On Friday, barring any postponements, we should see a full ten-game slate of NBA basketball, and if you haven’t by now, you need to check out DraftKings’ new Snake Draft format! Below, we break down some of the best targets for Friday’s NBA Snake slate.
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Favorable Early Round Targets
Nikola Jokic, F/C, Denver Nuggets
NBA Snake Rank: 5
Jokic has failed to top 50 DKFP in back-to-back starts, but he should get back on track tonight vs. the Spurs. They simply don’t have anyone in their frontcourt that has any chance of slowing down Jokic and all of their season rankings point to a huge night for the Joker. Currently, San Antonio is yielding the 7th most points in the paint and the 6th most rebounds per game. As a result, they are surrendering the 6th most DKFP per game to opposing centers and this contest’s O/U game total is up to 224.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Jokic is averaging 54.5 DKFP per game across his last five against the Spurs and an outstanding 60.8 DKFP per game in the 12 Nuggets contests that have carried a total of at least 220 points this season. I have full confidence in Jokic in this spot and it’s possible he could slip past his pre-draft ranking due to recency bias.
Trae Young, G, Atlanta Hawks
NBA Snake Rank: 13
Young has really found his form after a subpar start to the season. Over his last six, the 22-year-old is scoring 55.9 DKFP per game, which is a big upgrade from the 41.1 DKFP per game he supplied in his first 11 starts of 2020-21. Young’s 56.25 DKFP performance vs. the Nets on Wednesday was his 6th consecutive effort of over 50 DKFP, and this streak should be extended tonight when the Hawks visit the Wizards.
Washington owns the worst record in the league, thanks to their horrible defense, which currently ranks 28th in efficiency. The last time Young faced the Wizards, he lit them up for 77.5 DKFP, and per DraftKings Sportsbook, this Hawks vs. Wizards matchup holds an O/U game total of 232 points, the highest on this ten-game slate. Atlanta has already played in five totals north of 230 points this season and Young has eclipsed 50 DKFP in four of those contests.
Early Round Player to Avoid
Luka Doncic, G, Dallas Mavericks
NBA Snake Rank: 2
This is painful to write, because Doncic has been unbelievable this season, but there are many things going against him Friday. First off, he and the Mavs will be in Utah for the second straight game. This Jazz defense has been incredible, ranking 3rd in efficiency with two-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert playing at an extremely high level. Currently, no player in the league has a better real defensive plus-minus rating than Gobert, and when these two clubs went head-to-head Wednesday night, Doncic posted a modest 45 DKFP in a losing effort.
Dallas got back three rotation players in this defeat and right now they are the healthiest they have been in weeks. Doncic is liable to erupt at any time, but with the Mavs having their full complement of weapons at their disposal, it’s much more difficult for the 21-year-old to find his ceiling. Don’t get me wrong, if Doncic falls outside the top-ten in your draft, don’t hesitate and grab him, but all things considered, he isn’t worth a top-three pick on Friday.
Late Round Fliers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Snake Rank: 22
SGA is on fire right now, generating 47.2 DKFP per game with a 29.9% usage rate in his past four, and tonight, the Thunder welcome the defensively inept Brooklyn Nets. They may have the best group of offensive basketball players in the league, but the Nets have been absolutely terrible defensively since they put together their big three of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
In their last five, Brooklyn’s defense has rated as the 5th worst unit in the association and they are certainly expected to have their struggles continue on Friday, considering the hefty total of this game (229.5 O/U on DraftKings Sportsbook). This is the largest total Gilgeous-Alexander has been a part of this year, and albeit before the Harden trade, the point guard tallied 55 DKFP against the Nets just two weeks ago. He went for over 50 DKFP in the lone Thunder game that presented a total above 225 points this season, and the 22-year-old brings similar upside tonight vs. the Nets.
DeMar DeRozan, F/C, San Antonio Spurs
NBA Snake Rank: 41
DeRozan is fresh off a 37.25 DKFP showing against the Celtics and is providing 39.5 DKFP per game this season. This is the highest average of all the players ranked 40 and higher for snake drafts on Friday and as noted above, the O/U game total for this matchup vs. the Nuggets is at 224.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
When DeRozan has started in a total of 220 or more this year, he is amassing 38.9 DKFP per game. The forward is never a popular name in DFS and we most likely will be able to get DeRozan later than his low draft ranking.
Darius Garland, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Snake Rank: 94
After being limited in his first three games back from a shoulder injury, Garland’s minutes restriction was lifted on Wednesday and he entered the Cavs’ starting five. The second-year guard proceeded to score 26 DKFP across 31 minutes vs. the Pistons. Considering that the Cavs won this game by 15 points, Garland should maintain his starting role for Friday’s matchup with the Knicks.
This New York club has been susceptible to point guards as of late, allowing the 5th most DKFP per game to the position in their past five, and Garland is a solid bet to surpass 30 fantasy points in this plus spot.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.