NBA

NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings (Friday, November 21)

Friday features a seven-game main slate starting at 7 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.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become an All-Access Member
 

NBA DFS Point Guard Picks

Stud

Point guard stands out as a slightly weaker position than usual on Friday. There aren’t a ton of high-priced options to consider, and those that exist stand out as poor values in our NBA Models.

That makes Immanuel Quickley a nice alternative. He’s available at a discount compared to some of the top options at the position, but he’s been a fantastic source of value recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past eight games, and he’s gone for at least 39.0 DraftKings points in five of them. Quickley is up to 1.07 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and his projections are comparable to players with significantly higher price tags.

Quickley also draws an elite matchup vs. the Wizards. They rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and the Raptors lead the slate with a 127.0 implied team total. There is some blowout potential – the Raptors are listed as 14.5-point favorites – but Quickley should be extremely productive when he’s on the floor. 

Value

The game between the Heat and Bulls stands out as the clear top target for fantasy purposes. These teams have both played extremely fast this season, and this contest has a massive 249.5-point total as a result. It also features just a 2.5-point spread, so the game is expected to feature plenty of offense on both sides.

The Heat are still playing without Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins will join him on the sidelines on Friday. That leaves Davion Mitchell as one of their top facilitators. He’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s increased that figure to 1.05 with Wiggins off the floor.

Mitchell is coming off a poor showing in his last outing, but he played just 24.3 minutes in a blowout win vs. the shorthanded Warriors. Before that contest, Mitchell had posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his previous six games. He’s expected to get back to 33 minutes on Friday’s slate, making him a phenomenal bounce-back option.

Fast Break

Josh Giddey has the top ceiling projection at the position, and he’s averaged an elite 1.51 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s lost some value with Coby White returning to the lineup recently, but White is currently listed as questionable for injury management. If he ends up sitting, Giddey would have plenty of appeal in a fantastic spot vs. the Heat. 

Derrick White is another potential midrange target. He’s been extremely consistent recently, scoring at least 34.75 DraftKings points in eight straight games. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of them, and he draws a phenomenal matchup Friday vs. the Nets. They rank dead last in defensive efficiency, so the Celtics have a bit more upside than usual.

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

With Wiggins out of the picture, Jaime Jaquez should pick up a few additional minutes on Friday’s slate. That’s an extremely appealing proposition. Jaquez has averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s capable of racking up fantasy points in a bunch of different ways.

Jaquez ultimately ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he also has the fourth-highest projected ceiling. He also has the top Sim Labs optimal lineup rate at shooting guard, making him an excellent target in all formats.

Value

Sticking with the Heat, Dru Smith is another player who should benefit from the absence of Wiggins. He’s currently projected for 22 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.0 DraftKings points per minute for the year. Smith has had a comparable salary and minute projection in just three previous games this season, and he’s responded with an average Plus/Minus of +4.96 (per the Trends tool).

Ultimately, he stands out as one of the best pure salary savers on the slate.

Fast Break

The Wizards have been a disaster this season, but Kyshawn George has been one of the few bright spots. He’s put together three straight big games, and he’s averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute for the year. His $6,100 salary has yet to reflect his increased production, and George has the potential to be even better on Friday. Alex Sarr is currently questionable with an injury, and he leads the team with a 26.1% usage rate.

The Pacers are starting to get a bit healthier, but they’re still pretty desperate for playmakers. Bennedict Mathurin stands out as one of their best bets. He’s been brilliant when he’s been healthy enough to play this season, averaging 1.27 DraftKings points per minute. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in both games since returning from injury, and he had 46.0 DraftKings points in 34 minutes in his last outing. If he’s going to continue to play that much, $6,400 is simply too cheap.

Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.

 

NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

Michael Porter Jr. continues to put up huge stats for a bad team in Brooklyn. It’s the complete opposite of what his life was like in Denver, where he was occasionally overlooked for a really good team. MPJ has averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past nine games. He’s had at least 48.25 DraftKings points in four of those outings, so he’s displayed plenty of upside as well.

Cam Thomas remains sidelined for the Nets, and Porter has even more upside with him out of the picture. His optimal lineup rate checks in just under 34% on this slate, which is the top mark at the position. It’s the third-highest mark on the slate, and it exceeds his projected ownership by roughly 6%. It makes him one of the top pay-up options of the day.

Value

Pelle Larson is another potential value option for the Heat on Friday. He stands out as a nice combination of volume and efficiency. He’s projected for a healthy 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.90. Larson has also averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute for the year, which is a better mark than most players in this price range.

