Friday features a seven-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, and DraftKings will offer no late swap tonight.
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
The biggest news on the entire slate is the status of Luka Doncic. He is questionable with an ankle injury but leads the slate by a wide margin in projected ceiling on DraftKings and FanDuel. Doncic has been incredible since the All-Star Break, averaging 37.3 points, 11.8 assists, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 73.8 DraftKings points per game. He is coming off a 30-point, 16-assist, 11-rebound triple-double against the Raptors. If Doncic is able to play, he is the best pay-up option tonight.
The Mavericks will finish their four-game road trip against the best home team in the league. They are nearly double-digit underdogs against the Celtics, who have the second-best defensive rating. Despite the tough matchup, Doncic went bonkers in their first meeting. He had a triple-double with 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists.
He is a fantastic play in all formats.
Value
Leading the slate with the highest Projected Plus/Minus is Grizzlies’ point guard Jordan Goodwin. In his first game after signing a two-way contract, Goodwin played 31 minutes and stuffed the stat sheet with five points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. His salary is starting to climb, but not nearly enough, given his playing time and activity. The Grizzlies continue to battle with a ton of injuries, not only to their backcourt but also to their frontcourt, with Jaren Jackson Jr. out tonight.
The Grizzlies will be a great source of value, but none look better than Goodwin. Projected to play 31 minutes again, Goodwin is drawing the most ownership on the slate, proving he is the best value play. This game total is the lowest on the slate at 208.5 points. However, with so many injuries on both sides, this matchup is going to produce a ton of ownership.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey remains affordable on DraftKings at $8,700, which is resulting in an 84% Bargain Rating. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last seven games while averaging 27.9 points per game with a 30.8% usage rate during that time. With Joel Embiid off the floor this season, Maxey has a team-high +4.22% usage rate and a +2.79 DraftKings Plus/Minus. The 76ers are a double-digit favorite against the Hornets, who have one of the worst defenses in the league.
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
Despite nursing an ankle injury, Anthony Edwards played the second leg of the Timberwolves back-to-back and scored 34 points. Even with scoring 34 points, it was the first time in his last 10 games that he returned a negative Plus/Minus. After a rest day, expect Edwards to suit up tonight in this pivotal matchup against the Kings with the Timberwolves trying to hold onto the top seed in the Western Conference. The Kings rank 20th in defensive rating and just outside the top 10 in pace.
The Timberwolves and Kings split their first two matchups, with Edwards scoring 34 and 35 points in those two games. When the opponents get tougher, he has a knack for showing up. The Timberwolves are in the middle of a seven-game home stand and are 6.5-point favorites. Prioritize Edwards on DraftKings, where he is $8,800 with an 88% Bargain Rating.
Value
Caris LeVert is coming off a career-high 15 assists and a near triple-double where he added 14 points and seven rebounds. The veteran shooting guard is in the race for the sixth man of the year award, averaging 14.1 points per game off the bench. He has had two ceiling performances against poor competition. He averaged 16 points, 11.5 assists, 9.5 rebounds, and 51.1 DraftKings points per game against the Wizards and Bulls and now draws a juicy matchup against the Pistons tonight.
Donovan Mitchell is questionable to play and hasn’t looked like himself lately. In his last three games, Mitchell has 15 turnovers and is only shooting 46.5% from the field. If he is out, that will provide a significant boost to LeVert. In eight games without Mitchell this season, LeVert has increased his scoring to 15.7 points per game and has a 27.9% usage rate.
LeVert is now listed as questionable, too, so keep an eye on the Cavaliers news.
Fast Break
If Luka Doncic is unable to play, Kyrie Irving will instantly be one of the best point-per-dollar plays on the slate. Even with Doncic in, Irving has shown the ability to have ceiling performances. Irving has come out of the All-Star Break on fire with at least 29 points in each game. During the month of February, Irving shot 55.4% from the field and 46.5% from behind the arc. Getting a chance to play in Boston against his former team, he is currently a contrarian pay-up option with incredible upside.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Trail Blazers are another team that is decimated with injuries. Starters Malcolm Brogdon and Scoot Henderson are out, while Deandre Ayton is doubtful to play tonight. One of the lone starters remaining, Jerami Grant, looks like one of the best forward options on the slate. Grant has been one of the few bright spots on the Trail Blazers, who are 15-42 this year. Grant is shooting a career-best 40.4% from behind the arc while averaging 21.7 points per game with a 26% usage rate.
Grant is coming off a great game against a difficult Heat defense with 24 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals. This is a much better spot for him playing against a glorified G-League Grizzlies team. Despite being $7,500 on FanDuel, Grant has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus tonight. He is a great bring-back for all of the Grizzlies value.
