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 Leverage 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
We are getting near the conclusion of the NBA regular season, which means that we’re going to keep seeing more and more players pop up on the injury report. We’ve had a few slates absolutely loaded with values of late, and Friday is going to be no exception.
The Raptors are going to give R.J. Barrett and Jakob Poeltl the night off, and Gradey Dick is currently sidelined with an injury. That leaves the team without three of their usual starters.
Immanuel Quickley has the potential to provide stud-like upside at a discount vs. the Jazz. He’s increased his production to 1.12 DraftKings points per minute with all three players off the floor this season, and his playing time is trending in the right direction. He played limited minutes after initially returning to the lineup, but he’s projected for 32 minutes on Friday’s slate.
The matchup vs. the Jazz is also elite. Utah ranks dead last in defensive efficiency this season, and they’ve played at the sixth-fastest pace since the All-Star break. Quickley ultimately has the sixth-highest ceiling projection among Friday’s point guards, despite ranking merely tied for 12th in salary. That’s a nice combination.
Value
The Knicks will be on the second leg of a back-to-back on Friday after suffering an overtime loss to the Lakers on Thursday. We’re still waiting on their official injury report, but there’s a good chance that Jalen Brunson is out of the lineup. He suffered an ankle injury that forced him to exit early vs. the Lakers, and while there’s optimism that he avoided a serious injury, it seems likely that he’ll miss at least one contest.
That opens up significant value with their backcourt. Deuce McBride should move into the starting lineup, and he has been a steady producer when on the floor this season. He’s averaged 0.79 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s increased that figure to 0.90 with Brunson off the court. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, which should be more than enough to pay off his $4,200 salary.
However, Cameron Payne might be the best value in the team’s backcourt. He’s averaged better than a fantasy point per minute for the year, and he’s projected for 25 minutes vs. the Clippers. He’s also priced at just $3,100, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.08 (per the Trends tool). Payne has personally fit that trend on three separate occasions, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +12.71 with a 100% Consistency Rating.
Fast Break
The Kings are currently playing without Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, which should solidify Keon Ellis’ spot in the rotation. He’s coming off more than 38 minutes in his last outing, and he responded with 32.25 DraftKings points. He isn’t projected for quite that much playing time vs. the Spurs, but he should see 32+ minutes and has averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
Spencer Dinwiddie has seen a solid price hike since his last contest, but he still has the potential to return value at $5,900. He managed 28.25 DraftKings points in 29.5 minutes in his last contest, despite the Mavericks losing by 30 points. He should play more if Friday’s contest vs. the Grizzlies is more competitive, and Memphis has played at the fastest pace in basketball this season. He’s currently projected for approximately 5% ownership, but he’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at closer to a 14% clip.
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
None of the top shooting guards on this slate stand out as particularly strong values, but Zach LaVine is the best of the bunch. He’s currently projected for 37 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute for the year. His production is slightly down since being traded to Sacramento, but he has the potential to do a bit more with Monk and Sabonis out of the lineup. The matchup vs. the Spurs is also a good one, with the Kings’ 121.25 implied team total ranking fourth on the slate.
Value
The Thunder might be the most appealing short-handed squad on Friday. They’re giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the night off for rest, while Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace are all out with injuries. Even Chet Holmgren is questionable, so the team has the potential to be without arguably their five most important players.
That makes Isaiah Joe an elite source of value. Joe has always been a solid per-minute producer, and he’s projected for 30 minutes on Friday’s slate. He’s averaged an elite 1.12 DraftKings points per minute with SGA, Williams, and Dort off the court this season, so Joe is an extremely tough fade at just $4,000. He’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations more than 33% of the time, and he’s tied with Payne for the top projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate.
Fast Break
A.J. Lawson is another potential source of value at the position. He’s priced at the absolute minimum on DraftKings, but he’s projected for 25 minutes in our NBA Models. The Jazz have already ruled out Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson vs. the Raptors, while Keyonte George is questionable. He had 22.5 DraftKings points in 26.4 minutes with all four players sidelined on Wednesday, so he’s a viable target if George is ultimately ruled out.
Klay Thompson was letting in fly for the Mavericks on Wednesday. He racked up 27 shot attempts in his 34.1 minutes, finishing with 44.0 DraftKings points. He could take over as the team’s top scoring threat with all the injuries they’ve accumulated, so he has upside at $5,500 vs. the Grizzlies.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
With so much value available, paying up for a couple of studs is very doable on this slate. Scottie Barnes stands out as one of the top candidates. He’s scored at least 47.0 DraftKings points in two of his past three outings, and his ceiling is immense Friday vs. the Jazz. Not only is this an elite matchup, but Barnes has increased his production to 1.27 DraftKings points per minute with Barrett, Poeltl, and Dick off the floor this season.
Barnes also stands out as an elite value on DraftKings. His price tag has decreased by more than -$1,000 over the past month, and his current $7,900 price tag comes with a 95% Bargain Rating. His 11 Pro Trends are also tied for first at the position.
