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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 slate starting at 7:00 ET. Note that Yahoo is running an eight-game main slate starting at 7:30 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Davion Mitchell – Sacramento (at Houston) - DK: $8,000 / FD: $7,300 / Yahoo: $25
Targeting this game worked on Wednesday, and is looking good again tonight. Vegas has the point total at 232.5 points, with the Kings 3-point favorites. Mitchell has certainly seen his salary soar from where it started when Fox was initially out, but he has justified it with regular 40-plus fantasy point performances. In fact, he’s been one of the most consistently good guards regardless of matchup (Phoenix, Miami) over the last two weeks, with an average of 24 points per game, 8-9 assists per game, 3-4 rebounds per game and a steal per game. This is going to be a fast-paced and loose-defensively game, with Houston giving up the most fantasy points to opponents, ranking 29th in rebounding and turning the ball over at the league’s highest rate. Mitchell should be worth every dollar tonight.
Also Consider: Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, Kevin Porter Jr., Kris Dunn, Theo Maledon, Dejounte Murray
SHOOTING GUARD
Jalen Green – Houston (vs. Sacramento) - DK: $6,800 / FD: $6,500 / Yahoo: $23
Many of the things that make Houston such a great DFS matchup apply to Sacramento as well. The Kings play at the eighth-highest pace, rank fourth in overall fantasy points allowed to opponents (first to shooting guards), and 26th in rebounding rate. Green, in the wake of several injuries, has had a streak of 40-plus fantasy point performances this week, a trend that should continue tonight. He’s playing 35-40 MPG, and averaging almost 30 points per game over the last three games.
Also Consider: Jaylen Brown, CJ McCollum, Will Barton, Greyson Allen, Cade Cunningham, Brandon Ingram, De’Anthony Melton, Tyrese Haliburton, Devin Booker, Donte DiVincenzo
SMALL FORWARD
Josh Richardson – San Antonio (vs. Portland) - DK: $4,600 / FD: $5,200 / Yahoo: $12
I honestly wouldn’t have thought the day would come when I recommended Richardson in 2022 and it is April Fool’s Day, but here we are. Richardson caught my eye initially simply because of the matchup with Portland, the league’s best spot for SF. This is an important game for the playoff picture, and San Antonio was able to win in dramatic fashion last week in the same matchup. Richardson is in the midst of a pretty prolific stretch since mid-March, playing 24-32 MPG and averaging about a fantasy point per minute. For his price, that’s pretty great. He’s hitting threes reliably and has been active in transition, averaging over a steal per game recently (with five in the loss to Memphis Wednesday night). There are plenty of cheap options at forward tonight and I suggest taking advantage of them (and spending elsewhere), starting with Richardson.
Also Consider: Dillon Brooks, Mikal Bridges, Anthony Edwards, Pat Connaughton, Aaron Wiggins, Justin Anderson, OG Anunoby
POWER FORWARD
Kelly Olynyk – Detroit (at Oklahoma City) - DK: $3,700 / FD: $4,100 / Yahoo: $11
Marvin Bagley left Thursday night’s game and is doubtful to play tonight, opening up additional opportunity for both Olynyk and Isaiah Stewart. Olynyk has three games with over 25 fantasy points in the last nine days and should see 20-plus minutes tonight for the short-handed Pistons. The matchup couldn’t be better, as OKC ranks as the third best matchup for PF and C, and 25th in rebounding rate. I love Stewart tonight too, but Olynyk is cheaper and F eligible, which gives him a slight boost.
Also Consider: Scottie Barnes, Kyle Anderson, Keldon Johnson
CENTER
Nikola Jokic – Denver (vs. Minnesota) - DK: $12,500 / FD: $11,600 / Yahoo: $56
With all the saving, it must be for something big, right? Jokic and the Nuggets are small favorites over Minnesota in a game with an over/under of 239.5 points. Minnesota plays at the league’s highest pace, and though they are ranked higher than Denver defensively, both teams are close to league average. True to his average, Jokic has cleared 60 fantasy points per game in three previous meetings with the Timberwolves. I’m a fan of spending here for his individual skills and the game factors, but also because this is such a critical game for both sides as they are on the bubble for that sixth playoff slot in the West. This should play like a playoff game with plenty of fantasy goodness on both sides.
Also Consider: Karl-Anthony Towns, Damian Jones, Drew Eubanks, Anthony Davis, Pascal Siakam, Bruno Fernando (if Sengun is out again), Isaiah Stewart
Additional Notes
Kevin Porter Jr. (G – HOU) is on another level right now, and whether he can go for 60-plus for the third time in as many games is anyone’s guess, but in the same terrific matchup, he’s not too expensive to gamble on.
De’Anthony Melton (F – MEM) Memphis has pretty much everyone listed as questionable tonight, except Melton, Dillon Brooks, and Brandon Clarke. Melton and Brooks have been super solid anyway, and if all of Jones, Bane, Adams, and Jackson sit tonight, these three have the chance to exceed value by a mile. Clarke is the best value, but Brooks and Melton are probably safer. Clarke has come through before when Adams is out, but the matchup with Phoenix is pretty tough. Make sure your cheaper Grizzlies of choice are actually starting before locking them in.
Theo Maledon (G – OKC) is being given a significant opportunity for the Thunder, and in well over 30 MPG, he has been delivering. His salary has been a bit slower to rise than some of the other young guards getting their chances to wind down the season, but his 35-45 fantasy points per game over the last four games are nothing to ignore. If he fits as your last G or second PG, it’s a great spot for him to reach value again in a very favorable matchup with the Pistons.
