Friday features an eight-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
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.
Stud
The Pelicans stand out as one of the most obvious sources of value on this slate. They’re playing on the second leg of a back-to-back, which means they’re expected to be without Zion Williamson. They’re already playing without Dejounte Murray, so there are going to be plenty of opportunities available for the rest of the roster.
C.J. McCollum should be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He hasn’t been at his best recently, posting a negative Plus/Minus in four straight games, which has caused his salary to plummet. He’s been as high as $8,000 in those outings, but he’s down to just $7,100 vs. the Suns.
McCollum has also seen a massive spike in production when the team has been shorthanded. He’s increased his usage rate by +5.58% in games without Williamson, Murray, and Brandon Ingram this season, and he’s averaged 43.63 DraftKings points in those outings. He stands out as an elite buy-low target.
Value
Lonzo Ball remains massively underpriced on DraftKings. His $4,600 salary comes with an 87% Bargain Rating, and he’s coming off 31.5 DraftKings points vs. the Clippers in his last outing. He played more than 28 minutes in that contest, and he’s projected for a similar workload in an elite matchup vs. the Raptors. Ball has averaged just under a fantasy point per minute for the year, so that should be more than enough playing time to return value. Ultimately, Ball leads all backcourt options in projected Plus/Minus.
Fast Break
Tyler Herro continues to thrive as the Heat’s go-to offensive option. He’s scored at least 44.75 DraftKings points in four of his past five games, and he’s had more than 60 DraftKings points in two of them. His salary continues to trend upward, but he still provides plenty of upside at $8,700 in a pace-up spot vs. the Pacers. Indiana has played at the sixth-fastest pace this season, so the Heat have a bit more scoring potential than usual.
The Nets aren’t necessarily trying to win games at the moment, but they’ve played some of their best basketball thanks to guys like Keon Johnson. He’s averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and his playing time continues to rise. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he’s coming off 35.25 DraftKings points in a brutal matchup vs. the Thunder on Wednesday. His current matchup vs. the Blazers is significantly friendlier, and his $5,100 price tag comes with a 91% Bargain Rating.
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
It doesn’t seem to matter what Devin Booker and the Suns do; they just can’t win any games. They’ve fallen 3.5 games behind the Kings for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament. They still have plenty of time to make up the difference, but they’re going to have to play significantly better.
However, Booker has done plenty of damage for fantasy purposes of late. He’s scored at least 28 points in four straight games, and he racked up 61.25 DraftKings points vs. the Pelicans on Thursday. He’ll draw a rematch vs. New Orleans on Friday, and there’s no reason he can’t have another productive outing: New Orleans ranks 28th in defensive efficiency, and the Suns’ 120.25 implied team total ranks third on the slate.
Booker has played as many as 41.5 minutes in recent games as the team desperately tries to get back in playoff contention. They were also without Bradley Beal on Thursday, and Booker would get a solid boost if he’s out once again. He’s increased his usage rate by +1.1% with Beal off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.25 DraftKings points per minute.
Value
Jordan Hawkins is another potential option for the Pelicans. He’s currently projected for 27 minutes at just $4,000, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.48 (per the Trends tool). Hawkins has also increased his production to 0.87 DraftKings points per minute in games without Williamson, Murray, and Ingram this season, so he has more upside than the typical player in this price range.
Fast Break
Dyson Daniels continues to put up big numbers for the shorthanded Hawks. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in nine of his past 10 contests, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.97 over that time frame. He’s gone for at least 41.25 DraftKings points in three of his past five games, so he still has plenty of upside at a sub-$7k salary. His matchup vs. the Thunder isn’t ideal, but Daniels is simply too cheap for his current role. He’s averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 35 minutes in our NBA Models.
The Pistons have been the hottest team in the NBA. They’ve racked up eight straight wins, and Malik Beasley has been a big part of it. He’s erupted in two of his past three outings, going for at least 41.75 DraftKings points in both of them. Overall, he’s averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is an elite figure for someone with a $4,900 price tag. The matchup between the Pistons and the Nuggets has the third-highest total on the slate, so it’s another good spot for Beasley to pile up the points.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper promo code LABS1.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Trey Murphy might be the Pelicans’ strongest option on Friday. He leads all small forwards with 11 Pro Trends, while he has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate. He also has the fifth-highest ceiling projection, and the four players above him are all priced at $10,000 or higher. Murphy is merely $7,900, so he stands out as an elite combination of upside and value.
