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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 ten-game slate starting at 7:00 ET. Note that Yahoo is running a nine-game slate at 7:30 ET (excludes MIN-ORL).
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POINT GUARD
Devonte’ Graham – New Orleans (vs. Charlotte) - DK: $4,300 / FD: $4,300 / Yahoo: $11
The Pelicans will be without CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram tonight, which means Graham should have all the minutes and enhanced usage that he can handle. This is also a bump for Jonas Valanciunas, who is coming off a fantastic game amid a stretch of highs and lows. Graham is generally a low-end, 20-ish fantasy point player, but when given the opportunity to play more than 30 MPG, he’s come through with some nice, 30-40 fantasy point lines. Tonight he gets the Hornets, a team that gives up the fifth-most overall fantasy points while playing at the third-highest pace.
Also Consider: Luka Doncic, Dejounte Murray, Darius Garland, Trae Young, Ja Morant
SHOOTING GUARD
Devin Booker – Phoenix (vs. Toronto) - DK: $8,900 / FD: $10,300 / Yahoo: $43
Booker was right back at it after a brief stint on the COVID list, going off for 23 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists with two blocks and two steals in Miami. He should have an easier time against the Raptors tonight. While Toronto isn’t known for great DvP, they do rank 23rd in defensive rating. This should be a high-scoring and competitive game, conditions that elevate Booker above the alternatives at this position tonight.
Also Consider: Terry Rozier, Donovan Mitchell, Marcus Smart, Jalen Brunson, Gary Trent, Terance Mann, Desmond Bane
SMALL FORWARD
Lauri Markkanen – Cleveland (at Miami) - DK: $5,900 / FD: $6,600 / Yahoo: $17
At first glance, this game is fairly unappealing – a point total of only 209.5 points, and the Heat are pretty big home favorites. That would change if Jimmy Butler is ruled out, but the Cavs have been scoring plenty of points lately, and can certainly hold their own on defense. Garland and Markannen, in addition to rookie sensation Evan Mobley, have been outstanding lately. Markkanen is still reasonably priced, especially on Yahoo, after scoring over 20 points in each of his last two games. He’s playing well over 30 MPG most nights, and seems to be taking advantage of the usage vacated by Allen’s injury. He’s a solid option at a fair salary for your cash game lineups tonight.
Also Consider: LeBron James, Franz Wagner, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Mikal Bridges, Anthony Edwards (if starting), Nickeil-Alexander Walker
POWER FORWARD
Kristaps Porzingis – Washington (at LA Lakers) - DK: $7,300 / FD: $6,000 / Yahoo: $30 (C)
Porzingis will likely play in his third game with the Wizards tonight, and rest Saturday on the back-to-back. I’m really interested in his FD salary tonight as I see him getting better and better the more he plays with his new team. He will eventually be getting back to the 40-50 fantasy point range, and a potentially high-scoring and close game in LA tonight could be the boost he needs to get there. The Lakers rank seventh overall in fantasy points allowed and play at the fifth-highest pace. Whether you use him at PF or C, you can fit him pretty easily in lineups for any style contest tonight.
Also Consider: Evan Mobley, Robert Williams, PJ Washington, Kyle Kuzma, Maxi Kleber, Keldon Johnson, John Collins, Al Horford
CENTER
Julius Randle – New York (at Memphis) - DK: $9,800 / FD: $8,600 / Yahoo: $37 (PF)
The Knicks are big road underdogs in this one, but it could still be a productive outing for Randle. In fact, I’m not counting the Knicks out. They are riding a three-game win streak, each one a fairly big blowout victory (average margin over 20 points). Randle has had his share (or more) of ups and downs this season, but has been crushing it lately, scoring at least 24 PPG in four of his last five and providing well-rounded stat lines overall. Ja Morant and Memphis should push the pace in this game, and Randle should be able to take advantage of above average frontcourt DvP.
Also Consider: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jonas Valanciunas, Rudy Gobert, Deandre Ayton, Alperen Sengun (if Wood is out again)
Additional Notes
Maxi Kleber (F/C – DAL) and the Mavs are coming off a terrible game and Kleber’s salary is particularly depressed. There are some questionable guys from Dallas (DFS and Brunson), but Kleber should be set to play his typical 26-27 minutes, and against the Rockets, he should easily get into the mid-20’s fantasy points or better.
Dejounte Murray (PG – SAS) is a guard worth paying up for tonight, but I do find him hard to fit. He’s been so consistently great this season and this month, that even in a matchup with the Jazz, I’m not scared off. Nearly a triple-double every time he hits the court, Murray is matchup proof. Plus, Vegas has a 230.5 over/under on this game, with the Jazz modest road favorites. Murray has produced against Utah in the past, and should do it again if you can fit him in.
Al Horford (F/C – BOS) has appeared here recently, and I don’t want to over-hype him, but he is producing on a very steady and solid clip lately. Tonight he’ll get the Pistons, who rank 30th in rebounding and 25th in defensive rating. You might not feel great paying up for Tatum or Brown in what could easily be a blowout, but Horford is very reasonable ($6100 DK, $23 Yahoo, $6600 FD).
