Wednesday features a two-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
The Cavaliers and Bulls squared off on Wednesday, and they’ll run it back again on Friday. It stands out as one of the best matchups of the day for fantasy purposes. This time, the game will take place in Cleveland, and the Cavs are listed as 7.5-point favorites. The result is a 124 implied team total, which is the clear top mark on the slate.
Darius Garland was a slight disappointment in Wednesday’s matchup, finishing with 30.75 DraftKings points in 30.2 minutes. However, Garland has the potential to be better in the rematch. He should play a couple of additional minutes if the game is more competitive, and the Cavs will be a bit shorthanded once again. Evan Mobley has already been ruled out, and Garland has seen a team-high +8.31% usage bump with Mobley off the floor this season. He’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute in that split, which represents a slight increase from his average of 1.00 overall.
The Bulls are also a fantastic opponent. They’ve played at the second-fastest pace in the league this season, so it’s a great spot for Garland and the Cavaliers to get back on track.
Value
The Spurs are another prime team target on this slate. They have the second-highest implied team total of the day at 121.25 points in a juicy matchup vs. the Hawks. Atlanta has played at the fifth-fastest pace this season, and they’ll be on the second leg of a back-to-back.
The Spurs will also be in action for the second straight night, but they barely had to break a sweat yesterday vs. the Wizards. No one on the team played more than 26.4 minutes, so they should be relatively fresh.
Dylan Harper was the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he has lived up to the billing as a rookie. The Spurs haven’t put a ton on his plate, but he has delivered whenever he’s been on the floor. He’s averaging 1.15 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s coming off back-to-back games with at least 21 points.
Harper is projected for 24 minutes in our NBA Models, making him too cheap at $4,800. His price tag comes with a 92% Bargain Rating, and he is eligible for both backcourt spots.
Fast Break
Dru Smith is another potential source of value on this slate. He’s averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s played at least 20.1 minutes in back-to-back games. He’s projected for a similar workload Friday vs. the Celtics, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.70 with a comparable salary and minute projection this season (per the Trends tool). Smith is arguably the best pure value at the position on DraftKings, leading all point guards with a 97% Bargain Rating.
Josh Giddey logged a triple-double in Wednesday’s win over the Cavaliers, finishing with 64.75 DraftKings points in just 33.5 minutes. He’s been up and down of late, but there’s no denying his upside in games where he plays well. There’s no reason he can’t do it again on Friday. He leads the position in ceiling projection, and his matchup vs. the Cavs comes with a +5.2 Opponent Plus/Minus. His 11 Pro Trends are also first among Friday’s PGs.
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 Celtics appeared destined for a rebuild year without Jayson Tatum, but they have defied expectations. Despite losing two straight games, they’re still sitting with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference. They rank third in the East in Net Rating (+5.9), so their production doesn’t feel particularly fluky.
With Tatum out of the picture, the rest of the roster has had to pick up the slack. That includes Derrick White. White has been one of the league’s premier role players over the past few years, but he’s taken on more of a starring role in 2025-26. He’s averaging roughly three more shots per game than he did last season, and after a slow start to the year, his jump shot has started to fall. That has allowed him to rack up at least 44.5 DraftKings points in three of his past five games.
He stands out as one of the best backcourt options on Friday’s slate. Only Harper has a better projected Plus/Minus and optimal lineup rate at shooting guard.
Value
Jaime Jaquez had a dreadful sophomore slump last season, but he appears back to being a solid contributor for the Heat in 2025-26. He’s averaged 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season, good for an average of just under a fantasy point per minute.
Jaquez has been priced above $7,000 at times this season, but he’s down to just $5,900 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Celtics. That makes him a prime buy-low option. He’s currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and Jaquez has averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.31 with a comparable salary and minute projection so far this season.
Fast Break
Lonzo Ball continues to stand out as undervalued in our NBA Models. He’s coming off a disappointing showing on Wednesday, but he had 29.75 DraftKings points the game prior. He’s averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute for the season, and he’s projected for 23 minutes in one of the best game environments of the day. Donovan Mitchell is also listed as questionable, and his absence would make Ball one of the best values of the day. Make sure to monitor the injury news before tip-off.
The fit between Coby White and Giddey has looked awkward at times, but White continues to get buckets for the Bulls. He’s averaging 22.0 points in just 29.3 minutes per game, and he’s averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute for fantasy purposes. He’s scored at least 37.25 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, and he stands out as undervalued on Friday in Sim Labs. White is projected for less than 15% ownership on this slate, but his optimal lineup rate is closer to 20%.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jaylen Brown has cemented his status as a superstar in 2025-26. Without Tatum, he has had to do a lot more of the heavy lifting for the Celtics this season. That hasn’t been an issue, with Brown averaging a career-best 29.3 points per game. The increased volume hasn’t affected his efficiency. In fact, he’s knocking down 50% of his shots from the field, which is something he’s never done previously.
