This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for a 10-game slate Friday night, and even with some big names on the injury report, a few at least have a 50/50 chance of suiting up. And while there are many players with five-figure salaries, there are plenty of appealing value plays to allow for superstars to be selected.
Slate Overview
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The big slate mostly shapes up as competitive if point spreads are an indicator, with just one double-digit favorite in the Celtics. There should also be a few environments conducive to DFS production with the minimum projected total listed at 223.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Stephen Curry, GSW (shoulder): OUT
Curry's absence will naturally open up a massive amount of usage for the remainder of the starting five and lock Jordan Poole into a starting role.
Anthony Davis, LAL (back): PROBABLE
Davis is expected to go and continue playing through his back tightness.
LeBron James, LAL (ankle): PROBABLE
James should suit up and play through his mild ankle soreness.
Rudy Gobert, MIN (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Gobert sits, Naz Reid will be due for a start at center.
D'Angelo Russell, MIN (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Russell can't go, Austin Rivers could be due for a start at point guard.
Other notable injuries:
Dejounte Murray, ATL (ankle): OUT
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (calf): OUT
Andrew Wiggins, GSW (groin): OUT
John Collins, ATL (ankle): OUT
Clint Capela (calf): OUT
Tyrese Maxey, PHI (foot): OUT
OG Anunoby, TOR (hip): OUT
Wendell Carter, ORL (foot): OUT
Michael Porter, DEN (heel): OUT
Elite Players
We have nine players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to suit up on Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($12,200), Luka Doncic ($12,000), Anthony Davis ($11,800), Joel Embiid ($11,500), Jayson Tatum ($10,800), LeBron James ($10,600), James Harden ($10,300), Kevin Durant ($10,300) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,200).
The entire group of elite options is reasonably healthy, and each player can offer at least a 5x return on salaries. That applies even to the highest-end options of Jokic and Doncic, with the former having posted 78 and 81 FD points in his last two games and Doncic having scored at least 60.1 FD points on 12 occasions already this season.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Trae Young, ATL ($9,800)
Young is always popular, but especially with the Hawks still missing Dejounte Murray and John Collins.
Damian Lillard, POR ($9,700)
Lillard just scored between 52.6 and 67.8 FD points in three of the last four, which should keep him in plenty of lineups.
Tyrese Haliburton, IND ($9,400)
Haliburton has produced 40.9 to 56.9 FD points in four of the last five, and that will make him a popular choice.
Jordan Poole, GSW ($7,700)
Poole will take on a big usage bump with Stephen Curry sidelined and should handle primary ball-handling duties.
Klay Thompson, GSW ($7,300)
Similar to Poole, Thompson should be very popular considering the enhanced usage he'll enjoy without Curry on the floor.
Key Values
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL at CHA ($6,000)
Bogdanovic has progressively shaken off rust since his delayed season debut and has had to jump right into an elevated role due to Dejounte Murray's absence. Bogdanovic has shot 51.9 percent, including 50.0 percent from three-point range, over his last three games while averaging 36.1 FD points. The sharpshooter gets an appealing matchup Friday, as the Hornets have allowed the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to two-guards (25.3). Charlotte has also given up bloated 43.6 percent three-point shooting in the last three and 44 FD points per game to shooting guards over the last seven.
Onyeka Okongwu, ATL at CHA ($5,200)
Okongwu will take over starting center duties Friday with Clint Capela sidelined, and the big man checks in having recorded 30.2 FD points in 26 minutes against the Magic on Wednesday night after Capela exited early. He also put up 26.5 against the Grizzlies the previous game in a spot start, and has been at 20.5 or higher in 13 of 28 appearances despite only drawing a pair of starts during that sample. Meanwhile, the Hornets have facilitated production to centers all season by allowing an NBA-high 60.8 FD points per game and a league-high 35.3 offensive efficiency rating to the position.
Malik Monk, SAC at DET ($5,000)
Monk makes for a very interesting tournament play against a Pistons squad that's given up the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to second-unit players (45.2) and 47.9 percent shooting in that split. What's more, he could actually draw a start Friday with Kevin Huerter sporting a questionable tag due to an ankle injury, and the Pistons are surrendering the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to two-guards (23.2) along with the third-most FD points to the position (44.2). Detroit is also yielding 37.5 percent shooting from three-point range on its home floor, furthering Monk's case.
ALSO CONSIDER: Malcolm Brogdon, BOS vs. ORL ($5,600); Donte DiVincenzo, GSW at PHI ($5,300)
