If there was ever a day to go stars-and-scrubs, especially in a GPP, it is Friday. When I make those types of lineups I typically like to start with the punt plays first, which in this slate means filling the power forward and center positions before going else. I like the stars at shooting guard the best, but I would be fine paying up at any position outside of small forward, where the mid-priced players are best.
Point Guard
Patrick Beverley has been pretty consistent over the last month in bouncing back from down statistical nights. Beverley had nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists against the Bulls in February, and he feels safe for such a cheap point guard.
Jeremy Lin has at least 16 points in three consecutive games, and his minutes have increased over each of those games as well. Like Beverley, Lin should be safe, and he probably has a double-double in his near-future as well.
I would rather pay up elsewhere, but Stephen Curry could be a worthwhile investment, especially in GPP lineups. Curry’s struggles from three-point range cannot last much longer, and while he may be a bit riskier than someone like John Wall, the chance of a huge game feels pretty high.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Patrick Beverley | HOU | A | CHI | 51 | 30.6 | 83% | 1.7 | 9.5 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 43% | 13.92% | 25.7 | 27.6 | 26.5 | $5,500 | $5,100 | $19 |
| Jeremy Lin | BKN | A | DAL | 19 | 22.9 | 75% | 1.6 | 13.6 | 2.9 | 5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 47% | 26.27% | 25.2 | 27.4 | 26 | $5,400 | $5,000 | $15 |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | A | MIN | 63 | 33.6 | 91% | 3.9 | 24.9 | 4.5 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 3 | 46% | 29.51% | 40.6 | 44.3 | 42.6 | $10,200 | $9,900 | $53 |
Shooting Guard
Lou Williams has failed to top 12 points in each of his last four games after scoring at least 17 in his first three with the Rockets. Eric Gordon is the safer play for cash games, but I love Lou Williams for GPPs.
James Harden has continued to put up ridiculous numbers even though he has failed to record more than seven rebounds in a game since the All-Star break. Harden was one assist shy of a triple-double against the Bulls last month, and you cannot get that kind of upside anywhere else on Friday’s slate. With so many viable punt plays in the frontcourt, affording Harden is relatively easy.
The last time DeMar DeRozan failed to reach 20 points in back-to-back games, he had 43 points, five rebounds and five assists against the Celtics. DeRozan’s price has never been this low since that game, and it is unlikely to be this low after.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| James Harden | HOU | A | CHI | 65 | 36.5 | 85% | 3.2 | 29.1 | 7.9 | 11.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 5.8 | 44% | 34.14% | 53.4 | 58.3 | 55 | $11,800 | $11,600 | $62 |
| DeMar DeRozan | TOR | A | ATL | 57 | 35.6 | 85% | 0.4 | 27.4 | 5.4 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 47% | 34.16% | 39.5 | 41.2 | 39.7 | $9,700 | $8,500 | $47 |
| Lou Williams | HOU | A | CHI | 58 | 24.2 | 88% | 2.1 | 18.6 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 44% | 30.53% | 26.6 | 28.8 | 27.7 | $5,600 | $5,000 | $23 |
| Eric Gordon | HOU | A | CHI | 59 | 30.7 | 83% | 3.5 | 16.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 41% | 23% | 24.6 | 27.3 | 26.4 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $16 |
Small Forward
Bojan Bogdanovic is the ultimate GPP play. He has scored at least 27 points in three of his last five games, but failed to top 10 in the other two. If Bogdanovic goes off against the lowly Kings he will give you a big advantage, but there is plenty of risk here.
Harrison Barnes is as steady as they come, and I will gladly pay for him in a cash game and move on to more fertile positions. Barnes has scored at least 14 points in nine consecutive games, and is significantly cheaper than the other safe options at the position.
If you insist on paying more for a small forward, Wilson Chandler combines the safety of Harrison Barnes with the upside of Bojan Bogdanovic. Chandler has been great the last two games with Nikola Jokic out, and I would like him even better if Jokic and/or Danilo Gallinari remain out.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Bojan Bogdanovic | WAS | A | SAC | 55 | 26.9 | 87% | 1.8 | 14.2 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 44% | 22.96% | 20.3 | 22.2 | 21.2 | $4,300 | $5,000 | $13 |
| Harrison Barnes | DAL | H | BKN | 63 | 35.8 | 85% | 1 | 20 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 47% | 26.19% | 29.3 | 30.7 | 29.8 | $6,000 | $6,400 | $26 |
| Wilson Chandler | DEN | H | BOS | 58 | 31.1 | 74% | 1.6 | 16.1 | 6.6 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 46% | 22.65% | 27.9 | 29.9 | 28.7 | $7,000 | $7,100 | $25 |
Power Forward
Dirk Nowitzki has double-doubles in each of his last two games, and three of his last four. The Nets have allowed the most points and the second-most rebounds this season, and Dirk should take advantage Friday.
