Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

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NBA DFS & Props Shows w/ Shannon & Tyler!

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Another eight-game slate hits the docket today. There are actually 10 games on the Friday NBA schedule, but both DraftKings and FanDuel have elected to leave the two late games (SAS @ POR, MEM @ LAC) off of their main slates. As usual, there are plenty of moving parts to monitor today, especially over on the Celtics roster where there are several starters listed as questionable on the second leg of the back-to-back. I say it ad nauseam but, if you’re going heavy on this slate, make sure you’re monitoring news as it happens. A lot of folks were burned by the Duop Reath late scratch yesterday. In fairness, that news didn’t come out until about five minutes before that game locked at 8:00 ET, and Reath wasn’t even on the initial injury report, but these sorts of things happen in the NBA from time to time. Keep those mobile notifications on! Anyhow, let’s get into today’s slate! Best of luck!

Today’s Key Injuries

Nets: N. Claxton - Probable, B. Simmons - OUT, L. Walker IV - OUT, D. Finney-Smith - Probable

Wizards: D. Gallinari - Questionable

Knicks: J. Sims - OUT

Magic: M. Fultz - OUT, G. Harris - OUT, J. Isaac - Questionable, J. Ingles - OUT

Raptors: None

Celtics: J. Tatum - Questionable, J. Brown - Questionable, K. Porzingis - Doubtful, J. Holiday - Questionable, A. Horford - OUT

Kings: None

Hawks: D. Hunter - OUT

Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo - Probable, J. Crowder - OUT

Cavaliers: D. Mitchell - Questionable, D. Garland - OUT, E. Mobley - OUT, S. Merrill - Questionable

76ers: J. Embiid - OUT, N. Batum - OUT, KJ Martin - Questionable

Rockets: J. Smith Jr. - OUT, T. Eason - Questionable, D. Brooks - OUT

Thunder: None

Nuggets: M. Porter Jr. - Questionable, A. Gordon - OUT, R. Jackson - Probable

Hornets: L. Ball - OUT, G. Hayward - OUT, M. Williams - Doubtful

Suns: J. Okogie - Questionable

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Top DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Plays

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Trae Young, ATL | DK: $9.9k, FD: $10.2k | vs. SAC

This match-up between the Kings and Hawks features two teams that rank bottom 10 in defensive rating (ATL: 27th, SAC: 21st), top 10 in pace (ATL: 5th, SAC: 10th), and top 12 in offensive rating (ATL: 5th, SAC: 12th). It’s safe to say, we’ll want some exposure here. This game easily leads the slate with a monster 253 over/under and the Hawks are ever-so-slight one-point home favorites. Trae Young had a lackluster fantasy performance in his last game, which was against the Bulls (aka, the slowest-paced team in the NBA). However, in seven consecutive games prior to his last start, Young had scored 30+ points, dished 10+ assists, and put up at least 59.25 DKFP/52.8 FDFP. Young is averaging a points/assists double-double this season (28.1 PPG, 11.3 APG) and he’s hoisting up 9.3 three-point attempts per game. So, he’s better suited as a DraftKings play where Young’s fantasy score gets a boost from the double-double bonus and three-point bonus. Nonetheless, he’s a high-floor option with plenty of 6x (or better) upside in this juicy match-up.

PG Fred VanVleet, HOU | DK: $7.9k, FD: $8.2k | vs. PHI

Make no mistake, there are many safer guard options out there besides VanVleet, who has scored under 22 DKFP/FDFP in three of his last four games. But he has displayed a DFS ceiling this season that is as high as any other guard on this slate. And, what I believe is most notable about this play, is VanVleet’s huge fantasy point increase with both Dillon Brooks (oblique/out) and Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle/out) off the floor. In just under 120 minutes with Brooks and Smith off the court, VanVleet has seen a major +20.08 fantasy point per 48-minute uptick alongside a +5.02% usage increase. The match-up isn’t ideal (PHI: 3rd vs. PGs L20Games) but this game is expected to be close (HOU +1.5) with the Joel Embiid-less 76ers on the road in Houston. FVV will be worth a shot at < 10% ownership in GPPs.