Value
Staying in the same game, Grizzlies’ forward Vince Williams is another elite value play. Priced in the mid-range on both sites, Williams is a streaky fantasy producer. In his two games before the All-Star Break, Williams averaged 43.8 DraftKings points per game. However, in his last three games, that average has dipped to 24.4 DraftKings points per game with a low of 15.75. If the Grizzlies can keep this game competitive, Williams will have a great chance for a big game at a cheap price tag.
Williams is coming off a game against the Timberwolves, where he posted a 25.3% usage rate. He finished with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and over 30 DraftKings points despite shooting 4-for-15 from the field. The Trail Blazers are allowing opponents to shoot 49.6% from the field, which is tied for the fourth-highest in the league. It’s a great bounce-back spot.
Fast Break
Scottie Barnes has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five consecutive games and in seven of his last eight. During that stretch, he has two triple-doubles and flirted with several more. The third-year pro is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists while shooting 47.4% from the field. His defensive prowess has also been on full display lately, which boosts his ceiling. In a matchup against the Warriors, expect Barnes to be another strong pay-up option on tonight’s slate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
This seven-game slate has a lack of stud options, but Jayson Tatum pops in our models with the second-highest projected ceiling on DraftKings and FanDuel. Tatum is coming off a near triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in the Celtics’ 18-point victory against the 76ers. The Celtics are fully healthy, but Tatum remains the player to target from this roster. He is priced under $10,000 across the industry and is leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists this season.
The Celtics have the highest team total on the slate at 122.5 points. Similar to Luka Doncic, Tatum was phenomenal in his only game against the Mavericks this season. He finished with a 39-point, 11-rebound double-double while shooting 11-for-21 from the field and 15-for-19 from the free-throw line. Tatum will look to go head-to-head against Doncic again tonight.
Value
Santi Aldama is yet another Grizzlies value player worth getting exposure to. Aldama is more of a cash-game option with his limited ceiling. However, with so many injuries, our model has Aldama projected to play around 33 minutes while having the highest projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position. Aldama’s usage rate will likely be in the high teens, and his power-forward eligibility fills a weak position on this slate. He looks more intriguing on DraftKings, priced under $5,000.
Most of Aldama’s production comes from scoring the ball, but he also has captured at least five rebounds in four of his last five games and has one game with seven assists during that time. The Trail Blazers rank 24th in rebounding percentage at 49%, which provides a higher floor for Aldama on the glass. It won’t take much for Aldama to pay off his salary tonight.
Fast Break
Playing in the best game environment on the slate that has a 238.5-point total, Zion Williamson stands out at the power forward position. The Pelicans are 5.5-point home favorites against the Pacers, who rank 26th in defensive rating and second in pace. They are allowing a league-high 59.9 points per game in the paint, while opponents are shooting 50.4% from the floor. Williamson has a ton of upside in this matchup despite the Pelicans finally being back to full strength.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Domantas Sabonis‘ triple-double streak came to an end with the Kings’ 21-point loss to the Nuggets last game. He only played 32 minutes and came up three assists shy of four triple-doubles in a row. However, he has captured this feat in eight of his last 11 games. During that stretch, Sabonis is averaging 19.5 points, 14 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game. No other center has nearly the upside of Sabonis on this slate. He has 12 Pro Trends on DraftKings at his $10,200 price tag.
After a disappointing game against Nikola Jokic, the matchup doesn’t get any easier for Sabonis tonight against the elite Timberwolves defensive frontcourt. The Timberwolves are allowing only 45.5 points per game in the paint this season, which is the second-best in the league. However, Sabonis has displayed the ability to capture fantasy points in a variety of ways.
Value
Duop Reath will fill in for the injured Deandre Ayton again. In his 11 starts this season, Reath is averaging 12 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. In his last three starts, that total has jumped to 16 points per game despite playing against the Suns, Nets, and Timberwolves. This is a much easier matchup against the Grizzlies without Jaren Jackson Jr. The Grizzlies already rank 26th in rebounding percentage, and that number drops a ton when they are playing without their big Jackson Jr.
The Grizzlies also are a below-average defensive team in the paint without Jackson Jr. Reath, who has recorded one double-double when starting this season and could flirt with another in tonight’s matchup. Priced under $5,000 across the industry, Reath is easy to fit into all lineup builds. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at this position on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Looking for more Grizzlies exposure? Trey Jemison is only $3,300 on DraftKings and $3,900 on FanDuel and has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the center position on both sites. There is a good chance that Jemison will draw another start tonight without Jackson Jr. Our model has him projected to play 22 minutes tonight, which is more than enough time to exceed his cheap salary. He is the cheapest Grizzlies player, drawing a lot of exposure, and it is easy to fit in studs around him.
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