Friday features a large 11-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET on DraftKings.
Meanwhile, FanDuel’s slate tonight features only eight games, but also starting at 7 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
After a 41-point performance against the Trail Blazers Wednesday night, it’s hard not to go right back to Luka Doncic in the same matchup tonight. Doncic shot 13-for-21 from the field and 4-for-7 from downtown while only playing 31 minutes. His six rebounds and five assists were just the third time that Doncic failed to record a double-double in his last 15 games. Kyrie Irving also had a big game with 29 points, proving the two dynamic point guards can be played together in the same lineup.
The Mavericks won by 29 points in their last meeting and are double-digit home favorites tonight, implied for 124.5 points. There are several great point guard options on DraftKings’ 11-game slate, but none have the projected ceiling like Doncic.
He is a strong pay-up option on DraftKings, especially since he isn’t even available on FanDuel’s smaller eight-game slate.
Value
After a slow start to his rookie season, Scoot Henderson is starting to find his groove. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in four of his last five games and is the best point guard value on DraftKings tonight. During that five-game stretch, Henderson is averaging 17.6 points and 7.8 assists per game with two double-doubles and a 28.8% usage rate.
The Trail Blazers are getting healthier in their backcourt but are still without Deandre Ayton, which boosts the ceiling for Henderson. With Ayton off the floor this season, Henderson is averaging a team-high +5.18 DraftKings Plus/Minus and a +2.29% usage rate, which is the second-highest on the team. Henderson’s salary has jumped over $6,000 on DraftKings, but his game is trending in the right direction, with his playing time and usage rate skyrocketing.
He is a very good value play.
Fast Break
Choose your fighter between Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young. They are playing against each other in a game that has a slate-high 264.5-point total. In their previous meeting, the Pacers won 157-152 in a non-overtime game. This is by far the best game environment on the slate, and these two electric point guards will be the stars of the show. Haliburton’s $10,200 salary on DraftKings draws immediate attention with a 94% Bargain Rating. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in six consecutive games. Young has been basically just as good, with a double-double in 10 of his last 11 games and scoring the ball at an absurd clip.
These two are the only guards averaging a double-double this season, and both look fantastic tonight.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Donovan Mitchell wasn’t able to showcase his ceiling last game, with the Cavaliers beating the Wizards 140-101. He played a season-low 24 minutes but was able to score 1.7 DraftKings points per minute. If the Wizards can keep this rematch somewhat competitive, Mitchell will have a great chance at a ceiling performance. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are out, which boosts Mitchell’s outlook. Before the last game, Mitchell recorded five-straight games with over 50 DraftKings points.
It is impossible not to be excited about Mitchell tonight. The Wizards continue to rank last in defensive rating at 121.8 and lead the league in pace. They are the best matchup for any opposing player. Make sure to prioritize Mitchell on DraftKings, where he is $1,100 cheaper than FanDuel.
He has a 93% Bargain Rating and the most Pro Trends at the position with 11.
Value
Jordan Clarkson has put together back-to-back massive games for the Jazz. He recorded his first-ever triple-double on Monday night with 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. It was the first regular season triple-double the Jazz have had since Carlos Boozer in 2008. Clarkson followed that up with a 36-point performance against the Pistons, shooting 11-for-20 from the field and 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Due to his inconsistency, though, Clarkson is still best utilized in tournaments.
Drawing a matchup against the Celtics isn’t ideal when they rank third in defensive rating and second in net rating. However, it is hard to ignore his value on DraftKings. He is $6,200 compared to $7,400 on FanDuel. Clarkson’s 94% Bargain Rating is tied for the second-highest on the slate.
The matchup is difficult, but Clarkson is worthy of a few tournament shares tonight.
Fast Break
Despite the Timberwolves coming back down to Earth, Anthony Edwards has scored 30+ points in four straight games. During that time, he is averaging 36.3 points and 51 DraftKings points per game while shooting 49.4% from the field with a massive 39% usage rate. Even though this Timberwolves and Rockets matchup has the lowest scoring total on the slate, Edwards looks like a great option when he is this aggressive. His sub-$10,000 price tag on both sites makes him intriguing.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Hovering around $10,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Jayson Tatum is always going to look like a strong tournament play. Even when the Celtics are fully healthy, Tatum has displayed an upside worth getting exposure to. Tatum is coming off another near triple-double where he finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in the Celtics’ four-point loss against the Thunder. It was the fourth time in his last five games that Tatum posted a positive Plus/Minus on FanDuel.
The Celtics host the Jazz tonight, looking to keep their undefeated home record intact. They are 16-0 at home this season and are 14-point favorites against the Jazz, who have five road victories. Tatum looks like one of the better pay-up options on FanDuel. He is tied for a slate-high 12 Pro Trends, and he has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the position.