PG/SG De’Anthony Melton, PHI | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.9k | @ HOU

Until we get more clarity on certain injury situations, there aren’t many standout value guard plays on this slate. However, Melton is one affordable guard with some nice potential. With Joel Embiid (ankle/out) and Nic Batum (hamstring/out) off the floor, Melton has averaged a team-high +12.4 fantasy points per 48 minutes and his +5.88% usage boost ranks second only behind Tyrese Maxey (+6.1% USG%). Melton has strung together back-to-back quality games with Embiid sidelined. He’s priced up a bit, but still playable, on FanDuel. But his $6,100 DraftKings salary puts him in a nice spot for value.

Other Guards to Consider

PF De’Aaron Fox, SAC | DK: $9.4k, FD: $10.3k | @ ATL

PG Jamal Murray, DEN | DK: $7.8k, FD: $8.6k | vs. OKC (DK Preferred)

PG/SG Dejounte Murray, ATL | DK: $7.7k, FD: $8.1k | vs. SAC

PG/SG Derrick White, BOS | DK: $7.6k, FD: $8k | vs. TOR (Potential boost pending BOS injury news)

PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie, BKN | DK: $7.1k, FD: $7.3k | @ WAS

SG/SG Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL | DK: $6.6k, FD: $7k | vs. SAC

PG Craig Porter Jr., CLE | DK: $6.5k, FD: $6.5k | vs. MIL (Only if D. Mitchell is out)

PG/SG Immanuel Quickley, NYK | DK: $4.9k, FD: $5.5k | @ ORL

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL | DK: $11k, FD: $12.4k | @ CLE

The $12,400 tag on FanDuel is enough to cause some hesitation, but Giannis’ $11k salary on DraftKings still leaves some meat on the bone as he has gone over 60 DKFP in four of his last five games. I know many people avoid this Cleveland match-up as the Cavs are generally solid defensively, and rank 9th in DEFRTG this season. However, their two highest-graded defensive players, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, remain out tonight while Donovan Mitchell (4th in DEF WS on the team) is questionable. Mobley’s absence will be the primary reason for a match-up upgrade for Giannis, who could easily drop another 60+ DKFP score at < 10% ownership tonight.

SF/PF Mikal Bridges, BKN | DK: $7.3k, FD: $7.3k | @ WAS

The Nets can be a frustrating team to “get right” when they’re mostly healthy, as they are today. But it would be slightly irresponsible to completely ignore any team that draws the always-favorable Wizards match-up. The Wizards continue to rank dead last in DEFRTG while leading the NBA in pace and possessions per game, so their opponents always get a boost. Many of the Nets’ starters were out for various reasons in their last game. Bridges, who owns the longest consecutive games started streak of any player in the NBA, still got the start on Wednesday, but he was limited to 12 minutes. The limited minutes was a coach’s decision -- which Bridges claimed he was “not a fan” of. I mention this in case anyone is curious as to why he played such low minutes in his last game. His DFS results have been more down than up lately, but Bridges does have 50+ FP upside in the tank and this is about as favorable of a match-up as he could ask for.

PF Peyton Watson, DEN | DK: $4.5k, FD: $4.4k | vs. OKC

Note: Watson is only SG-eligible on FanDuel.

Watson got a somewhat surprising start for the injured Aaron Gordon (hand/face/out) in last night’s game, and he responded by scoring 20 points and 31.25 DKFP/29 FDFP in just 23 minutes. The Nuggets blew out the Grizzlies by 37 points and were on the front end of a B2B, so all of the starters saw their minutes limited in the fourth quarter. Given how well Watson played, we can expect for him to remain in the starting lineup while Gordon recovers from his dog bite injuries (what a strange sentence to write). Michael Porter Jr. (quad) is also questionable tonight, which could open up additional usage and minutes for Watson. As it stands now, Watson is already setting up as one of the better value plays on the slate regardless of Porter’s status. I’m not sure we can expect him to average 1.36 FPPM again, as he did last night but, in what should be a closer game (DEN -2) against the Thunder, Watson could end up pushing closer to the 30-minute threshold, or beyond.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Kevin Durant, PHX | DK: $10.1k, FD: $10.5k | vs. CHA (Some blowout concerns)

