This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Guards:
Chris Paul, HOU vs. MIN ($9,000): Paul hasn't quite been the same player that he was in his Clippers days, but this $9,000 price makes him a great value. Not only does he have at least 35 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games, he's also averaging over 40 fantasy points per game for the year. The matchup may be the best part of this play though, with Minnesota ranking 28th in defensive efficiency. That's evident by the fact that Paul is averaging 40 fantasy points per game in his last two meetings with the T'Wolves.
Donovan Mitchell, UTA at OKC ($7,800): Mitchell is easily one of the favorites for Rookie of the Year, as he's really put this Jazz team on his back. In fact, Mitchell has at least 30 fantasy points in 21-straight games and he's averaging 33.3 fantasy points per game for the season. With Andre Roberson out, the shooting guard position is one to exploit on the Thunder. Oklahoma City allows the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards for the year, with Mitchell averaging nearly 35 fantasy points per game in three prior matchups against them.
Darren Collison, IND at CLE ($5,500): Collison is too valuable of a player to be priced at just $5,500, as his 27 fantasy points per game indicate that he should be above $6,000. The reason for the price drop is the fact that he played limited minutes coming off an injury in the final weeks, though he should play his usual 30-plus minutes in this series. It's the matchup that really adds to his value at this price, with Cleveland ranking 29th in defensive efficiency while allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. Collison actually had some of his best games of the season against the Cavaliers, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game in four meetings against them.
Forwards:
Kevin Love, CLE vs. IND ($8,100): Love was in his best stretch of the season in the final few weeks, as he averaged over 35 fantasy points per game in his final five outings. In addition, Love scored at least 33 fantasy points in eight of his final 11 games, despite facing a minute's limit at the beginning of that stretch. Indiana has struggled against power forwards as well, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to the position for the season.
Thaddeus Young, IND at CLE ($5,700): Young failed to surpass 15 fantasy points in his final two games, but that stretch lowered his price to this attractive number. Those two games are nothing to worry about either, as he played just 17 minutes in what turned out to be meaningless contests. Prior to that, Young was regularly playing 30 minutes a game while averaging 35 fantasy points in his nine previous outings. Not to mention, Cleveland allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards, while Young averaged 30 fantasy points per game in four outings against them this season.
Trevor Ariza, HOU vs. MIN ($4,700): Ariza can be hit-or-miss for fantasy purposes, but he has too much upside to be below $5,000. His 24 fantasy points per game are an indication of that and he's been a $6,000 player for the majority of his career. It's his role that could really make him valuable at this sort of price though, as he averages 34 minutes a game and takes 10 shots per game as well. All that usage will come against a Timberwolves defense that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency.
Centers:
Al Horford, BOS vs. MIL ($7,400): Horford was mired in a slump throughout the second half of the year, but he appeared to be climbing out of it in his final seven games. In fact, Horford averaged 34 fantasy points per game in his last seven games, while he was one of the team leaders in usage rate. That high usage could continue here, as Boston will be without Kyrie Irving (knee). Horford has owned Milwaukee all season too, averaging 18.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks on 71 percent shooting in four games against them this season.
Myles Turner, IND at CLE ($5,400): Turner is the final piece of our Indiana stack, as he's yet another player with too much potential to be priced this cheap. His 28 fantasy points per game indicate that he should be above $6,000, as a recent slump has lowered his number to this favorable $5,400 price tag. It's the matchup that may get him out of his slump though, with Cleveland ranking 29th in defensive efficiency and 26th in total defense. In addition, Turner dropped 37 fantasy points the one time he faced the Cavaliers earlier this season.
