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

It's weird to say, but Derrick Jones Jr. being off the floor has helped James Harden tremendously this year. He sees a 4% USG bump to 35% and sits at nearly 1.5 FP/min to boot. Denver's defense has struggled lately. Love Harden here. 

Morant has been an elite FP/min player, but he just hasn't played a lot of minutes. He's played 30+ minutes in 4/14 games and hasn't scored fewer than 44 DKP in any of those games. Can Brooklyn keep it close is the question.

This is a MASSIVE pace up spot for Brooklyn and Schroder's been good. Without Cam Thomas/Ziaire Williams this year, Schroder's posted a 26.7% USG and has averaged 1.1 FP/min.

There's the potential that Miles Bridges returns here, so the wing room might be improved and that could give Micic's assists a nice bump. Over the last six games, he's averaged 14 potential assists per game. This is an elite matchup as the Bulls are 1st in pace & 27th in DRtg.

This is an interesting one because before I even saw the ownership, Butler should be in play. He's playing teens minutes to begin with, but the upside for mid-20s is live in a game that has a 17-point spread. He's a 1.09 FP/min player as a baseline and in 26 minutes last game, he put up 29 DKP. I prefer the price on DK.

Miller's an interesting play tonight because we could be getting the return of Miles Bridges. He's also 9K on DK and that's expensive. It's a definitely leverage play because not many people will play him at this price despite the elite matchup.

Norman Powell's minutes are BACK. He played 35 last time out and now draws an average defense against Denver. Without Mann and Jones Jr., Powell has posted a 29.2% USG while averaging 1.27 FP/min. This price is criminal if Powell's playing ceiling minutes again.

I don't think Jordan Miller starts in favor of Derrick Jones Jr. but I do think there's a reason why he's popular. The Clippers are missing multiple wings (Mann/Jones Jr.) and Miller played 31 minutes, including being in the closing lineup last game. He has a 21.6% USG without those players.

Without Cam Thomas and Ziaire Williams this year, Cam Johnson's seen a 4% USG increase to 25.3% and has averaged 1.15 FP/min. If this game can stay competitive Johnson will have a big say as to why.

I don't love the idea of playing Amir Coffey, but I also don't necessarily hate it. In five consecutive games, Coffey's posted an 18% USG or better including three games of 20+. Coffey has a chance to be in the starting lineup here and approach 30 minutes.

I think this an intriguing spot for Randle and the Timberwolves. The Lakers are bad defensively (26th in DRtg) and the price on FD for Randle is great. He's a 1.1 FP/min & 26.6% USG player this year, which is very solid.

The price and matchup intrigues me, we just need a competitive game. He has a massive usage rate and is an elite FP/min player, Memphis just needs this game to stay competitive.

There's always appeal in my eyes with Naz Reid when he's under 5K. When his shot is falling, he's typically extended and has a massive ceiling. He's so good peripherally and has 30 minute upside when the shot falls.

It's all about IF you can get to Nikola Jokic. He's crazy expensive. He's also worth it, but crazy expensive nonetheless.

Without LeBron James this year, Anthony Davis has been incredible. 5.8% USG bump up to 37% while averaging 1.6 FP/min. If you can't get to Jokic, this is an elite pivot.

I mean look, at the end of the day, if Joel Embiid is going to play 30 minutes a night, he's simply too cheap, especially on DK. This is a BIG pace up spot and Indiana's 24th in DRtg this year. Embiid had a – wait for it – 47% USG last game. 

It's been a very disappointing season for Nic Claxton without a doubt, but maybe last game was a glimpse as to what's to come. He played a season-high 33 minutes and scored a season-high 21 points. He has a 4% USG bump without Thomas and Williams and he had his second-highest USG of the year last game. He's now posted a USG of 21% or better in four straight games.

FD ONLY - Ceiling play on FD. With how much he does defensively + a 30% USG and 1.5 FP/min, it's hard to ignore him in this spot.

FD ONLY - Paul's been amazing to begin with and the Spurs are going to be without Stephon Castle. We could see a ceiling Paul minutes game. CP3 is over 1 FP/min without Castle and Keldon Johnson this year.

FD ONLY - While the field looks at a cheaper Champaigne, I'll pivot to Sochan. This price, if playing 30+ minutes, is too cheap for the player. He's been great this year and with all the Spurs that are out off the floor, he gets a 4% USG bump and averages well over 1 FP/min.

FD ONLY - He's your cheap value center of the day. He's completely off the injury report and should be a mid-to-high 20s minutes guy. Nurk is one of the more popular centers of the day on FD.

ADDED - The price is much much too low for me. Much too low. He's over 1 FP/min this year and because of one bad game (that was a blowout) Gordon's price has dipped this low? The two games prior he played 33+ minutes and had 28+ DKP.