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 the Friday’s 10-game Main slate starting at 7:05 ET.
POINT GUARD
Trae Young – Atlanta (at Washington) - DK: $9,100 / FD: $10,500 / Yahoo: $40
Even on a big slate, this game stands out as the most fantasy-friendly. Both teams play at a fast pace and offer plenty of attractive DvP-based plays, including both point guards. Their salaries are identical (or nearly so) on Yahoo and DraftKings, but Young is a full $1000 less on FanDuel, making him the priority write-up. I honestly love them both tonight, and think Westbrook is working back to his 50-plus fantasy points per game form (and should be rostered at a much lower rate than Young), but Young is getting 50-60 fantasy points per game now, and for the last couple weeks. He’s younger, playing more minutes, and in the league’s best PG matchup vs. the fastest paced team. Lock in Young for any lineup tonight.
Also Consider: Russell Westbrook, Luka Doncic, Reggie Jackson, De’Aaron Fox, Malcolm Brogdon, Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday, Cole Anthony, TJ McConnell
SHOOTING GUARD
Fred VanVleet – Toronto (vs. Sacramento) - DK: $7,500 / FD: $8,300 / Yahoo: $34 (SF)
I was considering writing up Norman Powell here, but the salary savings are getting to be less and less, the team is healthy, and I can’t deny the higher floor and upside of VanVleet in this premier matchup. The Kings give up the most overall fantasy points per game, and are the top SG matchup to boot. VanVleet has been over 40 fantasy points in each of his last three games while exceeding 50 fantasy points the first time these two teams met. If you can afford to freely spend on Bradley Beal or James Harden, who both went for over 70 fantasy points in their last games, I have no argument. I find it hard to fit, though.
Also Consider: Jordan Clarkson (if Donovan Mitchell is out), James Harden, Bradley Beal, Devonte Graham, Terrence Mann (if Clippers starters are out), Anthony Edwards (if D’Angelo Russell is out), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (if Lonzo Ball is out)
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SMALL FORWARD
Michael Porter Jr. – Denver (at San Antonio) - DK: $6,600 / FD: $6,800 / Yahoo: $26
Porter not only gets a top SF matchup, but he appears to be fully back to where he was before COVID, playing an average of about 28 MPG in the last four. All four games were Denver wins, too, and Porter has played a role on both ends of the court. He scored 30 real points vs. Dallas on Monday, and followed up with a 17-point, 4-steal effort in Miami on Wednesday. His salary is in a sweet spot from which I could draw several quality players, including Tobias Harris, De’Andre Hunter, and Malik Beasley, to fill this position. The plethora of options in this range, not to mention the appeal of spending up on Kevin Durant, should keep individual rostership down on all of them.
Also Consider: Kevin Durant, Tobias Harris, Khris Middleton, Evan Fournier, Malik Beasley, De’Andre Hunter, Nicolas Batum (if Clippers are out)
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POWER FORWARD
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee (at New Orleans) - DK: $10,800 / FD: $11,300 / Yahoo: $52
If I’m not keen to spend on Durant, Harden, or Beal, who is getting the salary love? Gotta be Giannis for me tonight. This is one of the higher scoring games by Vegas total, a 228.5 over/under, and the Bucks are decent favorites on the road. New Orleans ranks just 24th in defensive efficiency, and turns the ball over at the fourth highest rate. Antetkounmpo is averaging about five more fantasy points per game on the road, perhaps because these have generally been more competitive games. I can’t see spending top dollar on two stars tonight, and though it’s by a very slim margin, Antetokounmpo is my favorite of them.
Also Consider: Zion Williamson, Marvin Bagley, Domantas Sabonis, Taurean Prince (if Larry Nance, Jr. is out), Davis Bertans/Rui Hachimura (cheap, risky tournament plays)
CENTER
Andre Drummond - Cleveland (at New York) - DK: $8,600 / FD: $9,400 / Yahoo: $40
Two things stand out about Drummond tonight: he’s the eighth-highest priced center on DraftKings tonight (around fourth on the other sites) and he’s absolutely dominated the Knicks this season. Yes, New York is known as good defensive team with a weakness to opposing centers, but Drummond is averaging nearly 70 fantasy points per game against them in two meetings so far. Using FanDuel scoring, that’s 64 and 75 fantasy points, both around 20 fantasy points more than his season average. He’s going to be worth the spend again tonight, and at a position with multiple good options on both ends of the salary spectrum, he’s solid enough for cash games with upside and low ownership for tournaments.
Also Consider: Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Nikola Vucevic, Myles Turner, Al Horford, Cody Zeller, Dwight Howard (if Joel Embiid is out)
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Reggie Jackson (PG – LAC) has stepped up big time in the wake of Kawhi Leonard’s, Paul George’s and Patrick Beverley’s absences this week. Jackson has filled the stat sheet in both of his games this week, averaging about 40 fantasy points per game as a starter. The Clippers are in Orlando tonight, facing a Magic team that is brutal for opposing front courts, but generous to guards. Jackson has seen his salary rise to different extents: $6700 on DraftKings is steep, but $5800 on FanDuel is excellent and $17 on Yahoo is doable.
Cody Zeller (C – CHA) missed the DraftKings’ price increase, as he is still just $4000 there. Zeller is also way too cheap on FanDuel and Yahoo, just $4600 and $11, respectively, on the heels of a solid, 35-fantasy point double-double. Tonight he’ll face Indiana again, not an easy matchup, but not impossible either as he showed in his best game since returning from injury against the Pacers Wednesday night. If you need a cheap utility guy, or want to load up on expensive guards or forwards, Zeller could be your key.
Dejounte Murray (PG – SAS) has had a double-double and a triple-double in his last two games. Not too flashy, but evidence of his consistent multi-category production and solid floor. The Nuggets are a favorable matchup for opposing PGs, and Murray is a guy that is perennially overlooked on these big slates. For the price ($6100 DK especially), he should be a strong play in any lineup tonight.