Value
Aaron Wiggins will have his opportunity to shine on Friday. He’s quietly played outstanding basketball of late, averaging 1.06 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. The only reason he hasn’t been more productive is that he plays for one of the most talented teams in basketball. Not only do they have the presumptive MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander, but they simply don’t have enough minutes to satisfy all the talented players on their roster.
That shouldn’t be an issue on Friday. Wiggins should take on a starring role, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models. He’s had a comparable minute projection in just three previous games this season, and he’s averaged 31.5 DraftKings points and a +8.72 Plus/Minus. He’s another incredibly difficult fade, showing up in the optimal lineup simulations nearly 39% of the time.
Fast Break
DeMar DeRozan has the potential to rival Barnes for the top spot at small forward. He saw a massive spike in production in his first game without Monk and Sabonis, finishing with a 36.4% usage rate and 50.5 DraftKings points. He’s seen a +5.41% usage bump with Monk, Sabonis, and De’Aaron Fox off the floor this season, so there’s optimism that he can produce at an improved level moving forward.
Alex Caruso is another potential option for the Thunder. He’s not the same scoring threat as guys like Joe and Wiggins, but he does everything else. As a result, he’s averaged more than a fantasy point per minute for the year. He’s expected to see around 30 minutes on Friday, which should be enough to pay off his $4,400 salary.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Naji Marshall isn’t priced like a stud, but he’s approaching stud territory for the Mavericks. He has the eighth-highest ceiling projection at power forward, and each player above him is priced at $7,300 or higher. Marshall is a paltry $6,000 in comparison, and he’s gone for at least 36.75 DraftKings points in back-to-back games.
Marshall has averaged nearly 1.00 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s been even better with the team’s key contributors off the floor. He’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at greater than a 40% clip, which is the top mark among all players on this slate.
Value
Could Chris Boucher finally be unleashed by the Raptors on Friday? It’s possible. Boucher has always been a fantasy-favorite. He has the ability to pile up fantasy points whenever he sees the floor, but his playing time has been sporadic for most of his career. He’s averaged just 17.2 minutes per game this season, but he’s still averaged a healthy 1.11 DraftKings points per minute.
Boucher is currently projected for 24 minutes in our NBA Models, which is an exciting proposition. He’s only had a comparable salary and minute projection on five previous occasions, and he’s averaged a +7.29 Plus/Minus with a 100% Consistency Rating. His $3,300 price tag also comes with a 96% Bargain Rating, while his matchup vs. the Jazz results in a +4.96 Opponent Plus/Minus.
Fast Break
If Homgren suits up for the Thunder on Friday, he has the potential to go nuclear. He’s barely seen any playing time without SGA, Williams, and Dort this season, but it stands to reason that he would see a much higher usage rate than usual. He’s already an elite fantasy producer, averaging 1.37 DraftKings points per minute, and he has the potential to far exceed that vs. the Blazers. That said, I’d ultimately be surprised if he ended up playing, so make sure to monitor the injury report for updates.
Regardless of Holmgren’s status, Kenrich Williams should play a decent role for the Thunder. He’s currently projected for 25 minutes even with Holmgren factored into the equation, and he’s averaged 0.92 DraftKings points per minute for the year. That’s more than enough to put him on the radar at $3,400.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic should be the most popular stud target on this slate, and for good reason. His salary is meaningless with all the value options available, and no one can match Jokic from a raw points standpoint. He has the top median projection by more than 15 points, while the gap in ceiling projection is closer to 17.
Jokic hasn’t been at his best recently, coming off “just” 49.75 and 56.5 DraftKings points in his past two outings. Still, he’s averaged 1.86 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and the Nuggets have the third-highest implied team total on the slate. Jokic has been unstoppable for nearly half a decade at this point, so there’s no reason to expect his “struggles” to continue.
Value
Orlando Robinson is the other potential center option for the Raptors on Friday. He’s priced similarly to Boucher, and while he isn’t nearly as effective on a per-minute basis, he is expected to see more playing time. He’s currently projected for 27 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.85 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
Fast Break
Jusuf Nurkic is questionable for the Hornets, but he’d be the top value center of the day if he’s able to suit up. Mark Williams has already been ruled out, which opens the door for Nurkic to play a solid handful of minutes. He’s currently projected for 24 minutes vs. the Cavaliers, and he’s averaged an elite 1.45 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That’s a tough combination to pass up at just $3,700.
Karl-Anthony Towns is an intriguing tournament pivot off Jokic. He’s not grading out nearly as well in our NBA Models, and there are reasons to be wary of him on the second leg of a back-to-back after an overtime loss. However, Tom Thibodeau doesn’t take it easy on his players very often, so Towns should see a full workload vs. the Clippers. He’s also been extremely productive with Brunson off the floor this season, averaging a massive 1.65 DraftKings points per minute. He’s projected for just 6% ownership on this slate, so he’s one of my favorite contrarian targets.
