This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has nine games on tap Friday night, not quite a packed slate but almost two-thirds of the league will be on display. Looking ahead, there is some good low-price quality available in the backcourt with the frontcourt value more relative to price.
GUARD
Donald Sloan, BKN vs UTA ($11) - The Nets' starting point guard, Sloan has consistently averaged about 30 fantasy points in the last four games. That is great production for essentially a league minimum price.
Rodney Hood, UTA at BKN ($6000) - Hood is coming off of a huge game against the Knicks in which he scored 29 points with six boards, five assists and five treys. He has a great matchup against a Nets team that is 20th in the NBA in limiting production to shooting guards.
Gaurds to Avoid:
Kyle Lowry, TOR vs MIA ($46) - Lowry is almost guaranteed to have a better game than Donald Sloan, the recommended point guard in this space. But Lowry also faces the NBA's No. 1 defense against point guards, and his price is right near the top of the league. All told, he isn't the best bet to produce at a $46 level Friday.
Jimmy Butler, CHI at BOS ($45) - Butler has the proven ability to pop for 53 points and 10 boards, the way that he did against the 76ers last week. However, in the three games since he "only" has 43 points and 13 rebounds total. Butler faces a Celtics defense that is fourth in the NBA agaisnt shooting guards, and with his near-max price he doesn't have the best odds to perform to his valuation.
FORWARD
Jae Crowder, BOS vs CHI ($30) - Crowder barely beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo for this space, but he is at least productive (floor of 22.4 fantasy points in his last 21 games) and at best dominant (three games more than 40 fantasy points in his last 10 outings) on a nightly basis. And Crowder has a great matchup Friday against a Bulls team that is 27th in the NBA against small forwards.
Power Forward
Frank Kaminsky, CHA at ORL ($13) - Kaminsky is getting a bigger opportunity due to Cody Zeller's injury, and he's taken advantage of his larger role. Kaminsky is coming off of a 31.2 fantasy points effort against the Thunder and has scored at least 21 fantasy points in each of his last six games.
Forwards to Avoid:
Kevin Durant, OKC at DAL ($52) - Durant is arguably the best player going Friday night. But he's also one of the highest priced players on the docket, and he faces a defense that is second in the NBA against small forwards.
Julius Randle, LAL vs SAS ($21) - Randle may get another opportunity to start Friday with Larry Nance Jr. likely out, but he will have to go against a Spurs defense that is first in the NBA against power forwards. Plus, Tim Duncan sat Thursday, which means he has a solid chance to play and anchor the defense Friday.
CENTER
Rudy Gobert, UTA at BKN ($27) - Gobert is starting to play more like himself lately, seemingly recovering from his knee injury. He had two games earlier this week in which he combined for 32 points and 32 rebounds plus seven blocked shots. He has at least two blocks in seven consecutive games, and Friday he faces a Nets team that 27th in the NBA against centers.
Center to Avoid:
Brook Lopez, BKN vs UTA ($35) - Lopez is the second-highest priced center Friday but has to go against Rudy Gobert and a Jazz defense that is third in the NBA against centers.
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