NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Friday Playbook

The MVP favorite gets a tough matchup going into MSG, but we should get a competitive game here that could lead to big minutes. SGA dropped 33-4-7 on this Knicks team last week. 

Paul George is expected back, but Joel Embiid is out again. Maxey should have all the usage he can handle against a Pelicans team that ranks bottom-three in defensive efficiency. 

Ceiling games are difficult to predict for Haliburton these days, but at least we have seen two of them in the last four games. He gets a great matchup against a depleted Golden State roster in what should be an up-tempo game. 

Giddey did not play the 4th quarter last game, as the Bulls were getting beat handily by the Pacers. He had played at least 26 minutes in each of the previous five games with an average of 29.6 mpg. The FD price is particularly enticing, but Giddey is in play in all formats on both sites as the Bulls have the highest implied team total of the night against the Wizards. 

Schroder is one of the few regulars available for the Warriors tonight. He should have lead guard responsibilities in an up-tempo matchup with the Pacers. 

Oubre has played at least 35 minutes in five of his last six games. Paul George is expected to return tonight, but Joel Embiid remains out. Oubre has an attractive mid-range price tag for his role and expected production. 

Buddy stepped into the starting lineup and played 32 minutes last game, and the Warriors are even more shorthanded tonight. He is one of the most underpriced players on the entire slate given his expanded role tonight. 

White has been inconsistent for the Bulls this season, but he gets one of the best possible matchups against the Wizards tonight. 

Who knows what the Warriors rotation will look like tonight, but Moody should play a significant role after sitting out last night. He gets a great matchup against the Pacers bottom-10 defense. 

Noticing a theme yet? Warriors are going to be extremely popular tonight, and rightfully so. Getting the correct pieces from Golden State is going to be imperative to winning the slate. Waters has a good chance to draw the start tonight with a significant chunk of the regulars sitting. 

Santos was a slate-breaker last night after being out of the rotation basically the entire season. I would be careful about chasing that role, as Kerr loves to switch up his very deep rotations. That said, Santos should be involved again tonight and he has been a decent fantasy producer when he is given playing time. Note: Positional eligibility varies by site with SG only on DK and PF only on FD. 

Tatum might possibly fly under the radar this evening with the focus mainly on the shorthanded Warriors and Sixers, plus the high total in Wizards-Bulls. He is capable of going off in any matchup and Boston has the second-highest team total of the night. If the Kings can keep this one close, Tatum has a chance to deliver 60 FP. 

LaVine has scored at least 30 points in four straight games, with one of them coming against this Wizards team on New Year's Day. The Wizards are an ideal fantasy matchup, as they rank 4th in pace and 29th in DRtg. 

George is expected to return to the lineup after missing just one game. Embiid remains out, so PG should have a huge role in a great matchup against the Pelicans 28th-ranked defense. 

MPJ has been a consistent scoring threat for the Nuggets with or without Jokic, so I have GPP interest in MPJ whether the big man plays or not. The Nets will be shorthanded again and rank just 25th in DRtg this season. 

Giannis gets a brutal matchup against the Magic, who are expected to get Paolo Banchero back this evening. Most of the field is likely to shy away from Giannis for this reason, and we can likely get him at very attractive ownership. 

Siakam has not been very aggressive this season, as he is posting his lowest usage rate in 8 seasons. Despite that, he should be able to get whatever he wants against this depleted Warriors roster, and he has a tremendous ceiling if decides to be more aggressive tonight. 

Kuzma is in the best game environment of the night with two teams that rank top-4 in pace squaring off. Poole and Sarr are questionable again, so there is potential for Kuzma to take on a huge role tonight. he has posted a usage rate above 29% in the last three games while Poole has been out. 

Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond are out again, which clears the path for Yabusele to play 30+ minutes at the Center position again. He has thrived in this situation multiple times this season, and he gets a great matchup against the Pelicans. 

SloMo was oddly an insignificant member of the rotation last night for the shorthanded Warriors, playing just over 9 minutes in total. He should have a larger role tonight with GS being even more shorthanded, but you probably want to see him draw the start to feel good about the role. 

Another questionable tag for the big man after he has missed the last two games with an illness. He gets a cupcake matchup against the Nets if he is able to suit up. Unfortunately, we need to be mindful of our options if we don't get the news early. Denver is the last game of the night and the only game that begins after 8pm ET. If we do not get news prior to 8pm, you need to be prepared with a 2v2 or better in any lineup that contains Jokic. 

Sabonis had his best game in a while last time out against the Heat. The game went to OT and Sabonis ended up playing over 50 minutes. He gets a tough matchup against Boston tonight, but De'Aaron Fox is out again, giving Sabonis an opportunity to find another ceiling performance. 

KAT played through his questionable tag last game, and I am expecting the same tonight in an important date with the Western Conference-leading Thunder. OKC does a great job of locking down the perimeter, so KAT will be needed to handle a heavy workload on the inside. 

TJD has been on an excellent run for the Warriors, but he is questionable to play tonight. If he is able to suit up, he should have a massive role for the shorthanded Warriors. 

Vuc gets one of the best possible matchups against the Wizards, and his Bulls carry the highest team total of the night. The ceiling performances have dwindled of late, but the price tag has come down far enough where I am fine chasing one in a dream matchup. 

Looney saw 20 minutes last night as the Warriors were missing several key pieces. They are missing even more pieces tonight, and TJD is also questionable. Looney is squarely in play regardless of TJD's status, but he is maybe the top value option of the night if TJD sits.