Brook Lopez is out Friday, and that should mean more playing time for Quincy Acy, among others. Acy is a worthwhile punt play, especially if he winds up in the starting lineup.
Much like with James Harden, I feel Draymond Green is due for a triple-double. Green has scored at least 12 points in six consecutive games, so he should be pretty safe while providing an extremely high ceiling.
Juan Hernangomez had seven points and nine rebounds with Danilo Gallinari out Wednesday. I think we should expect similar production if Gallinari is out again Friday.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Quincy Acy | BKN | A | DAL | 6 | 8 | 67% | 0.2 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 29% | 18.10% | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.5 | $3,600 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Juan Hernangomez | DEN | H | BOS | 47 | 12.6 | 70% | 0.6 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 47% | 13.73% | 9.5 | 10.2 | 9.9 | $3,600 | $3,900 | $10 |
| Dirk Nowitzki | DAL | H | BKN | 37 | 26.4 | 89% | 1.5 | 13.9 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1 | 43% | 25.71% | 26.1 | 27.7 | 26.9 | $6,200 | $6,100 | $20 |
| Draymond Green | GSW | A | MIN | 61 | 32.9 | 69% | 1.1 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 43% | 15.82% | 35.5 | 37.7 | 36.1 | $8,100 | $8,000 | $36 |
Center
Nerlens Noel has scored in double-digits in each of his last three games, with double-doubles in two of those. Noel is a bit expensive on FanDuel and Yahoo but I love his price on DraftKings, as well as the matchup.
Mason Plumlee is averaging 14.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists with Nikola Jokic out. Plumlee’s price has gone up significantly, but he is still a reasonable value if Jokic sits again.
Bismack Biyombo is pretty risky, as he proved with a poor performance against the Bulls Wednesday, but he has more upside than somebody like Cody Zeller. While Zeller is a solid cash play, Biyombo might be better suited for GPP lineups, especially on FanDuel where Biyombo is cheaper.
Joffrey Lauvergne had seven points, eight rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes against the Magic Wednesday. At the very least, Lauvergne has earned a spot in the Bulls’ rotation, and he probably has more upside than Justin Hamilton.
Kosta Koufos has double-doubles in four of his last five games, including each of his last three. He was pretty terrible in what should have been a sweet matchup against the Nets, but even so, he seems underpriced compared to guys like Noel and Biyombo.
I will probably look to pay up at other positions, but it is worth noting Karl-Anthony Towns has had at least 21 points and 14 rebounds in seven consecutive games. He should be exceptionally safe so long as the game is not postponed.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Bismack Biyombo | ORL | A | CHA | 64 | 23.6 | 50% | 0 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 52% | 13.23% | 18.2 | 19.2 | 18.2 | $4,900 | $5,500 | $13 |
| Nerlens Noel | DAL | H | BKN | 29 | 19.4 | 68% | 0 | 8.9 | 5 | 1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1 | 61% | 19.44% | 20.1 | 20.8 | 20.1 | $6,200 | $5,700 | $18 |
| Joffrey Lauvergne | CHI | H | HOU | 50 | 14.8 | 64% | 0.5 | 5.7 | 3.7 | 1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 46% | 18.21% | 11.8 | 12.7 | 12.1 | $3,600 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Mason Plumlee | DEN | H | BOS | 54 | 28.1 | 57% | 0 | 11.1 | 8 | 4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 53% | 17.58% | 29.2 | 30.4 | 29.2 | $5,600 | $5,900 | $19 |
| Kosta Koufos | SAC | H | WAS | 64 | 19.8 | 58% | 0 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 57% | 14.87% | 15.6 | 16.3 | 15.6 | $4,400 | $3,900 | $10 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN | H | GSW | 63 | 36.7 | 82% | 1.1 | 24.1 | 12.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 53% | 27.41% | 44.5 | 47 | 45.1 | $10,600 | $10,600 | $49 |