This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Point Guards:
John Wall, WSH vs. PHI ($9,800): There haven't been as many guards playing as well as Wall over the last few weeks. In fact, Wall is averaging 20.3 points, 10.1 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks across his last 15 games. That's about 50 fantasy points a game, which is simply hard to find. The main reason to like Wall so much is the matchup, as he faces one of the five worst defenses in the NBA. Not to mention, Wall has 41 points, 21 rebounds, 21 assists, three steals and two blocks combined in his two previous games against the Sixers.
Emmanuel Mudiay, DEN vs. MEM ($5,200): Mudiay is not the most exciting player to use, but he should be stepping into a more increased role. With an injury to Danilo Gallinari, that means more shots and more ballhandling from the rookie point guard. Mudiay is also averaging about 25 fantasy points across his last 19 games, so he's already giving us 5X value even in a diminished role. This matchup looks tough on the surface, but the Grizzlies simply aren't the same without Marc Gasol. In fact, Memphis is allowing 105 points a game across their last eight games.
Shooting Guards:
Bradley Beal, WSH vs. PHI ($5,500): Beal has been a huge disappointment this season, but there's reason to believe he could have success against the Sixers. Not only does Philadelphia play poor defense, they have a bad offense that turns the ball over a ton. That opens the door for a good defender like Beal to thrive off steals. The most intriguing part here is the price, as this is the lowest price Beal has been in his career. Not many $5,500 players have the ability to score 40-plus, but Beal does in this sort of matchup.
O.J. Mayo, MIL vs. HOU ($3,600): This isn't the highest upside play, but there may not be a better option to reach 5X value. Mayo has quietly entered the starting lineup and is putting up solid numbers for a minimum priced player. Since returning from injury, Juice is averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals across 27 minutes a game. That doesn't sound special, but that's 5X value on his $3,600 price. The matchup is what makes this so usable though, as the Rockets ranks as one of the three-worst defenses in the league, while playing at an extremely high pace.
Small Forwards:
Trevor Ariza, HOU at MIL ($6,100): Ariza has had a disappointing season up to this point, but he's playing much better as of late. Over his last 15 games, he is averaging 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals a game. That's 31 fantasy points a game, which is great value for a player right at $6,000. The matchup is good as well, with the Bucks ranking 24th in fantasy points allowed to small forwards on the season. They also rank in the bottom-three in steals and three's allowed to small forwards, which is what Ariza feasts off of.
Robert Covington, PHI at WSH ($5,000): This is strictly a tournament play, simply because of how inconsistent Covington can be. The upside is what makes Covington so intriguing though, as he has the ability to drop 40-plus when he's right. The last time he faced the Wizards, Covington scored 36 fantasy points, while giving us 7X value. Otto Porter is a notoriously bad defender as well, with the Wizards allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards on the season.
Power Forwards:
Zach Randolph, MEM at DEN ($6,400): Since the injury to Marc Gasol, Randolph has taken on a much bigger role and performing significantly better. Across his last nine games, Randolph is averaging over 30 fantasy points a game. That should continue here, as he faces a Denver defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to power forwards on the season. The one gripe with Randolph is that he is an undersized and unathletic for a power forward, but he should actually have the size advantage here against an overzealous and undersized Kenneth Faried.
Jabari Parker, MIL vs. HOU ($5,600): The top-three pick has been slowly recovering from his devastating knee injury, but is starting to play the best ball of his career. Parker is averaging 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists across his last six games. What's most encouraging is that Parker is playing over 40 minutes a game in that span, which is easily the most he's played since his injury. If that's not enough incentive, the Rockets allow the most fantasy points in the NBA to power forwards on the season. The way Parker is perorming, he should be closer to $7,000 rather than below $6,000.
Center:
Dwight Howard, HOU at MIL ($8,000): Howard is having one of the least talked about good seasons in recent memory and he continues to be a great value in DFS night after night. After a bad two-game start to the season, Howard is now averaging 14.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. That stretch also includes two dud games in which Howard got injured and put up very low numbers, so the statistics should be even more bloated than that. What's enticing here is that he faces off against Miles Plumlee and a bad Bucks defense. He should have plenty of opportunities to destroy Milwaukee down low, while also controlling the rebounding and putting up solid defensive numbers.
