This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Crunch time has officially arrived, and the NBA serves up a robust nine-game Friday evening slate that carries playoff implications and the possibility of a long-standing record being broken. FantasyDraft's unique roster construction offers the flexibility to work in many of the appealing options, so let's dive in:
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC at PHO ($25,200): Westbrook is such a no-brainer option and usually priced so high above the rest of the field that I typically try to provide an alternative, but there's no getting around him Friday. Not only is the matchup a premium one (the Suns have given up 56.5 fantasy points per game to point guards this season, including 66.9 over the last five, both ranking as second-most in the league), but Westbrook is also gunning to break Oscar Robertson's record for most triple-doubles in a season, a feat he just narrowly missed accomplishing Wednesday. Westbrook has also been excellent against Phoenix this season, averaging 41.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game in three starts.
Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. ATL ($14,200): Irving has averaged 36.0 points, 6.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in two outings this season against the Hawks, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game (54.2) to point guards, including the sixth-most (57.8) over the last 10 contests. They also rank in the bottom five or 10 in several other categories against the position, and Irving has scored over 40 fantasy points in three of his last four games.
Buddy Hield, SAC at LAL ($11,900): Hield has been featured heavily since arriving in Sacramento, as he's sporting a 22.6 percent usage rate over that span. The standout rookie has also scored between 26.50 and 47.00 fantasy points in seven of his last nine games, while the Lakers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game (44.7) to shooting guards on the season, along with the fifth-most points (22.2) and three-pointers (3.0).
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Anthony Davis, NO at DEN ($18,600): There is a chance that DeMarcus Cousins misses Friday's game with a sore Achilles, bumping Davis' value up even further against a team that he scored 58.25 fantasy points against Tuesday with Cousins active. Davis is sporting a 37.1 percent usage rate and averaging 1.77 fantasy points per minute without Cousins on the floor since the latter's arrival, while the Nuggets have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (61.7) to centers over the last five and the second-highest field-goal percentage (57.1) this season.
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC at LAL ($12,600): Cauley-Stein has scored between 29.25 and 41.00 fantasy points in five of his last six games, including three straight double-doubles, and he faces a Lakers defense that's given up the second-most fantasy points per game (54.9) to centers, along with bottom-10 figures in virtually every other category against the position. Cauley-Stein has taken on a sizable role in the Kings' offense and should see plenty of action in a highly favorable matchup.
Enes Kanter, OKC at PHO ($8,700):Solomon Hill ($8,100) and Kanter's teammate Steven Adams ($8,100) are also viable options at this price tier, but Kanter is worth the few extra hundred if you can spare it. He brings plenty of upside for tournaments, and though his contributions have fluctuated lately, he draws a matchup against a Suns defense that's surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game (49.9) to power forwards this season, including the most (52.9) over the last 10 games. They've also yielded the most points (21.8) and sixth-highest field-goal percentage (48.1) to the position, while Kanter has scored at least 20 fantasy points in 11 of the last 14 games.
UTILITY
Nikola Jokic DEN vs. NO ($17,700): Jokic scored 43.00 fantasy points against the Pelicans last Tuesday and has scored between 42.00 and 61.75 fantasy points in his last five overall. New Orleans has given up 51.5 fantasy points per game to centers this season and is still surrendering the most rebounds per game (16.5) to the position as well.
Dennis Schroder, ATL at CLE ($13,900): Schroder has shot an excellent 54.8 percent in two previous games against the Cavs this season while averaging 22.5 points, 6.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds per outing. He had 38.75 fantasy points against the Celtics on Thursday, and he's also scored between 42.00 and 50.75 fantasy points in four other games over his last six while sporting a 30.2 percent usage rate during that stretch. Meanwhile, Cleveland has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game (53.8) to the position this season season, along with the fifth-most assists (9.1).
