This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Friday has a full slate of 11 games, so there will be plenty of options to choose. The season is going full swing, with most players having established their baselines but others already taking advantage of new opportunities to make early season runs. And looking at Friday's matchups, there is a lot of really good value for us to explore.
GUARD
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. PHI ($53) - Westbrook is the most expensive player Friday. And he's undervalued. Westbrook is already leading the league in fantasy points per game with 51.3 (5.1 more than second-place James Harden), but now with Kevin Durant out, the ceiling officially comes off. It could easily be argued that Westbrook's expected fantasy output without Durant is above 60 FPts, especially against a terrible 76ers defense that ranks 25th in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards.
Marcus Thornton, HOU at DEN ($17) - After spending a big chunk on Westbrook at PG, you need a SG that is productive but affordable. Enter Marcus Thornton, whose 31.2 FPts/G ranks fifth among SGs on Friday, but whose $17 price is tied for 27th among SGs on Friday. Thornton may eventually slow now that Terrence Jones is back, but in the meantime he's on a hot streak as evidenced by his 21-point, seven-assist, four-steal outing Wednesday.
Guards to Avoid:
Ricky Rubio, MIN at IND ($33) - Rubio is on this list for two reasons, neither of which are the quality of his own play. First, Rubio isn't healthy. He is nursing a hamstring injury that has kept him out of consecutive games, and as of this writing it hasn't been announced whether he's playing Friday. Then, even if he does play, he's on a bad wheel in Indiana against a Pacers team that gives up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards.
Victor Oladipo, ORL vs. UTA ($36) - Much like Rubio, Oladipo is hurt and uncertain to play. He had concussion symptoms Wednesay, and did not practice Thursday. And if he plays, he'd be suited up against the best-defense-in-the-NBA Utah Jazz, who also ranks second in fewest fantasy production allowed to opposing SGs.
FORWARD
Danilo Gallinari, DEN vs. HOU ($28) - I've gone back and forth several times between Gallinari and Jae Crowder in this slot. I started to put Crowder because of his solid average at a lower price point. But ultimately I went with Gallinari because he has explosive upside, the last time he faced Friday's opponents the Rockets he exploded for 23 points, eight boards, three assists and three treys.
Nemanja Bjelica, MIN at IND ($20) - Bjelica has averaged 29.8 FPts/G over his last four games, playing at a high level. The Timberwolves are on the second half of a back-to-back, which means Kevin Garnett probably won't play and Bjelica should start. And the Pacers are 20th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards. As a bonus, Ryan Anderson also makes a great start at $23, with Anthony Davis expected to sit again with a hip injury.
Forwards to Avoid:
DeMarre Carroll, TOR vs. IND ($23) - DeMarre Carroll has missed the last few games with plantar fasciitis and is questionable to play. Plantar fasciitis is a lingering issue that could limit his mobility and explosiveness for a long time. And if he plays Friday, Carroll will face a Pelicans defense that ranks seventh in limiting fantasy production to small forwards.
Nikola Mirotic, CHI vs. CHA ($29) - Mirotic is still the starter in Chicago, but there has been increasing pressure of late to get Joakim Noah on the court. Mirotic had a good game in his last outing against the 76ers, but in the three games before that he had three clunkers with an average of 9.1 FPts/G.
CENTER
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. NO ($24) - Dwight Howard is my pick for the best fantasy center Friday, as he's been on a tear since coming back. However, he's also the highest-priced center, and I already have Westbrook as the big ticket item on my team. However, Valanciunas has also been playing very well at a lower price point. He averages 28.0 FPts/G, and he is right around his average in pretty much every game. Valanciunas is at least $4 cheaper than any center who averages more production him.
Center to Avoid
Al Jefferson, CHA at CHI ($28) - Jefferson just simply hasn't produced up to his price this season. He costs $4 more than Valanciunas, but he averages fewer FPts/G. Jefferson has had three straight sub-par games, capped by a four-point, five-rebound effort Wednesday against the Knicks.
