Friday features a four-game main slate starting at 7:30 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
The day after the trade deadline is always a bit tricky to navigate. Most of the new acquisitions won’t be available to make their debuts, while the players that the teams traded away are unavailable. That leaves the teams that made moves with some holes in their lineups.
The Bucks were an active participant at the deadline, though not in the way that some would’ve hoped. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still on the roster, though he will miss at least a few more weeks with an injury. Instead, the Bucks shipped out Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, landing Ousmane Dieng and Nigel Hayes-Davis in return. It leaves the team pretty thin on offense for as long as Antetokounmpo is sidelined.
Ryan Rollins is going to have to continue to carry an expanded workload. He’s seen a +4.91% bump to his usage rate with Giannis and Anthony off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.22 DraftKings points per minute. He’s responded with a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, and he’s scored at least 45.0 DraftKings points in three of them.
Rollins’ price tag is all the way up to $8,500 on DraftKings, but he still has plenty of appeal at that figure in a juicy matchup vs. the Pacers. They rank ninth in pace and 20th in defensive efficiency, and Rollins ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus.
Value
Despite the Pelicans having no real shot at making the playoffs, they basically stood pat at the trade deadline. Jose Alvarado was the only player they moved, despite the fact that they have a bunch of pieces that would’ve intrigued other GMs. Perhaps the fact that they foolishly traded away their first-round pick in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class played a part in that decision.
Jeremiah Fears could pick up a few additional minutes with Alvarado no longer in town, which would be a big boost to his fantasy stock. He’s averaged better than a fantasy point per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 24.0 DraftKings points in two of his past three games. He played just 19.8 and 21.4 minutes in those outings, so more playing time could lead to some big performances.
We still have Fears projected for a modest 19.5 minutes on Friday, and that’s still enough for him to potentially return value. He leads the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he has the top Sim Labs optimal lineup rate as well.
Fast Break
The Pacers could go right back to being a contender in 2026-27. In addition to getting back Tyrese Haliburton, they could also add a premium prospect with their draft pick. They also added Ivica Zubac before the deadline, solidifying the center position moving forward. They shipped out Bennedict Mathurin in that trade, which leaves them a bit thinner than usual in the backcourt. T.J. McConnell could help pick up the slack. He has always been an elite per-minute producer, and he’s averaged 1.23 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Like Fears, he’s projected for a modest 16 minutes on this slate, but he has the potential to exceed that figure.
Cade Cunningham has the clear top ceiling at the point guard position. He hasn’t been quite as effective as usual in recent games, which has caused his salary to dip slightly to $10,200 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Knicks. He leads the position with 10 Pro Trends, while his optimal lineup rate trails only Fears and Rollins.
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
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Shooting guard feels like one of the weakest positions on this slate. You can use Fears in that spot, and that’s something that a lot of DFS players will likely take advantage of.
However, Anthony Edwards also stands out as a potential target. Edwards is priced at $9,500 on DraftKings, resulting in a 93% Bargain Rating. He’s coming off back-to-back games with at least 54.75 DraftKings points, and the Timberwolves stand out as an elite team to target in a smash spot vs. the Pelicans. They’re currently implied for 123.5 points in this contest, and no other team is above 116.75. That’s a massive discrepancy.
Julius Randle is also listed as questionable with a thumb injury, and his absence would greatly increase Edwards’ appeal. He’s seen a +2.95% usage bump with Randle off the floor this season, and he’s averaged 1.30 DraftKings points per minute in that split.
Value
Herb Jones is not a particularly exciting DFS target. He’s averaged just 0.73 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and his best attribute as an NBA player is his on-ball defense. You don’t get any fantasy points for that.
However, Jones is affordable at $4,800 and is currently projected for 31.5 minutes in our NBA Models. That’s a solid combination. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.13 (per the Trends tool). Jones has personally averaged a Plus/Minus of just +1.14 in that split, but he still ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus on Friday’s slate.
Fast Break
Duncan Robinson looks pretty similar to Jones on paper. He’s priced just $100 cheaper at $4,700, and he’s projected for a similar 28 minutes in our NBA Models. Robinson does bring a bit more offensive upside to the table thanks to his perimeter shooting ability, and he’s racked up at least 28.25 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. That gives him, arguably, a bit more ceiling.
Josh Hart missed the Knicks’ last game, but if he’s able to return, he could be an interesting contrarian option for tournaments. Hart is currently projected for less than 5% ownership, but his optimal lineup rate is closer to 13%. Hart is capable of racking up fantasy points in a bunch of different ways, and the Knicks’ frontcourt is a bit thinner after trading away Guerschon Yabusele.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jaylen Brown continues to put together a career year with Jayson Tatum sidelined for the Celtics. He’s posted career-bests in virtually every category across the board, and he’s managed to do it without tanking his efficiency. In fact, his shooting percentages are better than they were last season, so the increased volume has actually led to better efficiency.
