DraftKings NBA: Friday Cheat Sheet

Team Analysis

Defense to Avoid:

San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz: It's tough to tell which defense to avoid here, as these are the two best defenses in the NBA right now. Both teams finished top-five in defensive efficiency last season and they both very well may be improved this year. Utah currently ranks second in the NBA in points allowed and have not allowed more than 91 points in any game since the opener. The Spurs rank fourth in points allowed and have not allowed more than 100 aside from a loss to the Jazz on Tuesday. It's not expected that the Jazz can repeat a performance like that either, as Utah shot 50 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range. The final and most important factor is the total, as these two teams are projected to finish around the 185-mark, which would be one of the lowest totals so far this season.

Offense to Use:

Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Pelicans: This is yet another game in which both sides help our cause, with New Orleans and Phoenix both repping some of the worst defenses in the league. Not only do they both rank top-six in pace, but they allowed nearly 220 points per game combined last season. These are teams that can put up some numbers as well, with numerous talented players across the board. What also makes this game intriguing are the prices of the players, as the only player above $7,000 is Anthony Davis. In addition, look for this total to be around the 215 range, which will easily be one of the highest of the night.

Teams on Back-to-Back Set:

First Game: Bulls, Clippers, Hawks, Spurs and Wizards,
Second Game: Warriors

DraftKings.com Player Recommendations

Guards:

Premium:
Stephen Curry, GS at LAL ($8,500): The two-time MVP hasn't quite been playing up to MVP standards, but it's made his price extremely affordable. Last season, Curry would be well over $10,000 on a nightly basis, so this $8,500 mark makes him a heck of a bargain. What's best about this play is the matchup, as the Warriors face a Lakers team that ranked bottom-three in fantasy points allowed to point guards last season.

Mid-Tier:
Eric Bledsoe, PHX at NOP ($7,000): Bledsoe is the go-to guy in Phoenix and that makes him an intriguing option in a game that should be at an uptempo pace. The star point guard is averaging a whopping 35 minutes per game should accumulate fantasy points with ease given his usage. One concern with Bledsoe is that the Suns are vulnerable to blowouts, but that shouldn't be an issue here with a four-point spread. He'll likely be lined up against with Tim Frazier, and that's a matchup Bledsoe can abuse with his superior size and athleticism

Cheap:
Lou Williams, LAL vs. GS ($4,300): Williams has been obliterating his price tag lately and it's hard to understand why he's so cheap. Over his last four games, Williams has scored at least 26 fantasy points in three of those contests. That's over 6X value which makes Williams a great play in a game that the Lakers will need him to get buckets. The game script makes this a safe play as well, considering that Williams should get minutes off the bench whether it's a blowout or not, which seems like a strong possibility. There's no other player on this slate under $5,000 who has the scoring capabilities of Williams and he's the type of guy that can help you cash big in a tourney.

Forwards:

Premium:
Paul Millsap, ATL at WSH ($7,700): Millsap is now the focal point of the Atlanta offense and he's rewarding fantasy owners with his great play. Across his first four games, Millsap is averaging 38 fantasy points per game and regularly stuffing the stat sheet. That's what makes him so valuable, as he is a near guarantee for 30-plus fantasy points with his ability to provide statistics aside from scoring. The matchup is a great one as well, as the Hawks play a winless Wizards team that struggles in their frontcourt and allows over 110 points per game.

Mid-Tier:
Nicolas Batum, CHA at BRK ($6,600): Batum is a very similar player to Millsap and he's reliable for all the same reasons. The Frenchman hasn't scored below 29 fantasy points in any game this season and that should be his floor in this matchup. What is even more encouraging about Batum is that he has remained productive despite struggling when when shooting the ball. That means if he can score 20 points to go along with his peripheral stats, he could be in for a monster night. This is not a matchup to fear either, as the Nets are arguably the worst team in the NBA.

Cheap:
Al-Farouk Aminu, POR at DAL ($4,500): This is one of those prices that's hard to understand. Aminu has been playing at a $6,000 level for two years now and there's no reason to think he can't continue to produce at that level. Aminu has scored at least 26 fantasy points in three-straight games and he's done that while shooting terribly. In fact, he is just 6-for-25 in that stretch. That may sound discouraging, but it's actually a great sign, as he's a much better shooter than what he's shown and if he can add some points with his peripheral stats, Aminu could be a huge steal for DFS purposes. The matchup against Dallas is great one as well, as Aminu will be matched up against an aging Dirk Nowitzki. In addition, the Mavericks have allowed the fifth most fantasy points to power forwards this season.

Centers:

Premium:
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at TOR ($8,400): Whiteside has been a beast for a little over a year now, but this matchup is what entices me the most. Toronto has been destroyed by big men this season. In fact, they allowed 35 fantasy points to Marcin Gortat, 50 fantasy points to Jusuf Nurkic and 26 fantasy points to Tristan Thompson over their last three games. Those are mid-tier centers at best and it would be hard to imagine Whiteside not matching or surpassing that sort of production. The price is affordable as well, since his 45 fantasy points per game far exceeds his $8,400 price tag.

Mid-Tier:
Marc Gasol, MEM vs. LAC ($6,700): Gasol is priced criminally low on DraftKings and it's all due to his injury status. DraftKings kept his price low due to a minutes restriction, but that doesn't appear to be an issue anymore. Gasol actually played 38 minutes in the Grizzlies' most recent win and he accumulated 40 fantasy points. He did that damage while shooting 3-for-18, so he's yet another guy who can stuff the stat sheet and provide value aside from his scoring. A matchup with DeAndre Jordan looks scary on the surface, but Gasol could take advantage of it by taking Jordan out of the paint and dragging him all over the floor. Look for Memphis to lean on their stud here in a Western Conference rivalry game

Cheap:
Tyson Chandler, PHX at NOP ($4,400): Chandler is quietly having a resurgent season for the Suns and more people need to take notice. Not only is he averaging over 10 rebounds a game, but has put up 18 in two of his last three. That sort of upside is great for a $7,000 player, let alone a guy who costs only $4,300. This is also expected to be an uptempo matchup and that should easily lead to double-digit rebounds for a player that's done that in all but one game this season. Those 18-rebound games came in just 28 minutes of action as well, so he's shown the ability to produce in limited playing time.