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NBA DFS Picks: Top OwnersBox Plays for Friday (Mar. 1)

OwnersBox is one of the unique DFS sites that still has traditional daily salary cap contests in addition to their Lightning Lineups contests.

In Lightning Lineups, the OwnersBox app will provide three sets of lineups for a given sport and slate, each lineup with three players. From there, users pick which lineup they think will score the most points. If you don’t like the options, you can spin for new lineups.

Spin. Pick. Win. OwnersBox innovative Lighting Lineups format is the most electric way to play daily fantasy sports.

However, they also have a traditional DFS format, which will be the focus of this article.

For OwnersBox, you use four guards, four forwards/centers, and one Superflex.

Also, our OwnersBox promo code delivers new users a $500 sign-up offer. Their 100% deposit match of up to $500 is by far the best among DFS sites.

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.

Note: Projections 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 Guard Picks

Tyrese Maxey ($7,200) vs. Charlotte Hornets

Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers host the Hornets in one of the seven games on Friday’s main slate. He has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all guards on OwnersBox, behind only Luka Doncic, but he comes at a salary that is $2,600 lower than Luka’s, giving him a better Pts/Sal. Maxey is only the sixth-most expensive option but brings one of the highest ceilings with his favorable matchup and large projected workload.

Although his breakout season has faded into the shadows a bit since his team has struggled lately, Maxey has continued to put up good numbers while carrying a big workload. In his 10 games in February, he had a 30.6% usage rate in 37.3 minutes per game, allowing him to average 26.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. He scored at least 24 points in each of his last five games, including three games of 30+ points.

Maxey has continued to do his best to keep the team afloat with Joel Embiid (knee) out and has emerged as the strong favorite for this year’s Most Improved Player award. Getting him at a much better price than the top options on the board is a good way to keep your ceiling high without having to go with too many punt plays.


Jordan Goodwin ($4,000) vs. Portland Trail Blazers

The value special on Friday night is the matchup between the Grizzlies and the Trail Blazers. Both teams have struggled due to multiple injuries this year, and both teams have had very favorable matchups. As they take on each other, Jordan Goodwin stands out as a great cheap play at guard with the highest Pts/Sal of all guards on Friday’s slate.

Goodwin began the year with the Suns before being traded to the Nets as part of the Royce O’Neale deal. The Nets waived him, and he joined guard-needy Memphis on a 10-day contract before being converted to a two-way contract. As a two-way player, he has a hard cap of games he can play, but when he is active, he has played a very involved role for the Grizzlies and proven he can produce good numbers.

He didn’t play in the Grizzlies’ first two games after the All-Star Break but got the start on Wednesday against the Timberwolves. In that contest, Goodwin played 31 minutes and had eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. He only shot 1-for-8 from the field and finished with five points. His primary fantasy value earlier this season with Phoenix also came from his non-scoring contributions, but if he shoots just a little bit better, he should have a very nice ceiling in this matchup with the Trail Blazers.

Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:

NBA DFS Forward/Center Picks

Scottie Barnes ($7,500) vs. Golden State Warriors

On Friday, Scottie Barnes and the Raptors host the Warriors, who are finishing a back-to-back after beating the Knicks in New York on Thursday. Barnes has the third-highest ceiling projection of all forward/centers and the best Pts/Sal projection of the top options.

It took Barnes some time to adjust to the Raptors’ new-look rotation after trades with the Knicks and Pacers overhauled the roster, but now that he’s settled in, he has been putting up great games. Barnes has a usage of at least 23% in nine of his last 10 games. He also has five double-doubles and two triple-doubles in his last eight games. In the only game during that stretch in which he didn’t have a double-double, he had seven points, nine assists, and nine rebounds on a bad shooting night against the Spurs.

During those eight games, Barnes averaged 18.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in 35 minutes per game. He should catch the Warriors in a good spot and be able to continue his top-tier production on Friday night.


Lamar Stevens ($3,100) vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Stevens is another recent addition by the Grizzlies who is a top value option on Friday. He joined the team at the trade deadline in a trade with the Celtics, and he has contributed good numbers when he gets minutes. He has the highest Pts/Sal of any player on the slate on Friday, narrowly edging out Goodwin as the top value.

Goodwin will be helping to fill in for long-term injuries in the backcourt, while Stevens will have to carry more of the workload in the frontcourt with Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) already ruled out and Luke Kennard (illness) and John Konchar (thumb) doubtful. GG Jackson (quad) is also questionable, and if he’s out as well, Stevens could end up with huge minutes.

Stevens has averaged 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in his six games with the Grizz. He has reached double-digit points and added at least five rebounds in each of the four games during that span in which he played at least 20 minutes. He had a very efficient 17 points on Monday and should be a very strong bargain value to consider if you need to make your salary cap stretch to fit the stars you want this Friday.

OwnersBox is one of the unique DFS sites that still has traditional daily salary cap contests in addition to their Lightning Lineups contests.

In Lightning Lineups, the OwnersBox app will provide three sets of lineups for a given sport and slate, each lineup with three players. From there, users pick which lineup they think will score the most points. If you don’t like the options, you can spin for new lineups.

