the Wizards, Dinwiddie nearly had a double-double. He finished with 14 points, nine assists, and an impressive four steals.
Projected for around 20% ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel tonight, Dinwiddie is a strong mid-range value option. His point guard and shooting guard eligibility on both sites make him easy to fit into all lineup builds. The Nets are going to be a popular team to target with their 124.5-point team total, and Dinwiddie is a cheaper way to get exposure to this offense.
Fast Break
Devin Booker is a great way to get different on this eight-game slate. Projected for less than 5% ownership on both sites, Booker is a contrarian pay-up option. Being priced under $10,000 makes him a more reasonable target in tournaments. Bradley Beal has been upgraded to questionable, but this is a matchup worth getting exposure to any of the Suns’ pieces.
They are 15.5-point home favorites against the Hornets, who rank 29th in defensive rating, allowing 121 points per game.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
In his third year in the league, Scottie Barnes has taken a major leap forward, averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists per game. Barnes is second on the team in scoring and assists and leads the Raptors in rebounds, steals, and blocks. The month of December has been tough for the Raptors, losing eight of their 11 games, but Barnes has been great. Over that time he is averaging a double-double with 23.5 points and 10 rebounds per game, shooting 54.9% from the field.
Despite the Celtics likely sitting out one or two starters tonight, the Raptors are still eight-point road underdogs. They are implied for only 109 points, so getting exposure to the Raptors will need to be minimal. Barnes can accumulate fantasy points in a variety of ways and is projected to be low-owned. He is $1,100 cheaper on DraftKings, which is his preferred site.
Value
Projected for a slate-high 50% ownership on FanDuel, Rockets forward Tari Eason is a staple in cash games. The Rockets are playing without Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. which will provide more opportunity for Eason. In his second year in the league, Eason is averaging a career-high across the board. What sets Eason apart on FanDuel is his ability to capture defensive stats. He leads the Rockets in both steals and blocks and has accumulated 20 total steals in his last eight games.
The 76ers have been solid with limiting their turnovers but have allowed six blocks per game this season, which is the fifth-highest in the league. They 76ers defensive rating also worsens from 110.7 to 115.4 without Embiid on the floor. This is a great spot for Eason if he is able to play. He is questionable, and if he gets ruled out, pivot immediately to Jae’Sean Tate.
Fast Break
Mikal Bridges played only 12 minutes last game simply to keep his consecutive starting streak alive, so throw those stats out the window. He is well-rested for this cupcake matchup against the Wizards. Priced at $7,300 on both sites, Bridges looks to be a strong option on FanDuel with his shooting guard and small forward eligibility. He is projected for 30% ownership and will have no problem dominating this pitiful Wizards defense.
His upside is incredible in this matchup tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the highest-priced player on FanDuel and the second-highest on DraftKings. With most lineups going to a balanced build, Giannis is a great way to get different at the top. He is projected for under 5% ownership on both sites despite scoring 61+ DraftKings points in four of his last five games. His ceiling remains one of the highest on the slate.
The Bucks have struggled on the road, but the Cavaliers are dealing with a plethora of injuries including one of their Twin Towers protecting the paint – Evan Mobley. Without Mobley, the Cavaliers are a less intimidating defensive unit and are vulnerable in the paint. If Jarrett Allen is in foul trouble, Giannis is going to score as many points in the paint as he pleases.
Value
Tobias Harris has benefited from the absence of Joel Embiid with three straight games recording a positive Plus/Minus. During that stretch, Harris is averaging 27.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game with a 28.1% usage rate. He is much more affordable on DraftKings at this $6,800 salary compared to $7,900 on FanDuel. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the forward position on DraftKings and has a 93% Bargain Rating. He is a steal at this price point.
With so many injuries to the Rockets’ wings, including elite defender Dillon Brooks, Harris will have free reign on the perimeter. This is the second consecutive year that Harris is shooting over 50% from the field and 37% from downtown. Ride the hot hand with Harris, who has gotten up 21.3 field goal attempts per game in his last three games.
Fast Break
Kevin Durant is coming off a massive triple-double with 27 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds against the Rockets. He finished with a season-high 74 DraftKings points and shot 9-for-16 from the field. Durant displayed his ceiling and has a chance to do it again in this spot against the Hornets. He may not play his full allotment of minutes due to the crazy high spread, but Durant can fill it up in a limited time. He’s just another way to differentiate your lineups at the top of the pricing tier.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double last night in only 30 minutes. He shot a perfect 11-for-11 from the field and finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Nuggets cruised to a 37-point victory last night without breaking a sweat. Jokic has the highest projected ceiling in our NBA Model tonight against a Thunder defense that lacks interior girth. Even at $11,200 on DraftKings, he is underpriced. Jokic has a 93% Bargain Rating and the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate.
The Nuggets have a chance to build on their home record of 13-2. They are three-point home favorites against the Thunder, who are currently one game behind them in the Western Conference standings. The Thunder play at the sixth-fastest pace in the league, which will benefit Jokic even more in this spot. He is the best pay-up option on the slate, regardless of the site.
Value
In the two games that Paul Reed has played without Joel Embiid this past week, he has one ceiling performance and one dud. The dud was mainly due to foul trouble. Reed finished that game playing only 17 minutes and recording four points and two rebounds. However, last game when Reed wasn’t in foul trouble, he erupted for a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in 32 minutes. Reed added three assists and three blocks while shooting 6-for-11 from the field and making his only 3-point attempt.
Projected to play a middling 28 minutes tonight, Reed looks like one of the best values on the slate. The matchup isn’t ideal against the Rockets, who rank fourth in defensive rating and 12th in rebounding percentage, but Reed will get every opportunity he can to battle against Alperen Sengun. He is still a little too cheap on both DraftKings and FanDuel tonight.
Fast Break
Domantas Sabonis is coming off a season-high 34 points against the Trail Blazers, where he shot 14-for-18 from the field with a 28.8% usage rate. He added 12 rebounds, which was his 12th consecutive game with double-digit rebounds. Sabonis also has double-digit assists for three triple-doubles in his last five games. The Hawks are not only a below-average defensive team, but they also get pummeled on the glass. This is a great spot for Sabonis, who can put up big numbers.
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