Stan Son provides his thoughts and insights on DFS options for Friday’s NBA slate on DraftKings.

There are seven games on Friday’s NBA slate. The Pelicans are playing the second night of a back-to-back.

This article was written on Thursday night. Any changes will be updated. Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.

Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]

Guard

Stud

Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies ($8,200)

Thompson has put up at least 40 FPTS in five of the last seven games, with three of those over 50 FPTS. He’s played at least 40 minutes in four of those contests and the low was 34 minutes. While the usage rate isn’t high at 20%, Thompson contributes a little something in every statistical category. He thrives in uptempo games, and this should be a pace-up one for the Rockets as Memphis is 11th in pace. In addition, the Grizzlies are 27th in defensive rating over the last 15 games. There’s a good chance that Thompson scores in the same range as the players priced $2,000 more.

Other Options: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,300), Kawhi Leonard ($10,200), Donovan Mitchell ($9,300), James Harden ($9,200), Jamal Murray ($9,100), Bennedict Mathurin ($7,400), Norman Powell ($6,500), Andrew Nembhard ($6,200)

Value

Bez Mbeng, Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets ($5,400)

With the injuries to Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier, Mbeng has started the last three games, averaging 40 minutes a contest. He only put up 10.2 FPTS two games ago, but went for over 30 FPTS in the other two contests. It’s unlikely George and Collier play in this one, so Mbeng could see a ton of playing time once again.

Other Options: Kennedy Chandler ($5,500), Sam Merrill ($4,700), TJ McConnell ($3,900)

Forward

Stud

Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers at Indiana Pacers ($10,200)

The Kawhibot 2000 has had a few hiccups this season. The causes are unknown but my money is on faulty electrical wiring. That said, the joints have been well-oiled while the operating system has been upgraded. He’s a Top 5 player on a per-game basis for fantasy on the season and has…beep…bop….boop….guided the Clippers to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The usage rate has been in the high-30 percent range and he’s put up at least 39 FPTS in seven straight with a high of 65.2 FPTS. Now he faces a Pacers team that is dead last in defensive rating over the last 15 games.

Other Options: Jalen Johnson ($10,600), Kevin Durant ($9,000), Jayson Tatum ($9,000), Scottie Barnes ($8,900), Chet Holmgren ($7,800), Jalen Williams ($7,500), Bennedict Mathurin ($7,400), Norman Powell ($6,500), Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,200)

Value

Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans at Toronto Raptors ($4,500)

The usage rate is miniscule at 15% and the FPTS ceiling is almost non-existent, but Jones has been a modicum of consistency….contributing a little bit here while contributing a little bit there. He’s put up at least 20 FPTS in nine of the last 10 games.

Other Options: Jarace Walker ($5,900), Cameron Johnson ($5,300), Max Strus ($4,500), John Konchar ($4,400)

Center

Stud

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz ($12,500)

Jokic leads the league with 30 triple-doubles. Yes, he’s expensive, but he has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game and is a threat to put up a “had-to-have-it” score. He’s put up at least 80 FPTS 11 times with a high of 106.5 FPTS. He’s failed to hit 50 FPTS only five times. Mic drop.

Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($8,900), Jabari Smith Jr. ($6,200)

Value

Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls ($5,800)

I’m not crazy about the price, especially since Hartenstein likely won’t play more than 25 minutes. That said, the matchup is so juicy, as the Bulls are first in pace over the last 15 games. On the season, Chicago has boosted the FPPM to centers by 13.86%, the fourth-most generous in the NBA. Over the last 15 games, Hartenstein has put up at least 20 FPTS in 14 of those contests with seven over 30 and a high of 53.5 FPTS.

Other Options: Jakob Poeltl ($5,900), Brook Lopez ($4,900), Isaiah Jackson ($4,300)