Brown has also been very good for fantasy purposes. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past seven games, and he’s eclipsed 51 DraftKings points in seven of his past nine. Overall, he’s averaged 1.39 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is the second-best mark among Friday’s players. It’s the clear No. 1 mark at small forward, with Ayo Dosunmu a distant second at 1.15.
Brown also gets a matchup vs. the Heat on Friday, who have been a fantastic opponent this season. They’ve played at the fastest pace in the league, and the Celtics have the second-highest implied team total on the main slate. It makes Brown a very reasonable pay-up option at $9,700. The only real x-factor is that Nikola Vucevic is expected to make his Celtics’ debut, and he could potentially siphon some usage away from Brown. Still, he owns the top ceiling projection at small forward by a wide margin, and he’s No. 5 in projected Plus/Minus.
Value
Aaron Nesmith stands out as the top value at small forward, especially with Mathurin no longer in town. He’s going to see plenty of playing time on Friday, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.84 DraftKings points per minute with Mathurin off the floor this season. Nesmith has scored at least 30.5 DraftKings points in three of his past five outings, and you’ll gladly take that production at his $5,600 salary. He ranks first at the position in projected Plus/Minus, while only Jones has a better optimal lineup rate.
Fast Break
Ausar Thompson is heating up for the Pistons. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his past 10 games, and he’s coming off 39.75 DraftKings points in his last outing. Thompson still can’t shoot, but that’s really his only weakness on the basketball court. He uses his elite athleticism to generate fantasy points, and he’s averaged 1.14 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Thompson is currently projected for 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and if he plays that much, he should be able to pay off his $5,800 salary.
Saddiq Bey has cooled off just a smidge of late, but he’s still been awesome for fantasy purposes in recent games. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past eight games, and he’s gone for 40+ in five of them. Bey has been priced up aggressively over that stretch, but he’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute over the past month and is projected for 32 minutes on this slate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Naz Reid has been on a heater recently. He’s been playing more consistent minutes, and he’s also had an uptick in per-minute productivity. He’s averaged an elite 1.29 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is the best mark among Friday’s power forwards. Reid has responded with an average Plus/Minus of +4.65 over his past 10 games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past eight.
Reid is still priced at a slight discount at $6,300, especially in a juicy matchup vs. the Pelicans. He has the third-highest optimal lineup rate at the position, and it exceeds his projected ownership by roughly 7%. Reid is an excellent target regardless of Randle’s status, but he would become close to a must-play if his frontcourt teammate is ultimately ruled out.
Value
Isaiah Stewart should be the chalk at power forward on Friday, and it’s easy to see why. He’s always been a solid per-minute producer, and he’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, and that should be more than enough for him to return value. Stewart has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.59 with a comparable salary and minute projection, including a +9.21 mark in four games this year.
Stewart’s projections are helped by the potential absence of Jalen Duren. He missed the second half of yesterday’s loss vs. the Wizards, and he’s currently considered day-to-day with a knee injury. However, we’re still waiting on the team’s official injury report on the second night of a back-to-back, so make sure to monitor this situation for updates.
Fast Break
Micah Potter is listed as questionable for the Pacers, but he’s an interesting punt option if he’s able to suit up. The team is thin in the frontcourt with Obi Toppin and Jackson no longer on the roster, so Potter is currently projected for 20 minutes in our NBA Models. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s dirt cheap at just $3,300.
Zion Williamson has played a bit more of late, including nearly 38 minutes in an overtime loss to the Bucks in the team’s last game. Williamson can still stuff the stat sheet when he’s on the floor, averaging 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s displayed a ceiling of 50+ DraftKings points during that stretch, so he has some upside at $8,000.
NBA DFS Center Picks
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Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable for the Knicks with an eye contusion, but he would be an interesting GPP target if he’s able to suit up. The center position is a bit weaker than usual on Friday’s slate, and Towns stands out as the clear top producer. He’s averaged 1.40 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s gone for at least 42.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games.
Towns has also been priced down to just $8,400, which represents a significant discount for the talented big man. It results in a 93% Bargain Rating, and Towns has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +1.68 with a comparable price tag. He’s projected for minimal ownership on this slate, but his optimal lineup rate still cracks double-figures.
Value
If Duren is out as expected, Paul Reed should pick up a few additional minutes in the Pistons’ frontcourt. That’s an extremely appealing proposition for fantasy purposes. Reed has averaged a stout 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s capable of taking advantage of his opportunities. Reed is currently projected for 20 minutes at just $4,100, and that should give him a great opportunity to return value.
Fast Break
The Knicks have been pretty careful with Mitchell Robinson this season, limiting him to just 19.8 minutes per game. However, he’s been excellent when he has been on the floor. He’s averaged 1.07 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +3.81 over his past 10 games. He could pick up a few additional minutes if Towns is ruled out, but he has some appeal even if Towns is available.
Reid and Randle get most of the attention in the Timberwolves’ frontcourt, but Rudy Gobert is also getting the job done. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past 10 games, and he’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He doesn’t bring a ton of upside to the table, but he has a bit more than usual in a matchup vs. the Pelicans.
Pictured: Naz Reid
Photo Credit: Imagn
