Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (calf) is available for Friday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. AD hasn't played in a month after suffering a left calf strain during the win over the Indiana Pacers on October 29. Before going down, he was averaging 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.6 steals. While there may be some rust in the equation, Davis can be plugged back into all fantasy lineups, even with a reduced workload of 24-to-27 minutes versus his former club.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Kyshawn George (illness) is back in the starting group after missing one game and remains firmly on the breakout track. He delivered 17 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in his last appearance and continues to produce mid-round numbers with 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on strong shooting. His return tightens Washington's rotation and trims opportunities for Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, and Justin Champagnie, each of whom had seen expanded usage. George remains a reliable all-formats option with stable usage and minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (ankle) will start Friday against Brooklyn after being upgraded from questionable, giving the team a needed boost with multiple wings still sidelined. George has averaged 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across his first three outings in limited minutes, and his return pushes Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards, and Jabari Walker into reduced roles. Fantasy managers should expect his workload to climb gradually, but usage volatility persists with Joel Embiid (knee), Kelly Oubre (knee), and VJ Edgecombe (calf) out.

Chicago Bulls guard/forward Kevin Huerter (pelvis) will be available Friday against Charlotte, though his fantasy outlook remains shaky after logging just 19 and 10 minutes off the bench in his last two appearances. His reduced role aligned with Coby White's return to full availability, which tightened Chicago's guard rotation and pushed Huerter into a smaller workload. Tre Jones' 28-minute, 11-assist outing may also keep him in a steady bench role. Huerter stays a watchlist option until he regains meaningful minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (elbow) is uncertain for Saturday's game at Golden State because of right elbow soreness, which could keep him out of the opening game of a back-to-back. The Pelicans are already without Jordan Poole (quadriceps) and Herbert Jones (calf), which pushed Saddiq Bey into a 39-minute workload Wednesday that produced 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. A Murphy absence would keep Bey in strong streaming range, while Micah Peavy and Bryce McGowens offer deeper-league utility given the team's depleted wing rotation.

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (knee) will play on Friday against Charlotte. The veteran didn't suit up for Monday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Fortunately, it appears the lengthy layoff did him some good, limiting his time away to only one game. Vucevic will be returning versus a Hornets defense that has struggled throughout the 2025 campaign, giving him more than enough upside for season-long fantasy managers and DFS participants. His presence will mean less work for Jalen Smith, who had 13 points and six rebounds on Monday night.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (calf) is available for Friday's game versus Charlotte. He was listed as questionable heading into this one. While fantasy managers are glad to see him on the floor, there's a chance he won't suit up on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers due to injury management reasons. White is coming off a 24-point, six-assist, five-rebound effort in Monday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He might be even more productive against the Hornets, a team that has struggled defensively this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (finger) will return for Friday's game in Atlanta after missing the last three contests. The 27-year-old has averaged 14.8 points, 1.3 higher than last season. However, he hasn't been as productive in the rebounding department while also seeing a significant decline in field goal percentage. Still, Allen remains a must-start in any fantasy format, although he'll be returning against a Hawks defense that can be difficult, even without Kristaps Porzingis (illness).

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (adductor) will return for Friday's NBA Cup clash with the New York Knicks after missing his last four games. The Greek Freak was playing at an All-Star level before going down. While he could see fewer minutes than normal in his first game back in the lineup, he's still a must-start in any fantasy format. With Antetokounmpo back in the mix, Gary Trent Jr. is in line to head back to the bench, with fewer scoring opportunities for Ryan Rollins, Kyle Kuzma, and Myles Turner.

Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (ankle) will play on Friday versus Brooklyn after missing the last five games because of a sprained right ankle. The 22-year-old wasn't productive before going down with the injury, averaging only 2.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. With Joel Embiid (knee) sidelined, he may have had an opportunity for more involvement. However, it's been Andre Drummond making the most of his afforded opportunities, averaging 10.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in eight starts. With that said, Bona could see some action on Friday, although he's tough to trust even with a favorable matchup on the horizon.