Value
Mavericks forward Josh Green has been an inconsistent value play recently but is drawing 30% projected ownership, which is the second-highest on DraftKings. Dante Exum is doubtful to play, while Derrick Lively is questionable. That will solidify the playing time for Green, who will likely draw another start tonight. Green is projected to play 28 minutes and is too cheap on DraftKings at $4,200. He has displayed scoring upside when in the right matchup, and tonight is a great one.
Green is a cheap way to get exposure to the Mavericks without breaking the bank on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Despite starting, Green is capable of getting blowout run. He was the last starter removed from the lineup in Wednesday night’s blowout victory. Everyone can get in on the action against the Trail Blazers, which makes Green a strong play in all formats.
Fast Break
Very similar to Tatum, his teammate Jaylen Brown can also be deployed in tournaments. Brown is more of a boom or bust type of play compared to Tatum but is priced much cheaper across the industry. At his $8,000 salary on DraftKings, Brown has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the small forward position on the slate. His shooting guard and small forward dual eligibility makes him easy to fit into all lineup builds. Brown has the second-highest usage rate behind Tatum, still at 28.6%.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The power forward position is one of the weakest on the slate for FanDuel, but luckily, the DraftKings slate has Paolo Banchero. The second-year pro has blossomed into one of the best young players in the league. Banchero is coming off a career-high 43 points in a double-overtime loss to the Kings. He shot 13-for-25 from the field and 6-for-9 from behind the arc. It was the fourth consecutive game that Banchero scored 27 or more points and finished with over 50 DraftKings points.
Banchero and the Magic are nearly double-digit underdogs on the road against the reigning champions. The Nuggets are on a back-to-back after beating the Warriors on the road last night. Playing against the Nuggets means playing at a snail’s pace. They have the second-slowest pace in the league, but given how well Banchero has played lately, he is hard to ignore.
Value
Jalen Johnson has continued his terrific play since coming back from injury. After back-to-back huge double-doubles and despite getting into major foul trouble, Johnson followed that up with 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals in his last game while shooting 11-for-18 from the field. Even at his $7,200 salary on FanDuel, Johnson is projected to be the second-highest owned player on the slate. That is mainly due to this elite matchup against the high-paced Pacers.
Over the last four games, Johnson is averaging a double-double with 19.5 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 60% from the field. Given the Pacers’ pace of play, they rank 28th in defensive rating and 24 in rebounding percentage. They are allowing 124.6 points per game, with opponents shooting 50.2% from the field. This is a great spot again for Johnson.
Fast Break
Having a loaded roster has kept both Kawhi Leonard‘s salary and ownership in check. Leonard is projected for under 5% ownership across the industry despite recording a positive Plus/Minus on DraftKings in eight of his last nine games. During that stretch, Leonard is averaging 31.2 points per game. He is shooting a career-high 52.3% from the field and has shot over 50% in 13 straight games. He is a great way to get contrarian without breaking the bank at his $8,600 salary on DraftKings.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Joel Embiid has been the best player in the league this season, and it honestly hasn’t been that close. The reigning MVP leads the league in scoring, usage rate, and fantasy points per game. All of which are career highs. Embiid has been exceptional recently, with 15 straight games with 30+ points. During that stretch, Embiid averaged 36.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while shooting 56.4% from the field. He is also coming off a triple-double in only 31 minutes played.
Embiid used to struggle against the Knicks, but that hasn’t been the case in their last three meetings. He has scored 30+ points in all three games with two double-doubles. With Mitchell Robinson out, the Knicks’ interior defense hasn’t been as stout. They lead the league in rebounding percentage at 52.7%, but Embiid is going to look good this year in any matchup.
Value
Jarrett Allen is once again the best value center on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He is on an absolute tear, and despite his salary rising, Allen is still priced too low for his upside. Over the last five games, Allen is averaging a massive double-double with 21.2 points and 16.4 rebounds per game. He is shooting 65.6% from the field and has six or more assists in four of those five games. Projected for around 20% ownership on both sites, Allen is again one of the best centers on the slate.
The matchup against the Wizards sets up Allen for immediate success. They have the worst rebounding percentage in the league at 44.1% and are allowing the second-most points in the paint at 58.9 per game. Allen had a 17-point, 19-rebound, 7-assist performance against the Wizards on Wednesday, and we can expect a similar output with Mobley and Garland out.
Fast Break
Nikola Jokic finally broke out of his mini-slump last game with a near triple-double, posting 34 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. He hit a game-winning 40-foot bank shot as time expired to rally the Nuggets from a big fourth-quarter deficit. Similar to Embiid, Jokic is a matchup nightmare. The Magic rank fifth in defensive rating this season, but that simply doesn’t matter. In their only meeting this season, Jokic recorded a 30-point, 13-rebound, 12-assist triple-double.
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