NBA DFS Helper: Why Nikola Jokic leads stud tier of top plays for Friday, plus value options for your lineups

Friday's main NBA slate will feature nine games. Tip-off times range from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and there are plenty of great quality options on the table at varying price points. Five players stand out from the rest of the pack, and we've divided them into tiers ahead of the action.

Ameer Tyree got his start in NBA DFS over four years ago. The former DraftKings Nation betting and fantasy writer spent over a year and a half breaking down basketball slates to build optimal lineups there. Now he's turned his attention to stud, mid-tier, and bargain plays in Friday's nine-game slate.

One player Ameer loves: Nikola Jokic. "Jokic has scored at least 66 fantasy points on DraftKings in three of his last five games and has a matchup DFS players can't pass up on against the Bulls. The Nuggets big man is coming off his second triple-double of the season and will face a Chicago team that's still waiting on Nikola Vucevic's return from health and safety protocols," Ameer says about the matchup. 

Keep reading to find out what other players Ameer thinks could return significant value.

So what players stand out ahead of Friday's nine-game slate? ... Join SportsLine here to see NBA DFS expert Ameer Tyree's advice and cash big on the NBA!