Friday features a seven-game main slate starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
There’s always a bit of a letdown after Christmas, and that’s true in the NBA as well. The league’s best teams and biggest stars are in action on December 26th, so they get the night off the day after.
That said, there are still a handful of solid stars to choose from. Devin Booker stands out at point guard. The Suns have exceeded expectations this season, sitting at 16-13 and in seventh place in the highly competitive Western Conference. Booker has averaged 25.4 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds, despite some uncharacteristic shooting issues from deep. He’s still managed to average 1.32 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he could improve on that mark when his 3-pointer eventually starts falling.
The Suns get a matchup vs. the Pelicans on Friday, giving them more offensive upside than usual. Their 122.75 implied team total ranks third on the slate, and Booker ranks second among point guards in ceiling projection. He has the top projected Plus/Minus among PGs priced above $6,400, making him a solid pay-up option at the position.
Value
It’s hard not to get exposure to the Heat-Hawks game on Friday. The game has a massive 248.5-point total, and the two teams rank first and second on the slate in implied team total. The Hawks are listed as 2.5-point home favorites, but there’s expected to be plenty of offense on both sides.
The Heat are going to be without Tyler Herro for this contest, which opens the door for Davion Mitchell to take on a larger role. He’s seen the second-largest usage bump on the squad in games with Herro this season, and he’s averaged 0.88 DraftKings points per minute in those contests.
Mitchell is currently projected for 30 minutes at just $5,200, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.35 with a comparable salary and minute projection as a member of the Heat (per the Trends tool). Add in the elite projected game environment, and Mitchell stands out as the top value at point guard.
Fast Break
The Raptors are another strong team target on this slate. They’re taking on the Wizards, who rank dead last in defensive efficiency this season. Immanuel Quickley has scored at least 38.25 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, and his salary has decreased to $6,400 for this contest. He trails only Mitchell in projected Plus/Minus, and he has a solid ceiling for his price tag as well.
Jeremiah Fears has played well as a rookie, averaging 0.98 DraftKings points per minute for the Pelicans. He’s currently projected for 27.5 minutes vs. the Suns, and he stands out as one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings. His $4,900 price tag comes with a 95% Bargain Rating.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Magic are expected to be without two of their top offensive options on Friday. Franz Wagner is out for a while with a high ankle sprain, while Jalen Suggs is doubtful with a hip injury. That opens up some extra scoring opportunities for the rest of the roster vs. the Hornets.
Demsond Bane should be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s seen a team-high +3.91% usage bump with Wagner and Suggs off the floor this season, and he’s averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute in that split.
Bane has also seen some positive regression as a shooter recently. He shot just 25.0% and 34.3% from 3-point range in his first two months with his new team, but he’s up to 45.5% in December.
If he can continue to produce at that level, he has big upside with more shot attempts on Friday. He ranks first at the position in projected Plus/Minus, while only Booker has a higher ceiling projection.
Value
Jaime Jaquez is another solid value option for the Heat on Friday. Jaquez has had a strong bounce-back season after a dismal sophomore campaign, providing a bit of value in every category across the board. He’s averaged 15.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, good for an average of 0.89 DraftKings points per minute.
Jaquez has increased that figure to 1.02 DraftKings points per minute in games without Herro, and he’s projected for 30 minutes on Friday’s slate. That should be enough to pay off his $6,000 price tag.
Fast Break
Brandon Ingram stands out as underpriced for the Raptors. He’s priced at $7,500, resulting in an 86% Bargain Rating, and he trails only Bane in projected Plus/Minus. The Raptors have already ruled out R.J. Barrett and Jakob Poeltl for this contest, while Scottie Barnes is listed as questionable. If Barnes is ultimately ruled out, Ingram would become one of the top targets of the day.
Collin Gillespie has been money for the Suns all season, and he’s scored at least 34.75 DraftKings points in three straight games. There’s no reason he can’t do it again on Friday. He’s averaged better than a fantasy point per minute for the year, and he’s currently projected for 31 minutes in our NBA Models. Gillespie has taken full advantage of Grayson Allen’s absence in his past three games, and Allen will be sidelined for the Suns once again vs. the Pelicans.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Norman Powell continues to solidify his status as one of the league’s most underrated scorers. The Clippers made the decision to move on from him this offseason, turning him essentially into Bradley Beal and John Collins. That decision has been an absolute disaster, with the Clippers floundering to the third-worst record in the West.
Meanwhile, Powell continues to get buckets for his new squad. He’s averaging a career-high 23.7 points per game in his first year with the Heat, and he’s managed to maintain his efficiency despite a slightly higher usage rate. He’s shooting 47.8% from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range, and he’s also averaging career highs in both rebounds and assists per game.
Powell will be even more needed than usual with Herro out of the lineup, and he’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute in games without Herro this season. He ranks third at a weak shooting guard position in projected ceiling, and he’s No. 3 in projected Plus/Minus as well. That’s a solid combination.
Value
Royce O’Neale is a consummate professional. He’s capable of doing whatever his team needs from him on a given night, and he should be asked to do a bit more for the Suns with Allen out of the picture. He’s currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.81 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
O’Neale’s price tag has also come down to just $4,800 vs. the Pelicans, and O’Neale has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.54 with a comparable salary and minute projection as a member of the Suns. He ranks first at the position in projected Plus/Minus, making him one of the best targets at small forward.
Fast Break
Jaylen Brown has been outstanding for the Celtics this season. It was unclear what they would look like with Jayson Tatum out for the early part of the season, but Brown has helped propel them to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. He’s averaged a career-high 29.4 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field, and he’s averaged 1.49 DraftKings points per minute. Brown doesn’t stand out as a particularly strong value in our NBA Models, but he has the top ceiling projection at small forward by nearly 10 points. That has value, and it could make him a bit underowned on this slate.
