NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings (Friday, November 22)

Friday features an eight-game main 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 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

Fred VanVleet continues to stand out as criminally underpriced on DraftKings. His $7,200 salary comes with an 81% Bargain Rating, which is one of the top marks at the position. VanVleet has posted a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games, and he’s scored at least 46.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four.

There’s no reason to expect anything to change vs. the Blazers. Portland hasn’t been quite as friendly of a matchup as they were last year, but the Rockets’ 117.5 implied team total is the fifth-highest mark on the slate. VanVleet leads all point guards in projected Plus/Minus, making him an elite starting point for your lineups.

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Value

The Bulls are going to be without Patrick Williams and Lonzo Ball for the second straight game, which makes them a strong value target. There should be a few additional minutes to go around, and their matchup vs. the Hawks is one of the best of the day. The total on that game sits at a whopping 246 points, and both squads have a top-three implied team total on the slate.

Ayo Dosunmu is currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, which makes him an appealing option at just $5,000. He’s averaged 0.83 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s historically averaged a positive Plus/Minus with a comparable salary and minute projection (per the Trends tool).

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Fast Break

James Harden shouldn’t command much ownership on this slate, making him an interesting pivot for tournaments. The Clippers are currently without leading scorer Norman Powell, and Harden has seen a +6.75% usage bump with Powell off the floor this season. He’s averaged 1.37 DraftKings points per minute in that split, so he offers significantly more upside than usual.

The Celtics might be able to get past the Wizards without breaking a sweat on Friday, but Derrick White still warrants consideration. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, yet his salary has actually decreased over that time frame. The Celtics’ starters should also be extremely productive when on the floor: their 127.5 implied team total is the top mark on the slate by a wide margin.

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

Like VanVleet, Zach LaVine is another player with significantly more upside than his midrange salary implies. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past six games, and he remains one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in basketball. He’s not scoring quite as much as in years past, but he’s still averaging 22.0 points per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 43.2% from 3-point range.

LaVine has had a bit of an uptick as a scorer recently, logging at least 25 points in back-to-back games. As a result, he’s had at least 42.25 DraftKings points in both contests. He leads the position with 12 Pro Trends on Friday, and in a game with tons of scoring potential, LaVine stands out as an excellent target.

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Value

The Blazers’ injury report is going to be important to monitor on Friday. They’re expected to be without Deandre Ayton once again, while both Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson are questionable.

If Simons and/or Henderson are unable to go, Shaedon Sharpe would become one of the best values of the day. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he has at least 42.0 DraftKings points in two of his past three outings. With Ayton, Simons, and Henderson all off the floor, Sharpe has seen a +3.91% usage bump and averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute. Sharpe is currently projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models, so he could do a lot of damage in that scenario.

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Fast Break

Jalen Green has yet to truly get going this season, but there are encouraging signs in his recent performances. His minutes have been all over the place to start the year, but he played close to 40 minutes two games ago vs. the Bucks. He dropped back to just 28.5 minutes in his last outing, but that was a game the Rockets won by 17 points. He’s projected for 34 points for Friday’s matchup vs. the Blazers, and if he can get to that threshold, he’s a good bet to return value at $6,400.

The Pelicans are another team worth monitoring on Friday. They were extremely shorthanded on Wednesday, and they could be in similar shape vs. the Warriors. Brandon Ingram, Jordan Hawkins, and Yves Missi are all questionable, and if they’re unable to go, it would leave the team without nine rotation players. Antonio Reeves had 46.75 DraftKings points for the shorthanded Pelicans on Wednesday, so he would be worth targeting at $4,400 if the team is extremely thin again.

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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

There’s always risk in targeting a massive favorite, but Jayson Tatum is putting together a monster season for the Celtics. He’s playing all the minutes he can handle, and he’s responded with 29.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. The result is an average of 1.50 DraftKings points per minute, which is one of the top marks on the slate.

Tatum has been even better of late. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, and he’s had at least 60.25 DraftKings points in three of them. It’s possible he spends most of the fourth quarter on the bench vs. the Wizards, but his upside is immense if this game stays competitive.