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (reconditioning) will be available Friday against Orlando after averaging 14.0 minutes across his first three outings. He contributed seven points, four rebounds, and one steal in his most recent game but remains limited as the team eases him back. His return pushes Daniss Jenkins into a smaller role and slightly shifts second-unit usage. Ivey stays in wait-and-see territory for now, with his fantasy viability tied to whether his workload can rise into the mid-20s.

Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton (knee) will miss at least two additional games and is targeting his season debut on the team's upcoming road trip. Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes last year, but he will need to win minutes from Brandin Podziemski once active. Podziemski logged 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists in his last outing, and rookie Will Richard added 18 points with six rebounds. Melton profiles as a deeper-league stash until his role becomes clearer.

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (quadriceps) won't play on Friday versus the Washington Wizards. He has a quad contusion, so fantasy managers will need to wait and see if he'll be back on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. Without him, T.J. McConnell, who had 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in Wednesday's two-point loss to the Toronto Raptors, could be in line to start. However, even if McConnell isn't with the first-five, he is certainly worth considering for all fantasy lineups.

Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis (illness) won't play on Friday versus the Cavaliers. The veteran has been productive this season, averaging 18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. However, he'll now miss his ninth game of the 2025 campaign. His next chance to suit up will be on Sunday in Philadelphia, but as far as Friday's contest is concerned, Onyeka Okongwu is in line to enter the starting lineup. The 24-year-old has played well in his seven starts this season, averaging 20.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals, giving him plenty of upside for fantasy managers, even with a challenging matchup on the horizon.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (knee) is questionable for Saturday's game against New Orleans after missing seven straight contests, though he has resumed full 5-on-5 activity and appears close to returning. Kuminga logged several strong lines before the injury, including 25 points with 10 rebounds and 24 points with eight rebounds, and he could take on extra usage with Stephen Curry (quadriceps) sidelined. His return would likely trim Moses Moody's workload.

Miami Heat guard/forward Andrew Wiggins (hip) is probable for Saturday's matchup with Detroit after logging 11 points, two rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 31 minutes during his return from a three-game absence. The workload suggests he is back in a stable role, though Miami's improving health makes his night-to-night ceiling dependent on efficiency more than volume. Wiggins remains a viable category-league play for scoring and defensive stats, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin) may lose minutes if he is cleared.

Miami Heat guard/forward Norman Powell (groin) is probable for Saturday's game against Detroit after briefly cooling off once Tyler Herro returned. Powell had been tearing it up before Herro rejoined the lineup, but his most recent outing with 11 points and four rebounds reflected reduced usage in a healthier rotation. He still sits in the viable streaming range for points and threes, though the ceiling is lower with Herro reclaiming 32 minutes and 29 points. Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware maintain steady fantasy value.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle) won't suit up for Friday's NBA Cup meeting with the Phoenix Suns. The 27-year-old has averaged 12.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals this season, so he's been reliable for the defending champs. He's dealing with ankle soreness, and while it doesn't seem like an injury that will keep him off the floor beyond Friday's contest, fantasy managers should monitor his status heading into Sunday's meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers. OKC will welcome Jalen Williams (wrist) back to the lineup after missing 19 games to begin the 2025 campaign, which will certainly help lessen the blow. However, Williams will presumably be limited, meaning Jaylin Williams may remain more involved than usual, although the former Razorback has averaged only 5.6 points and 4.5 boards this season.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (calf) will play on Friday versus the Los Angeles Lakers. AD suffered a left calf strain in the win over the Indiana Pacers on October 29. Although he was reportedly nearing a return in the last week or so, it appears he'll finally be back on the court after a month on the shelf. Davis averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.6 steals in his five appearances during the 2025 campaign. While he was more productive in previous seasons, there's no reason why he shouldn't be featured in all fantasy lineups in his first game back from a lengthy layoff, even with the chance of a reduced workload. On the other hand, DFS participants should consider alternative options, especially since Davis still has a higher rostering cost than most.

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (quadriceps) is questionable for Friday's game with Washington, positioning veteran T.J. McConnell for added minutes if he sits. McConnell has ramped up effectively, delivering 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in his most recent outing and adding another 16-point, five-assist line earlier in the week. His strong per-minute production makes him a viable hold in most formats if he continues seeing mid-20s minutes, with even more upside if Nembhard misses time.