Fast Break

Bilal Coulibaly has missed most of the season for the Wizards, but he remains one of the team’s most exciting prospects. He’s also been solid when he has been in the lineup, averaging 1.01 DraftKings points per minute. He’s coming off a season-high 29.3 minutes in his last outing, and he could take another step forward in that department vs. the Raptors. He stands out as an excellent option on DraftKings, where his $4,900 salary comes with an 87% Bargain Rating.

Cooper Flagg is still just scratching the surface of his talent. He’s in a suboptimal situation in Dallas, but we’ve started to see a bit of his ceiling recently. He’s gone for at least 42.0 DraftKings points in three of his past five games, and his price has dipped down to just $6,900 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Pelicans. New Orleans is 28th in the league in defensive efficiency, so it’s a great spot for another strong showing from the No. 1 overall pick.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

Julius Randle had a quiet first year with the Timberwolves, but he’s put together a monster start to his second season. His numbers are up across the board, but his scoring has taken a massive leap. He’s up to 25.0 points per game after averaging just 18.7 last season.

As a result, Randle has put together some excellent fantasy production. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in all but two games, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +4.78 over that time frame. He’s averaged 1.41 DraftKings points per minute, which is the top mark among Friday’s power forwards.

Randle is coming off 55.0 DraftKings points in his last outing, his fourth game with at least 49.0 DraftKings points in his past five. Despite the elite production, his price tag has barely budged over that time frame. He’s still priced at a very reasonable $8,500 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Suns. If he continues to produce like he has of late, he’s not going to be available at that figure much longer.

Value

Derik Queen was someone that the Pelicans were willing to trade an unprotected first-round pick to trade for in the 2025 NBA Draft. Only time will tell if that ends up being a wise decision – the 2026 Draft class is loaded, and the Pelicans’ pick could end up being in the top five – but Queen at least looks like a player. He’s coming off a huge performance in his last contest, finishing with 53.75 DraftKings points in a loss vs. the Nuggets. Overall, Queen has averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute for the year.

Queen is projected for another 30 minutes on Friday’s slate, making him an outstanding target at just $5,500. He leads all power forwards in projected Plus/Minus, and he has the top optimal lineup rate at the position by more than 10%.

Fast Break

If you’re looking to go even cheaper at PF, Simone Fontecchio is your best bet. He’s priced at just $3,500, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games. He’s averaged 1.0 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s currently projected for 23.5 minutes in our NBA Models. That’s a nice combination.

Scottie Barnes hasn’t had the best start to his season, but he’s still averaged a very healthy 1.35 DraftKings points per minute. He has more appeal than usual against the lowly Wizards, who have hemorrhaged fantasy points to opposing forward. He owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +10.19, giving Barnes the top ceiling projection at the position. Barnes also ranks second among power forwards in optimal lineup rate.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

Bam Adebayo returned to the Heat’s lineup in their last game, and he chipped in 40.25 DraftKings points in just 28.8 minutes. It was his first game in two weeks, and the Heat ended up winning by a comfortable margin. He should see a bit more playing time in his second game back, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models.

Adebayo has the potential to do a lot of damage when he’s on the floor vs. the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic is not known for his defense, and the Bulls have been an elite matchup for centers this season. Adebayo owns a massive +11.76 Opponent Plus/Minus, so he has significantly more appeal than usual. His price tag has also crept down to $8,000, which is tied for his lowest mark of the year.

Value

It’s hard to look past Jakob Poeltl at center on this slate. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, and his playing time is trending up. He’s logged at least 31.7 minutes in back-to-back games after being capped in the 20s through the early part of the year. Poeltl has averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute, so a few additional minutes is a welcome sight.

Poeltl is also priced at just $5,600, resulting in a 94% Bargain Rating on DraftKings. He draws a phenomenal matchup vs. the Wizards (+6.46 Opponent Plus/Minus), and he has the top projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate. 

Fast Break

If Sarr is unable to go for the Wizards, Tristan Vukcevic would become a really interesting value target. He’s been an elite per-minute producer in his brief NBA career, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially pay off his $3,200 price tag.

Steven Adams is questionable to suit up for the Rockets, but he would be a solid value target if he’s available. He’s been pretty consistent for the Rockets this season, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games. He doesn’t bring a ton of upside to the table, but he’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute and is currently projected for 26.5 minutes. That’s a solid combination at $4,100.

