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The NBA will have another jam-packed Friday slate. With Two-thirds of the league taking the floor, fantasy basketball owners will have an NBA DFS player pool brimming with top-tier talent.
Among the 20 teams set to take the floor are Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, who will be in action against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans at 7:00 PM ET. Their encounter will be followed by Devin Booker and the Phoneix Suns against Julius Randle and the New York Knicks at 10 PM ET.
Would Embiid, Booker, or Randle be wise facets in your Friday NBA DFS lineup? With such a large variety of options in the NBA DFS player pool, it can be difficult to determine which players to start or sit.
Before finalizing any of the players for your NBA DFS lineup, read below to see the top FanDuel fantasy basketball picks available for each position in today’s player pool.
Top Studs and Values for Friday's NBA DFS FanDuel picks
Each player is determined by data-driven analysis with player stats, matchup history, and previous performance. With FanDuel prices and projections along with value ratings from Optimal DFS.
NBA DFS Point Guard:
Stud: Damian Lillard
FD– $9200 | Proj Pts FD – 41.7 | Value – 4.5x
Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers will host the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers, who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
In Lillard's first two games against the Lakers this season, he has averaged 33 points and six assists while putting up nearly 50 fantasy basketball points in both.
It would not be a surprise to many if Lillard were the highest-scoring fantasy player at the end of the night.
Value: Cole Anthony
FD– $5800 | Proj Pts FD – 32.7 | Value – 5.6x
Cole Anthony is an excellent NBA DFS value selection today who is currently projected to score 32.7 FanDuel fantasy basketball points. The rookie guard has been inconsistent this year, but he has a high ceiling. He has scored over 15 points in seven of his last ten games.
The Orlando Magic will be up against the Charlotte Hornets, who are on the second leg of their back-to-back.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard:
Stud: D'Angelo Russell
FD– $7800 | Proj Pts FD – 34.9 | Value – 4.5x
When selecting fantasy basketball players, it is always a good idea to analyze their usage rating. D'Angelo Russell is in the top-20 for players with the highest usage rate this season at 29.6%.
The one-time Allstar started in his last outing for the first time since returning from surgery. He went on to score 22 points and tallied up a career-high 14 assist.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be up against the Miami Heat, who are expected to be without Jimmy Bulter and Tyler Herro.
Value: Armoni Brooks
FD– $3800 | Proj Pts FD – 23.7| Value – 6.2x
Armoni Brook is a great NBA DFS value option in the point guard position with a listing price of $3800. He is likely to be the Houston Rockets starter tonight, as they currently have 13 players listed on the injury report. In the 22-year-old's last game, he played over 30 minutes and scored 20 points.
NBA DFS Small Forward:
Stud: Khris Middleton
FD– $8400 | Proj Pts FD – 36.5 | Value – 4.3x
With many of the typical popular NBA DFS selections at the Small Forward position out with injury, it leaves room for Khris Middleton to finally get some of the love he deserves. Middleton is averaging 37 FanDuel fantasy basketball points this season and has a usage rate of 25.17%.
Expect Middleton to have a big game tonight against the Houston Rockets, who are more focused on landing a good position in the draft lottery than winning basketball games.
Value: Kyle Kuzma
FD– $5500| Proj Pts FD – 32.4 | Value – 5.9x
If you are to pick up anybody from the Los Angeles Lakers tonight, it would be Kyle Kuzma. The 25-year-old has scored at least 24 points in two of his last three games.
Kuzma may be in for a big game tonight as he will be the go-to player on offense for the Lakers with LeBron James, Dennis Schroder, and Talen Horton-Tucker all listed out. Not to mention, Anthony Davis is questionable.
NBA DFS Power Forward:
Stud: Jayson Tatum
FD– $10100| Proj Pts FD – 45.4 | Value – 4.5x
Jayson Tatum has averaged 57.1 FanDuel fantasy basketball points in his last four games, and with Jaylen Brown listed out for the game, there are no signs that Tatum will be letting up anytime soon.
Tatum and the Boston Celtics will be matched up against the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are ranked in the bottom half of the league for their shooting defense, allowing teams to shot an effective field goal percentage of 54.4% via cleaningtheglass.com.
Value: James Johnson
FD– $3500| Proj Pts FD – 19.7| Value – 5.6x
James Johnson is a strong NBA DFS value selection with Brandon Ingram being listed out of the lineup for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Expect Johnson to earn his sixth start since joining the Pelican during this year's NBA trade deadline. In his previous games as a Pelicans starter this season he has averaged 30.2 FanDuel fantasy basketball points.
NBA DFS Center:
Stud: Joel Embiid
FD– $9600| Proj Pts FD – 49.0 | Value – 5.1x
If it weren't for a minor injury, Joel Embiid would have a strong case at the MVP award this season. He is averaging a career-high in multiple categories, including scoring 29.1 points on 51.1% shooting.
Expect Embiid to have a field day against the New Orleans Pelicans, who will be without their starting center, Steven Adams.
Value: Mohamed Bamba
FD– $6900| Proj Pts FD – 42.8 | Value – 6.2x
With Wendell Carter Jr. already being ruled out for tonight's game, Mo Bamba is a great NBA DFS value pick. In the last two games without Carter Jr., Bamba has averaged 20.5 points and 15 rebounds.
Other valuable fantasy basketball pickups at a low listing price:
Eric Bledsoe – SG
FD– $5000 | Proj Pts FD – 28.1| Value – 5.6x
Anthony Lamb – SF
FD– $3500| Proj Pts FD – 25.5 | Value – 7.3x
Dean Wade – PF