SF/PG Scottie Barnes, TOR | DK: $8.9k, FD: $10k | @ BOS (DK Preferred)

PF Paolo Banchero, ORL | DK: $8.3k, FD: $8.6k | vs. NYK

PF/C Pascal Siakam, TOR | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8.5k | @ BOS

SF/PF Tobias Harris, PHI | DK: $6.8k, FD: $7.9k | @ HOU (DK Preferred)

SF/SG Khris Middleton, MIL | DK: $6.7k, FD: $7.2k | @ CLE

PF Jalen Johnson, ATL | DK: $6.3k, FD: $6.1k | vs. SAC

SF/PF Tari Eason, HOU | DK: $6.3k, FD: $6.2k | vs. PHI (Currently questionable, boost if starting)

PF/C Bobby Portis, MIL | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.1k | @ CLE

PF Cameron Johnson, BKN | DK: $5.7k, FD: $5.8k | @ WAS

SF/SG Jae’Sean Tate, HOU | DK: $4.5k, FD: $3.8k | vs. PHI (FD Preferred, assuming he starts again)

SF/PF Oshae Brissett, BOS | DK: $3.2k, FD: $3.6k | vs. TOR (Punt play, pending BOS injury news)

PF/C Lamar Stevens, BOS | DK: $3k, FD: $3.6k | vs. TOR (Viable punt play if starting)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Domantas Sabonis, SAC | DK: $9.7k, FD: $10.4k | @ ATL

We’ll go back to this potential shootout with another star player in Domantas Sabonis. The fact that Sabonis is playing particularly well lately (1.65 FPPM & 55.6 DKFP/51.1 FDFP L5Games) is just icing on the cake. Sabonis is just 0.6 APG shy of averaging a triple-double over his last five starts and two of his “down” games in that stretch came against a pair of top-three defensive teams (T-Wolves & Celtics). He’ll draw a stellar match-up today. The Hawks rank 29th versus centers L20Games and, on the season, they’re allowing the fourth-most points in the paint per game and are 21st in rebounding%. I’ve already highlighted Trae Young in this game and I love the idea of running it back with Sabonis on the other side. There should be enough value on the slate to make that possible.

C Paul Reed, PHI | DK: $5.3k, FD: $5.9k | @ HOU

Reed has drawn the start in each of the last two games with Joel Embiid (ankle/out) sidelined. He posted a dud while playing just 17 minutes in the first start (@ MIA) but popped off for 41.0 DKFP/41.5 FDFP in his most recent start (@ ORL) while logging 32 minutes. It’s worth noting that his dud against the Heat was largely due to getting into foul trouble (five fouls in those 17 minutes). So, as long as he limits the early fouls, we can likely expect a performance closer to the one he had on Wednesday. Somewhat risky, sure, but it’s hard to pass up on the 6x-8x upside that Reed can provide at his current salaries.

Other Centers to Consider

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.2k, FD: $12.2k | vs. OKC

C Alperen Sengun, HOU | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.9k | vs. PHI

C Jarrett Allen, CLE | DK: $7.9k, FD: $8.3k | vs. MIL

C Jusuf Nurkic, PHX | DK: $7.1k, FD: $7.9k | vs. CHA

C Daniel Gafford, WAS | DK: $6k, FD: $6.9k | vs. BKN (DK Preferred)

C Day’Ron Sharpe, BKN | DK: $5.1k, FD: $5.4k | @ WAS

C Neemias Queta, BOS | DK: $4.4k, FD: $4k | vs. TOR

PrizePicks NBA Power Play ⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's NBA action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these bets so I don't just lightly throw these out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Domantas Sabonis MORE than 48.5 Fantasy Score

Trae Young MORE than 50.5 Fantasy Score

🔥 Props AI 🔥

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Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing up for PrizePicks (Promo code: LINESTAR) or Underdog (Promo code: LINESTAR). You'll receive a 100% match on first deposits up to $100 PLUS a free two-month subscription to LineStar Premium. Many people may not realize that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em, and it’s incredibly easy.

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!