Brown has been outstanding for fantasy purposes of late. He’s averaged 1.47 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his past nine games. The lone exception was a blowout win over the Bucks, where he was limited to just 28.8 minutes.
Brown ultimately ranks first at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he has the second-highest ceiling projection on the entire slate. He’s one of the top studs to pay up for.
Value
The Spurs have a ton of exciting young players, which means Devin Vassell can occasionally be overlooked. That said, he’s pretty darn good in his own right. He’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s scored at least 35.0 DraftKings points in two of his past three games.
He’s another player who stands out as massively underpriced on DraftKings. His $5,300 salary comes with a 92% Bargain Rating, and he has the top optimal lineup rate at small forward.
Fast Break
Nickiel Alexander-Walker is on the other end of the pricing spectrum. His Bargain Rating is at 9% on DraftKings, so it’s hard to call him a particularly good value. That said, he’s played some of the best basketball of his career for the Hawks recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past nine games, and he’s at least 39.75 DraftKings points in four of those outings. That means he still has significant upside at his current price. He has the third-highest optimal lineup rate at small forward, and it exceeds his projected ownership.
Don’t forget about Jaylon Tyson for the Cavaliers. He has produced whenever he’s gotten the opportunity to play this season, averaging 1.01 DraftKings points per minute. He’s projected for 31 minutes on Friday with Mobley out of the lineup, and he had 31.5 DraftKings points in the same situation on Wednesday.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Power forward stands out as one of the weaker positions on Friday’s slate. No one has a positive projected Plus/Minus in our NBA Models, so it’s tough to get too excited about anyone.
That makes the idea of just paying up for Jalen Johnson pretty appealing. Johnson has blossomed into an absolute superstar for the Hawks. He’s capable of putting up fantasy points in a variety of ways, resulting in an elite average of 1.61 DraftKings points per minute. That’s the second-best mark on Friday’s slate, trailing only the unreal 2.07 from Victor Wembanyama.
Johnson has delivered elite production in recent games. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +10.44 over his past 10 outings, and he’s coming off 75.75 DraftKings points in his last game. He’s cracked the 70-point threshold in five of his past eight, and he’s had at least 50.0 DraftKings points in the three exceptions. That gives him an elite combination of floor and ceiling at a reasonable $10,000 price tag.
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
Like most of the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen wasn’t particularly effective against the Bulls on Wednesday. However, he still delivered positive value. He racked up 31.0 DraftKings points in 27.6 minutes, good for a Plus/Minus of +1.68.
Allen should continue to see a boost in value with Mobley out of the lineup. He’s seen a +3.67% usage bump with Mobley off the floor this season, and he’s averaged 1.26 DraftKings points per minute in that split. That represents a sizable increase from his average of 0.83 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
There’s no reason he can’t perform better in his rematch vs. the Bulls on Friday. He leads all centers in projected Plus/Minus and optimal lineup rate.
Value
Neemias Queta was a bit of a question mark as the Celtics’ starting center this season, but he has taken the job and run with it. He’s averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s seen an uptick in playing time in recent games. He’s logged at least 33.5 minutes in two of his past four games, which is an encouraging development for his fantasy prospects.
Queta isn’t projected for quite as much playing time on Friday, but his 26 projected minutes should still give him a chance to return value. Queta has had a comparable salary and minute projection in 14 previous games this season, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +1.37.
Fast Break
There’s a chance that the Spurs are without Wembanyama on the second leg of a back-to-back, which would give Luke Kornet a boost in value. Even if Wembanyama does suit up, Kornet still has some appeal on DraftKings. He’s priced at just $4,200, resulting in a 98% Bargain Rating. Kornet hasn’t been an elite per-minute producer this season, but he did rack up 25.25 DraftKings points in just 23.2 minutes vs. the Wizards on Thursday.
Joel Embiid is the ultimate wild card on this slate, just like he will be for most of the year. He’s officially listed as questionable, so there’s a chance he doesn’t even suit up. However, he has some tournament appeal if he does. Embiid has looked much better in recent games, racking up 47.5 DraftKings points vs. the Hawks and 56.25 DraftKings points vs. the Pacers in his past two outings. Few players in his price range have that type of ceiling, making him an interesting option for tournaments.
Pictured: Darius Garland
Photo Credit: Imagn