Pictured: Jaime Jaquez
Photo Credit: Imagn Images

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Friday features a seven-game main slate starting at 7 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.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials
Become an All-Access Member
 

NBA DFS Point Guard Picks

Stud

Point guard stands out as a slightly weaker position than usual on Friday. There aren’t a ton of high-priced options to consider, and those that exist stand out as poor values in our NBA Models.

That makes Immanuel Quickley a nice alternative. He’s available at a discount compared to some of the top options at the position, but he’s been a fantastic source of value recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past eight games, and he’s gone for at least 39.0 DraftKings points in five of them. Quickley is up to 1.07 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and his projections are comparable to players with significantly higher price tags.

Quickley also draws an elite matchup vs. the Wizards. They rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and the Raptors lead the slate with a 127.0 implied team total. There is some blowout potential – the Raptors are listed as 14.5-point favorites – but Quickley should be extremely productive when he’s on the floor. 

Value

The game between the Heat and Bulls stands out as the clear top target for fantasy purposes. These teams have both played extremely fast this season, and this contest has a massive 249.5-point total as a result. It also features just a 2.5-point spread, so the game is expected to feature plenty of offense on both sides.

The Heat are still playing without Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins will join him on the sidelines on Friday. That leaves Davion Mitchell as one of their top facilitators. He’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s increased that figure to 1.05 with Wiggins off the floor.

Mitchell is coming off a poor showing in his last outing, but he played just 24.3 minutes in a blowout win vs. the shorthanded Warriors. Before that contest, Mitchell had posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his previous six games. He’s expected to get back to 33 minutes on Friday’s slate, making him a phenomenal bounce-back option.

Fast Break

Josh Giddey has the top ceiling projection at the position, and he’s averaged an elite 1.51 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s lost some value with Coby White returning to the lineup recently, but White is currently listed as questionable for injury management. If he ends up sitting, Giddey would have plenty of appeal in a fantastic spot vs. the Heat. 

Derrick White is another potential midrange target. He’s been extremely consistent recently, scoring at least 34.75 DraftKings points in eight straight games. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of them, and he draws a phenomenal matchup Friday vs. the Nets. They rank dead last in defensive efficiency, so the Celtics have a bit more upside than usual.

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

With Wiggins out of the picture, Jaime Jaquez should pick up a few additional minutes on Friday’s slate. That’s an extremely appealing proposition. Jaquez has averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s capable of racking up fantasy points in a bunch of different ways.

Jaquez ultimately ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he also has the fourth-highest projected ceiling. He also has the top Sim Labs optimal lineup rate at shooting guard, making him an excellent target in all formats.

Value

Sticking with the Heat, Dru Smith is another player who should benefit from the absence of Wiggins. He’s currently projected for 22 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.0 DraftKings points per minute for the year. Smith has had a comparable salary and minute projection in just three previous games this season, and he’s responded with an average Plus/Minus of +4.96 (per the Trends tool).

Ultimately, he stands out as one of the best pure salary savers on the slate.

Fast Break

The Wizards have been a disaster this season, but Kyshawn George has been one of the few bright spots. He’s put together three straight big games, and he’s averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute for the year. His $6,100 salary has yet to reflect his increased production, and George has the potential to be even better on Friday. Alex Sarr is currently questionable with an injury, and he leads the team with a 26.1% usage rate.

The Pacers are starting to get a bit healthier, but they’re still pretty desperate for playmakers. Bennedict Mathurin stands out as one of their best bets. He’s been brilliant when he’s been healthy enough to play this season, averaging 1.27 DraftKings points per minute. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in both games since returning from injury, and he had 46.0 DraftKings points in 34 minutes in his last outing. If he’s going to continue to play that much, $6,400 is simply too cheap.

Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.

 

NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

Michael Porter Jr. continues to put up huge stats for a bad team in Brooklyn. It’s the complete opposite of what his life was like in Denver, where he was occasionally overlooked for a really good team. MPJ has averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past nine games. He’s had at least 48.25 DraftKings points in four of those outings, so he’s displayed plenty of upside as well.

Cam Thomas remains sidelined for the Nets, and Porter has even more upside with him out of the picture. His optimal lineup rate checks in just under 34% on this slate, which is the top mark at the position. It’s the third-highest mark on the slate, and it exceeds his projected ownership by roughly 6%. It makes him one of the top pay-up options of the day.

Value

Pelle Larson is another potential value option for the Heat on Friday. He stands out as a nice combination of volume and efficiency. He’s projected for a healthy 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.90. Larson has also averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute for the year, which is a better mark than most players in this price range.