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Value

Amir Coffey is not going to set the world on fire – he’s averaged just 0.7 DraftKings points per minute this season – but he’s simply too cheap for the number of minutes he’s expected to play on Friday. He replaced Powell in the starting lineup in the Clippers’ last game, and he responded with 25.5 DraftKings points in 33.4 minutes. He’s priced at just $4,000 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Kings, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.67.

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Fast Break

Tari Eason continues to rack up fantasy points for the Rockets. He’s capable of doing damage in virtually every category across the board, resulting in an elite 1.22 DraftKings points per minute. His minutes are typically capped in the mid-20s, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring at least 29.5 DraftKings points in six of his past seven games. He’s underpriced at $5,700, and his 83% Bargain Rating is tied for the second-best mark among Friday’s SFs.

De’Andre Hunter is back for the Hawks, and while he’s lost his spot in the starting lineup, it hasn’t impacted him for fantasy purposes. He’s scored at least 26.5 DraftKings points in all three games since returning to the lineup, and he’s averaged 1.18 DraftKings points per minute for the year. He’s projected for 27 minutes in an elite matchup, making him a viable option at $5,100.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

Giannis Antetokounmpo is up to $12,100 on DraftKings, and it’s tough to pay that much for anyone not named Nikola Jokic. As good as Giannis is, he’s historically posted a Plus/Minus of -9.31 when priced at $12,000 or higher.

Giannis doesn’t stand out as a great value at that number, but he still has slate-breaking upside. Tatum is the only player within eight points of his ceiling projection, and Tatum is far riskier than usual as a 16-point favorite.

From a matchup standpoint, the Pacers remain well above average. They haven’t played quite as fast as they did last year, but they’re still 11th in that department this season. They’re also 23rd in defensive efficiency, so the Bucks are implied for a healthy 121.25 points in this spot.

If enough value opens up on this slate – either from the Pelicans, Blazers, or somewhere else – paying up for Giannis is rarely a bad idea.

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Value

Robert Williams failed to return value in his last outing, but he’s still been very good for the Blazers in his return to the lineup. He’s averaged 1.27 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s played at least 24.3 minutes in three straight games. He has at least 29.5 DraftKings points in two of them, so he has plenty of appeal at just $4,800.

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Fast Break

Jabari Smith is another potential target for the Blazers. His production has been up and down this season, but when things have gone well for him, he’s provided significant upside for his price tag. He has two games with at least 36.0 DraftKings points in his last four, so he’s a cheap way to get exposure to the best game of the day.

Guerschon Yabusele replaced Paul George after he exited Wednesday’s contest, making him the frontrunner to draw the start vs. the Nets. He’s averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to pay off his $3,600 salary.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

If it feels like I’ve recommended everyone on the Rockets this evening, it’s because I basically have. They’re all grading out as elite options in this matchup, but Alperen Sengun is arguably the best of the bunch.

Sengun had a slow start to the year, but he has turned things around in a big way recently. He’s scored at least 45.5 DraftKings points in six of his past seven games, and he’s been above 50 in four of them.

Sengun doesn’t always play big minutes, but he’s one of the most efficient fantasy scorers in basketball. He’s averaged 1.56 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he doesn’t need more than 30 minutes to potentially return value. Until his price tag catches up to his production, Sengun is going to be an elite option.

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Value

Speaking of elite per-minute producers, Clint Capela checks that box for the Hawks. He hasn’t dominated at quite the same level this season, but his average of 1.14 DraftKings points per minute is still outstanding for his price tag. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games, and he’s scored at least 32.5 DraftKings points in four of them.

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Fast Break

Trayce Jackson-Davis is another player capable of doing serious damage in limited minutes. He put that on display in his last outing, racking up 36.25 DraftKings points in less than 22 minutes vs. the Hawks, and he’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute for the year. That gives him a solid ceiling at just $3,700.

Donovan Clingan has seen a solid spike in production with Ayton out of the lineup recently. He hasn’t seen all of the center minutes in his absence, but he’s gotten to around 22 minutes in back-to-back games. He’s managed to return value in both contests, and in the one game where he played big minutes, he logged 50.5 DraftKings points. That gives him a nice combination of floor and ceiling.