This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Thursday night is always a light schedule as far as games played, and opening week is no different. After a 14-game schedule on Wednesday, only three games are going on Thursday. Thus, the options are fewer and further between and everyone has a higher chance of having similar players. So every pick becomes crucial to try to separate your team from the crowd in a positive way.
Point Guard
Dennis Schroder, $4,800, ATL: Schroder was outstanding in the opener, leading the Hawks with 20 points off the bench. While his scoring rate isn't sustainable if he continues to only play 25 minutes per game, he clearly looks to be a major part of the Hawks rotation and is capable of starting caliber production at a low price tag. The Hawks also had Wednesday off, while their opponents the Knicks will be on the second-half of a back-to-back.
Shooting Guard
Lance Stephenson, $3,500, LAC: There are no high-priced shooting guard options on Thursday, and each of the highest priced options either had terrible opening games (Monta Ellis shot 3-for-11 for nine points and six assists on Wednesday while Kyle Korver only managed 11.9 fantasy points in his debut) or are dealing with injuries (Wesley Matthews is on a minutes restriction, played 26 minutes in the opener, but will be on the second half of a back-to-back). Because there are no even moderately sure things at shooting guard, I suggest a player like Stephenson who is starting for the Clippers but still has a minimum price tag. His seven points, two boards, two assists and steal in only 19 minutes in the opener were not impressive, but are in line with the production of the others mentioned here but at a much lower price point.
Small Forward
Paul George, $8,500, IND: The small forwards are the exact opposite of the shooting guards on Thursday, in that they have two healthy high-priced players but no mid-price options available. As such, George and Carmelo Anthony should be expected to dramatically outscore the other small forward options. George has a tough match-up against the strong defensive wings of the Grizzlies, but he's coming off of a near triple-double with 17 points, 12 boards, eight assists and three steals in the opener and has the all-around game to dominate even tough match-ups.
Carmelo Anthony, $9,400, NY: Like George, Anthony is a fantasy superstar in a small forward list without any other likely high-scoring options on Thursday. Anthony had a lesser debut than George with 11 points, six boards and five assists but he only played 29 minutes in a blowout win on Wednesday so he should have something in the tank for Thursday. He was rusty on Wednesday, making only four of 16 shots, but with each game under his belt he should get his timing more together as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.
Power Forward
Kristaps Porzingis, $4,800, NY: Porzingis won the starting power forward job for the Knicks right off the bat, and responded with 16 points, five boards, an assist, a steal and a block in 24 minutes in his debut on Wednesday. Porzingis is a low-priced option that should start, has the ability to score, but also has defensive abilities that could lead to potentially a block and a steal per game. His match-up with the Hawks isn't intimidating, as the Hawks aren't physically imposing inside which should allow Porzingis to hold his own.
Paul Millsap, $7,700, ATL: Millsap will be facing Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick Williams as the opposing power forwards for the Knicks. Porzingis has length but is very thin, while Williams just isn't a good defender. Both of these are good for Millsap, who should be able to win the middle even if he gets a shot or two blocked by the 7-footer Porzingis.
Center
Al Horford, $7,300, ATL: Horford is the lowest priced of the impact centers available on Thursday, but his nightly potential is just as high as either Marc Casol ($8,400) or DeAndre Jordan ($7,700). Plus, Horford gets to match up against a fairly tame Knicks defensive interior that he and Paul Millsap should be able to score against at will. New York allowed Greg Monroe to go off for 22 points, 14 boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks on Wednesday and Horford is capable of duplicating that.
