This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday's slate is a little lighter than usual this week, but we'll still have some big names stepping on the court. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will look to bounce back following a loss on Christmas Day, while Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will also be ones to watch. The action is set to begin at 7:00 PM Eastern time with the Sixers and the Magic, and the Suns will visit the Warriors to finish out the night.
Here's a friendly reminder that FanDuel has gone back to their old format, counting all nine of your player's scores within your lineup. With each selection counting towards your score, it'll be important to make each choice count.
Slate Overview
Here are a few matchups to either target or avoid on Friday's slate, based on FanDuel Sportsbook's projected scoring total. It can be beneficial to add players to your lineup who are expected to play in favorable scoring environments, especially if you're having a difficult time choosing between two value plays.
Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic (Projected Total: 209.5)
The Magic sit near the bottom of the league when it comes to scoring, checking in at 103.5 points per contest. Orlando has been held to 104 points or fewer in each of its last four matchups, so it's unsurprising to see this game on the lower end of the scoring spectrum. The Sixers rank 17th in scoring with 110.1 points. And even though they've put up 120-plus points in each of their last three games, this isn't expected to be one of the higher-scoring fantasy environments of the evening.
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks (Projected Total: 237.5)
It's no surprise this matchup is on the higher end in terms of projected points, with the Bucks leading the league in scoring this season at 120.2 PPG. The Hawks are in the bottom half of the league when it comes to team scoring, but Milwaukee's high-powered offense should push the overall total into the 235-240 range.
Positional Breakdown
We have 12 teams in action Friday night, so lineup differentiation shouldn't be too difficult on this slate. I'll take you through each position, highlighting the depth of each position and a few value plays to keep an eye out for.
PG: Trae Young highlights the point guard position, and he's the only player at this position listed above $10K. Ben Simmons and Chris Paul are two other solid plays, though they'll be a little lighter on your wallet. George Hill and Kendrick Nunn could both be value plays Friday night, and they're available for under $5K.
SG: Jimmy Butler is the top player available at shooting guard, followed by D'Angelo Russell and Khris Middleton. We see plenty of value here, as guys like Dennis Schroder (28.69 FPPG) and Josh Richardson (26.65 FPPG) are up for grabs for under $7K. Jeremy Lamb is a value play to hone in on, valued at $4,800.
SF: Giannis (back) carries an injury designation into Friday, but he's being considered probable in an enticing matchup against the Hawks. We see quite the dropoff in the players to follow, as Tobias Harris ($7,100) and Jonathan Isaac ($6,200) are the next players on the list. Glenn Robinson III ($4,600) and De'Andre Hunter are a few names to watch when looking for value plays at small forward.
PF: Bam Adebayo represents the top player available at power forward, and he's coming off a stellar performance Monday against Utah with 58.6 FanDuel points. Domantas Sabonis and John Collins are also near the top of the board, though they're in the $8K range. Dario Saric and Nerlens Noel could be considered value plays Friday night, as each is averaging over 20 FD points and can be scooped up for less than $5K.
C: Joel Embiid sits atop the board at center, though he's available for just under $10K. Nikola Vucevic is the next healthy option, priced at $7,900. Myles Turner and Cody Zeller are two options to consider if you elect to go with a value play as your center.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Larry Nance Jr., CLE
Nance is questionable for Friday's matchup against the Celtics due to a left knee injury. He was held out of Monday's contest as a result of the issue, but could be back in action if he fares well in morning shootaround.
Marcus Smart, BOS
Smart hasn't taken the court since Dec. 6 due to an eye infection, but he could return against the Cavs. An update on his availability should emerge closer to tip.
P.J. Washington, CHR
Washington has missed time following surgery on his finger, but the team expects him back for Friday's clash. It's unclear if he'll immediately return to the starting lineup, assuming he's cleared.
Giannis is dealing with some back soreness, though he's expected to be ready to roll against the Hawks.
Alex Len, ATL
Len is doubtful for Friday's game against Milwaukee due to a sprained ankle. Bruno Fernando and Damian Jones could see more run at center if Len is officially ruled out.
Malcolm Brogdon, IND
Brogdon is being considered a game-time decision due to groin soreness. He'll likely be re-evaluated in morning shootaround before another update on his status is revealed. Aaron Holiday could be in line to draw a start if Brogdon can't go.
Kelly Oubre Jr., PHO
Oubre is probable because of a groin issue. He should be able to play through the injury, though it'll be worth keeping an eye on his status as tipoff nears.
Eric Paschall, GS
Paschall suffered a hip contusion on Christmas Day against the Rockets, and he's being considered a game-time call for Friday's clash.
Elite Players
We have plenty of elite talent on display Friday night, though only two players are priced above $10K: Giannis and Trae Young. This should allow for plenty of opportunities to incorporate star talent into your lineups without breaking the bank.
Moving down the list of elite talent, we see Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo in the $9K range, while Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Domantas Sabonis, D'Angelo Russell and John Collins are in the $8K category. It's also worth mentioning Khris Middleton and Nikola Vucevic, valued at $7,400 and $7,900 respectively. They're a pair of former All-Stars with affordable price tags for Friday's matchups.
Expected Chalk
When it comes to elite talent, the expected chalk for Friday night is relatively simple. Guys like Giannis, Young, Embiid and Adebayo will be heavily owned, along with Simmons, Butler and a few others.
With only two players in the $10K category, I also expect the mid-tier class to see heavy ownership within this slate. Khris Middleton, Devonte' Graham and Chris Paul can be considered a steal in the backcourt and are all priced under $8K. I expect others to take notice of the value here.
The injury report typically factors into the chalk picks, but it shouldn't play much of a role come Friday night. One situation to watch will be in Indiana: if Malcolm Brogdon (groin) is unable to go, Aaron Holiday could become a popular value play among the DFS community. Bruno Fernando may also come into play, assuming Alex Len (ankle) is officially ruled out prior to tipoff. Fernando could benefit from a minutes standpoint with Len likely sidelined.
Key Values
Donte DiVincenzo, MIL at ATL ($4,900):
DiVincenzo has seen an increase of opportunities with Eric Bledsoe (lower leg) out of commission, which is one of the big draws to the second-year player out of Villanova. He's averaging 26.3 minutes in each of his last six starts to go along with eight points, six rebounds, 4.2 assists and two steals. He's also posted 20-plus FD points in five of those matchups and will draw a mouth-watering matchup Friday night against Atlanta. DiVincenzo would be a smart pair with an elite play such as Butler or Russell at shooting guard.
Aron Baynes, PHO at GS ($4,100):
Baynes continues to see an increased workload with Deandre Ayton nursing an ankle injury, and he's set to draw another start Friday evening against a Golden State team allowing 38 FD points to opposing centers so far this season. Baynes has logged 25-plus minutes in each of his last three starts, and his contributions across the board have not gone unnoticed. He's averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists over that brief stretch and will see plenty of opportunities to do damage on the road.
