NBA FanDuel top 5 plays is back for a loaded Friday Night DFS slate and we are here to help you navigate it!
The NBA is hooking us up with a nice 10 game NBA FanDuel slate tonight after just a 3 game slate last night.  Last night wasn’t a bad night to play though, the 3 games we had were good for DFS purposes.  I really like the way the slate looks tonight as well.  We have a ton of super stars to choose from and most of them are in really good match-ups.  It seems like a great night to go more balanced over the stars and scrubs approach, especially in cash games.
There is no shortage of expected high scoring games tonight.  The lowest total on the board is the Memphis Grizzlies visiting the Dallas Mavericks at 190.  The rest of the games have a total over 200 points.  The highest total on the board is 225 held by the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Phoenix Suns.  Not too far behind at 220 we have the Boston Celtics visiting the Los Angeles Lakers.  The final game currently over 215 is the New York Knicks at the Philadelphia 76ers at 216.  You should definitely look to take players from those games, but there will also be plenty of options elsewhere if you choose to fade any of those games.  Let’s get to it and see who I’m willing to pay up for and who I’m fading in GPP’s.
NBA FanDuel: Top GPP Spend and Fade
Isaiah Thomas – $9,800
The Lakers give up the 3rd most FDP’s to point guards on the season, and have given up the most over the past week.  There is a small chance Thomas could go a little under owned tonight as well.  There are 4 other viable point guards in his price range.  Westbrook is $13K, and always has to be considered in all formats.
The other popular players could be John Wall at $9,900 and Chris Paul at $9,600, both of those guys could be higher owned than Thomas.  I also think the return of Avery Bradley is moving people off of Thomas, but I’m going to roll the dice on him in GPP’s.
Russell Westbrook – $13,000Â
This was a very tough decision because there are plenty of options to make him fit, but I’m fading Westbrook in GPP’s.  Westbrook is one of the best players in the NBA and draws a fantastic match-up against the Phoenix Suns.  He should have no problem doing whatever he wants in this one.  I would not be surprised if he scored 60+ FDP’s.  I just like the way things look when I save the $3.2K and pivot down to Thomas.  I can use that savings and still pay up for 1 or 2 more higher priced guys.  I’m sticking to my gut and going with a more balanced lineup on my main tournament team, Westbrook doesn’t make that work.  Now let’s take a look at my cash game lock and GPP flier.
NBA FanDuel: Cash Game Lock and GPP Flier
D’Angelo Russell – $6,400
Despite how well Isaiah Thomas is on the offensive side of the ball, his defense is neat the bottom of the league.  Since the trade of Lou Williams, Russell has seen his minutes go up in the mid 30’s.  With the added minutes comes the added production, and makes him a nice cash game option tonight.  You can pair him with anyone higher priced point guard you choose and still make a pretty solid cash game lineup.  I think he reaches 5x value and scores in the mid 30’s with some upside still with that price.  I will be locking him in my cash games tonight.
Khris Middleton – $5,300
His price doesn’t exactly scream GPP flier, but this is likely the cheapest I am going on any player tonight.  With the injury to Beasley I think Middleton will see his minutes go up, and if you played NBA DFS last season you know Middleton is a solid producer.  He has 40 point upside for under $6K, I’ll take that any day.  He could be a pretty popular play tonight, but he makes a ton of others fit and could outscore many that are priced above him.  The Clippers have been one of the worst teams defending opposing small forwards on the season and that should continue to be true tonight.  Middleton is also safe enough to use in cash games if you choose to go that route.  Now let’s see who is tonight’s PayMaker.
NBA FanDuel: Top Pay Maker
Kristaps Porzingis $6,700
After taking a couple of games off for a sprained ankle, Porzingis made his return last game out against the Orlando Magic and put up 34.8 FDP’s in 33 minutes.  I think his ankle is good to go, and with how banged up the Knicks are in the front court Porzingis should get a full run in this one.
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The 76ers are one of the worst teams defending both the power forward and center positions in the NBA, which plays right in to Porzingis. Â The Knicks are a 2 point favorite on the road in Philly, and we already discussed the total in this one. Â I think the 76ers find a way to keep this one close, but Porzingis should have his way. Â He has 50 point upside and it would not surprise me if he got there in this one.
Once again I will be mainly playing cash games tonight with the amount of games in play.  I will be using 85% of my entries in cash games and 15% in GPP’s.  We won’t have a short slate the rest of the weekend so I plan on using these next few nights to stay a little conservative and mainly play cash games.  Be sure to get on twitter and follow @fantasycpr and myself, @Bruce_Lamb, for updates throughout the day.  I will also share my main cash and main GPP lineup before lock tonight.  Good Luck!
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