NBA $8,000 Guaranteed Friday Line-Up

We’re back to five games on the card for Friday’s $8k NBA Draftstars contest, but this is a line-up with a difference. We’re backing in mid-price players in the critical point guard position, and hope our star big men and get the job done. Chris Paul’s absence has also influenced a number of our decisions.

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Here is a team you may consider for the NBA $8k+ Friday competition

Point Guard

Ricky Rubio ($11,650)

After a slow end to 2016 under new coach Tom Thibodeau, Rubio has shone in the early part of 2017. His last five games have seen the mercurial Spaniard find the passing form that originally brought him to fame, collecting 70 assists in that span. This has resulted in him averaging 43 points in his last five outings – a number he will look to continue against the Clippers. Critically for Rubio, the Clippers will be without their best perimeter defender, Chris Paul, which will only make it easier for Rubio to rack up points

Raymond Felton ($6,450)

With Chris Paul out for 6-8 weeks, Felton has taken over the reins as starting Point Guard. In games that he’s started in place of Paul, Felton is averaging 11 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 26.5 fantasy points. Considering he is priced at his average for the entire season (15.5 fantasy points), Felton presents excellent value and should be considered.

Shooting Guard

Eric Bledsoe ($14,100)

The man they call ‘Mini LeBron’ will be wanting to prove he’s deserving of that nickname when he comes up against LeBron’s Cavaliers on Friday. When the two teams met on January 9, Bledsoe put in an excellent performance, leading a spirited Suns comeback and ending with 52.50 fantasy points. In his last game, he put up 56.50 fantasy points against Utah, which should mean that he is primed for another big score in Cleveland.

Austin Rivers ($7,550)

Similarly to Ray Felton, the injury to Chris Paul means that more rotation minutes will be available for Austin Rivers. Since the calendar flipped to 2017, Rivers has not seen his minutes dip below the 30 mark and has capitalised, with two scores over 35 fantasy points. His last six games have seen him average just shy of 29 fantasy points – well clear of his season average (18.4) – and with Chris Paul out, Rivers will only improve on this. Almost a must-have this Friday.

Small Forward

Kawhi Leonard ($16,150)

Kawhi is a monster and at the moment, he is a monster who is in form, averaging 48.9 fantasy points in his last four outings. The Claw has capitalised on a soft run, which included Minnesota, Phoenix and the Lakers – all bottom eight teams in defensive efficiency. On Friday he will play Denver, who conveniently sit second last in defensive efficiency, giving Leonard another chance to capitalise and produce a big score.

Iman Shumpert ($6,000)

The Shumpman has finally begun to repay the faith that Cleveland have put in him recently, taking over the starting role in J.R. Smith’s absence. He has started over DeAndre Liggins in the last two games and has produced respectable fantasy scores – 32.25 and 23.25 respectively. Coming up against Phoenix – who Shumpert scored 22.50 fantasy points against from the bench in their last meeting – should lead to another score of roughly 25, which would be an excellent return at his price.

Power Forward

Nikola Jokic ($13,400)

Not only is Nikola Jokic one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the league – especially if you love seven-footers making ridiculous passes – but he’s also wildly effective for the Denver Nuggets. This has translated to fantasy circles, where he has put up a ridiculous average of 46.4 fantasy points in his last nine games. In that time, he hasn’t dipped below 36 points and has gone over 50 in his last three games. He comes up against an imposing Spurs frontline, but after scoring 42 fantasy points (19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) against them just two weeks ago, the Joker should have no problem putting up another huge score.

Markieff Morris ($9,750)

The troubled Power Forward has finally started to replicate the form that once saw him viewed as one of the brightest young big men in the game. His last five games have seen a fantasy average of over 36 points as Markieff has found consistency on the defensive end for the first time this season. Against the Knicks, Morris should have little trouble on the boards with Joakim Noah out of action.

Centre

DeAndre Jordan ($13,300)

Once again the Chris Paul injury leads us to a fantasy selection, with DeAndre Jordan almost becoming too good to refuse. Even before the injury to CP3, Jordan had been in a rich run of form which is highlighted in his average of 45.1 fantasy points in his last six games. Now with Paul injured (and Blake Griffin, too), the responsibility falls heavily on DJ’s shoulders, which is music to our ears as fantasy players. Expect huge point and rebound totals from DJ, who is easily the best value Centre in Friday’s slate of games.

The Line Up

PG: Ricky Rubio ($11,650)

PG: Raymond Felton ($6,450)

SG: Eric Bledsoe ($14,100)

SG: Austin Rivers ($7,550)

SF: Kawhi Leonard ($16,150)

SF: Iman Shumpert ($6,000)

PF: Nikola Jokic ($13,400)

PF: Markieff Morris ($9,750)

C: DeAndre Jordan ($13,300)

Salary Remaining: $1,650