Murphy has served as the 1B to McCollum’s 1A with Williamson, Ingram, and Murray off the floor this season. He’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute in that split, which represents a nice increase from his mark of 1.08 for the year. He had a subpar performance vs. the Suns on Thursday, shooting just 6-18 from the field, but he has the potential for a much better outing in the rematch.
Value
Ausar Thompson continues to get the job done for the Pistons. He’s seen a big uptick in production of late, averaging 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s seen a few extra minutes per game as well. He’s logged at least 21.9 minutes in nine of his past 11 games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of them. Thompson is projected for another 26.5 minutes on Friday, and as long as he gets to that threshold, he’s still underpriced at $5,100.
Fast Break
Michael Porter Jr. is another player who has seen a bump in production recently. He’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 33.0 DraftKings points in seven of his past nine games. His $6,100 salary comes with a 91% Bargain Rating, and he’s not expected to be overly popular, either: his projected ownership is checking in below his optimal lineup rate in SimLabs.
If Beal is able to suit up on Friday, he’s an interesting option vs. the Pelicans. He’s served as the clear No. 3 option since arriving in Phoenix, but he’s been an excellent source of value recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games, including more than 55 DraftKings points in his last outing.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Chet Holmgren is a bit of a wild card on this slate. He’s currently listed as questionable, and his playing time has been inconsistent since returning to the lineup. However, he did play more than 32 minutes in his last outing, and he responded with 61.75 DraftKings points vs. the Nets.
Holmgren is currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and he can do some serious damage with that much playing time. He’s averaged 1.39 DraftKings points per minute for the year, which trails only Jayson Tatum among Friday’s power forwards. Tatum is nearly $3,000 more expensive than Holmgren, making the latter the superior value. Holmgren’s current salary comes with a 91% Bargain Rating, so he provides plenty of upside without a ton of downside.
Value
Bol Bol has played at least 29 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s a really tough fade at just $5,000 with that much playing time. Bol has averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s unsurprisingly finished with at least 29.0 DraftKings points in both of those outings. He’s projected for another 28 minutes on Friday’s slate, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.49 with a comparable salary and minute projection.
Fast Break
Santi Aldama has been an elite per-minute producer all season, and his playing time continues to trend in the right direction. He’s played at least 28.8 minutes in three straight games, and he’s scored at least 29.5 DraftKings points in each of them. The Grizzlies are implied for a massive 124.5 points vs. the Knicks on Friday, making Aldama an elite option at just $5,100.
Karlo Matkovic is coming off his best game as a professional on Thursday. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, resulting in 34.0 DraftKings points vs. the Suns. It was his second game with at least 30.0 points in his past three, and he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute when given the chance to play this season. With Williamson likely out on Friday, Matkovic’s workload should be pretty safe.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic is so good at basketball that we’ve become numb to his otherworldly production. It feels like he’s been mediocre of late…but he’s still gone for more than 65 DraftKings points in five of his past six games. That includes a massive 32-point triple-double vs. the Bucks on Thursday.
Jokic’s per-minute production has been slightly down over the past month, but he remains the best producer in fantasy by a wide margin. No one in basketball can match his upside when he goes off, and he’s been one of the safest options in fantasy as well. His 85% Consistency Rating ranks second among Friday’s centers.
Despite all that, Jokic is projected for less than 3% ownership against the red-hot Pistons. I’m not overthinking it.
Value
Part of the reason for Jokic’s minuscule ownership projection is that there are some elite value centers to choose from on Friday. That starts with Zach Collins. Collins has moved into the Bulls’ starting lineup with Nikola Vucevic out with an injury, and he’s turned in some big performances. He had 30.75 DraftKings points two games ago before erupting for 57.75 in his last outing.
Overall, Collins has averaged better than a fantasy point per minute for the year, and he’s up to 1.21 over the past month. He’s expected to see 30+ minutes again on Friday, making him an elite target at just $5,500.
Fast Break
Onyeka Okongwu has started to seize control of the center minutes in Atlanta. Even with Clint Capela in the lineup, Okongwu has gone for 28.5 minutes in six straight games. He’s scored at least 34.75 DraftKings points in four of his past five, which is not surprising: he’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute for the year. He stands out as one of the best pure values on DraftKings, where his $5,600 salary comes with a 95% Bargain Rating.
Yves Missi is one last potential option for the Pelicans. He doesn’t provide the same upside as Matkovic, but he’s probably a bit safer. He’s scored at least 25.75 DraftKings points in three straight games, and he should be locked into around 30 minutes on Friday.
