Friday features a nine-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
Despite being questionable with an illness last game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his 30-point streak to eight-straight games. Not only has Gilgeous-Alexander been scoring with ease all season, but his peripherals have increased. He is averaging a career-high in rebounds, assists, and steals with a league-high 2.2 per game, all while shooting a career-best 54.5% from the floor. It is impossible not to love Gilgeous-Alexander on this slate with the highest-projected ceiling tonight.
A big reason why Gilgeous-Alexander looks even better is his elite matchup against the Hornets. The Thunder are a slate-high 16-point favorites, implied for 121.25 points. The Hornets are one of the best matchups for an opposing player. They rank last in defensive rating and have no interest in winning games right now. This is another fantastic spot for Gilgeous-Alexander.
Value
Leading the Spurs in assists with 5.7 per game, Tre Jones has been a valuable factor in the team’s recent success. On FanDuel, Jones has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in nine of his last 10 games. During that time, Jones is averaging a near double-double with 12.4 points and 8.3 assists per game. Jones has the fifth-highest projected Plus/Minus among all guards on this slate in both DraftKings and FanDuel. At his cheap price tag, Jones is easy to fit into all lineup builds on this slate.
In his fourth year in the league, Jones is shooting a career-best 50.2% from the field. His efficiency makes up for his low usage rate. Since moving into the starting lineup in early January, Jones is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 assists, and 30.4 minutes per game. Even in a difficult matchup against the Pelicans, Jones will be a great value projected to play 32 minutes.
Fast Break
Fred VanVleet will be one of the highest-owned players on DraftKings due to his cheap salary. For the first time all season, VanVleet is priced under $7,000 on DraftKings, which is resulting in a 94% Bargain Rating. In his first year with the Rockets, he has seen a decrease in scoring but is averaging a career-high 8.4 assists per game. VanVleet has double-double upside and is in a positive matchup with the Raptors allowing 27.7 assists per game, which is the seventh-highest in the league.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Playing on the same floor with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, there will be inconsistent fantasy production even for Devin Booker. However, when Booker is cooking, he has one of the highest ceilings of any player on this slate. He scored 62 points a week ago, which was sandwiched between two games with over 40 points. The dual threat Booker has possessed is what has taken his game to the next level. He is averaging a career-high in both points and assists per game this season.
The Hawks have been an exploitable defense all season long. They rank fourth in pace and 27th in defensive rating while allowing 28.7 assists per game, which is the third-highest in the league. Given the matchup, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Suns have one of the highest totals on the slate at 125.25 points. Booker has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the shooting guard position on FanDuel tonight. He is priced under $10,000 on both sites and makes for a strong pay-up option.
Value
Since returning from a minor injury, Kevin Huerter is averaging 17 points per game with two points-and-rebound double-doubles. He has a positive Plus/Minus in six of his last eight games and is shooting an impressive 55.1% from the field and 46.8% from behind the arc during that time. Given his ability to score the ball, Huerter will have no problem exceeding his salary on either site. He is a cheap way to get exposure to a Kings offense that has a slate-high 125.75 implied team total.
The Pacers have been elite at defending the 3-point line this season, but they are still allowing the third-most points in the league at 122.6 per game. In his last meeting against the Pacers, Huerter erupted for a career-high 31 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field, including seven made 3-pointers. A repeat performance would put Huerter into the optimal lineup build tonight.
Fast Break
Bradley Beal doesn’t have nearly the ceiling of his teammate Devin Booker, but he is projected to be the highest-owned shooting guard on this slate for both DraftKings and FanDuel. Beal is third in the Suns’ pecking order behind Booker and Durant, but he is exceptionally cheaper than both. After a slow start to the season dealing with a back injury, Beal attempted 15.3 field goals per game in the month of January. The Hawks defense can be beat in a variety of ways, and Beal is cheap.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Despite only playing 30 minutes last game, Kawhi Leonard recorded another game with over 60 FanDuel points Wednesday night. The Clippers beat the Wizards by 16 points, and Leonard finished with 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals while shooting 14-for-25 from the floor. Leonard is another stud who looks much better on DraftKings due to his $8,800 salary. However, he is still projected for under 10% ownership on both sites despite having 11 Pro Trends.
Leonard will get another juicy matchup against the Pistons with the Clippers as 11.5-point road favorites. The Pistons have been playing a little better recently but still have the league’s second-worst defensive rating at 120.3. Not only is Leonard averaging a team-high 23.9 points per game, but he is shooting a career-best 52.6% from the field and 43.9% from distance.
With Ivica Zubac still out, Leonard also has a much higher rebounding ceiling.
