This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Friday's 10-game slate will likely be one of the wildest evenings yet in NBA DFS play, as the combination of injuries, playoff scenarios and tanking teams are all at a zenith in the final week. While it's obvious that targeting teams like the Pelicans, Cavs, Wizards, Bucks and Sixers is wise due to the massive seeding implications for the playoffs, there's a lot of value to be had on teams that have essentially played their last important game. They do carry a modicum of risk, however. The best way to tackle Friday's menagerie is to pepper in likely value spots and load up on players that will offer a competitive floor. Let's look at our priciest options first.
Anthony Davis ($12,000) has hit the 12K mark and it's hard to debate his value against the Suns in a game that the Pelicans must win to solidify a playoff berth, and Vegas seems to like the matchup with an O/U of 220. The blowout potential is huge, though, and Davis will be the first guy to sit if things get out of hand.
After a 64.8 DKFP performance on Thursday against the Wizards, how much gas LeBron James ($11,500) will have in the tank in this back-to-back is anyone's guess, but you won't see me betting against him. If you want to go this way, you're immediately heading to value town from there. The same holds true for Davis, but I think he's simply too much of a blowout risk, and not a spot I want to target.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,100) is the last 10K-plus player and he exemplifies the kind of solid floor that you want as a centerpiece. It's highly unlikely that he'll let you down against the Lakers, and he'll be my spend-up pick in a lot of lineups.
I typically run down some matchups that I like and don't like before I jump into the picks, but with this slate I think I need to underline the places you might miss with these tanking teams. Therefore, I will still highlight three players at each position, but two of them will be value budget plays that I like. I'll still give you one higher-price guy and maybe a couple more in a list that will accompany each category, but I don't want these values to pass you by.
I want to talk about the Wizards before we do that, however. They are currently sandwiched in between the Heat and the Bucks in seventh, and I think that's exactly where they want to be. They'd much rather face Boston than Cleveland, as they're 3-1 against them this season and the Celtics look a lot less formidable without Kyrie Irving. With Miami facing the Knicks on Friday in a likely win I think the Wizards will play hard to hold on to that one-game gap but if the Heat somehow drop this game, Washington could put on the brakes moving forward.
GUARDS
Goran Dragic, MIA at NY ($7,200): The Heat sat Dragic on Wednesday and he'll meet the Knicks on three days of rest, and he averages roughly eight more points per game when he's had that much of a break. The Knicks defense allows 6.2 assists per game versus opposing point guards and while they've been a bit stingy lately against backcourts, a rested Dragic should have little problem posting a decent line tonight.
Tyler Ulis, PHO vs. NO ($5,900): OK, he's certainly not cheap anymore, but he's a virtual lock with the Suns' current game script. With Booker, Payton and Daniels out the point guard duties will fall to Ulis once again. While we're talking about the Suns, you might as well give Danuel House ($3,900) some love too, as he'll be on tap to spell both Ulis and Josh Jackson.
MarShon Brooks, MEM vs. SAC ($5,200): He's no longer a secret as is evidenced by his $1,100 salary bump, but if you're ever going to play a Memphis guy with upside, it's against the Kings. His past three games have been absolutely nuts, and he's emerged as the go-to-guy with Tyreke Evans and Andrew Harrison both out.
Other guards to consider:Bradley Beal, WAS vs. ATL ($7,900); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($6,000); Darren Collison, IND at TOR ($5,500)
FORWARDS
Kyle Kuzma, LAL vs. MIN ($7,500): After a huge game against the T-Wolves in December, he underperformed twice against Minnesota during what we'll call his 'rookie wall' phase. Kuzma is largely past that now and has stepped up in Brandon Ingram's absence. This game should stay close all night which should keep Kuzma in the 35-minute range.
Robert Covington, PHI vs. CLE ($6,400): With Dario Saric out, Covington Is the obvious pivot here, as he's averaged 40 DKFP over the past four games. If you want to go a little cheaper, Ersan Ilyasova ($5,700) is a good candidate to put up 30 DKFP again, as he has in the past two games.
Justin Jackson, SAC at MEM ($4,000): Some may think his 40 DKFP performance on Tuesday was an aberration, but I beg to differ. When the Kings see a player excel they tend to give then more time and some of the rookie's best games have come against sub-.500 teams. With the Kings done for the season, why not let Jackson loose? I like his chances against the Grizzlies.
Other forwards to consider:Kevin Love, CLE at PHI ($7,500); Lauri Markkanen, CHI at BOS ($6,300); Kyle O'Quinn, NY vs. MIA ($5,700)
CENTERS
Dwight Howard, CHA at ORL ($9,200): Howard almost always excels when he's had three or more days of rest, and although his history versus Nikola Vucevic and the Magic has been merely so-so, the advantage goes to a well-rested Howard and an underrated Charlotte offensive attack that should be problematic for Orlando.
Ivan Rabb, MEM vs. SAC ($4,000):Marc Gasol is slated to rest on Friday so let's go back to the worst team in the league against the Kings, shall we? I don't expect miracles here, but the youngster is getting a serious look and has played well with limited minutes.
Johnathan Motley, DAL at DET ($3,900): One of the best values on the slate could very well end up as the worst-kept secret on Friday, but with Dirk Nowitzki and Dwight Powell both sitting, Motley will be the guy to absorb those minutes and I'll be playing him in spite of the potential for 30 percent-plus ownership. There's always a chance that Maxi Kleber ($4,000) could swoop in and come up big, but he should be limited to GPPs only.
One last note before we wrap things up today: Use your best judgment if you smell a blowout. There are more than a few potentially n play on Friday, and though outcomes can be unpredictable this time of year, give the benches of both teams a closer look. I didn't have room for the myriad of options available and I gave you my favorite plays, but if you're willing to do a little more homework, I think this one piece of advice could make a huge difference.
