Friday features a 10-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
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.
Note: Projections and Leverages 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
Leading this 10-game slate with the highest projected ceiling is Mavericks’ star point guard Luka Doncic. With Giannis Antetokounmpo questionable to play tonight, Doncic could be the clear-cut pay-up option on this slate. Doncic is averaging a league and career-high 33.8 points per game with a league-best 35.9% usage rate. Even with Kyrie Irving playing at an elite level this season, the Mavericks run through Doncic. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in 11 of his last 18 games.
Winning 12 of their last 14 games, the Mavericks have climbed to fifth place in the Western Conference standings. One of their two losses during that stretch came to the Warriors on Tuesday night. Doncic had a 30-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in that game, finishing with 66 DraftKings points. The Mavericks are five-point favorites in this revenge matchup.
Value
The Memphis Grizzlies will be the value hub for tonight’s 10-game slate. They have too many injuries to name and have the top six players in projected Plus/Minus. Jordan Goodwin leads the way at the point guard position with a $4,600 salary and a 95% Bargain Rating. Over his last three games, Goodwin is averaging a double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per game. He has played 12 games for the Grizzlies but is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists.
Despite all of their injuries, the Grizzlies are still favored at home against the Pistons, who continue to have the worst record in the league. The Pistons rank inside the top 10 in pace this season while ranking 27th in defensive rating. Even with a 106 implied point total, it is difficult to find a better matchup. Goodwin is projected for the fourth-highest ownership on the slate.
Fast Break
CJ McCollum is coming off his second double-double this season last game, where he recorded a massive 36 points and 10 rebounds against the Magic. McCollum has been awesome over his last seven games averaging 25.1 points per game with a 28.2% usage rate. He has captured a positive Plus/Minus in six of those seven games and remains affordable at $8,100. McCollum will draw a matchup against the Spurs backcourt that is extremely weak and ranks 22nd in defensive 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
Jordan Poole, at his mid-range price tag of $7,400, has the perfect mix of ceiling and value. He has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the shooting guard position, while also having the highest projected ceiling. Poole has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in six of his last seven games while averaging 21.9 points and 8.1 assists per game during that time. With Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones out, the Wizards’ offense will continue to be run through Poole who is playing at an elite level.
The Wizards have shockingly won four of their last eight games and are 2.5-point home favorites against the Trail Blazers tonight. The Trail Blazers are playing without two starting guards in Anfernee Simons and Malcolm Brogdon, which will benefit Poole. Given how well he has played recently and his projected usage rate of over 30%, Poole looks great tonight.
Value
The Thunder are playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and potentially Jalen Williams, who is doubtful tonight. With no Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace will be making his 12th start of the season. In his last start against the Celtics, Wallace played 28 minutes and is projected to play 28 minutes again tonight. Wallace stuffed the stat sheet despite the 35-point loss against the Celtics with 12 points, five assists, and four steals. Wallace can easily exceed his $4,400 price point yet again.
Wallace has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus behind Poole at the shooting guard position. His point guard and shooting guard eligibility makes it easy to fit Wallace into all lineup builds. With Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams off the floor this season, Wallace has a team-high +8.7% usage rate in 209 total minutes. He is a strong value play in all formats tonight.
Fast Break
With Cade Cunningham out for the Pistons, Marcus Sasser will likely draw another start. Sasser has only started five games this season and is averaging 10.6 points per game while playing 32.4 minutes per night. Priced at $5,100 tonight, Sasser is a great way to differentiate from the Grizzlies’ value chalk. He is also a good bringback in that game environment which won’t have much defense played. Expect the rookie guard from Houston to have a high usage rate in this matchup.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Celtics are locked into the top seed in the Eastern Conference and are a league-best 33-3 at home this season. Despite just going through the motions until the playoffs start, the Celtics have still won 23 of their last 27 games and are double-digit favorites against the Kings tonight. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are both listed as questionable to play, and it wouldn’t be surprising if both sat out this game. That will provide a significant boost to Jayson Tatum‘s production tonight.
With Brown and White off the floor this season, Tatum has a team-high +5.82% usage rate. Tatum continues to lead the Celtics in scoring, rebounding, and usage rate, so any boost would make him look even better at his $9,700 price tag. He has been one of the most consistent scorers this year. Keep an eye on the news for Brown and White the closer we get to lock.
