This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday features a slate of 12 games. Paying attention to players who are out due to injury and exploiting the corresponding matchup is once again key Friday night. Make sure to pay attention to any late lineup adjustments throughout the night, as players often get rest this time of year as the season wears on their bodies. The number of injury and fitness concerns Friday night is tremendous, and paying attention to players getting minutes they aren't typically slotted for may lead to potential circumstances of extreme value.
Friday Value Plays
Point Guard
Beno Udrih, MEM, $3,900: In a trend for Friday night that is apparent in the usability of a number of players, Udrih's value relies upon the absence of Mike Conley. Udrih has gotten more comfortable at the point in every successive start since Conley was sidelined, climbing to a high of 27.3 FanDuel points last time out against a decent Detroit Pistons defense. As stated, his value hinges upon the status of Conley, but he gets a favorable matchup with the Mavericks in the event that he does once again get the start.
Greivis Vasquez, TOR, $4,000: Like Udrih, the value of Vasquez rides on the status of Kyle Lowry. If Lowry sits out, "he quotes himself as a 50/50 chance to go," Vasquez has proved in the past his ability to fill in admirably, finding himself able to surpass the 30 FD point mark some nights.
Shooting Guard
Dwyane Wade, MIA, $8,400: Wade looks like he's decided he wants to play playoff basketball and is taking it upon his shoulders to carry the Heat there. In the last six games his lowest scoring outing is twenty-five points. As longs as he can turn in decent peripheral stats, Wade is beginning to look like a big time producer night in and night out. A superb matchup with the Denver Nuggets is just icing on the cake.
Small Forward
Paul Pierce, WAS, $4,800: The Clippers are very good defending against guards, and in the paint, they have the ever present DeAndre Jordan and the healthy-again Blake Griffin, so Pierce stands as the beneficiary of the pressure that will be absorbed at the other positions by his teammates. Pierce is averaging just over 28 FD points over his last two outings, and the veteran appears a good candidate to continue his recent stretch of good form.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA, $5,900: Less than two weeks ago, Kidd-Gilchrist put up 41.8 FD points against this very same Kings squad. It's the same Kings and the same Hornets, one plus one still equals two, and Kidd-Gilchrist looks primed for another good effort Friday night.
Power Forward
Paul Millsap, ATL, $7,700: No Serge Ibaka, still no Durant, and possibly no Enes Kanter; the Hawks big men should be in for a big night. Millsap has been the more dominant scoring and rebounding threat, and with the prices nearly identical on FanDuel, Millsap seems the best choice. There will be lots of shots with these teams playing at a high tempo, it'll just be up to Millsap to convert the extra possessions into rebounds and points of his own.
Nikola Mirotic, CHI, $7,000: Mirotic has been nothing short of spectacular of late. Each stat line is beefier than the last, and he capped of his recent run with a 44.8 FD point performance Thursday against the Pacers. His versatility makes him a matchup problem with most teams, and prevents bad matchups with pretty much every team. Listed as a power forward, he's certainly not your typical power forward, seeing much more time playing small forward.
Center
Alexis Ajinca, NO, $4,700: Ajinca's value is entirely dependent on the statuses of Anthony Davis and fellow center Omer Asik. If just one of the two misses, Ajinca is a good target. If both miss, his value climbs to tremendous heights.
Al Jefferson, CHA, $8,000: Jefferson's matchup with the Kings is favorable with or without DeMarcus Cousins. His numbers are on the incline as he continues to look healthier following his knee injury. Obviously, if Cousins does end up sitting out Friday night, look Jefferson to own the paint and all of the fantasy points it provides.
