Fantasy basketball advice: NBA FanDuel sleepers/busts for Friday, Feb. 6

As for what we're going to be doing in this space: The goal here will be to direct your attention toward some players who you might not otherwise consider. If you're here and reading this, then you already know that LeBron James is really good. But when filling out a roster you can't just pick out stars. You'll blow your cap that way and get stuck praying to the basketball gods that a guy like Kosta Koufos gets into the game. No, if you want to win, you have to take advantage of certain matchups -- and in order to do that you have to know where to look. That's what we're here for. Also, this space is going to be used to give you advice for Friday's games. Thursday night is generally a slower one in the NBA, while Fridays are always packed (there are 12 games slated for this Friday). So with that, let's get started.

Carlos Boozer, F, Lakers: Boozer's got two things working for him Friday. The first: he's facing a team, the Orlando Magic, that has all but quit on its coach. That's the kind of thing you want to take advantage of from a fantasy standpoint. Over their past five games the Magic are allowing opponents to score a ridiculous 113 points per 100 possessions. That's not good, and someone on the Lakers is going to take advantage of that. The bet here is said person is Boozer. With Jordan Hill out, Boozer will be getting more minutes and touches. He had 28 points and nine rebounds Wednesday, and he's averaging 21 and nine over his past three games. He's also the most accomplished scorer on the Lakers. Going up against Orlando's weak-on-defense front line should provide him with plenty of scoring opportunities.

Zach Randolph, F, Grizzlies: Z-Bo has been a beast of late, averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds over his past 10 games. Friday he'll get to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, owners of the NBA's worst defensive rating (109.4). The Timberwolves also start Thaddeus Young at power forward. Young is 6'8, 220 pounds. Randolph is 6'9, 260. Putting Young on Marc Gasol wouldn't make much of a difference, either. That would leave the slow-footed Nikola Pekovic on Randolph, a matchup Z-Bo would easily be able to take advantage of. Last time these two teams met Randolph went for 25 and 13. No reason to believe that won't happen again here.

Khris Middleton, F, Bucks: You know who the Bucks' leading scorer is over their past five games? OK, that's a question with a fairly obvious answer given where it's being asked, but still: Middleton is averaging 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals over that stretch. He's shooting 57 percent from the field. The Bucks are playing great, though Friday they have a tough matchup against the Houston Rockets. But that's from a basketball perspective. From a fantasy standpoint, Houston is a great team to play. They score a lot and play fast. That's going to mean more opportunities for Middleton, who, it seems, is now capable of taking advantage of them.

Jeff Teague, G, Hawks: Avoid is not a strong enough word. Stay FAR, FAR AWAY here. This is more about that matchup than Teague. The Hawks face the Warriors Friday, the NBA's best defensive team (97.3 points allowed per 100 possessions). Also, you might have heard about this guard they have, guy by the name of Stephen Curry. That's who Teague will be forced to chase around Friday, which will do nothing to help his fantasy numbers. Curry is also excellent defensively, and the Warriors in general tend to give point guards fits. Teague has been great all year, but this is a night to go for someone else.

Hassan Whiteside, C, Heat: Call this a hunch. Whiteside has been amazing since entering the starting lineup (17 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks per game over his past five). But Friday he'll be going against the San Antonio Spurs, and Tim Duncan, perhaps the team, and player, most equipped with the ability to give an inexperienced player fits. Whiteside's one weakness so far has been committing fouls; it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if Duncan is able to get him to bite on a few head-fakes or Crafty Old Guy moves and send Whiteside to the bench early on in this game.

Nick Young, G, Lakers: Don't fall for the trap of assuming that, in Bryant's absence, Young will be the Laker carrying the scoring load. For one, he and Lakers coach Byron Scott have been having their issues of late. Young has also been struggling with his shot. Finally, even if he doesn't get a few more looks on offense, he does nothing else in the box score to help your fantasy team. Young would have to score 30 to be worth the amount he's going to cost. You're better off going with his teammate, Wayne Ellington, or someone else at your shooting guard spot and saving the cash for someone else.

No team in the league allows opponents to shoot more three-pointers per game than the Atlanta Hawks. They're great at forcing at misses on those shots, but that's still playing with fire when going up against the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are going to be given opportunities to launch bombs. Betting on them hitting a few would be a good move... What was said above about the Grizzlies going up against the Timberwolves small and weak front line -- yeah, you might want to look at Marc Gasol, too... Rockets center Donatas Motiejunas is taking advantage of Dwight Howard's absence. In five games without Howard in the lineup he's averaging 17 points and eight rebounds.