Friday features a two-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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 Knicks picked up another win on Wednesday, pushing them to a 2-0 series lead over the 76ers. However, they did suffer a couple of injuries during that contest. Both OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are listed as questionable for Game 3, with Anunoby looking particularly shaky. Either player being ruled out would open up decent usage and minutes for the rest of the roster.
Jalen Brunson will continue to serve as the team’s offensive focal point, regardless of who he shares the floor with. He’s coming off a down performance in Game 2, but he did play 40.8 minutes. He’s averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he should be able to provide value pretty consistently with that much playing time.
Brunson would also get a clear bump if the team is shorthanded. He’s increased his usage rate by +2.51% with Anunoby off the floor this season, the second-highest bump on the team. He’s averaged 1.22 DraftKings points per minute in that split.
Brunson ultimately leads all point guards in median and ceiling projection, and he’s also first in projected Plus/Minus. That makes him the clear top option at the position.
Value
The Spurs bounced back with an extremely impressive performance in Game 2, throttling the Timberwolves by 38 points. That tied the series at one game apiece before shifting to Minnesota for Game 3.
Dylan Harper continues to prove his value for San Antonio. He hasn’t been asked to carry a full workload for the team this season, but he’s been extremely effective when on the floor. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, including three straight. He had 30.75 DraftKings points in his last outing, despite logging just 22.5 minutes in the blowout win. Harper should pick up a few additional minutes if Friday’s game is more competitive, and he’s averaged 1.03 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Fast Break
The 76ers were somewhat surprisingly without Joel Embiid in Game 2, and he’s listed as questionable once again for Game 3. If he’s forced to miss another contest, Tyrese Maxey would rival Brunson at the top of the PG position. He saw a 32.1% usage rate sans Embiid on Wednesday, though he shot just 9-23 from the field. Maxey’s projections lag slightly behind Brunson’s, but his salary comes with a 98% Bargain Rating on DraftKings. The 76ers are also favored in what is essentially a must-win contest.
De’Aaron Fox has sacrificed some of his own offensive game for the Spurs this season, but he’s still capable of going off when the team needs it. We saw that to close out the series vs. the Blazers, with Fox racking up 40.25 and 52.5 DraftKings points in the final two games. He’s yet to come close to those levels vs. the Timberwolves, but he’s still averaged 1.09 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That trails only Brunson among the high-priced options.
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
Stephon Castle has yet to really get going in this matchup vs. the Timberwolves. He fouled out after just 28.3 minutes in Game 1, and he was limited to just 24.3 minutes in the blowout win in Game 2. However, Castle has still produced when he has been on the floor. He got to 33.5 DraftKings points in Game 2 despite the limited playing time, good for an average of 1.38 DraftKings points per minute.
Castle has averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is the clear top mark at shooting guard. Once he’s able to log a full workload, he should deliver excellent value at just $6,800. His current price tag comes with a 93% Bargain Rating, and he leads the position with 10 Pro Trends.
Value
VJ Edgecombe is much cheaper than Castle, and that’s tough to justify. He hasn’t been particularly good to start this series vs. the Knicks, finishing with 18.75 and 29.25 DraftKings points in the first two games.
Still, we know that Edgecombe is capable of much more, especially if Embiid is out of the lineup once again. He’s seen a +2.84% usage bump with Embiid off the floor this season, which is the second-largest increase on the squad. He’s responded with an average of 1.00 DraftKings points per minute in that split, and he’s projected for 38.5 minutes in our NBA Models. That’s the most among Friday’s shooting guards.
Fast Break
Can Anthony Edwards give the Timberwolves a bit more than he’s done in the first two games? We have him projected for 32 minutes for Game 3, which would represent a nice increase. It’s still not a full workload – especially for the playoffs – but it’s enough to put him on the radar for tournaments. He’s also projected for roughly 3% ownership, despite having the top ceiling projection at the position.
Kelly Oubre is far from the sexiest DFS option, but he has been pretty reliable of late. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in both games vs. the Knicks, including 31.25 DraftKings points in Game 2. He’s projected for another 32 minutes at just $5,200 for Game 3, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +1.61 (per the Trends tool).
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Paul George stands out as the biggest potential beneficiary if Embiid is out once again. He saw the largest usage bump on the team with Embiid off the floor during the regular season, and he racked up 42.0 DraftKings points in nearly 43 minutes in Game 2. He wasn’t even particularly efficient in that contest (7-18 shooting), so he has the potential for more in Game 3. George wouldn’t be quite as appealing if Embiid returns to the lineup, so make sure to monitor the injury report for updates.
