This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
FantasyDraft's flexible lineup format places a premium on exploiting value plays, regardless of position. The lineup structure allows enough wiggle room that you should be able to start anyone you want, and should never be stuck with a player you're uncomfortable because of limited options.
The Spurs are a defense to avoid Thursday, as they are the only team playing that ranks in the top 13 per possession since the All-Star break. There are lots of bad defenses to beat up on, but the 76ers, Clippers and Lakers are probably the most inept.
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. SA ($22,400): The price is high, but so are the expectations. The Thunder host one of the MVP front-runners, Kawhi Leonard. These are the kinds of situations that Westbrook thrives in. Additionally, FantasyDraft's scoring system favors high-usage point guards who can make threes, which is exactly what Westbrook is. FantasyDraft has only a small penalty for turnovers, rewards threes and double-doubles (or triple-doubles).
Kyrie Irving, CLE at DET ($15,900): As just mentioned, FantasyDraft's scoring system favors high usage point guards who can make threes. The Pistons are one of the most favorable opponents for point guards, and they have been even more generous over the past five games. Meanwhile, Irving is averaging 30.8 points, 5.8 assists and 2.7 threes per game since the All-Star break.
Allen Crabbe, POR vs. PHI ($7,000): Crabbe is one of the cheapest options worth using. The 76ers' defense has been terrible since Joel Embiid went down in late January, and they have been even worse since trading Nerlens Noel. Since the former, they are rank fourth-worst in points per possession, fifth-worst in rebound percentage and second in pace. Since the Noel trade, they have moved to third-worst in points per possession and their pace is unchanged. In his last four games, Crabbe is averaging 13.8 points and 2.5 threes per game in 26.5 minutes.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Dario Saric, PHI at POR ($14,300): Saric has taken control of the 76ers, averaging 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 32.1 minutes per game since the All-Star break. Additionally, the Trail Blazers defense has struggled, as they have the fifth-worst per possession defense in that period, and opponents rank just outside the top third of the league in three-point shooting.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. PHI ($13,200): Nurkic should be able to beat up on the 76ers younge and smaller frontcourt. If Jahlil Okafor (knee) plays, Nurkic becomes even more valuable because Okafor is a notoriously terrible defender. If Okafor sits and Richaun Holmes (hamstring) plays, Nurkic should still be in line for a productive night against a smaller, less experienced player. If both end up sitting, then the 76ers will turn to some much smaller forwards to fill in, which would be the ideal situation for Nurkic. Regardless of just how favorable the matchup will be, and it will rank somewhere between "enticing" and "unmissable opportunity," as Nurkic is averaging 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 30.5 minutes per game since the All-Star break.
Alan Williams, PHO vs. LAL ($12,300): The Suns shifted to a younger rotation at the All-Star break, which included banishing Tyson Chandler to the bench and giving most of his minutes to Williams, who has four-straight double-doubles and is averaging 14.0 points and 12.5 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game. Unlike Chandler, Williams has a meaningful role in the offense – in every game since the break, Williams has attempted at least eight field goals.
UTILITY
Maurice Harkless, POR vs. PHI ($10,900): The 76ers' defense is bad enough to be worth picking on. Even if they weren't, though, Harkless would be a good option at this price. His workload has skyrocketed since the All-Start break, bumping his average up to 34.0 minutes per game. Meanwhile, his efficiency from the field, 59.1 percent during this stretch, has helped him boost his scoring up to 12.0 points per game.
Victor Oladipo, OKC vs. SA ($10,200): Oladipo's price seems low, probably because of his recent missed games. But he was back Tuesday, when he had 16 points, five rebounds and four three-pointers. There are no other players this talented available at such a discount. The opponent is intimidating, but his price should leave plenty of room for profit.
