This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has nine games on tap for Friday night, several of which shape up to be fantasy friendly. The Hornets against the 76ers, the Magic at the Trail Blazers and the Cavaliers against the Kings shape up as three of the more interesting matchups. We're at the time of the season when injuries really manipulate player value on a given day, and player absences can be announced at the very last minute, so be sure to tune in for the latest lineups just before tip-off.
GUARDS
Marcus Smart, BOS at ATL ($20): Smart has been starting in place of the injured Avery Bradley for the past three games, and he has averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 assists, 4.3 boards, 2.0 steals, 2.0 treys and 0.7 blocks per game to outperform his price. On Friday, he faces a Hawks defense that ranks 17th against shooting guards.
C.J. McCollum, POR vs. ORL ($39): McCollum has been playing some of the best basketball of his career this month. He stepped up his game while Damian Lillard was out injured, but he has continued to produce even with Lillard back for the past four games. Over those games, McCollum has averaged 28.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.0 boards, 3.3 treys, 1.3 steals and even 1.3 blocks per game.
Guard to Avoid
Reggie Jackson, DET at UTA ($26): Jackson has been playing well over the last couple of weeks, but on Friday he is on the second half of a back-to-back against a very tough defense that allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to point guards.
FORWARDS
Aaron Gordon, ORL at POR ($19): Gordon averaged 18.3 points, 7.3 boards, 5.0 assists and 2.3 treys in 31 minutes per game in three appearances before having a poor game last Sunday against the Lakers. He then bounced back with an outstanding game of 28 points, three boards, three assists and four treys against the Clippers on Wednesday. Next up is a matchup against a Trail Blazers defense that allows the seventh-most fantasy points per game to small forwards.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs ORL ($15): Aminu has returned of late to the form that made him a strong performer last season. In his last five games he is averaging 10.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 treys and 0.8 steals per game with strong contributions in every category. On Friday, he faces a Magic defense that ranks 15th against power forwards.
Forward to Avoid
Trevor Ariza, HOU vs MEM ($24): Ariza has been unspectacular of late, and he is coming off a game in which he scored decently (16 points) but did very little in any other category (three rebounds, combined zero assists, steals and blocks). On Friday, he faces a Grizzlies defense that allows the third-fewest fantasy points per game to small forwards.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs OKC ($43): Towns has stepped up his usual strong play into the elite over his last couple of outings, averaging 28.5 points, 14.5 boards, 4.5 assists, 3.0 blocks, 1.0 steals and 1.0 treys per game over the last two to demonstrate that he is as locked in as any center in the NBA right now.
Jonas Valanciunas , TOR vs BKN ($18): Valanciunas is a solid producer with explosive upside on any given night, as evidenced by his 46.6 fantasy points in his last game against the Celtics. Over his past four appearances, he is averaging 14.5 points, 12.0 boards and 1.3 blocked shots per game, and on Friday he's facing a Nets defense that allows the most fantasy points per game to centers.
Center to Avoid
Andre Drummond, DET at UTA ($31): Drummond was playing outstanding ball coming into this week, including a big game in the first matchup of the current road trip. However, in his last two games he has been merely solid with averages of 10.5 points and 11.0 boards per game, and he is also on the second game of a back-to-back against a Jazz defense that allows the third-fewest fantasy points per game to centers.