Fast Break

Bilal Coulibaly has missed most of the season for the Wizards, but he remains one of the team’s most exciting prospects. He’s also been solid when he has been in the lineup, averaging 1.01 DraftKings points per minute. He’s coming off a season-high 29.3 minutes in his last outing, and he could take another step forward in that department vs. the Raptors. He stands out as an excellent option on DraftKings, where his $4,900 salary comes with an 87% Bargain Rating.

Cooper Flagg is still just scratching the surface of his talent. He’s in a suboptimal situation in Dallas, but we’ve started to see a bit of his ceiling recently. He’s gone for at least 42.0 DraftKings points in three of his past five games, and his price has dipped down to just $6,900 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Pelicans. New Orleans is 28th in the league in defensive efficiency, so it’s a great spot for another strong showing from the No. 1 overall pick.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

Julius Randle had a quiet first year with the Timberwolves, but he’s put together a monster start to his second season. His numbers are up across the board, but his scoring has taken a massive leap. He’s up to 25.0 points per game after averaging just 18.7 last season.

As a result, Randle has put together some excellent fantasy production. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in all but two games, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +4.78 over that time frame. He’s averaged 1.41 DraftKings points per minute, which is the top mark among Friday’s power forwards.

Randle is coming off 55.0 DraftKings points in his last outing, his fourth game with at least 49.0 DraftKings points in his past five. Despite the elite production, his price tag has barely budged over that time frame. He’s still priced at a very reasonable $8,500 for Friday’s matchup vs. the Suns. If he continues to produce like he has of late, he’s not going to be available at that figure much longer.

Value

Derik Queen was someone that the Pelicans were willing to trade an unprotected first-round pick to trade for in the 2025 NBA Draft. Only time will tell if that ends up being a wise decision – the 2026 Draft class is loaded, and the Pelicans’ pick could end up being in the top five – but Queen at least looks like a player. He’s coming off a huge performance in his last contest, finishing with 53.75 DraftKings points in a loss vs. the Nuggets. Overall, Queen has averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute for the year.

Queen is projected for another 30 minutes on Friday’s slate, making him an outstanding target at just $5,500. He leads all power forwards in projected Plus/Minus, and he has the top optimal lineup rate at the position by more than 10%.

Fast Break

If you’re looking to go even cheaper at PF, Simone Fontecchio is your best bet. He’s priced at just $3,500, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games. He’s averaged 1.0 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s currently projected for 23.5 minutes in our NBA Models. That’s a nice combination.

Scottie Barnes hasn’t had the best start to his season, but he’s still averaged a very healthy 1.35 DraftKings points per minute. He has more appeal than usual against the lowly Wizards, who have hemorrhaged fantasy points to opposing forward. He owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +10.19, giving Barnes the top ceiling projection at the position. Barnes also ranks second among power forwards in optimal lineup rate.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

Bam Adebayo returned to the Heat’s lineup in their last game, and he chipped in 40.25 DraftKings points in just 28.8 minutes. It was his first game in two weeks, and the Heat ended up winning by a comfortable margin. He should see a bit more playing time in his second game back, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models.

Adebayo has the potential to do a lot of damage when he’s on the floor vs. the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic is not known for his defense, and the Bulls have been an elite matchup for centers this season. Adebayo owns a massive +11.76 Opponent Plus/Minus, so he has significantly more appeal than usual. His price tag has also crept down to $8,000, which is tied for his lowest mark of the year.

Value

It’s hard to look past Jakob Poeltl at center on this slate. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, and his playing time is trending up. He’s logged at least 31.7 minutes in back-to-back games after being capped in the 20s through the early part of the year. Poeltl has averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute, so a few additional minutes is a welcome sight.

Poeltl is also priced at just $5,600, resulting in a 94% Bargain Rating on DraftKings. He draws a phenomenal matchup vs. the Wizards (+6.46 Opponent Plus/Minus), and he has the top projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate. 

Fast Break

If Sarr is unable to go for the Wizards, Tristan Vukcevic would become a really interesting value target. He’s been an elite per-minute producer in his brief NBA career, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially pay off his $3,200 price tag.

Steven Adams is questionable to suit up for the Rockets, but he would be a solid value target if he’s available. He’s been pretty consistent for the Rockets this season, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games. He doesn’t bring a ton of upside to the table, but he’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute and is currently projected for 26.5 minutes. That’s a solid combination at $4,100.

Pictured: Jaime Jaquez
Photo Credit: Imagn Images

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