This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Thursday's NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features four games. Despite the relative lack of options, there's still plenty of value to be found if you know where to look. FanDuel's format only counts the eight highest scores in your nine-player lineup, so keep that in mind when making your selections.
POINT GUARD
Kyrie Irving, BOS at OKC ($7,700): This is a good buy-low opportunity on Irving, whose healthy minute (33), assist (5.8) and rebound (4.2) averages suggest he's going to be a fantasy force as usual once his shot starts falling. The career 46.1 percent field goal shooter and 38.6 percent three-point shooter is currently at 39.1 and 18.2 percent, respectively, in those categories, which is why he's scoring just 16.5 PPG after back-to-back campaigns of at least 24.4. In addition to his offensive exploits, Irving's primed for a strong performance in the steals category considering Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook turned the ball over 4.8 times per game last season after averaging 5.4 turnovers the year before.
Ish Smith, DET vs. CLE ($5,100): Smith's performed well relative to his $5,100 valuation, in terms of both playing time and production. He's poured in 15.7 PPG and 3.7 APG in 30 minutes per contest, as Detroit has made up for a lack of productive wings by deploying Smith in two point guard lineups featuring Reggie Jackson. Smith may not carry the reputation or price tag of a starting point guard, but he's getting the opportunity to perform like one.
SHOOTING GUARD
Gary Harris, DEN at LAL ($7,100): Harris has been a major part of Denver's 4-0 start, scoring at least 18 points in every contest while logging 33 minutes per game. He's also thrown in 3.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per game to round out his stat line. The career 36.9 percent three-point shooter has accomplished this hot start to his age-24 campaign despite connecting at just 25 percent from deep. If his 3-pointers start falling against the defensively challenged Lakers, Harris could deliver a massive scoring performance.
C.J. McCollum, POR at ORL ($6,700): McCollum's another scorer off to a poor shooting start, as the career 45.3 percent marksman is converting at a measly 35.1 percent from the field. He's still finding a way to score at a respectable rate with 19.3 PPG, but McCollum is capable of much more than he's shown in the early going. A breakout performance could be on its way against a Magic team that's giving up 106.8 points per game.
SMALL FORWARD
Jonathan Isaac, ORL vs. POR ($5,500): Isaac was limited by an ankle injury to begin the season, but that issue is clearly in the past considering Isaac just posted his first career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds over 26 minutes in Monday's upset win over Boston. While his price remains depressed due to Isaac's underwhelming start while he was playing through the injury, the second-year forward should only get better from here.
Cedi Osman, CLE at DET ($6,900): Osman's hit a bump in the road over the past two games, but he got off to a hot start with 38.0 and 37.6 fantasy points over Cleveland's first two games. While he's a risky pick, Osman could pay off in a big way for owners chasing upside against a Pistons team whose weakness lies on the wing.
POWER FORWARD
Blake Griffin, DET vs. CLE ($9,200): Griffin posted the first 50-point performance of the young NBA season Tuesday, and he now sports averages of 36.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG and 5.7 APG for the undefeated Pistons club. In fact, if you take his worst performance of the season in each category, you still get an impressive line of 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Looking healthy and effective to start the season, Griffin's a can't-miss option against a defensively challenged Cavaliers team that's playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Kyle Kuzma, LAL vs. DEN ($7,200): After bursting onto the scene as a rookie, Kuzma's making strides in year two. He's been handed a golden opportunity as the starting power forward with Brandon Ingram suspended, and Kuzma's made the most of that opportunity with an average of 27.0 PPG in the first two games of Ingram's four-game ban. Keep riding Kuzma for the next two games while Ingram sits.
CENTER
Jusuf Nurkic, POR at ORL ($7,500): Nurkic's minutes have climbed with each subsequent game this season, and for good reason. The Bosnian big man is off to an outstanding start, averaging 16.7 PPG and 11.7 RPG in just 24 minutes per contest. It's safe to assume Nurkic will consistently start to eclipse his current playing time average after logging 32 minutes in his last game Monday, giving him plenty of room to build on what's already been a fantastic start to the campaign.
