Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings at each position for Friday’s main NBA slate, along with some strategy unique to this slate.
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Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors at Orlando Magic ($10,100)
Steph’s been on a tear lately and isn’t getting the love he deserves on this slate. He’s topped 50.0 DKFP in consecutive games, and hit over 67.0 DKFP three times over his last nine outings. He took advantage of this very matchup against Orlando just last week, as they rank 25th in DKFP allowed to PGs. Steph finished that one with a 40-8-5 line, splashing 10-of-19 three-pointers. Attacking the same matchup against a thin Magic backcourt makes a lot of sense.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Reggie Jackson, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz ($4,800)
Paul George ($8,600; toe) and Kawhi Leonard ($9,700; leg) are both questionable to play, so rostering Jackson comes with contingencies. This is also the last game to lock on the slate, so you need to leave yourself the lineup flexibility to pivot if those guys are ruled in. Jackson went for 29.0 DKFP in this matchup on Wednesday with both players ruled out, and should be in a similar 6x position if that’s the case again. Ownership should be low since we may not have the news we need when most games lock.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves ($7,800)
Kyle Lowry ($6,700) is tagged as questionable after sitting out Thursday, and we were expecting him to be more doubtful for this one. Lowry playing probably leaves FVV as just an average play, but if ruled out again, this is a good spot to target. FVV shot just 5-of-15 on Thursday, so a bounce-back shooting night against a poor Minnesota defense would help him to a much more productive fantasy evening. The Wolves rank just 22nd in DKFP allowed to PGs.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies ($3,100)
Ellington is a punt play worth considering, as minutes opened in the rotation with Blake Griffin sitting and Derrick Rose traded. Ellington peaked at $5.1K during a hot streak, but he lost some minutes a couple weeks back. Since seeing his role grow again, he’s shot just 5-of-22 over his last three games. Once that shot starts falling, he’s due for a 25.0 DKFP performance at near minimum salary.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks ($8,800)
Editor’s Note: Celtics SG/SF Jaylen Brown (knee) will be available for tonight’s game vs. the Hawks.
Jaylen Brown ($7,900; knee) has been battling knee tendinitis, and each time he winds up on the injury report, he’s generally sat. If he does wind up sidelined, more falls to Tatum, who just dropped 55.5 DKFP against the Hawks on Wednesday. Boston lost that game, and should be motivated to bounce-back, and if Tatum doesn’t share touches with Brown on the wing, we have the potential for an even bigger game.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors ($3,300)
McDaniels started and played 37 minutes last game, which was because Malik Beasley ($6,900) was late to shootaround and came off the bench. The game did go to overtime, but the benching didn’t limit Beasley, who still logged 41 minutes. Even if McDaniels goes back to the bench, 25-30 minutes seems like a fair expectation, facing a Raptors defense that’s been atrocious on the second night of back-to-backs.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves ($7,700)
While this is a stronger play if Lowry sits, I can get behind playing Siakam on this slate either way. He’s been a massive piece to this winning streak Toronto is putting together, scoring over 40.0 DKFP in five of his last six, and averaging over 50.0 DKFP in the last two contests, specifically. Minnesota ranks just 25th in DKFP allowed to PFs.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Cedi Osman, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets ($4,800)
Cleveland’s frontcourt remains without Andre Drummond, Larry Nance Jr. and Taurean Prince, which means Osman has to get minutes. Osman has played 60 total minutes over the last two games — despite them being blowouts — and averaged close to 34.0 DKFP. Keep riding him against a shorthanded Denver squad that’s struggling on the defensive side of the ball.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns ($8,400)
Zion is somewhat off the radar on this slate, which I’m completely fine with. He’s hot right now with 51.75 DKFP and 53.5 DKFP in his last two games, and it’s very unlikely Steven Adams ($4,800; ankle) suits up for this one after spraining an ankle on Wednesday. Zion had a 28-7-6 line in 32 minutes the last time he faced the Suns, shooting 12-of-14 from the field. Expect him to feast in the paint.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Pay Up Twice
I just can’t find a center value I love on this slate. Late lineup news very well may change that on a nine-game Friday slate, but I’d stick to either rostering one center or doubling down on stud center plays on this slate. A lot of the top plays are PF/C eligible like Zion and Siakam, so there’s plenty of lineup flexibility here.
Overall Lineup Strategy
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