This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate features seven games beginning at 7 p.m. EDT. With a few big names primed for huge games and some underrated value picks available in the lower portion of the price spectrum, a stars and scrubs style lineup could be the strategy of choice. Regardless of strategy, the players below should provide good bang for the buck. FanDuel's format only counts the eight highest scores in your nine-player lineup, so keep that in mind when making your selections.
POINT GUARD
Chris Paul, HOU vs. LAC ($9,400): Paul should be back with a vengeance now that his two-game suspension has expired, and he'll have to carry an even greater burden with James Harden sidelined by the hamstring injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss to Utah. Harden missed seven games due to a hamstring strain last season, so the 1-3 Rockets will be cautious with this less significant injury to that area this time, as a re-aggravation could turn the team's slow start into an outright disastrous campaign in the hyper-competitive West.
Elfrid Payton, NO vs. BKN ($7,400): Payton has flourished with his new club, which has been a fantasy paradise with a high-octane offense and short rotation. The versatile point guard is averaging a sustainable career high in minutes at 32, and if anything, he's earned himself even more playing time. Payton is yet to finish with fewer than six assists or rebounds in a game while also recording double-digit points in every contest. Even with an unlikely letdown in one of those three categories, Payton should still provide value against a Nets team that's giving up 106.5 points per game.
SHOOTING GUARD
Joe Harris, BKN at NO ($4,400): Harris has quietly gotten off to a strong start this season, racking up 14.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 2.8 APG while averaging 30 minutes of run over Brooklyn's first four contests. His ability to hold his own at power forward in small-ball lineups is beneficial both for Harris' playing time and rebounding. The Pelicans are 3-0, but they've achieved that record by simply outscoring the competition by an average score of 132-116.7, so there should be no shortage of fantasy value on both sides here.
Tim Hardaway, NY vs. GS ($6,700): Hardaway is New York's premier outside scoring threat, and his responsibilities have been heightened further by the ankle injury to offensive-minded rookie Kevin Knox. With 24.4 PPG, Hardaway's performed admirably, even if the rest of his game doesn't offer much in terms of fantasy value. The Warriors will almost certainly walk out of Madison Square Garden with a win, but Hardaway should get his against a leaky defense that's allowing 109.6 points per game, including at least 100 in each of Golden State's first five contests.
SMALL FORWARD
Kawhi Leonard, TOR vs. DAL ($9,800): He's definitely back. Leonard exploded for a season-high 35 points Wednesday, pushing his season averages to 28.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG. The specter of his injury is still weighing down Leonard's price a bit, when in fact he could be in line for his best season ever with more personal responsibility in Toronto than he ever saw in San Antonio's team-oriented system. Keep in mind that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner is also capable of posting crooked numbers in the steals and blocks categories on any given night in addition to his robust contributions on the offensive end.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA vs. CHI ($4,300): Kidd-Gilchrist has been limited by foul trouble a few times already this season, but the second overall selection in the 2012 draft can be a valuable contributor if he's able to keep himself on the floor. While it's a small sample, MKG has managed to knock down half of his first four attempts from long range after failing to make a three-pointer last season. He's also pulling down 5.0 boards per game and already has a seven-block performance under his belt this season. Hustle stats can make or break fantasy nights, and hustle has always been the name of Kidd-Gilchrist's game.
POWER FORWARD
Anthony Davis, NO vs. BKN ($13,000): You don't need me to tell you that Davis is good at basketball, but just "good" doesn't do his current level justice. After stating that his goal this season was to win the MVP award, Davis has walked the walk with 30.3 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.0 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. Those robust averages actually have a good chance of rising further against a Nets team that he demolished to the tune of 44 points and 17 rebounds when they last met in February.
Jonas Jerebko, GS at NY ($3,700): In order to fit players like Davis in your lineup, you're going to have to take a chance on some low-cost options such as Jerebko. Despite being priced just $200 above the minimum, Jerebko's already proven his worth with a game-winning tip-in earlier this season, and he's scored over 20 fantasy points both times he's received at least 20 minutes of playing time. With the potential for plenty of garbage time in this lopsided matchup, Jerebko could end up providing excellent bang for the buck. If things don't work out, you can always drop his score.
CENTER
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC vs. WAS ($7,000): Cauley-Stein's coming off his first double-double of the season, and he now boasts averages of 16.4 PPG and 7.4 RPG. Those numbers should go up against a Wizards team that's currently shorthanded at the center position due to injuries. He also averages just under one steal and one block in his career, but the 25-year-old big man can be expected to improve in those categories during his fourth season since he's finally receiving full-time starter's minutes.
