Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Friday's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Building blocks
Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers
I mean c'mon. We are talking about a player who is going to be featured in a high-paced offense and is opposing a Suns team that gave up nearly 100 points on Wednesday to a Blazers team that was missing their second-leading scorer -- through three quarters! Yes, Ingram missed 12 of his 15 shots Thursday night, but I was impressed by his versatility (five rebounds and four assists, he didn't have a game like that until the middle of December last season) and the fact he turned the ball over just once in 31 minutes is a sign of growth. The concern in targeting the Suns this season will be the presence of garbage time, but the wise guys in Vegas aren't expecting that to be the case tonight, as Phoenix is favored -- yes, expected to win -- by three points in a high-scoring affair. Ingram's numbers on the back end of a back-to-back weren't any different than his normal numbers last season and I'll gladly build around him at this price point.-- Kyle Soppe
Larry Nance Jr., Los Angeles Lakers
I was all about Julius Randle as a midround value for season-long leagues -- and he might yet still deliver, since there are 81 games left to play -- but early results reveal it's Nance who could consume the most valuable rebounding opportunities playing aside Brook Lopez in the Lakers' uptempo scheme. With the third-highest implied point total on the slate, this divisional matchup in Phoenix should be rich in possessions and points. Getting cheap avenues into favorable fantasy climates is often advisable, thus I'm pursuing shares of Nance and Brooklyn's Trevor Booker in order to afford high-dollar superstars such as Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis.-- Jim McCormick
He seems like a strange player to build around, but I find that I can pair him with a John Wall or Damian Lillard, mix in Karl-Anthony Towns or Giannis Antetokounmpo, and just generally create a lot of flexibility in lineup construction. I also have the utmost confidence in his ability to reach or exceed value tonight against the Brooklyn Nets in his $7K price range. The fast pace and loose defense he'll encounter tonight should push him over the 38 fantasy points he posted Wednesday.-- Renee Miller
Players to fade
Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves
The opening schedule for the Timberwolves isn't the friendliest for Butler to show what he can add to this team. A poor showing in San Antonio will be followed by a difficult game with the Jazz. Butler is simply too expensive for me, facing good defense and a slower pace of play than he's used to. I expect things to improve, but for tonight when there are myriad SF options above and below him, Butler isn't making my lineups.-- Renee Miller
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
The floor is reasonably high for Drummond in any given game because of his role, but I don't think there's much upside to be had and will therefore be fading Drummond in tournaments tonight. The Wizards are a team I will not be targeting for frontcourt players, as Marcin Gortat is a solid player who will make life difficult and John Wall attacking the rim with reckless abandon leaves the door open for foul trouble. Drummond struggled against Washington last season and given that he is filling the exact same role this season (his usage on Wednesday was right in line with last season's rate), why pay up for this type of risk? On a value basis, either member of the Pelicans' frontcourt is a better investment, and there are even cheaper options (Kevin Love and Al Horford, for example) that I think could out-produce Drummond outright tonight. -- Kyle Soppe
Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers
A daily fantasy darling as a high-usage starter on a depleted Philly roster last spring, Saric is now a complementary playmaker for the 76ers' second unit. This Celtics matchup has very real potential to feature small-ball lineups, which could help Saric see some time at center, but I'm not sure this role near the basket aids his offensive upside, and could even curb his ability to function as a stretch forward. The real issue is a lack of shots and touches given how many more capable contributors this rotation now claims. There will be a time when Saric can again deliver DFS value, but that won't happen until his price lowers a good deal across both marketplaces.-- Jim McCormick
