This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features five games. Read on to see which players stand out from the pack as options to target at their respective valuations. FanDuel's format only counts the eight highest scores in your nine-player lineup, so keep that in mind when making your selections.
POINT GUARD
Kadeem Allen, NY vs. BOS ($3,500): With Trey Burke, Courtney Lee and Tim Hardaway – along with the injured Kristaps Porzingis – heading to Dallas via trade, the Knicks are short on bodies in the backcourt as both Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) and Frank Ntilikina (groin) are both sidelined by injury. Even if the incoming ex-Mavericks are ready to make their debuts, Allen should get plenty of minutes, making him a strong fantasy commodity at just $3,500. He's demonstrated the capacity to put up solid per-minute production, averaging 17.2 fantasy points in 18 minutes per game in his first two appearances since getting called up from the G League.
Terry Rozier, BOS at NY ($7,600): Rozier's been tremendous in the three games Kyrie Irving's missed with a hip injury, contributing 19.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 7.7 APG and 2.0 steals per game. There's little reason for the Celtics to rush Irving back to a full workload against a Knicks team that's lost 11 games in a row and 19 of 20. Even if Irving returns, Rozier should see plenty of run with the Celtics likely to pull away from their tanking opponents.
SHOOTING GUARD
Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. ATL ($8,800): Mitchell's the engine that drives Utah's offense. He's poured in 29.1 PPG over the past 13 games, and scoring isn't all the sophomore stud's good for with a 4.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in that stretch. The sky's the limit for Mitchell offensively at home against a Hawks team that's allowing a league-high 117.9 points per game.
Monte Morris, DEN vs. HOU ($4,500): Morris has earned the majority of minutes in Jamal Murray's (ankle) absence with tremendous play. He posted 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists over 40 minutes in Denver's last game Wednesday, and Morris is set up for another productive outing with Murray already ruled out for this one.
SMALL FORWARD
Kevin Knox, NY vs. BOS ($5,000): Knox should be another short-term beneficiary of the Knicks' recent trade, as he should soak up a lot of the offensive volume left behind by Hardaway's departure. Already averaging 18.0 PPG in his past two games, Knox – who's scored as many as 31 points in game during his up-and-down rookie campaign – is likely to take his scoring up another notch with Tim Chuck-away gone.
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. MEM ($5,100): Batum's versatile skill set gives him a high floor relative to his modest valuation, having eclipsed 20 fantasy points in each of his past nine games. The Frenchman won't carry fantasy lineups to victory on his own, but he's a sensible choice for owners looking to save up for some of this slate's more expensive options. It helps that most Charlotte players usually perform notably better at home, as the Hornets are 17-8 at home and just 7-18 on the road.
POWER FORWARD
Jaren Jackson, MEM at CHA ($5,900): While he still needs to gain consistency on the offensive end, Jackson has fit in well with the Grizzlies' proud defensive culture by averaging 0.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game this season. The rookie fourth overall pick's success in the latter category is likely to grow even further against a Charlotte team that gets blocked a league-high 6.7 times per game – with no other team sitting above 6.1. Jackson's capable of the odd offensive outburst as well, having eclipsed 20 points twice in the past eight games while averaging 14.5 PPG over that span. Just make sure quad soreness doesn't keep Jackson out before deploying him.
Paul Millsap, DEN vs. HOU ($5,400): Millsap doesn't have the gaudy offensive upside of fellow Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic, but he also comes at a fraction of the price. Both guys should thrive against a Houston front court that doesn't offer much resistance with Clint Capela sidelined by a thumb injury. The 34 minutes Millsap logged against a similarly beat up Pelicans front court Wednesday represented his second-highest total of the season, so he should once against see plenty of run here.
CENTER
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. ATL ($9,200): Like Mitchell, Gobert is primed to take advantage of Atlanta's porous defense. Known for his defensive prowess, the French big man is in the midst of his best season on the other end, averaging career highs in PPG at 15.0, RPG at 12.8 and APG at 2.2. You can also count on the Stifle Tower to contribute on the defensive end, where he's chipping in 0.9 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.
