This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Point Guards
Kyrie Irving, CLE at SAC ($7,200): Irving is playing some of his best ball of the season right now and this is the type of matchup we need to exploit. Not only has Irving scored 30-plus fantasy points in seven out of his last eight games, he has scored at least 40 fantasy points four times in that span. What's so enticing here is the matchup, as he plays a Kings defense that ranks as the worst in the NBA, as well as the fasted-paced. Sacramento also allows the fourth-most fantasy points in the NBA to point guards on the season, so Irving should have no problem surpassing 30 fantasy points yet again.
Mario Chalmers, MEM at BOS ($5,200): When Mike Conley is out of the lineup, Chalmers has become a must-use fantasy option. In his most recent start, Chalmers fell just shy of 40 fantasy points against an elite Cleveland defense. His per-36 minute numbers are impressive too, as Chalmers is averaging 16.4 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Those are perfect numbers to follow as well, as Chalmers usually plays more than 36 minutes when replacing Conley.
Shooting Guards
James Harden, HOU at PHI ($11,000): This play doesn't need a whole lot of explanation. Harden has been ridiculous recently, as he has surpassed 45 fantasy points in 11 of his last 12 games. What's even more absurd is that he has surpassed 53 fantasy points nine times in that 12-game stretch. The recent form is enough incentive, but the matchup just makes him impossible to fade. Harden faces a Sixers defense that ranks as one of the three-worst defenses in the NBA.
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. NO ($6,700): Batum is staring to get hot again and this is the type of matchup he can abuse. Over his last four games, Batum is averaging 35 fantasy points a game. This is the best possible matchup too, as the Pelicans rank dead-last in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards on the season. In his only game against New Orleans this season, Batum dropped 39 fantasy points, despite shooting 2-for-9 from long distance. Look for the Frenchman to dominate as a playmaker and approach yet another triple-double.
Small Forwards
Luol Deng, MIA at MIL ($6,100): There are times in fantasy when an injury opens up the door for another player to produce and that's the case with Deng. Since the injury to Chris Bosh, Deng as completely turned his season around and become a great fantasy option. In fact, Deng is averaging 16.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals since the injury. What makes this matchup so good is that the Bucks are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league and rank 28th in fantasy points allowed to power forwards for the season.
Corey Brewer, HOU at PHI ($4,000): Brewer has found a revived role in Houston and he's been putting in some great lines recently. In fact, Brewer has scored at least 18 fantasy points four times in his last five games and has accumulated 60 fantasy points across his last two games. What's so enticing here is the matchup though, as Brewer is the type of player who thrives off steals and hustle stats. This couldn't be a better matchup for a energizer bunny like Brewer, as the Sixers commit the most turnovers in the NBA and allow the sixth-most fantasy points to small forwards on the season.
Power Forwards
Kevin Love, CLE at SAC ($6,800): Love has been disappointing in his stint in Cleveland, but this price has dropped too far. A player who averages more than 32 fantasy points a game should be priced above $7,000, but there's a bad perception about Love right now. What's so likable here is the matchup, as the Kings have the worst defense in the league and play at an extremely high pace. That should not only open up more rebounding opportunities for Love, but should also get him more open shots from three-point range. The rebounding is what has been hurting Love recently, but he should have no problem grabbing 15 here in this great matchup, as well as scoring 20-plus points.
Mirza Teletovic, PHX vs NYK ($4,600): Teletovic has quietly been putting up some great numbers for the Suns off the bench and he's still highly undervalued. The power forward is averaging 25 fantasy points across his last 10 games and has scored 22-plus seven times in that span. A 22-point outing is 5X value, which is usually good enough for a cash lineup on FanDuel. This is not a scary matchup either, with the Knicks defense faltering and playing the second half of a back-to-back set. The Knicks second-unit is terrible too, which should allow Teletovic to have his way on offense.
Center
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at MIL ($8.700): Whiteside has been in my articles for the last two weeks and he's going to continue to be in them until he either cools off or gets in the five-figure range. Since being suspended three weeks ago, Whiteside is averaging 18 points, 15.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocks a game. That's simply elite production and impossible to match for a player below $10,000. In that span, he hasn't scored below 33 fantasy points and has surpassed 43 fantasy points seven times in that nine-game stretch. The matchup here is way too tasty as well, as Milwaukee ranks 24th in blocks against and 26th in rebounds against for the season.
