This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The Lakers, Suns, Warriors and Nets are all on the schedule for Sunday's six-game slate, which marks four of the league's five quickest teams in terms of pace. That typically means more fantasy production across the board, so here's a breakdown of some of the best plays to consider, including both higher priced and cheaper options.
Premium Guard:
Devin Booker, PHX vs. CHI ($7,600): Booker has taken over as the primary ball-handler for the Suns with Eric Bledsoe leaving town and his price has yet to rise to where it should be. In fact, Booker leads this team in both shots and usage, posting a 28.2 usage rate for the season, while averaging nearly 20 shots per game. Not only is he averaging over 35 fantasy points per game, Booker has scored at least 39 fantasy points in four of his last six games. This is the sort of matchup he can abuse too, considering Chicago ranks bottom-five in fantasy points allowed to opposing guards. One concern with Booker is usually the fact that the Suns regularly get blown out, but that seems unlikely here against a bad Bulls team.
Middle-Tier Guard:
Jamal Murray, DEN at LAL ($5,600): Murray got off to a slow start this season, but his ceiling is way too high to pass up at this sort of price. Over his last three games, Murray is averaging over 32 fantasy points per game in 36 minutes of action. That's a huge role from a $5,600 player and it comes in a supreme matchup against the Lakers. Not only did Los Angeles allow the most fantasy points last season to opposing point guards, they rank fifth in that statistic this year.
Cheap Guard:
Tyler Ulis, PHX vs. CHI ($4,600): Ulis has recently taken over the starting point guard role for Phoenix, as he's playing much better over his last few games. Not only is he averaging 26 minutes played across his last four games, Ulis has scored at least 16 fantasy points in five-straight games. That's not great production, but the fact that he's seen an increase in minutes and production in three-straight means he's on the uptick in a high-pace offense. What really makes Ulis attractive is the matchup though, with Chicago allowing the most fantasy points in the league to opposing point guards.
Premium Forward:
Paul Millsap, DEN at LAL ($7,500): Millsap got off to a slow start for his new team, but he's really turned it on over recent weeks. In fact, Millsap has at least 46 fantasy points in three of his last four games, in addition to scoring at least 27 fantasy points in 11 of his last 12. That's incredibly reliable production from a $7,500 player and he should have no problem continuing that form against a defense like this. Los Angeles is allowing opposing power forwards to average nearly 50 fantasy points per game against them this season, one of the 10-worst marks in the league.
Middle-Tier Forward:
Thaddeus Young, IND at MIA ($6,000): Young hasn't had many blow-up games this season, but he's one of the most consistent fantasy options at the power forward position for his price. In fact, Young has at least 21 fantasy points in 14 of his 16 games, while scoring at least 27 fantasy points in nine of those outings. That sort of reliability is especially important on this sort of slate, as there are only six games in total. Miami have struggled against opposing power forwards too, allowing them to average 24.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game against them this season.
Cheap Forward:
Wilson Chandler, DEN at LAL ($4,900): Chandler's minutes alone make him an intriguing option, as he's regularly playing 30 minutes every time he steps on the floor. The starting small forward is averaging over 36 minutes a game across his last three, as he's also scored at least 33 fantasy points in back-to-back games. That's the Chandler of old and it appears he's out of the slump that he started the season with. Any player who's regularly approaching 7X value while playing 36 minutes per game should be closer to $6,000, rather than the $4,900 price tag Chandler currently sits with.
Premium Center:
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. IND ($8,900): Whiteside has been beasting recently, as he has at least 39 fantasy points in five-straight games. What makes that run even more impressive is the fact that he scored at least 46 fantasy points in three of those games. It's the matchup that truly makes Whiteside an intriguing option though, with Indiana allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers. That was especially evident on Wednesday, as they allowed Marc Gasol to drop 71 fantasy points on them.
Cheap Center:
Marcin Gortat, WSH at TOR ($4,600): Gortat is a tough player to trust in fantasy right now, but this price drop has fallen too far to continue to fade him. Not only is he averaging 25 fantasy points a game for the season, Gortat has settled in as a $6,000 player for the majority of his career. It's not like the minutes are disappearing either, as Gortat is averaging nearly 30 minutes a game across his last nine outings. At just $4,900, Gortat is one of the safest bets for cash games, 50/50's and head-to-head matchups to exceed 5X value.