Value
It has been a disappointing year for Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, who is averaging a career-low 15.1 minutes per game. However, with Jalen Williams out last game, Kenrich Williams drew his first start of the season. He grabbed five rebounds but failed to score a point against the Nuggets defense and only attempted one shot. Make sure that Williams is in the starting lineup again tonight, but we can expect a much better outcome against the worst defensive unit in the league.
Williams is projected to play 20 minutes, which is more than enough time for him to exceed his sub-$4,000 salary on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He will be a popular play given the elite matchup, but he is best utilized in cash games rather than tournaments due to his limited ceiling. Williams has finished with over 20 DraftKings and FanDuel points twice all season.
Fast Break
Rookie Brandon Miller has been one of the few bright spots for the Hornets this season. With LaMelo Ball doubtful and Terry Rozier out of town, Miller will get the backcourt all to himself. With Ball and Rozier off the floor this season, Miller is averaging a team-high +5.41% usage rate in 355 total minutes. Miller has scored over 20 points in six of his last eight games. He attempted a season-high 21 field goals last game against the Bulls, and we can expect more of the same tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama has played 30+ minutes in each of his last three games. That is rare but enticing given that he ranks fifth in the league with 1.62 DraftKings points per minute. Wembanyama has recorded 49+ DraftKings points in seven consecutive games. During that time, the No. 1 overall pick is averaging 24.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. At only $9,300 on DraftKings tonight, Wembanyama has a 95% Bargain Rating and a slate-high 13 Pro Trends.
Wembanyama has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in seven consecutive games and in 12 of his last 13 games. Even with a low minutes projection, Wembanyama is impossible to ignore with his elite ceiling. In his first meeting against the difficult Pelicans defense, Wembanyama had a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double with four blocks and over 50 DraftKings points.
Value
After complaining about his playing time, Jonathan Kuminga has gone on an absolute tear. In his last seven games, Kuminga is averaging 25.1 points and 39.8 DraftKings points per game. During that time, he has shot 61.9% from the field and has posted a 27% usage rate per game. The third year pro has shot over 50% in each season and is averaging a career-high in scoring this season. With Chris Paul still out for the Warriors, Kuminga has been playing heavy minutes.
The Warriors are eight-point road favorites against the Grizzlies who are decimated with injuries. Their defensive rating and rebounding percentage has plummeted, making this an exploitable matchup for Kuminga. Over his last five games, Kuminga has recorded at least nine rebounds in three of those contests. With double-double upside, he is exceptionally priced tonight.
Fast Break
Sticking with the Warriors and Grizzlies matchup, Santi Aldama is another value player worth getting exposure to. Priced under $6,000 on both sites, Aldama is projected for a slate-high 38% ownership on FanDuel. Aldama is coming off back-to-back 30+ FanDuel point games, while playing a ton of minutes. With power forward and center eligibility on both sites, Aldama is easy to fit into all lineup constructions. He is projected to play 34 minutes and will be a fantastic value option.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Domantas Sabonis erupted for a massive triple-double against the Heat, with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists. If he is putting up those type of stats against one of the best interior defenses in the league, imagine what he will do against the worst. The Pacers are allowing a league-high 60 points per game in the paint and rank 23rd in rebounding percentage this season. In what will be a tightly-contested, high-paced game environment, expect Sabonis to flirt with another triple-double.
Sabonis is on an insane run recently with at least a double-double in 29 consecutive games. Over that stretch, he has recorded 12 triple-doubles, with four in his last eight games. Sabonis has posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of those eight contests. Behind Gilgeous-Alexander, Sabonis is the clear second-best pay-up option on this nine-game slate.
Value
Filling in for Mark Williams over the last 27 games, Nick Richards has been a valuable asset for the Hornets. In his fourth year in the league, Richards is averaging a career-high in points and rebounds while shooting 68.8% from the field. He has recorded a double-double in three of his last six games and has averaged 2.2 blocks per game over that time. Richards is projected to be the most popular center on FanDuel and the second-most popular on DraftKings, making him a strong value option.
Playing against the small Thunder frontcourt will provide Richards with another opportunity for a double-double. The Thunder rank 28th in rebounding percentage at 47.7%, while allowing 45.1 rebounds per game. Given his salary relief, the interior matchup, and potential upside, Richards is a great play in all formats. He is simply too cheap across the industry.
Fast Break
Alperen Sengun is questionable with an illness but is one of the only players who can match the ceiling of Domantas Sabonis at the center position. Sengun has posted four games with over 55 DraftKings points in his last seven contests. The Raptors are another team with a small frontcourt. They are allowing the sixth-most points per game in the paint and rank 22nd in rebounding percentage. If Sengun is out, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. would be one of the best value plays.
