It's been a solid week at LineStar so let's end with a bang on a loaded 11-game Friday night slate. There's some (not so) great college football championship games tomorrow but the NBA takes center stage this evening. It's national Stay Home Because You're Well Day and we're going to feel really good after owning DFS tonight. 

Games that Stand Out at First Glance

The Los Angeles Lakers (-3.5) are actually favored against the Dallas Mavericks tonight even though LeBron James and Co. played the Indiana Pacers last night. Don't Snuggie on the Mavs in this one, as they've actually won 7 of their last 8.

Do the Houston Rockets turn things around in a PK game at the San Antonio Spurs? The Rockets have dropped four straight and are coming off a 20 point home loss to Dallas.

The New Orleans Pelicans are off to a solid start to the season but are just 2-9 on the road this year. NO is getting a lot of early betting action as 3 point road favorites at the Miami Heat.

The Charlotte Hornets continue to be underrated as just -2 home favorites vs. the Utah Jazz. The Jazz do have Donovan Mitchell back in the lineup but the Hornets have won 4 of 6 and are 8-3 at home this year.

The Memphis Grizzlies will get a lot of steam as -1 road favorites at the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have gone full net and are just 2-8 over their last 10 and only 3-7 on their own court this year.

There are some DFS studs in action tonight including Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and James Harden. We'll once again try to dig up some value so that you can afford these 'sure thing' plays.

Guards

Marcus Smart(DK $4,300 FD $4,500 Y! $10)

To quote Phil Collins, Marcus Smart has been waiting for this moment all his life. Well, at least for the last couple years since Jaylen Brown has come into the league because Smart gets the starting nod vs. Cleveland as Brown is out with a back injury. Smart logged 39 minutes in Brown's place the last time out vs. New Orleans but you'd like to see more production out of those minutes than his 8 point, 5 assist line. That should come vs. the Cavs. Smart had 19 points in 25 minutes two games ago vs. Dallas. And with Al Horford also out Friday, we should see even more scoring.

Ryan Arcidiacono (DK $4,400 FD $5,500 Y! $10)

Ryan Arcidiacono seems to be in good standing with Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, as he's definitely drawing the minutes. He's got potential on minutes alone with three games of 36+ played in the last four. Detroit doesn't play a ton of defense in the back court and Arcidiacono has found his stroke with back-to-back 22 point nights. Chicago will avoid trying to score on the inside with Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin roaming the paint so expect a big night from the Bulls back court.

Joe Ingles(DK $5,400 FD $5,800 Y! $22)

Like Arcidiacono, Joe Ingles will at least have opportunity tonight as he's logged three 35+ minute games in his last 5 contests. Ownership should be lower as Ingles had just a 7 point night last time out but he still had some DFS scoring with 5 assists and 7 rebounds. Ingles has tallied 5+ assists in 6 of the last 7 and has two 16+ point scoring nights in his last four games. Last February vs. Charlotte, Ingles scored 23 points, had 5 assists, and grabbed 5 rebounds, so he likes this matchup as well.

Forwards

Tristan Thompson(DK $6,000 FD $6,300 Y! $23)

There should be some good garbage buckets available for Tristan Thompson tonight as the Cavs are underdogs by a dozen at the Celtics. Al Horford is out Friday for Boston due to scheduled rest, which should open up the inside even more for Thompson, who is expected to start at C tonight. The Celtics give up 9 REB/game to C starters. Thompson has to be a little salty after scoring just 4 points and grabbing only 2 rebounds the last time out but that helps his ownership stay a bit low this evening. Prior to that, the Cleveland C had scored 14+ points and grabbed 11+ boards in four straight games. Here's to returning to that production (or better) vs. Boston.

Otto Porter, Jr. (DK $ 5,700FD $6,500 Y! $24)

Otto Porter is another ceiling play tonight if he can add some scoring to his solid rebounding production. The Wizards are up against Philadelphia on Friday but are 'only' 7.5 point underdogs – which seems a bit low. It has the potential to be a solid night for Porter either way as the Sixers are giving up 31.3 FPPG to SF starters including 7.2 REB/game. Porter has grabbed 6+ rebounds in 4 of the last 5 and snagged 14 vs. the Clippers 10 days ago. He had a 29 point night vs. the Pelicans three games ago, so the scoring potential is there as well.

Blake Griffin(DK $9,600 FD $9,100 Y$42)

Yes, he's pricey tonight, but Blake Griffin has a very solid chance to be the top DFS scorer today vs. the Bulls front court. Chicago is giving up 28.5 FPPG to power forwards including 7.2 REB/game but that would be a disappointing night for Griffin. On October 20th, the Pistons F toppled Chicago for 33 points and 12 boards which was good for a 61.5 point fantasy night. Griffin has three 30+ point nights in his last 6 games and even dished out 11 assists two games ago vs. the Suns. There's potential for scoring from a multitude of ways vs. Chicago. 

Centers

Jusuf Nurkic(DK $6,700 FD $7,900 Y! $26)

I don't know if Nuggets C Nikola Jokic used to be Jusuf Nurkic's neighbor and continually played John Tesh albums or what, but the Portland C loves matching up with Denver. Last April he scored 20 points and grabbed 19 boards vs. the Nuggets which followed up a 19 point, 12 rebound night in January. This matchup becomes even better for Nurkic, as the 7-0' Jokic has seen his usage drop to 27 minutes or less the last three. Nurkic has scored in double figures in 9 of the last 10 and has grabbed double digit rebounds in six of those games.

Steven Adams(DK $6,800 FD $ 7,000 Y! $29)

This is a ceiling play, as Steven Adams and the Thunder are -13 favorites tonight vs. the Hawks. Ownership is going to be low on Adams as he is coming off a 6 point, 6 rebound night in 32 minutes vs. the Cavs' worst defense in the league. Atlanta is a bottom 1/3 rebounding team and Adams has two 14+ rebound games in his last 5. The Hawks are only allowing 4.2 FG/game to C starters but Adams should be a strong presence on the inside against Atlanta's front court. If he can add some scoring to big rebounding numbers, there's great value here.

Anthony Davis(DK $11,400 FD $12,300 Y! $56)

No duh, right? Anthony Davis and the Pelicans are in a potential trap game as only -3 road favorites at Miami but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention what the New Orleans big man did the last time he matched up with Hassan Whiteside. Last February, Davis dropped 45 points and grabbed 17 boards against Miami, which is a nice little production for your DFS roster. The Brow is averaging 27.5 ppg and 15.5 rpg his last two. So if you're going to spend tonight, why not do it on Davis? 

Cheers to the weekend. We'll be back Monday to see how a topsy turvy NBA Saturday and Sunday will alter how we go into battle to start the week.

Freeroll

The NBA freeroll contests will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on DraftKings:

• 1st Place: $10 via PayPal

• 2nd & 3rd Places: Your choice of one-month LineStar Premium, a t-shirt, or a coffee mug

• Bonus: If you place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the LineStar Freeroll and you are using the LineStar avatar below, you will receive 2x that prize!

Here’s a link for today’s freeroll.

Please Note - While you may enter the LineStar freeroll as often as you’d like, you can only win each prize 1 time.