Since the New Orleans Pelicans acquired All Star center DeMarcus Cousins, things haven't gone well. The team is now six games back of the eighth seed and the head coach Alvin Gentry's job is in jeopardy. On Friday they'll experience what life used to be like without Cousins, who has been ruled out for Friday's game with a knee and rib injury.

Cousins, who just played in his 10th game with the Pelicans, has averaged 20.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per night. It's certainly a downer from the top-10 overall numbers he posted with the Sacramento Kings, but fantasy owners still had to be happy with great, but not elite, production. Now with Cousins out of action, the fantasy impact hits in a big way.

Anthony Davis, always a must-start in season-long leagues and typically a great play in DFS, becomes an outstanding option with an uptick in usage coming for Friday's game. The path will be clear for him to dominate the boards and put up points, giving fantasy owners some big time production. Jrue Holiday, who thrived as the second go-to before Cousins' arrival, should also be a strong fantasy play tonight.

Cousins is listed day-to-day, so this might only be a one-game absence.