This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Friday's 10-game slate features plenty of options to choose from, so I've opted to include one player at each position, plus an honorable mention. Let's get to it.
Point Guard
Ricky Rubio, UTA at TOR ($4,900)
In the four games since Rudy Gobert has returned, Rubio is averaging 26.5 fantasy points on the back of 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steal across 31.5 minutes per game. That's been a trend this season, as Rubio has put up better numbers with Gobert available. In the 26 games Gobert has missed, Rubio has averaged 23.6 fantasy points compared to 27.5 when Gobert was on the floor. The matchup is favorable for Rubio ,as well, with the Raptors coming into Friday giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to point guards over the past 10 games, including the second-most rebounds -- a category in which Rubio excels for his position. I'd avoid deploying him in cash, since his floor is low. He's posted 14 games this season with below 20 fantasy points. His ceiling can pay off nicely in GPPs if you're willing to take the risk, however, as he's eclipsed 35 fantasy points on seven occasions.
Honorable Mention
Eric Bledsoe, MIL vs. BKN ($7,600): 45-plus fantasy point upside against a fast-paced Brooklyn team that gives up the most fantasy points to point guards over the past 10 games.
Shooting Guard
James Harden, HOU at NOP ($11,400)
Harden has played just three games at a nearly-full workload since returning from a hamstring hamstring, averaging 47.3 fantasy points. That's far from ideal, but his most recent performance was what we've come to expect from Harden. He collected 55.5 fantasy points via 25 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, one steal, one block and only one turnover against the Mavericks. On Friday, he'll be going up against the Pelicans, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to shooting guards over the past 10 outings. He torched New Orleans the last time the two teams matched up, recording 67.7 fantasy points by way of 26 points, 17 assists, six steals and one rebound.
Honorable Mention
Courtney Lee, NYK at PHO ($5,100): Averaging 28.4 fantasy points over his past five outings and is going up against the Suns, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards over the past 10 games.
Small Forward
LeBron James, CLE vs. IND ($10,900)
It's not exactly a secret that the Cavaliers, along with LeBron himself, have been struggling lately. The King has averaged only 42.9 fantasy points over the past seven games, including three games under 35. That said, it's hard not to highlight the fact that James is at his fourth-lowest price of the season and will be going up against a Pacers team he's enjoyed beating up on thus far. In the teams' three matchups, LeBron has averaged 58.9 fantasy points by way of 29.7 points, 10.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and just over a block per game. This is certainly the most volatile stretch of the fantasy season for James, so avoiding him in cash may be the way to go. But, in a GPP where upside is the goal, it's tough to ignore his 15 games of 60-plus fantasy points.
Honorable Mention
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. NYK ($7,000): Disclaimer: This is contingent on Warren playing without a minutes restriction. Prior to seeing just 24 minutes in a blowout loss against the Pacers, Warren had averaged 36.2 fantasy points over his prior eight games and the Knicks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to small forwards over the past 10 games.
Power Forward
Anthony Davis, NOP vs. HOU ($11,500)
Davis has struggled a bit as of late, averaging just 44.5 fantasy points over the past four contests. His fortunes could change Friday, as the Pelicans will be matched up against a Rockets team that allows the fourth-most fantasy points to power forwards over the past 10 games and will have to resort to defending Davis' elite length and athleticism with the likes of Ryan Anderson, P.J. Tucker and Trevor Ariza.
The two teams haven't met this season, though Davis didn't have much trouble with Houston last season, averaging 26.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a combined 3.0 steals/blocks across 33.6 minutes per game. Personally, I usually avoid Davis in cash considering his floor of about 35 fantasy points. But, for GPPs, his 65-plus fantasy point upside coupled with the matchup is hard to ignore.
Honorable Mention
Larry Nance, LAL at CHI ($5,600): Averaging 32.5 fantasy points over his past five games and the Bulls allow the fifth-most fantasy points to power forwards over the past 10 games.
Center
Rudy Gobert, UTA at TOR ($7,800)
In his first four games back from injury, Gobert hasn't missed a beat, averaging 38.3 fantasy points in just 31.0 minutes per game on the back of 15.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and a combined 4.1 blocks/steals. His rebounding numbers certainly have room to grow as well, as he posted 12.8 boards per contest last season. He'll look to keep his momentum going as the Jazz travel to Toronto to play the Raptors, who allow the sixth-most fantasy points to centers over the past 10 games, including the third-most actual points. Gobert seems like a safe play in both cash and tournaments, as he's slipped below 30 fantasy points just four times this season while seeing at least 28 minutes. As far as his upside, he's passed the 45 fantasy point mark on four occasions and has a high ceiling considering is propensity for blocked shots, which are worth three fantasy points apiece.
Honorable Mention
Kevin Love, CLE vs. IND ($7,100): This is his fourth-lowest price of the season and prior to his two most-recent outings -- including one in which he was sick and a second in which he still may have been recovering -- he was averaging 34.8 fantasy points over his past four games. Should have low ownership in GPPs.
