Friday night in the Association delivers a solid eight-game slate of action. The two highest priced studs on the slate, Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo, both see their teams favored by double-digits. Will this limit their minutes enough that their upside will be capped? Also, it will be just the second game for Jimmy Butler in Philadelphia. He took a backseat to Joel Embiid in the first game, but will he be more assertive on offense in game two? When there is uncertainty like these situations, I tend to avoid those players in my cash game lineups but I definitely want exposure to them in GPPs.

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.

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One Stud

Karl-Anthony Towns (C – MIN): $9,600 vs. POR
Towns has been a monster in his last three games averaging 29.7 points and 18.7 rebounds per game for 53.5 DraftKings points per night. His salary is still under five-figures on Friday night which could allow us to fit in two “high-priced studs” in our cash game lineups. Towns matchup against the Blazers isn’t ideal but he did post a game with 34 points and 17 rebounds against them last season, so the upside is still there in what should be a close, high-scoring affair.

Core Plays

Victor Oladipo (PG/SG – IND): $9,300 vs. MIA
The other “high-priced stud” that I’ll try to fit into my lineup by forgoing the most expensive options is Oladipo. He has exceeded 50 DraftKings points in five of his last six games. His salary has started to rise up toward that level of production, but it is still not there. Oladipo posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists against the Heat last Friday night, so expect similar production again this week at home.

Zach LaVine (PG/SG – CHI): $7,800 @ MIL
LaVine saw his production drop in the Bulls last game but that was a blowout loss to a good defensive team, the Celtics. Prior to that outing, LaVine had exceeded 44 DraftKings points in three of his previous four games. He gets a pace up spot on Friday against the Bucks who have allowed increased production across the board to opposing SGs this season including the second most points, third-most rebounds and second most assists over the last five games.

Kyrie Irving (PG – BOS): $7,700 vs. TOR
Irving has been running hot for the Celtics recently. He has topped 39 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games, including three games with over 50 DK points. Irving’s salary is more than reasonable for that kind of production. He should get heavy usage on Friday night in a potential early season statement game for the Celtics against the Eastern Conference front-running Raptors who beat the Celtics earlier this season.

Robert Covington (SF/PF – MIN): $5,300 vs. POR
It looks like Covington is the new Jimmy Butler in Minnesota after logging a massive 41 minutes in his Timberwolves debut on Wednesday. It will be hard for Covington to not exceed five times his current salary with that kind of court time against the Blazers on Friday. The Blazers have allowed a small increase in points (+2.6%) and rebounds (+10.4%) to opposing SFs this season making Covington an excellent, inexpensive option to fill a tough SF position if you aren’t paying up for the Antetokounmpo and Butler’s of the world.

Value Plays

Derrick Favors (PF/C – UTH): $4,500 @ PHI
Favors in cash games has been a favorite of mine on recent slates. He offers steady production with a value price tag. Favors has exceeded 21 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games which puts him right around five times his current salary. He could get a little boost to his production on Friday against the Sixers who have allowed increased production to PFs in points (+7.0%), rebounds (+12.0%), and assists (+8.6%). Just lock him in for 25-30 DK points in cash games and get your upside elsewhere.

Shelvin Mack (PG/SG – MEM): $4,200 vs. SAC
Mack is another cheap option that has found his way into my cash game lineups on occasion in recent weeks. Mack has played at least 28 minutes in six of his last eight games while averaging 13.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 three-pointers per game for 26.7 DK points per night. Mack and the Grizzlies get a big pace up spot on Friday against the Kings who run at the second highest pace on the season.

Emmanuel Mudiay (PG – NYK): $4,000 @ NO
Well, the last two players were safe, consistent floor options without much upside better suited for cash game lineups. Mudiay is the complete opposite. Mudiay drew the start for the Knicks on Wednesday but played just 21 minutes in a blowout loss to the Thunder. Assuming Mudiay get the start again on Friday, he could fare better against the Pelicans. The Pelicans have allowed increased production to opposing PGs this season in points (+8.6%), assists (+11.9%) and steals (+36.2%) while featuring an up-tempo game that suits Mudiay’s style. He is probably too risky for cash games even if he starts but makes for a potential cheap GPP flier with upside.

Pat Connaughton (SG/SF – MIL): $3,600 vs. CHI
Connaughton has started to work his way into more minutes in the Bucks rotation recently playing at least 18 minutes in each of the last four games including seeing 27 minutes in their last game against the Grizzlies. Connaughton put up 16 points and six rebounds in that outing while chipping in a couple assists, steals and blocks along the way. With Donte DiVincenzo looking doubtful to play on Friday night, Connaughton should secure himself another game with mid-20 minutes and solid all-around production at a very cheap price against the Bulls.

Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.