This article aims to highlight some of the best NBA DFS Plays at every position for your cash game lineups. Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our NBA News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
We’ll take a look at Friday’s 10-game main slate starting at 7:30 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Luka Doncic – Dallas (at Portland) - DK: $10,700 / FD: $10,400 / Yahoo: $53
Doncic still leads the entire league in usage rate (36.3 percent) while sticking in the Top 10 in efficiency rating as well. The fact that he’s the third or fourth most expensive option tonight is exciting, because the Trail Blazers give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing PGs. It’s worth also noting that Doncic is coming off two fantastic games vs. the Clippers, who are one of the stingiest defenses in the league, and has previously put up 66 fantasy points on Portland. With a game that has a 232.5-point over/under and Dallas favored by around three points, this situation is one to target tonight.
Also Consider: Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Kemba Walker
Bargain options: Nico Mannion
SHOOTING GUARD
Devin Booker – Phoenix (vs. Minnesota) - DK: $7,800 / FD: $7,500 / Yahoo: $31
This game is also predicted to be a high scoring rematch of last night’s upset. The Suns are huge home favorites, and Booker is my favorite play. He scored 35 real points last night and is averaging 54 fantasy points per game in two against the Timberwolves so far this season. The fast pace and lax defense benefits Chris Paul too, but I think Booker is the stronger value at the SG position. Even if he doesn’t exceed last night’s gaudy numbers, he’s got a solid floor, making him a part of my core lineups tonight.
Also Consider: James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Andrew Wiggins
Bargain Options: Josh Jackson, Buddy Hield, Jordan Poole
SMALL FORWARD
Larry Nance, Jr. – Cleveland (vs. San Antonio) - DK: $5,200 / FD: $5,300 / Yahoo: $20 (PF)
Nance is back, but his salary isn’t. In a game that might go somewhat overlooked tonight, Nance is coming off back-to-back strong efforts, including a double-double Wednesday night against Boston. In these two games, Nance played 37-38 MPG and put up stats in every category. There’s not a lot of temptation at the high-end forward market tonight, with Jayson Tatum being so expensive…I’d rather save big here and lock up 30-plus fantasy points with Nance so I can spend at PG and C.
Also Consider: Jerami Grant, Kevin Porter, Jr.
Bargain Options: Mikal Bridges
POWER FORWARD
Draymond Green – Golden State (at Memphis) - DK: $6,700 / FD: $6,600 / Yahoo: $29
With Steph Curry and Kelly Oubre, Jr. doubtful tonight, Green is the main man for Golden State. Nothing against Wiggins, but Green is the player I’m targeting here. He has put up two triple-doubles in his last three games, and is looking like the player we used to know and love but haven’t seen in some time. Notably, the down games in between these gems were against the formidable LA defenses. Memphis is an average matchup, and though the Grizzlies are big favorites, Green should have the ball in his hands a ton tonight. Look for another complete game from him at a very reasonable salary.
Also Consider: Robert Covington
Bargain options: Juan Toscano-Anderson, Isaiah Stewart
CENTER
Nikola Vucevic – Orlando (vs. Brooklyn) - DK: $9,900 / FD: $9,700 / Yahoo: $48
I can see paying up for two centers on DraftKings and Yahoo, where one slots in at Utility, but on FanDuel you’ll have to make a tough choice. It may come down to price, which is why I’m highlighting Vucevic here. He’s the dominant Magic player, leading the team in points and rebounds by a mile. So far in two games with the Nets this season, Vuc is averaging almost 60 fantasy points per game. If you can afford to pay up for Jokic, or need to come down to Towns or Valanciunas, it’s fine. They should all be worth the price tonight, but for me, Vucevic hits the sweet spot.
Also Consider: Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jonas Valanciunas
Bargain Options: Isaiah Stewart
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
Josh Jackson (SG/SF – DET) more than paid off his meager salary ($20 (Yahoo), $5300 (DK), $4800 (FD)) on Wednesday, and is in a good position to do so again. Houston is one of the best fantasy matchups, and Vegas has this as a close, albeit lower scoring game. Jackson’s utility in DFS may change when Hamidou Diallo makes his Pistons debut, but for now, Jackson is a sold value piece in lineups.
Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW) are candidates to see extra minutes and usage with several key Warriors’ starters doubtful tonight, as noted above. Mannion can be had for the bare minimum, while Poole is a bit more costly on all three sites. One or both should help you pay up for another star tonight, and the matchup with Memphis should be a fun one.
Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN) deserves a note here because he just crushed the Suns last night (for 70 fantasy points), and is substantially cheaper than Jokic or Vucevic on Yahoo. The savings are slightly less significant, but still there on DraftKings and FanDuel. This game has a sweet point total as noted above, and while Phoenix is the big 11-point home favorite, the Timberwolves pulled out the victory last night. That was thanks in large part to the efforts of Towns and Edwards. Look for more of the same tonight.
