Friday night on the hardwood delivers a huge 11-game slate of NBA action. There is something for everyone on this slate. If you want a lot of action, then the potential high-scoring shootout between the Wizards and Sixers (235 Vegas total) is worth a look. If you want to just watch some NBA and chill, then maybe the potential blowouts between the Hawks/Thunder (13.5-point favorite) or Cavaliers/Celtics (12.5-point favorite) will be up your alley. If you want suspense, then consider keeping an eye on the injury situations leading up to tip off like in Houston with Chris Paul. So, pick your favorite genre and enjoy your Friday night!

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

James Harden (PG/SG – HOU): $11,700 @ SA
As long as Chris Paul sits out another game, James Harden is locked in as my one-stud of the night on Friday. Harden has been crushing it with Paul out the last three games, averaging 39.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 14.3 assists and 3.3 steals for an absurd 77.9 DK points per game. He’ll face the Spurs who aren’t the same team defensively as year’s past, but I don’t think it would matter for Harden anyway right now. If Paul does suit up then I’m more open to the idea of rostering Russell Westbrook, LeBron James or Joel Embiid as my one stud.

Core Plays

Andre Drummond (C – DET): $9,400 vs. CHI
Drummond just has to step on the court and he instantly records a double-double. Now give him a very favorable matchup against the Bulls who have given up double-digit increases in points (+13.6%) and rebounds (+10.0%) to opposing centers this season and it feels like a 20/20 night which I like to call “a Drummond”, which he has already accomplished six times in 18 games this season.

Ben Simmons (PG/SF – PHI): $8,500 vs. WAS
The Wizards/Sixers matchup comes in with the highest Vegas total on Friday’s slate, so it would probably be wise to get a piece of the game into your DFS lineups. Ben Simmons is the guy that has my interest the most. I love his multi-position eligibility that allows you to play a PG at your SF slot. He has topped 41 DraftKings points in five of his last six games as he has settled into how to play with Jimmy Butler in the mix. And finally, the Wizards have been dominated by opposing PGs this season giving up increased production across the board in points (+17.9%), rebounds (+2.2%), assists (+14.7%) and steals (+4.0%). Sounds like a triple-double could be coming.

Markieff Morris (SF/PF – WAS): $5,500 @ PHI
On the other side of the Wizards/Sixers tilt, I’ll take a more of a Cyber Monday approach and look for a discount with Markieff Morris. Morris has exceeded 31 DraftKings points in four straight games as the Wizards play more small-ball with Dwight Howard out. During that stretch, he is averaging over 32 minutes a night with 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The DvP matchup numbers aren’t ideal for Morris but at his current salary and minutes expectation, he should more than pay off his salary while playing in the game with the highest Vegas total.

Marcus Morris (SF/PF – BOS): $5,400 vs. CLE
Keeping it in the family, I’ll tout Markieff’s twin brother, Marcus Morris for Friday’s slate. He has played 30 minutes in three of his last four games while averaging 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in those three 30-minute outings. He should get at least 30 minutes on Friday night with Al Horford and Jaylen Brown already ruled out for their matchup with the Cavaliers. Morris gets a 4.9% usage bump with Horford and Brown off the court this season and the Cavaliers allow opposing SFs to score 8.6% more points per game than average, so you do the math.

Value Plays

Ryan Arcidiacono (PG – CHI): $4,400 @ DET
There is a nice collection of cheap value options on the big Friday slate which helps make it possible to get multiple high-priced studs into your DFS lineup. Ryan Arcidiacono has been getting the minutes for a while now with at least 29 in 11 straight games. It appears that he is finally becoming more comfortable with his role and the NBA as he has scored 22 points in back-to-back games to set and match his career-high. At least we know the minutes will be there as he’ll look to three-peat the feat on Friday against the Pistons in Detroit.

Jonathan Isaac (PF – ORL): $4,400 @ PHO
Isaac has benefited from Aaron Gordon‘s injury the last couple of games. Assuming Gordon remains out on Friday against the Suns, Isaac should see another 30 minutes again. Isaac has scored 16 and 15 points respectively in his last two games and has the ability to chip in a few more rebounds and blocks in a pace up spot for the Magic in Phoenix.

Aron Baynes (C – BOS): $3,200 vs. CLE
I mentioned earlier that Al Horford will be out for Friday’s game as the Celtics play the first game of a back-to-back set. Aron Baynes should be the main beneficiary to absorb a bunch of Horford’s minutes. Last season in the 10 games that Horford missed, Baynes averaged 24 minutes while putting up 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game on his way to 24.9 DK points a night which was 10 points higher than with Horford playing. With a near minimum salary, I’ll take about 25 DK points all night long.

Elie Okobo (PG – PHO): $3,000 vs. ORL
The Suns released Isiah Canaan earlier this week and Elie Okobo seemed to be the biggest benefactor. Okobo played a season-high 32 minutes while scoring 19 points with two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Even if Okobo isn’t the long-term plan, he should get another shot at big minutes on Friday coming off a strong performance like that. He is priced as low as you can go for a home tilt against the Magic, so get him in there and before DraftKings notices him.

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.