FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Friday 8/14/20

Friday marks the final slate of NBA seeding games, which means the playoffs are right around the corner.

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach -- and that's especially the case now.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy NBA is very reliant on opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's take a look at who you should target on Friday's four-game main slate, which locks at 1:30 PM ET.

Keep in mind that the teams have nothing to play for, which can complicate matters considerably. Think of it like Week 17 of the NFL season, except that the slate is made up only of teams that have already clinched.

Point Guard

Austin Rivers ($4,900) has averaged 31.7 minutes over his last four games, and that number could increase with Westbrook out -- Houston could also very well rest their starters. Rivers could be relied upon for a big role and has already displayed what he can do with such opportunity, posting 57.2 points on Sunday.

I'd be tempted to go with Goran Dragic ($5,700) -- if he's active. Dragic has already had 11 games where he's posted 30 or more FanDuel points in fewer than 30 minutes -- that's the kind of production we'll need. On that same note, Chris Paul ($7,200) could also be worth rostering. Paul has played 23.8 minutes in each of the last two, averaging 29.5 fantasy points in those contests. Since the restart, Paul has had performances of 39.9 fantasy points in 21.1 minutes, 40.5 fantasy points in 27.6 minutes, and 32.5 in 23.8 minutes.

Aaron Holiday ($4,300) is our model's current top projected value at point. Holiday's already had performances of 35.0, 27.4, and 34.7 in the bubble, and he should be able to add to that if (when) he gets big minutes. He's averaged 30.8 minutes per game in his 11 contests with 30-plus fantasy point outputs.

Shooting Guard

Alec Burks ($4,200) is our model's top projected play at the two-guard spot. Burks has averaged 30.4 fantasy points over his last three, and he'd need just 21.0 points to reach 5X value (or 5.0 fantasy points for every $1,000 in salary). James Harden ($11,500) cares as much about his stats as any player in the league (sorry, Daryl Morey), which makes him one of the more likely studs to see real minutes. In the bubble, Harden has dropped performances of 88.8, 57.9, 68.6. 60.1, and 81.9 -- that's a 71.5 fantasy point average in five of his six games. Yeepers.

Tyler Herro ($5,300) is one of my favorite plays on the slate. In his last four, Herro has scored 30.3, 47.6, 28.0, and 45.2, respectively. He should get plenty of usage in a meaningless game for the Miami Heat. It wouldn't surprise me if Los Angeles Clippers' head coach Doc Rivers continues to try and get Lou Williams ($5,300) back into regular-season form. Williams has scored 33.1 and 36.9 fantasy points in his last two, without reaching 25 minutes in either contest.

Small Forward

Darius Bazley ($5,200) is my favorite play at the position. In his last three, Bazley has posted 34.9, 43.5, and 42.8 fantasy points. Look for him to keep that going against the Clippers.

Eric Gordon ($4,000) is someone worth considering at small forward, since the Rockets may look to get him acclimated in what would be just his second game since early March. Gordon's always a good bet to light it up from downtown. Justin Holiday ($4,600) is fresh off a 35.7-point performance against the Rockets and has done well when he's received volume.

numberFire's models really like OG Anunoby ($4,100). Anunoby could have a large role if the Raptors look to rest their regulars.

Power Forward

The Denver Nuggets' offense seemed to run through Jerami Grant ($4,800) toward the latter half of Wednesday's contest when they were resting their starters. Grant has posted at least 30.9 FanDuel points in three of his last four, and at least 25.6 in all four. Look for him to keep feasting.

I could see Marcus Morris ($4,200) and JaMychal Green ($3,700) getting plenty of run for the Clips. Our model has them as the best and sixth-best values at the position, respectively. Mike Scott ($3,800) could see plenty of usage for the 76ers.

I don't see any of the studs at power forward getting much run -- if they're active at all.

Center

Ivica Zubac ($5,600) has quietly been one of the most consistent fantasy players in the bubble. Zubac has averaged 33.0 FanDuel points over his last six games, not scoring less than 29.3 in any of those contests. What's even better is the fact that Zubac didn't play more than 24.7 minutes in any of those games.

Do the 76ers have any reason to play Joel Embiid ($8,500)? I can't imagine so.

If Nikola Jokic ($8,300) were to sit, I'd be very interested in rostering Mason Plumlee ($3,600). Plumlee averages 1.09 fantasy points per minute with Jokic off the court this season.