RADIO
Friday the 12th doesn’t have quite the same ring -- or foreboding ominousness -- as Friday the 13th, so hopefully the calendar quirk will be kind to those fantasy managers who had to sit through the Tyler Herro debacle Thursday. An 11-game slate is on tap, delivering a schedule chock full of fresh matchups, many of which are intra-conference showdowns.
One that isn’t is the clash between Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic, which will take center stage on national television. As of Thursday night, the Pelicans and Mavericks are slated for the highest total on the board (233.5), with players in that matchup sure to garner an extra look, the least of whom should be the aforementioned duo of All-Stars.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/12/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor globally, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
DraftKings DFS Guards
Russell Westbrook - PG, WAS vs. NY ($9,000)
To this point in the season, it has consistently been Westbrook’s absences during back-to-backs that have propelled Bradley Beal’s DFS appeal forward; on Friday, the roles will reverse, as Beal is set to rest for the first time this season. Given that Westbrook is yet to play without Beal available this year, his exact usage is a rough estimate, but even given the strength of the Knicks’ defense, Westbrook possesses GPP appeal in droves.
After kicking off the year with three straight triple-doubles, Westbrook’s production has stagnated, averaging 16.3 PPG over his last four contests. But not surprisingly, Westbrook’s DFS key comes from his minutes allotment; when getting at least 30 minutes per game this year, he is .4 of a rebound shy of averaging a triple-double. Having racked up 34 minutes against Toronto on Wednesday, the lack of depth for the D.C. backcourt puts him firmly in line for a sizable workload, and thus DraftKings consideration.
Lonzo Ball - PG, NO @ DAL ($6,700)
Ball is playing like a man headed toward free agency. That’s far from being a knock, but for those who have seen Ball languish at stops along the way thus far in his career recognize that this latest iteration of the eldest member of the Ball clan is a serious offense and defensive threat.
Since the calendar flipped to February, Ball has shot 51.2 percent from deep, averaging 3.7 triples made. In his last six contests, he has averaged 17.3 points, 5.8 boards, and 4.3 assists, scoring in double figures each time out. After some sporadic performances earlier in the year, Ball looks healthy, which should work in his favor against a Mavericks defense that has been torpedoed by both Stephen Curry and Trae Young over the past week, showing their difficulties at slowing opposing PGs.
Ricky Rubio - PG, MIN @ CHA ($6,000)
Those fantasy managers who also dabble in season-long formats are aware of the flummoxing start to the season that Rubio has gotten off to. Fortunately, come Friday, he’ll retain his spot in the starting five with D'Angelo Russell (leg) unavailable. Starting hasn’t always boosted Rubio’s upside this year, as he is averaging just 1.4 points and .6 assists more when hearing his name called pre-game; but it’s the return of Karl-Anthony Towns to play alongside him that slingshots Rubio’s name onto this list.
Having logged just his third double-digit assist game of the season Wednesday in Towns’ return, the chemistry with the team’s leading scorer is evident. After going 16 games without making a three, Rubio has knocked down a trio of triples over his last two contests. He still hasn’t scored in double figures during 2021 -- which makes him more of a cash contest consideration -- but he has averaged 27.8 minutes in his last five games, and Russell’s absence should funnel the ball into Rubio’s hands nearly every possession in which he’s on the floor.
Gary Trent Jr. - PG/SG, POR vs. CLE ($5,800)
Upside is the name of the game for Trent. Far and away the largest beneficiary statistically from C.J. McCollum’s (foot) absence, Trent has become a nightly threat to erupt, averaging 19.3 points and 4.3 made triples per game since joining the starting five.
Having dipped below 28 DK points just once in his last nine outings, Trent’s cash floor is supremely stable due to his role in the offense, with that same aggressiveness making him a high-upside GPP option.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Grayson Allen - SG/SF, MEM @ LAL ($4,100)
When Brandon Clarke (calf) went down, Desmond Bane (personal) got slotted into the starting five. Now, Bane is out Friday, paving the way for Allen to become the team’s premier three-point threat against the Lakers. Whether or not Allen enters the starting five is essentially irrelevant, as the multiple absences on the wing for Memphis mean that in the wake of hoisting a season-high 12 threes his last time out, Allen will likely be tasked with a similar workload.
Even with a four-game absence sprinkled in, Allen is averaging three made triples per contest over his last six games, shooting 47.4 percent from behind the arc in that span. Five of those games have seen him score in double figures.
Semi Ojeleye - SF/PF, BOS vs. DET ($3,100)
With Boston head coach Brad Stevens continuously tinkering with the starting five in the wake of Marcus Smart’s (calf) absence, Ojeleye was tabbed to make his second start of the year Thursday. That ended with him dropping a career-high 24 points and drilling six threes. Needless to say, at $3,100, he’s firmly in the crosshairs of nearly every manager making a lineup Friday.
What makes Ojeleye’s offensive eruption all the more surprising was that he had not exceeded the six-point plateau in his last 12 games, in which he shot just 28.6 percent overall in that span. But seeing as Detroit yields the opposition to shoot 39.1 percent from behind the arc -- the fourth-highest mark in the league -- Ojeleye has near-lock potential in cash formats.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Vucevic - C, ORL @ SAC ($9,400)
We highlight opponents who square off with the Kings a lot in this column, and with good reason. But combine the fact that Vucevic is producing at an MVP-level rate with the fact that Sacramento has been eviscerated by opposing centers this season (59.8 points per contest, second-highest in the league) and we’ve got arguably the top value play on the board despite his price tag.
Over his last six games, Vucevic is snatching up 14.5 rebounds on a nightly basis. Now he faces off against a group that possesses the second-lowest defensive rebounding rate (75.3) in the league, all while on the heels of having gone for at least 25 points in three of his last four outings. With Orlando potentially massively understaffed again Friday, Vuecevic and Terrence Ross are likely to handle enormous workloads, which is a positive against any team, but especially Sacramento.
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