The NBA has seven games lined up for Friday, March 28, giving fantasy players a solid slate of stars to pick from as well as some great value options. As you get your lineups locked in and ready to take the court, make sure to include three three NBA must-start options in your plans. Based on their matchup, expected workload and recent form, they should be set to return excellent return on investment this Friday.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
C Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors, $4,500
The Pelicans are the ultimate source of value this Friday as they host the Warriors without Zion Williamson (back) and CJ McCollum (foot) available. In the backcourt, Jose Alvarado ($5,100), Jordan Hawkins ($4,500) and Elfrid Payton ($3,200) all have huge value upside, but they are a little less certain since they could take playing time from each other. Kelly Olynyk ($5,800) is also a great option, but Missi is more affordable and has been given plenty of run whenever Zion has been absent this season.
Missi has averaged 26.4 fantasy points in 28.0 minutes per game in the 38 games he has played without Zion this season. He has also posted over 30 fantasy points in three of his last four games, including on Monday against the 76ers when he returned from a hip injury with 16 points, nine rebounds, and 32.25 fantasy points in 26 minutes. With more pass-first point guards like Alvarado and Payton running the show, Missi’s cutting and crashing to the rim results in more offensive opportunities.
The Pelicans should definitely be a stacking consideration on Friday, but if there’s only one NBA must-start option from the mix, I’d give the edge to Missi based on both his floor and ceiling.
PG, Tyler Kolek, New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks, $3,200
The Knicks have been wiped out by injuries at point guard. Jalen Brunson (ankle), Miles McBride (groin) and Cameron Payne (ankle) are all out, leaving Kolek and Delon Wright ($3,000) as the two available point guard options. Since Kolek is so cheap and has so much potential, he’s one of the NBA must-start options since he’ll be so popular that not having him could be the end of your chances.
Kolek hasn’t made a start in his 36 games this season for the Knicks and is averaging just 5.6 minutes per game. He has been getting more work recently, though, handing out a total of 24 assists in his last three games and producing 23.25, 18.75 and 11.25 fantasy points in those three contests. Kolek probably won’t score a lot of points, but his non-scoring numbers will be enough to make him a great play at barely over the minimum salary.
SF/PF Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets, $8,800
After missing so much time at the start of the season, Leonard has been working his way back to full strength for the Clippers and seems to be peaking at just the right time to help them push into the playoffs and into the postseason.
He has three straight double-doubles with 43, 47.5 and 52.5 fantasy points against the Grizzlies, Thunder and Knicks, respectively. He has at least 43 fantasy points in each of his last seven consecutive games. He averaged 48.6 fantasy points on 26.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in 36.0 minutes per contest.
The Nets will continue to lean heavily on Kawhi, who has played at least 40 minutes in each of their last two games. Even if this does get lopsided, Leonard has shown he can still put up big fantasy points, including posting 45 fantasy points in just 27 minutes in a blowout win last week against the Hornets.