Vit Krejci stands out as a cheap way to get exposure to the Hawks on Friday. He’s priced at just $4,200, but he’s coming off 29.75 DraftKings points in his last outing. He’s projected for 27 minutes in an elite matchup vs. the Heat, and he’s averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute for the year. His minutes should be safe with Kristaps Porzingis currently sidelined, and Krejci has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.79 with a comparable salary and minute projection.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Paolo Banchero stands out as the clear top stud at power forward, and he’s arguably the top stud target on the entire slate. He leads all players in projected Plus/Minus, while only Jalen Johnson has a better ceiling projection. Johnson is also $1,300 more expensive, and Bachero trails him by just the slimmest of margins.
With Wagner and Suggs expected to sit, Banchero is going to have to do most of the heavy lifting on offense. He’s posted a usage rate of just under 30% with both players off the floor this season. He’s averaged just 1.20 DraftKings points per minute in that split, but he has plenty of room for improvement moving forward. His effective FG percentage sits at just 39.14 with Wagner and Suggs off the floor this season, which is well below his career average.
Banchero is coming off a subpar showing in his last outing, but he posted a positive Plus/Minus in his three previous games. That includes an outing with 66.5 DraftKings points vs. the Nuggets, so he clearly has the potential for big games. The Hornets are merely 24th in defensive efficiency for the year, so it’s a great spot for a big Banchero bounce-back.
Value
Bobby Portis is another excellent option at the position. Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently out for the Bucks, which has opened up some additional playing time for Portis. He’s projected for 30 minutes on Friday’s slate, and Portis can do plenty of damage with that kind of workload. He’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.64 over his past 10 games. He ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he has eligibility at both power forward and center.
Fast Break
With Poeltl out and Collin Murray-Boyles listed as questionable, Sandro Mamukelashvili should have a pretty solid role for the Raptors on Friday. That’s an appealing prospect for fantasy purposes. Mamukelashvili is an elite per-minute producer, and he’s racked up at least 32.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, which should be enough to pay off his $5,500 salary.
While Johnson isn’t quite as good a value as Banchero, he stands out as a solid option in his own right. That’s particularly true on DraftKings, where his $10,000 salary comes with a 98% Bargain Rating. He also leads the position with 12 Pro Trends, and he has been an immense source of production of late. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +11.11 over his past 10 games, and he’s averaged a ridiculous 1.66 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That gives Johnson plenty of upside in a pace-up spot vs. the Heat.
Value
Jordan Walsh has gotten the opportunity to get in the rotation for Boston this season, and he has taken full advantage. He has a relentless motor, and that has propelled him to an average of 0.95 DraftKings points per minute.
Walsh is coming off just 19.0 DraftKings points in 17.7 minutes in his last outing, but he had posted a positive Plus/Minus in his six previous games. He was limited by foul trouble, and he’s expected to get back closer to 30 minutes Friday vs. the Heat. As long as that’s the case, he stands out as an elite bounce-back candidate at just $4,800. His price tag comes with a 92% Bargain Rating, and the Celtics draw one of the most favorable matchups of the day. No team has played at a faster pace than Miami, so the Celtics have more upside than usual.
Fast Break
Paul George has started to get cooking for the 76ers of late. He’s had at least 36.75 DraftKings points in four of his past six games, including 49.0 in his last outing. Overall, he’s averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes vs. the Knicks on Friday. That gives him a pretty reasonable ceiling at $6,900.
Simone Fontecchio could be a sneaky GPP option vs. the Celtics. He’s projected for less than 15% ownership on this slate, but his optimal lineup rate is closer to 23%. He’s displayed a ceiling of close to 30 DraftKings points in recent games, so he has some upside at $4,300.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Center is a weaker position than usual on Friday, with Joel Embiid the only player priced above $7,900. Embiid isn’t even a lock to suit up – he’s currently listed as questionable – so the position is without a lot of the usual top names.
Bam Adebayo has been downgraded to doubtful for the Heat, which means Kel’el Ware should serve as the team’s top center. Ware has been phenomenal of late, averaging 1.28 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 48.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He’s played 30.3 minutes or fewer in two of those outings, but he’s projected for 31 minutes Friday vs. the Hawks. He stands out as one of the best values at the position, and he also has the third-highest ceiling projection.
Value
The Suns have been pretty careful with Mark Williams’ minutes this season, but Williams is capable of doing a lot of damage in limited playing time. He’s coming off 36.25 DraftKings points in just 21.4 minutes in his last outing, and he’s projected for 25.0 minutes vs. the Pelicans. He’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged 33.33 DraftKings points in 15 games with at least 23 minutes played this season. His price tag has come down to $5,400 for Friday’s slate, making him a solid buy-low option.
Fast Break
Ryan Kalkbrenner will miss Friday’s matchup for the Hornets, which should give Moussa Diabate a few additional minutes. He’s currently projected for 30.5 minutes vs. the Suns, and Diabate has taken full advantage of Kalkbrenner’s injury. He’s scored at least 36.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back games without the team’s usual starting center, and he’s priced at a massive discount at just $4,600 (96% Bargain Rating). Center is one of the most loaded positions on this slate, so pairing Diabate with one of Ware or Williams is a very solid strategy.
If Embiid is able to go, he could be worth considering at his current price tag. Embiid hasn’t been the same dominant force this year, but he’s still averaged an excellent 1.30 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s also scored at least 43.5 DraftKings points in three straight games, including one with more than 56 DraftKings points.
Pictured: Devin Booker
Photo Credit: Imagn
