This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has 10 games on tap Friday night, not quite a packed slate but two-thirds of the teams will be on display. There are some inexpensive quality players available across the board, at pretty much every position.
GUARD
Derrick Rose, CHI at DEN ($23) - Rose has been playing some of his best ball of the year lately, averaging 17.8 points, 5.5 assists, 5.3 boards and a steal in his last four games, all on the road. He has another road game Friday, but against a Nuggets defense that is 24th in the NBA against point guards.
Dwyane Wade, MIA at CHA ($32) - Wade has a great matchup on Friday against a Hornets defense that is 28th in the NBA against shooting guards. Wade is also in the midst of a six-game run in which he is averaging 21.7 points, 6.0 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and even 1.3 blocks per game.
Guards to Avoid:
Kemba Walker, CHA vs MIA ($43) - Walker missed Wednesday's game with a knee injury, but practiced Thursday and is expected to be available Friday. Nevertheless, he faces an elite Heat defense that is second in the NBA vs. point guards. When you factor in the possibility that he's slowed by his injury, along with his high price, there are better options on the board.
Khris Middleton, MIL at UTA ($31) - Middleton can get hot and score with anyone from downtown, but he has also been hit-or-miss this week with one game of more than 39 fantasy points and two games of 21 fantasy points or fewer. On Friday he faces an excellent Jazz defense that ranks second against shooting guards and that finally has its stifling defensive frontline of Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors back healthy and in the lineup.
FORWARD
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA vs MIA ($23) - Kidd-Gilchrist made his season debut just last week after recuperating from offseason surgery, and in his three games he is averaging a 14.3-point, 10.7-rebound double-double. The Bulls are weak against opposing small forwards, ranking 22nd vs. the position.
Myles Turner, IND at ATL ($17) - Turner has been producing strong numbers recently, regardless of whether he was in the starting lineup. In his last 10 games he has averaged 15.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. On Friday he faces a Hawks defense that is 21st against power forwards and 24th vs. centers.
Forwards to Avoid:
Chandler Parsons, DAL vs SA ($27) - Parsons has played very well the last few weeks. However, this week he has had less than 25 fantasy points in two of his three games. And on Friday he faces a Spurs defense that is No. 1 in the NBA at limiting production to both wing positions. There are options with better odds for that price point Friday.
Kristaps Porzingis, NY vs MEM ($32) - Porzingis has had a down week, as perhaps his illness is still lingering. He has scored fewer than 18 fantasy points in each of his last two outings, and has not scored 30 fantasy points since last Tuesday. And for good measure, on Friday he faces a Grizzlies defense that stifles power forwards.
CENTER
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs CHI ($13) - Jokic barely edges out Robin Lopez, as both have played well lately. Jokic has been better, though, with five games of more than 35 fantasy points in his last seven outings. He also has a great Friday matchup against a Bulls team that is 29th in the NBA vs. centers.
Center to Avoid:
Greg Monroe, MIL at UTA ($30) - Monroe is a solid producer, but Friday he faces an elite Jazz defense, in Utah, with both Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors finally healthy and producing at the same time. For Monroe's price, there are safer plays.
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