This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate offers no shortage of exciting action, with eight games on tap after 7:00 PM Eastern time. Read on to see which players are primed to provide the best bang for the buck 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
Ben Simmons, PHI vs. SAC ($9,800): Simmons is a triple-double threat every time out, averaging 17.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 7.9 APG to go with 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. No opponent helps players run up their stat totals more than Sacramento, as the Kings play the league's fastest pace at 104.5. Sacramento's also finishing out the second leg of a road back-to-back, and is thus unlikely to offer significant resistance against Simmons. Just make sure the illness he's been dealing with recently doesn't keep him out.
Derrick White, SA vs. NY ($7,200): If you throw out White's March 10 clunker against Milwaukee, he's averaging 42.8 fantasy points over the other six recent games, scoring at least 36.6 in each. The Knicks represent the polar opposite of the Bucks, as New York sits at the bottom of the league standings at 13-55 while Milwaukee's on top at 51-17. New York also has one of the league's five worst defensive ratings at 112.4, so White should have no problem maintaining his strong recent form here.
SHOOTING GUARD
James Harden, HOU vs. PHO ($12,500): If you can save up enough at other positions to get Harden into your lineup, it's recommended you do so. The bearded guard has the potential to singlehandedly carry lineups to victory in this highly favorable matchup. Phoenix has the league's second-worst defensive rating at 113.4 overall and gives up 118.9 points per game on the road - 0.1 better than Washington's league-worst mark. Plus, opposing shooting guard Devin Booker is about as far as it gets from a defensive stopper.
Damyean Dotson, NY at SA ($5,800): New York may not win many games, but the Knicks have some interesting young pieces on the roster, including Dotson. The second-year sharpshooter has gotten a chance to strut his stuff over the past four games, averaging a well-rounded 16.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 4.3 APG in 36 minutes per game while sinking four triples in each of the last two. New York has little reason to cut the wing's minutes moving forward, so Dotson should continue to outperform his $5,800 valuation.
SMALL FORWARD
Danilo Gallinari, LAC vs. CHI ($7,200): After sitting out the second leg of a back-to-back for rest purposes Tuesday, a fresh Gallinari should pick up right where he left off before sitting. In the five previous contests, the Italian forward averaged 24.2 PPG to go with 6.6 RPG. He has a nice chance to exceed those robust averages against a Bulls team that's one of six in the league with a defensive rating worse than 112.0.
Harrison Barnes, SAC at PHI ($5,500): Marvin Bagley returned from a knee injury Thursday but played only 19 minutes and is unlikely to ramp up his workload much in the second leg of a back-to-back. This should leave most of the power forward minutes to Barnes, who's racked up at least 35 minutes of floor time in each of the past eight games. Barnes has made the most of his extended run, chipping in at least 15 points six times while adding 7.0 RPG and 1.3 steals per game. That's great production from a guy who can be had for just $5,500.
POWER FORWARD
Frank Kaminsky, CHA at WAS ($4,200): Kaminsky continues to be a great cheap value play, and owners are going to need a few such guys to afford the likes of Harden. The floor-stretching big man has poured in 15 or more points in five of his last six games, adding 4.8 RPG over that span. He should continue to put the ball in the basket at a high rate against a Wizards team that plays fast and struggles to defend. Washington has the league's fifth-worst defensive rating at 112.2 and eighth-fastest pace at 102.6.
Blake Griffin, DET vs. LAL ($8,400): Griffin's underperformed in two straight games, but owners who look his way here could be buying low at the start of an upswing. A home date with a Lakers team that's playing the second leg of a back-to-back offers an ideal opportunity for Griffin to overcome his recent malaise. Los Angeles has fallen apart down the stretch, dropping 12 of 16 games since the beginning of February.
CENTER
Jusuf Nurkic, POR at NO ($8,700): Nurkic is averaging a double-double this season, and he's stepped things up a notch with 15.8 PPG and 12.6 RPG over his past five games, in addition to 4.2 APG, a steal per game and a block per game. While his contributions across the board give him a high floor, Nurkic's value comes primarily from his scoring and rebounding prowess. Both of those skills should be on full display against a Pelicans team that's allowed opponents to accumulate 128.3 points and 58.7 rebounds per game in their past three - the worst and fourth-worst marks in the league, respectively, over that span.
