This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There's no shortage of options in Friday's nine-game slate, especially considering the amount of injuries piling up and intriguing matchups -- playoff teams fighting for position, as well as tanking teams throwing their young guys into the fire. Without further adieu, let's dive in:
Point Guard
Isaiah Taylor, ATL vs. PHI ($4,800)
The Hawks' backcourt has been bitten by the injury bug, as Dennis Schroder (ankle) is doubtful and Malcolm Delaney (ankle) looks to be sidelined as well. As a result, Isaiah Taylor has been entrusted by coach Mike Budenholzer to absorb a significant chunk of minutes.
In the three games that Schroder has been sidelined over the past four, Taylor has registered between 31.1 and 35.4 fantasy points while seeing between 26 and 31 minutes. And, in the five games that Taylor has seen at least 26 minutes this season, he's averaging 28.1 fantasy points on the back of 17.0 points, 5.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Considering his price and history of quality performances under the current conditions, Taylor seems like a quality addition to both cash and GPP lineups.
Shooting Guard
Khris Middleton, MIL at LAL ($7,500)
Middleton has caught fire since putting up a 15.5-fantasy-point dud against the Pacers on March 5, where he managed just six points. In 11 games since, Middleton has averaged 39.6 fantasy points by way of 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals across 36.2 minutes. Notably, his shot attempts have been consistent over this stretch, as he's taken between 13 and 17 shots in each game, including 17 in each of the past two. That stretch also includes three 45-plus-fantasy-point outings, a quality return for his price.
Though Middleton is listed as a shooting guard and the Lakers have been stingy against shooting guards over the past 10 games, he actually occupies 74 percent of his minutes at small forward. Los Angeles is much worse at defending that position, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to small forwards over the past 10 games, including the most assists.
Small Forward
Robert Covington, PHI at ATL ($6,000)
Covington has found his stride over the past three games on both ends of the floor, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks (34.6 fantasy points) in 31.7 minutes. The matchup against the Hawks is favorable, as well, as the Hawks have given up the most threes (3.6) to small forwards over the past 10 games, and Covington is averaging 8.3 attempts from long distance over the past three games. The wing has also beaten up on the Hawks before, dropping 34.1 fantasy points on Atlanta during the teams' prior matchup by way of 22 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 34 minutes. Also, Covington sees a 2.2 percent usage boost with Joel Embiid (eye) off the floor this season.
Power Forward
Noah Vonleh, CHI at ORL ($4,600)
As the Bulls' frontline continues to deal with problems, namely Lauri Markkanen and Cristiano Felicio both dealing with back pain, Vonleh has been thrust into the rotation. Since March 11, he's averaged 9.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals (25.6 fantasy points) in 25.9 minutes. But, more recently, he's seen 28.0 minutes per game and has responded with 31.2 fantasy points via 12.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 assists. Though his workload and usage is somewhat contingent on the availability of the Bulls' other options, he's proven to have a relatively high floor even when everyone is available.
Center
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. LAC ($7,400)
Nurkic has found a rare bout of consistency over the past three games, averaging 43.8 fantasy points against the likes of Memphis, New Orleans and Oklahoma City via 16.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 2.0 steals and 1.0 assist in 29.3 minutes. He'll carry that momentum into Friday's contest against the Clippers. While centers have struggled against the likes of DeAndre Jordan all season, Nurkic has actually had some success going up against Jordan this season. In the teams' three prior matchups, Nurkic has averaged 36.2 fantasy points in 28.3 minutes on the back of 14.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