Value
Devin Vassell is one of the most unheralded parts of the Spurs’ offense, but he is their most consistent outside shooter. He knocked down 38.4% of his 3-pointers this season, and he was fourth on the team with 13.9 points per game.
Vassell has been solid in the team’s two games vs. the Wolves in this series. He had 33.75 DraftKings points in the Game 1 loss, and he followed that up with 23.25 DraftKings points in just 21.6 minutes in Game 2. Overall, he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute, and he’s projected for another 34.5 minutes in Game 3. If he can maintain that level of production, he has the potential to be an excellent value at $5,500.
Fast Break
If Hart is able to suit up for the Knicks, he would be one of the top options at small forward. While he’s not much of a scoring threat, that hasn’t stopped him from putting up solid fantasy totals for his entire career. He’s an elite rebounder for his size, and he’s capable of contributing as a distributor and on defense as well. That gives him an elite ceiling on nights when he does score a bit more than expected.
If you don’t believe in a big bump for Edwards’ workload in Game 3, pivoting to Terrence Shannon is an interesting option. He’s seen a spike in playing time with Edwards out or banged up recently, and he had a 37.5 DraftKings point outburst in the closeout win over the Nuggets. He has some upside at $4,300 if you think Edwards stays under 30 minutes.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns has struggled to stay on the floor through the first two games vs. the 76ers. He finished with just 27.4 minutes in Game 2, despite not having to deal with Embiid on the defensive end. Still, he had a productive contest, racking up 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and 45.5 DraftKings points despite the reduced workload.
Towns has been awesome for the Knicks for going on two months now, and he’s averaged an elite 1.56 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He should see a few additional minutes on Friday, especially if Anunoby and/or Hart are unable to suit up. He owns the top ceiling projection among power forwards, and he’s one of the strongest studs on the slate overall.
Value
Julian Champagnie is another undervalued part of the Spurs’ rotation. He appeared in all 82 games for the second straight season, and he started 68 of them. He responded with career-highs in virtually every category across the board, and he has earned more responsibilities as the season has progressed.
That has carried into the postseason. Champagnie has posted a positive Plus/Minus in three straight games, despite playing just 22 minutes in the blowout win on Wednesday. He should see closer to 30 minutes if Friday’s game is more competitive, and he’s averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He doesn’t provide much of a ceiling at his current price tag, but he’s a good bet to continue to deliver value.
Fast Break
Like most of his teammates, Julius Randle struggled mightily in Game 2. He had just 22.75 DraftKings points across 27.4 minutes after finishing with 38.5 DraftKings points in Game 1. Still, with Edwards clearly banged up at the moment, Randle is going to have to carry an expanded role for the Timberwolves moving forward. He saw nearly 41.5 minutes in Game 1, and he could see a similar workload in Game 3.
If Anunoby is able to suit up, it’s possible that he’s at far less than 100%. Hamstring injuries can be tricky, even though his injury has been described as “very, very minor.” That said, there’s no denying how impressive Anunoby has been of late. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven games, including four games with at least 42.5 DraftKings points. He’s averaged 1.07 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and it’s possible that the injury results in reduced ownership even if he does suit up.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama was needed for less than 26 minutes in Game 2, but that didn’t stop him from racking up 48.25 DraftKings points. He’s capable of dominating a game in a multitude of ways, resulting in an average of 1.83 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. No one else on this slate can come close to sniffing that figure.
Wembanyama saw nearly 40 minutes in the Game 1 loss to the Timberwolves, and the prospect of Wembanyama playing that much is downright terrifying for fantasy purposes. His salary is also very reasonable at $11,000 after sitting at closer to $12,500 during the regular season. It results in a 99% Bargain Rating.
Value
Rudy Gobert has had a quality postseason, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past six games. Unsurprisingly, he failed to return value in his last contest, but he was limited to just 28 minutes. He’s projected for 33.5 minutes in Game 3, and he’s going to have to give the Timberwolves a massive defensive effort against his fellow countryman if they have any chance of surviving the Spurs. He ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus, checking in just slightly behind Wemby.
Fast Break
If Embiid is able to return in Game 3, he is certainly worth considering for fantasy purposes. He might not be the same dominant force that he was in his prime, but he’s pretty darn close. He ripped off at least 47.0 DraftKings points in his first four playoff games before stumbling against the Knicks in Game 1. Embiid ultimately has the second-highest ceiling projection on this slate, trailing only Wembanyama.
If Embiid is out, Andre Drummond could get some consideration for DFS purposes. He only saw 14.7 minutes in place of Embiid in Game 2, but he still managed 19.5 DraftKings points and a positive Plus/Minus.
Pictured: Jalen Brunson
Photo Credit: Imagn
