3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 2/7/20

While building a daily fantasy basketball lineup, it's important to make sure you find the right studs to anchor your team. As the most expensive players in your lineup, they need big-time production to match their high price tag.

You may find it hard to fit some of these guys in while staying under the salary cap, but you can check out our projections to find value players for your rosters. Let's take a look at the top high-priced DraftKings plays of the day.

James Harden, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

DraftKings Price: $12,100

James Harden took to the floor last night against the Los Angeles Lakers only 22.5 hours before tonight's tip against the Phoenix Suns. Him and his new-look Houston Rockets will now turn around as two-point road favorites in Phoenix with Russell Westbrook expected to sit the second game of the back-to-back. And so far this season that's mean big things for The Bearded One.

According to NBA Wowy, Harden is averaging 1.90 DK points per minute on a 45.3% usage rate in the absence of Westbrook, and those balloon to 2.03 and 46.9%, respectively, without both he and the departed Clint Capela. He has posted 68.0 DK points per game over the five games he has played without Brodie.

Unless you're scared of him playing on tired legs, Harden is a no-brainer so long as you believe in a value play or two. He has even averaged 63.3 DK points in his previous two matchups with Phoenix. We project him for 56.8 DK points in Friday's third installment.

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

DraftKings Price: $8,500

The Philadelphia 76ers have been reeling of late. They made a pair of minor moves at the trade deadline, yet they have still underachieved to this point, ranking fifth in the Eastern Conference despite their championship aspirations. So, even on the second night of a back-to-back, we should expect Joel Embiid to be in the lineup in search of a win against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.

Embiid hasn't been one to shy away without a day between games, either. Over five such games, he's averaged 27.0 on 53.2% shooting en route to 52.2 DK points in 31.2 minutes a game. Four of those contests have taken place in Philly, where he's not only put up 51.5 DK points in that subset but has managed 1.6 more DK points per game at Wells Fargo.

Thanks to a $1,700 price drop from just 10 games ago, Embiid is a prime tournament play with the Sixers looking for their footing in the middle of the Eastern Conference title chase. He's one of the best point-per-dollar plays of the day, carrying a projection of 48.2 DK points and an expected value of 5.7 points per $1,000.

Devin Booker, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns

DraftKings Price: $7,900

Devin Booker will lace 'em up on the other side of that Western Conference clash in Phoenix, with the oddsmakers expecting a close one between them and the Rockets. Along with a pace-up game against the second-fastest team in the league, this is shaping up as a promising spot for the young star to regain top form after a few OK performances for his standards.

Following a ridiculous scoring barrage in middle to late January, Booker has cooled off a bit with a mere 23.0 points per game (he averages 26.7 for the year) over this last four. But he hasn't had his shooting efficiency fall off as he's shot at least 50% in three of the four. Rather we've seen his shots down by two a game, while he's turned in an assist-to-turnover ratio of 22:19. Yeesh.

Thankfully, Booker's price is down -- $900 from last game and $1,200 from eight days ago. And when he's been priced below the $8,000 line he's averaged 47.4 DK points for an average return of 6.2 points per $1,000. Against a Rockets team allowing the fifth-most points to two-guards he could be the key to winning big on Friday night.

Brett Oswalt is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Brett Oswalt also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username BrettOswalt__14. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel