This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Friday's seven-game DFS slate ensures there are more than enough options to differentiate oneself in tournaments and put together a top-to-bottom, rock-solid lineup in cash games. There are plenty of playoff-hungry, motivated teams in action, and the ledger is bookended by two postseason-relevant matchups in Nuggets-Thunder and Clippers-Trail Blazers. With a host of selections to consider, let's dive into some value hunting at each price tier:
GUARDS
Damian Lillard, POR vs. LAC ($17,700): Lillard will be back in the lineup Friday after missing Wednesday's game for the birth of his child, and he'll walk into a matchup that he's already thrived in this season. Lillard is averaging 25.3 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals across 35.0 minutes in three games versus the Clippers this season, and Los Angeles also come in allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (55.3) to point guards over the last 10, including 57.8 over the last five. Lillard went for 70.75 fantasy points against Pelicans in his most recent game and had eclipsed 40 in the prior two, solid-to-excellent returns on his current price. In what should be a wire-to-wire battle between two playoff hopefuls, he could be in for one of his higher-usage games of the season.
Jrue Holiday, NO at CLE ($15,100): Holiday has had a couple of clunkers recently, but he broke out for a 21-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple double against the Blazers on Tuesday that led to 55.25 fantasy points. He's eclipsed 40 or 50 fantasy points with relative regularity since DeMarcus Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury, and he'll be set up with a tantalizing matchup Friday. The Cavs have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (56.7) to two-guards over the last 10, along with 4.1 made threes and a 46.0 percent success rate from the field to the position. In a game that is important to both teams, Holiday should play a major role for all four quarters.
MarShon Brooks, MEM at UTA ($6,000): There are other viable affordable tournament-only options such as Ian Clark ($7,000) and Jason Terry ($7,300) if you've got the extra cash, but Brooks is worth a look if you really want to set yourself apart in tournaments and gain maximum flexibility to spend up elsewhere. The 2011 first-round pick made a triumphant return to NBA action Wednesday after signing a 10-day contract, compiling 31.25 fantasy points against the Blazers on the strength of a career-best five three-pointers. Brooks has resurrected his career in Italy and China over the last three-plus seasons and should see some solid run the rest of the season with a Grizzlies squad that's just playing out the string. With Tyreke Evans (personal) already ruled out again Friday, Brooks could enjoy an allotment of minutes similar to the 19 he saw in his debut, and he won't need to do a whole lot to pay off his bare minimum price.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Anthony Davis, NO at CLE ($20,700): Davis lit up the Cavs for 30 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal across 36 minutes in his one prior meeting with them this season, and Cleveland comes in allowing the sixth-most fantasy points (53.5) to power forwards over the last 10, along with the second-most rebounds (15.0). The Cavs are also yielding the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to the position on the season (27.4) and seventh-most points in the paint (47.0), two other factors that bode well for The Brow in what is another game critical to the Pelicans' playoff hopes. It's also worth noting he's made 50 fantasy points the norm at a minimum lately, as he's eclipsed the mark in five of the last six games.
Clint Capela, HOU vs. PHO ($12,700): Capela has scored 32.00 to 58.50 fantasy points in six of his last seven games, hitting the double-double bonus in five of them. That range represents very strong-to-excellent returns on his current price, and a matchup against a Suns squad he's already averaging 13.0 points (on 59.3 percent shooting), 12.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal across 27.0 minutes against in three prior meetings this season could lead to more of the same. Phoenix has allowed the third-most fantasy points (51.5) to centers over the last five, along with the second-most rebounds (15.6) and most assists (4.8) to the position during that stretch.
Jeff Green, CLE vs. NO ($9,100): Green could be in for a similar allotment of minutes Friday as that of his last two games, when he's logged 31 apiece. The veteran has a 50-50 chance to draw another start at power forward with Kevin Love questionable with a concussion, giving him an opportunity to exploit a Pelicans squad that's allowed the seventh-most fantasy points (56.7) to power forwards over the last five, along with the seventh-highest offensive efficiency rating (26.6) on the season. Green has shown some strong upside relative to price recently, as well, scoring 21.50 to 33.50 fantasy points in six of his last eight.
UTILITY
Khris Middleton, MIL at LAL ($14,800): Middleton has scored over 30 fantasy points in 11 straight, a span that includes five contests with at least 40. That type of consistent production makes him an excellent cash or tournament play Friday, particularly against a Lakers team generating the second-most possessions per game (104.7). Los Angeles has also been a sieve against the small forward position all season, allowing the most fantasy points on the campaign (40.4), including 52.1 over the last 10 contests.
Brook Lopez, LAL vs. MIL ($12,500): Jusuf Nurkic ($12,100) is another appealing option near this price level if you need to save a few hundred, but Lopez deserves consideration in his own right, considering the extended stretch of strong play he finds himself in the midst of. The veteran big has scored over 40 fantasy points in two straight and on four other occasions since March 9. He's otherwise been eclipsing 20 or 30 fantasy points with relative regularity during March, which has been his best month of the season by far. The Bucks could be facilitators for a similar caliber of production Friday, considering they're allowing 45.4 fantasy points to centers over the last five, a sharp uptick from their 33.8 season figure. Moreover, they're allowing the third-most points in the paint (50.7) over the last three, while Lopez logs nearly half his scoring (46.8 percent) in that area of the floor.
