This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern time features seven games. Some of the league's weakest defensive teams are in action here, creating favorable matchups to be exploited by a few of the players recommended below. 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
Reggie Jackson, DET at ATL ($5,800): Opposing point guards have capitalized on Trae Young's defensive shortcomings, routinely roasting Atlanta's undersized rookie. Look no further than Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox as an example, who produced 31 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists in his Nov. 1 matchup with Young. Jackson is also likely to capitalize on this favorable matchup, especially since he comes in averaging 20.0 PPG and 5.0 APG over his past two games.
Ricky Rubio, UTA vs. BOS ($6,600): A habitual slow starter, Rubio's beginning to shake off the cobwebs with averages of 12.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 9.5 APG to go with 2.3 steals per game over the past four. Rubio's all-around ability helps him excel even when his shot isn't falling, and he's capable of exploding for north of 50.0 fantasy points on hot shooting nights. A Celtics team playing its second Western Conference road game in as many nights may not have the legs to contain the shifty Spaniard.
SHOOTING GUARD
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. MIN ($7,400): Maybe the Kings weren't crazy to target Hield in the DeMarcus Cousins trade after all. The sharpshooter's in the midst of a breakout campaign, averaging 23.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 3.1 APG over his past seven games. Minnesota's defense currently ranks as the league's sixth-most generous with 117.4 points allowed per game, so Hield should have no trouble converting his offensive skills into tangible production here.
Evan Fournier, ORL vs. WAS ($6,900): Fournier has strung together four consecutive outings with at least 15 points and 33.6 fantasy points, most recently registering a season-high 45.5 fantasy points Wednesday. He couldn't handpick a better opponent to face for his attempt at an encore performance, as Washington's surrendering a league-high 120.5 points per game.
SMALL FORWARD
Juancho Hernangomez, DEN vs. BKN ($3,900): Hernangomez has gotten some nice run in four November contests, averaging 26 minutes per game. He's been serviceable in that extended playing time, contributing 11.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG along with half a steal and a block per game. That production won't carry fantasy lineups, but it's enough to provide nice value while maximizing the cap room for owners to spend on alternative options.
Justise Winslow, MIA vs. IND ($5,600): Winslow appears underpriced given his recent usage and production. Over the past three games, he's averaging 13.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.7 blocks and 1.7 steals in 33 minutes per contest, having played his way into the starting lineup for the last two. There should be a few extra offensive touches available for Winslow with Dwayne Wade still out for the birth of his child, further raising Winslow's value.
POWER FORWARD
Taj Gibson, MIN at SAC ($5,300): When the going gets tough, coach Tom Thibodeau leans on his starters. He's done just that by giving Gibson 32 and 37 minutes over the past two games, and Gibson's responded with 15.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 2.5 steals per contest without a turnover. An active player on both ends, Gibson should continue to contribute at a nice clip if given enough playing time, and that's all but a certainty with Thibodeau running the show.
Domantas Sabonis, IND at MIA ($6,500): Sabonis has played well all season, averaging 14.1 PPG and 8.9 RPG on 65.6 percent shooting – and he's starting to get rewarded for his productivity. His three highest minutes totals of the season have come in the past three games, and even in that span his playing time has trended up from 27 minutes to 30 to 32. If 30 minutes is the new normal for Sabonis, he's underpriced given what we've seen him achieve with his season average of 24.
CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET at ATL ($10,200): Drummond's a consistent threat to post 20 points and 20 rebounds, seeing as his season averages of 18.9 PPG and 16.6 RPG aren't far from those marks. In terms of matchup, few opponents offer less resistance to achieving such a feat than Atlanta. The Hawks allow the fourth-most points per game at 118.8 and the second-most rebounds per game at 58.9.