Value
Rookie GG Jackson is the forward to target from the Grizzlies tonight. In his 12 starts this season, Jackson is averaging 18.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while playing 34.8 minutes a night. Jackson has two 30-point games when starting and will have no problem filling it up against a weak Pistons defense. He is coming off a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Bucks. Jackson has a fantastic opportunity to have another ceiling performance against the Pistons in this spot.
The Pistons have one win in their last 11 games and that came against the Wizards. In their 10 losses, the Pistons are allowing opponents to score 115.7 points per game. The Grizzlies’ backups may not be capable of scoring that many points, but the value is undeniable. Jackson is also projected to play the most minutes tonight, which is another added bonus.
Fast Break
Pascal Siakam has been one of the best additions to a team at the trade deadline in a while. In his 36 games played for the Pacers, Siakam is averaging a team-high 21.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 54.3% from the field. The Pacers are in a great matchup against a depleted Thunder team. In five games without Gilgeous-Alexander this season, the Thunder’s defensive rating drops from 113.1 to 123.8 per game. Siakam will have a field day against this defense tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Bucks have uncharacteristically lost back-to-back games against the Wizards and Grizzlies. Despite those two losses, they are still 1.5 games ahead of the Cavaliers for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Looking to get back on track, the Bucks are 15-point favorites against the Raptors, who have lost 15 consecutive games. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is able to play, he will feast on this depleted Raptors team. He has the second-highest projected ceiling behind Luka Doncic tonight.
With a 121.5 implied point total, the Bucks have by far the highest total on the slate. Before the last game’s mediocre outcome, Giannis had scored 35 points in three consecutive games and had been a menace on the glass. The Raptors have been both a terrible defensive and rebounding team recently, which sets up Giannis for a monster game if he is able to suit up.
Fast Break
Value
Leading the slate with the highest projected Plus/Minus is Grizzlies’ power forward Lamar Stevens. He is coming off a near double-double against the Bucks with nine points and nine rebounds. Stevens is projected to start for the second time with the Grizzlies and play heavy minutes tonight. In his only previous start, Stevens had a 30.1% usage rate and attempted 11 field goal attempts in only 17 minutes. Projected for double the playing time tonight; expect a big performance from Stevens.
With power forward and center eligibility, Stevens is an incredible cash game option at $3,900. He is projected for a slate-high 43% ownership and has a 92% Bargain Rating. Stevens has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in four of his last five games, and his salary has decreased below $4,000 for the first time since the end of February—another great value option.
Fast Break
Jake LaRavia is another Grizzlies value player worth getting exposure to on this 10-game slate. With small forward and power forward eligibility, LaRavia is only $4,500 and is projected to start and play heavy minutes. He is one of the least popular Grizzlies players, but he has scored double-digit points in 12 of his last 15 games. LaRavia has upside if he can get dialed in from long distance. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers against the Lakers a little over a week ago.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama is at the highest salary he has been all season at $11,000. However, he still has a 92% Bargain Rating, given how dominant the rookie has been. In his last game against the defending champions and Nikola Jokic, Wembanyama stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and nine blocks. He nearly had a quadruple-double. The crazy thing is he only shot 9-for-29 from the field and still recorded over 75 DraftKings points in that contest.
The Spurs are decimated with injuries to Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, which will provide more opportunity for Wembanyama to showcase his skillset. They are double-digit road underdogs but always seem to be competitive when Wembanyama is playing big minutes. Projected for less than 5% ownership on this slate, he is a strong contrarian option.
Value
The last of the Grizzlies value pack includes Trey Jemison, who is another extremely popular option tonight. Jemison is projected to start and has the second-highest projected ownership on this slate. At $3,200, the Grizzlies starting center will provide instant savings in a stars and scrubs lineup build. Jemison has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games and his salary is the lowest it has been since early February. He is too cheap for the amount of minutes he will play.
The Pistons have been an average rebounding team this season, but struggle defending the paint. They are allowing opponents to average 54.3 points per game in the paint, which is the fourth-highest in the league. Jemison isn’t a huge scoring threat, but he did have 24 points against the Wizards less than a month ago. He will be popular, but it is deserving.
Fast Break
Leading the league with 26 triple-doubles, Domantas Sabonis is another center pay-up option that will be under-owned. Sabonis is tied for a slate-high 11 Pro Trends in this matchup against the Celtics. With Malik Monk sidelined, Sabonis has seen his usage rate jump to 25% per game. So much of the Kings offense runs through Sabonis at the top of the key. He is averaging a career-high in both rebounds and assists while scoring nearly 20 points per night. He is another great pay-up option.
