This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
FantasyDraft's flexible lineup structure will come in handy on Thursday's smallish six-game slate. There are a lot more big men who look like good values, in part due to some key injuries and rests.
GUARDS
Elfrid Payton, ORL at GS ($14,000): Payton is producing like peak Rajon Rondo lately, and that's a compliment. Though Payton's scoring remains somewhat low for a player this expensive – 13.4 points per game over his last five – his rebounds and assists more than make up for it, averaging 11.0 assists and 9.4 boards during that span, including three triple-doubles. The Magic have found a rotation that is maximizing Payton's value, and his salary has not yet caught up to the new normal.
Gary Harris, DEN vs. LAC ($11,500): When a defense loses their rim protector, it impacts the entire defensive framework. The Clippers will be resting DeAndre Jordan on Thursday, and they have no one else who can protect the paint at anything resembling a league-average level. Harris is the Nuggets' second-leading scorer over the past week, averaging 17.8 per game, and he is adding 3.5 assists. Jordan's absence helps Harris in both areas.
Evan Fournier, ORL at GS ($11,200): Payton's leap has also helped Fournier improve, and while Payton has siphoned away some of Fournier's assists, the rest of Fournier's stats are improving. His scoring, rebounding, steals and efficiency are all up over the last five games, averaging 19.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 45.3 percent from the field during that span.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Carmelo Anthony, NY vs. BKN ($15,000): The Nets are a near-perfect opponent for maximizing Knicks players' fantasy values. The Nets are terrible, making an easy opponent, likely to give up increased stats. But some teams play down to their opponents when facing the worst team in the league, especially if both teams in the game have already clinched losing records for the season. That's where the proximity of the two teams comes in – since both play in the same city, there is an added element of pride on the line, helping keep the game competitive. Anthony has scored at least 22 points in his last two games, and played at least 35 minutes in each appearance since Feb. 1.
Willy Hernangomez, NY vs. BKN ($12,300):Kristaps Porzingis (thigh) is doubtful Thursday, and that opens a big window for Hernangomez, who recently took the upper hand in the lengthy battle with Kyle O'Quinn for depth chart supremacy. Hernangomez played 31 minutes Tuesday, when Porzingis left the game early due to the injury, and the last three times Hernangomez played at least 27 minutes, he scored at least 13 points and grabbed at least nine rebounds.
Marreese Speights, LAC at DEN ($6,400): Speights is the primary beneficiary of DeAndre Jordan's and Blake Griffin's planned rests. Speights is averaging only 14.3 minutes per game since Griffin returned from a month-long absence in late January ,and with Griffin out, Speights was playing 18.3 minutes per game. Thursday will be the first game that both Jordan and Griffin have missed all season. In just 14.3 minutes per game, Speights was already doing enough to keep his salary above the minimum, and he's now potentially looking at a 30-to-80 percent increase in minutes.
UTILITY
Mason Plumlee, DEN vs. LAC ($10,800): Plumlee is the dual beneficiary of the Clippers resting their big men, and the Nuggets' own injuries. Denver is likely to be without Wilson Chandler (groin), Darrell Arthur (rest, knee) and Kenneth Faried (back), with Danilo Gallinari (knee) expected to join them on the sidelines. With so many injuries, Plumlee started Monday, played 36 minutes, and managed a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. He also double-doubled in each the other two games in March when he played at least 30 minutes.
Lance Thomas, NY vs. BKN ($7,800): Thomas is the other major beneficiary of Porzingis' injury. When Porzingis missed the last two games in February, Thomas stepped into the starting lineup and averaged 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game.