Spin. Pick. Win. OwnersBox innovative Lighting Lineups format is the most electric way to play daily fantasy sports.

However, they also have a traditional DFS format, which will be the focus of this article.

For OwnersBox, you use four guards, four forwards/centers, and one Superflex.

Also, our OwnersBox promo code delivers new users a $500 sign-up offer. Their 100% deposit match of up to $500 is by far the best among DFS sites.

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.

Note: Projections 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 Guard Picks

Tyrese Maxey ($7,200) vs. Charlotte Hornets

Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers host the Hornets in one of the seven games on Friday’s main slate. He has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all guards on OwnersBox, behind only Luka Doncic, but he comes at a salary that is $2,600 lower than Luka’s, giving him a better Pts/Sal. Maxey is only the sixth-most expensive option but brings one of the highest ceilings with his favorable matchup and large projected workload.

Although his breakout season has faded into the shadows a bit since his team has struggled lately, Maxey has continued to put up good numbers while carrying a big workload. In his 10 games in February, he had a 30.6% usage rate in 37.3 minutes per game, allowing him to average 26.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. He scored at least 24 points in each of his last five games, including three games of 30+ points.

Maxey has continued to do his best to keep the team afloat with Joel Embiid (knee) out and has emerged as the strong favorite for this year’s Most Improved Player award. Getting him at a much better price than the top options on the board is a good way to keep your ceiling high without having to go with too many punt plays.


Jordan Goodwin ($4,000) vs. Portland Trail Blazers

The value special on Friday night is the matchup between the Grizzlies and the Trail Blazers. Both teams have struggled due to multiple injuries this year, and both teams have had very favorable matchups. As they take on each other, Jordan Goodwin stands out as a great cheap play at guard with the highest Pts/Sal of all guards on Friday’s slate.

Goodwin began the year with the Suns before being traded to the Nets as part of the Royce O’Neale deal. The Nets waived him, and he joined guard-needy Memphis on a 10-day contract before being converted to a two-way contract. As a two-way player, he has a hard cap of games he can play, but when he is active, he has played a very involved role for the Grizzlies and proven he can produce good numbers.

He didn’t play in the Grizzlies’ first two games after the All-Star Break but got the start on Wednesday against the Timberwolves. In that contest, Goodwin played 31 minutes and had eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. He only shot 1-for-8 from the field and finished with five points. His primary fantasy value earlier this season with Phoenix also came from his non-scoring contributions, but if he shoots just a little bit better, he should have a very nice ceiling in this matchup with the Trail Blazers.

Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:

NBA DFS Forward/Center Picks

Scottie Barnes ($7,500) vs. Golden State Warriors

On Friday, Scottie Barnes and the Raptors host the Warriors, who are finishing a back-to-back after beating the Knicks in New York on Thursday. Barnes has the third-highest ceiling projection of all forward/centers and the best Pts/Sal projection of the top options.

It took Barnes some time to adjust to the Raptors’ new-look rotation after trades with the Knicks and Pacers overhauled the roster, but now that he’s settled in, he has been putting up great games. Barnes has a usage of at least 23% in nine of his last 10 games. He also has five double-doubles and two triple-doubles in his last eight games. In the only game during that stretch in which he didn’t have a double-double, he had seven points, nine assists, and nine rebounds on a bad shooting night against the Spurs.

During those eight games, Barnes averaged 18.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in 35 minutes per game. He should catch the Warriors in a good spot and be able to continue his top-tier production on Friday night.


Lamar Stevens ($3,100) vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Stevens is another recent addition by the Grizzlies who is a top value option on Friday. He joined the team at the trade deadline in a trade with the Celtics, and he has contributed good numbers when he gets minutes. He has the highest Pts/Sal of any player on the slate on Friday, narrowly edging out Goodwin as the top value.

Goodwin will be helping to fill in for long-term injuries in the backcourt, while Stevens will have to carry more of the workload in the frontcourt with Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) already ruled out and Luke Kennard (illness) and John Konchar (thumb) doubtful. GG Jackson (quad) is also questionable, and if he’s out as well, Stevens could end up with huge minutes.

Stevens has averaged 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in his six games with the Grizz. He has reached double-digit points and added at least five rebounds in each of the four games during that span in which he played at least 20 minutes. He had a very efficient 17 points on Monday and should be a very strong bargain value to consider if you need to make your salary cap stretch to fit the stars you want this Friday.

About the Author

Zach Thompson writes NBA, MLB, NFL, golf and soccer content for Fantasy Labs. Zach's fantasy experience dates all the way back to high school when he would manually tabulate fantasy football scores using Tuesday morning's newspaper. Even though he was raised on the island of Guam on the opposite side of the world, Zach is a hardcore Boston sports fan who loves playing fantasy sports in almost any format. He's always in search of a great bargain play and keeps a close eye out for rising talent that can provide leverage. Zach joined the FantasyLabs team in 2022 and is also a contributor for DraftKings Network.