Today’s DFS Delivery brought to you by Panos Angelidakis (@PKerkidas on Twitter)

Welcome to the DFS Delivery, the article that helps you build your DFS lineups.

There are nine games in the NBA for Friday’s slate and since there are fewer players are in protocols, we can plan a little bit better ahead, instead of completely running before lock to put in lineups with random players. Still, there are plenty of Q tags again, which means that we might get some news that will alter our top or value plays, so as always, be up to date with all the relevant news.

With that said, let’s check out my favorite picks at the moment.

Player Tiers

Expensive Tier

Joel Embiid ($11,200) – Embiid has been playing his mind out at the start of 2022, averaging 55.5 fantasy points in 150 minutes of play and having a 43.2% usage rate during that span! On top of that, he loves playing the Celtics, having 56.5 and 72.5 DK points in his 2 games against them this season. He is clear that top player to pay up for tonight, just set and forget.

Luka Doncic ($10,900) – Kristaps is still out and although Luka’s season has not been the same as last year, he is still having a massive usage rate and has been playing better off lately, surpassing the 60 fantasy points mark twice in 2022 already. The Grizzlies are on a back-to-back, so that’s a plus for Luka, who has proven that he is matchup proof either way.

Mid-Tier

De’Aaron Fox ($7,600) – Fox has been averaging 24 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game in the last two weeks, and tonight he is facing the Houston Rockets, who currently allow the most DK points to point guards and play at the second-fastest pace in the NBA. If the Kings are going to do something with their season, it is going to start now, since they just won the Lakers and they are facing the Rockets twice and the Pistons, all at home. So, I am expecting an aggressive Fox, and that’s what we want from him if he is going to pay his salary.

Evan Mobley ($7,300) – Mobley has got to be the ROY this season right? He is an amazing basketball player and one of the main reasons that the Cavs are having such a great season. Fantasy-wise, only the Warriors have held him under 30 DraftKings points since his return from the COVID protocols on December 28. During that span of eight games, he has at least 38 fantasy points with the exception of the Warriors game. One could argue that the ceiling is not that high with him but tonight he is facing the Spurs, so I like my chances there.

Gordon Hayward ($6,900) – Hayward had 30 points in Wednesday’s game against the 76ers, reminding us that he is still here (well not me, because I have kept rostering him all season long). He has taken a step back this season and let LaMelo and Bridges run the show but he is a capable scorer and an all-around player, something that helps his lack of scoring on some nights. Tonight he is facing the Magic, an excellent matchup for him, and since the Magic will have some players coming back for injury, this game might actually be close enough where we will get 32-35 minutes out of him.

Value

Otto Porter ($4,700) – The Warriors won’t have Draymond Green or Klay Thompson tonight and although Porter only played 14 minutes last night, I expect him to play more tonight. If that’s the case, getting us there shouldn’t be an issue and I really have to mention the revenge narrative here, with him facing his former team.

Chimezie Metu ($4,300) – Metu is mostly a DK play, since he is a PF there and not a C, like on FD. He got back into the starting lineup against the Lakers on Wednesday and finished north of 7x value on DK and at about 6.5x on FD, so I am guessing that he will stay there against the Rockets tonight, a fast-paced team, that allows a lot of points for the PF position.

De’Andre Hunter ($3,400) – Hunter returned to the lineup for the first time since November and scored 21.75 DK points in 24 minutes. He is priced at $3,400 and has a ton of upside at this price. He hadn’t been playing well when healthy earlier in the season, but there is a strong possibility that the Hawks will be shorthanded tonight since Cam Reddish was traded to the Knicks and Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter are questionable. But either way, Hunter will get at least 24 minutes tonight and that will get us there regardless, at this price.

Honorable Mentions: LaMelo Ball ($8,900), Christian Wood ($7,400), Jordan Poole ($5,000), Harrison Barnes ($5,500), Cody Martin ($4,000).