This Friday, DraftKings has another solid seven-game NBA DFS slate, and the top teams for stacking basically jump off the page and smack you upside the head. There are some great spots to attack and stack up multiple players from the same team in your lineup.
Of the 14 teams on the slate, the Magic are the only one playing for the second day in a row, but the Celtics, Grizzlies, Rockets, Pacers, Heat and Spurs will finish a back-to-back on Saturday. Keep a close eye on today’s injury report and shift your strategy if necessary as we get closer to tip-off.
The NBA DFS contests for Friday night’s main slate lock at 7:00 p.m. ET, headlined by the NBA $300K Zone Special [$100K to 1st].
Cleveland Cavaliers at Memphis Grizzlies
Whenever the Grizzlies are on the slate, their game has one of the highest point totals on the slate. Friday is no exception as they host the Cavaliers in a matchup of the two teams that average the most points per game in the NBA. The Grizzlies lead the league in pace, so the Cavs get a great pace-up spot with more possessions coming their way than in a typical game. On top of that, they also will be without Donovan Mitchell (groin) leaving more work for the rest of their roster.
Core Plays: It’s not rocket science, but with Mitchell out, Darius Garland ($7,700), Evan Mobley ($8,600) and Jarrett Allen ($6,400) will all get more work. In the five games that Mitchell has missed this season, Garland averaged 46.4 fantasy points, Mobley averaged 44.8 fantasy points, and Allen averaged 43 fantasy points. All three are excellent plays, with Allen especially standing out after posting 47.75 fantasy points on Tuesday and 30+ fantasy points in five of his last six games. During that run, he also posted 55.75 fantasy points against the Bulls.
Value Options: The Cavs are expected to get De’Andre Hunter ($5,500) back for this matchup after he missed Tuesday’s game with an illness. Ty Jerome ($4,800), Max Strus ($4,600) and Isaac Okoro ($3,700) are all candidates to get more playing time in this pace-up spot without Mitchell. Okoro, Dean Wade ($3,300) and Sam Merrill ($3,600) get plenty of minutes but don’t always post good fantasy production. Hunter should be a good value play and Jerome has had a few huge games when Mitchell has been out.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Charlotte Hornets
The Spurs lost Victor Wembanyama (blood clot) for the season at the All-Star break, and on Thursday, news broke that De’Aaron Fox (finger) will also miss the rest of the year. With so much usage and production potentially available in this home game, the Spurs are a very stackable NBA DFS option.
Core Plays: Devin Vassell ($6,300) had 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double and 45.5 fantasy points on Wednesday in a win over Dallas and has at least 27 fantasy points in seven straight games, averaging 39.6 fantasy points per contest during that stretch. He even went off for 72.25 fantasy points during that span. Stephon Castle ($6,300) should also get more work and have a chance to pull away in the Rookie of the Year race. He had a down game Wednesday but posted over 32 fantasy points in seven straight before that.
Value Options: Without Wemby and Fox, Chris Paul ($4,900), Harrison Barnes ($4,600) and Keldon Johnson ($4,700) are likely to be more involved. Julian Champagnie ($3,400) and Sandro Mumukelashvili ($3,700) have also flashed upside when given more playing time, but their minutes have been inconsistent in the current rotation. Jeremy Sochan ($4,900) missed Monday with a calf injury but returned Wednesday with 30.75 fantasy points against the Mavs. He could be another beneficiary of a bump in playing time and usage.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers
The Sixers have been dealing with injuries most of the season, but they’re taking it to new levels for their Friday night home game against the Pacers and could offer huge value as an NBA DFS stack as a result. Off the top, Tyrese Maxey (back/finger), Paul George (groin/knee), Lonnie Walker IV (concussion) and of course Joel Embiid (knee) are all out. Additionally, Quentin Grimes ($7,900; illness), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,800; knee), Justin Edwards ($4,100; ankle) and Andre Drummond ($5,400; toe) are all questionable. The Pacers are a favorable matchup for whoever is able to play Friday night.
Core Plays: Grimes or Oubre would be a good play if they’re available since they’ll have such a huge workload. Grimes has 40+ fantasy points in four of his last five games and 59+ fantasy points in two of his last seven. He has a very high ceiling but could be at less than 100% even if he does suit up. Guerschon Yabusele ($5,100) could also help carry the load since he is not on the injury report after missing Wednesday’s game with knee soreness.
Value Options: If Grimes and Oubre are both out, or even if just one of them is sidelined, Jared Butler ($4,600) should get enough work to shine. He has started the last two games for Philly and has stepped up when given more minutes. He had over 30 fantasy points in two of his last three games and was near a double-double with nine points, eight assists, six rebounds and 32.5 fantasy points against the Raptors on Wednesday. Butler has been working well with rookie Adem Bona ($3,800), who has scored 12+ points in three straight games producing 48.25, 18 and 31.75 fantasy points in games against the Jazz, Hawks and Raptors. Especially if Drummond is out, he’ll be a great value. Even cheaper, Ricky Council IV ($3,700) and Jeff Dowtin ($3,500) have good upside as well if they’re lined up for more minutes.
