Friday features a sizable NBA slate. There are 10 games to choose from starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, so let’s break down some of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
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Point Guard
Stud
Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards vs. New Orleans Pelicans ($11,000) – Friday’s matchup between the Wizards and the Pelicans should be a good one for fantasy purposes. Neither of these teams are particularly good defensively, and the Wizards have also played at the fastest pace in the league. Add it all up, and the total on this game sits at a slate-high 242.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Westbrook has also been a fantasy monster recently. He’s posted a triple-double in 10 of his past 11 games, and he’s scored at least 55.75 DKFP in each of his past six contests. He stands out as an elite option to pay up for on a slate with plenty of value.
Other Options – Ja Morant ($7,100), Malachi Flynn ($6,200)
Value
Saben Lee, Detroit Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($3,100) – The Pistons are going to be without Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Cory Joseph, Dennis Smith Jr., Wayne Ellington, and Rodney McGruder for Friday’s matchup vs. the Thunder. That opens up a ton of playing time for the rest of the roster.
They have three players who should split the point guard minutes pretty evenly: Lee, Killian Hayes, and Frank Jackson. Of that trio, Lee has been the best from a fantasy perspective recently. He’s averaged 0.99 DKFP per minute over the past month, and he’s also dirt cheap at just $3,100. That makes him my preferred target of the group.
Other Options – Cole Anthony ($5,100), Brad Wanamaker ($3,700), Killian Hayes ($3,500)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $325K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Shooting Guard
Stud
Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets @ Brooklyn Nets ($8,100) – There are definitely some blowout concerns with the Hornets tonight, who are currently listed as 12-point underdogs vs. the Nets on DraftKings Sportsbook. That said, Rozier has massive upside if this game stays competitive. He logged more than 43.2 minutes in their last game, and the Hornets are going to be even thinner vs. Brooklyn. Devonte’ Graham will join LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward on the sidelines, and PJ Washington is listed as doubtful. Rozier has increased his usage rate by 9.6 percentage points with all four players off the court, resulting in an average of 1.21 DKFP per minute.
Other Options – Bradley Beal ($8,900), Fred VanVleet ($7,900)
Value
Monte Morris, Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets ($3,700) – The Nuggets were dealt a huge blow with Jamal Murray suffering a torn ACL, and Morris is one of the guys who is going to have to pick up the slack. He’s been playing limited minutes due to a quad injury, but he’s going to have to play more with the Nuggets’ starting point guard on the shelf. He’s increased his production to 0.87 DKFP per minute with Murray off the court this season, so he’s an appealing option at just $3,700.
Other Options – Caleb Martin ($3,600), Frank Jackson ($3,000)
Small Forward
Stud
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks ($10,800) – Doncic has been a bit of a disaster recently, failing to return value in eight of his past 10 games. That makes him an interesting buy-low candidate on Friday. He carries too much risk for cash games, but he still possesses one of the highest ceilings in fantasy and should check in with minimal ownership. There’s enough value on today’s slate that you can easily pair him with another stud or two, which should give you a slightly different build for tournaments.
Other Options – Jimmy Butler ($9,200), Michael Porter Jr. ($7,400)
Value
Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($4,800) – Bey is a solid bet to lead the Pistons in minutes on today’s slate. He played 35.3 minutes in their last game, and that was with Grant, Joseph, and Plumlee all in the lineup. He has a chance to play even more vs. the Thunder with all three players out of the lineup. Bey should also be productive with those minutes given his average of 0.91 DKFP with all of the currently unavailable members of the Pistons off the court this season.
Other Options – PJ Dozier ($3,500), Troy Brown ($3,000)
Power Forward
Stud
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans @ Washington Wizards ($10,000) – Williamson has been fantastic in his second season, averaging 26.8 points per game on 61.8% shooting. He does the majority of his damage in the paint, with 73.6% of his field goal attempts coming within three feet of the rim. The Wizards are the ninth-worst team in terms of opponent field goal percentage at the rim, so Williamson should be able to do some damage in this matchup.
Other Options – Kyle Anderson ($5,900), Aaron Gordon ($5,700)
Value
Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls vs. Memphis Grizzlies ($3,900) – The Bulls are another team that could provide some value on Friday. They aren’t dealing with a ton of absences – at least at the moment – but they will be without their top scorer in Zach LaVine. That means Markkanen should be asked to carry a larger offensive burden vs. the Grizzlies. He’s increased his usage rate by 2.9 percentage points with LaVine off the court this season, resulting in an average of 0.92 DKFP per minute.
Other Options – Yuta Watanabe ($3,000), Sekou Doumbouya ($3,000)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets ($10,900) – Jokic is the favorite to win the MVP on DraftKings Sportsbook, and he’s been at his best this season with Murray out of the lineup. He’s averaged 56.43 DKFP in seven games without Murray this season, and he’s in a great spot Friday vs. the Rockets. They’ve dropped to 22nd in defensive efficiency on the season, and the Nuggets’ implied team total of 117.5 ranks fifth on the slate.
Other Options – Nikola Vucevic ($9,700), Jonas Valanciunas ($7,900)
Value
Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($4,400) – The Pistons have a bunch of potential value options on today’s slate, but Stewart might be the best. He’s averaged 27 minutes in four games without Plumlee this season, and he’s averaged 29.38 DKFP in those contests. He could see even more minutes today with some other key players out of the lineup, so Stewart is simply too cheap at $4,400.
Other Options – DeAndre Jordan ($4,200), Daniel Theis ($3,700)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $325K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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