This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Wednesday Value Plays
Point Guard
Stephen Curry, $10,100: Looking at Wednesday's slate, it's wise to start your lineup with Curry and not think twice about it. Saturday was a disappointment, but he should have the most ownership at the position, and it's too risky to fade him. He has legitimate 50-fantasy point upside on any given night and has a floor of 30 points. It would be different if there were more than two games offering options, but with such limited choices, just plug him in.
Jeff Teague, $6900: It's not using a lot of imagination picking the two highest-priced players at any position. That being said, this is the position to pay up for Wednesday, and it paid off handsomely Monday. Teague has put together games of 47.8 and 37.3 in his last two games and hasn't had to match up with John Wall (wrist). The Ramon Sessions ($5,900) matchup is very favorable, and it isn't worth saving the $1,000 to use him instead.
Shooting Guard
Bradley Beal, $7,700: The most consistent and one of the best values in this series has been Beal, who has benefitted from the absence and limitation of Wall. Beal has been relied on heavily as a scorer, and despite rolling his ankle a few games ago, he has been the Wizards' go-to guy. He has averaged over 40 fantasy points for the series, and his uptick in production is due to an increase in minutes. It would have been crazy talk before this series, but with Klay Thompson $600 cheaper, Beal is still the safer play here.
Courtney Lee, $3,800: Lee's price has moved very little this series, and there's still a great opportunity to take advantage of it. This is a little bit of a head-scratching pick with him coming off of a 14.1 fantasy point game. However, Lee has had at least 22 fantasy points in six of his last eight games and should easily surpass last game's output. He's one of the better, cheaper options out there who will see north of 30 minutes.
Small Forward
Paul Pierce, $4,900: "The Truth" has turned back the clock this series with his consistent play, even hitting a buzzer beater with the vital bank shot Friday in Game 3. His fantasy production has been more than stellar. Pierce has had over 20 fantasy points in six consecutive games. His playing time has increased, and he's had to be more of a shooter and facilitator on offense with Wall out. This position has no elite options, and with DeMarre Carroll (hip) battling an injury, it makes a ton of sense to go with a consistent mid-tier option.
Otto Porter, $5,100: Granted, it seems odd to recommend four Wizards in this spot. Looking at Porter, it's important to note that he doesn't start but is still one of the top-two scoring options off the bench. Before last game's dud, he had games of 35.8 and 38.1 fantasy points, showing how much upside he has. Again, the small forward position is thin with Carroll injured, and Porter has stepped up during the playoffs.
Harrison Barnes, $4,100: The other combination to consider when looking at this overall lineup is going with Barnes over Porter at small forward. Barnes might be the safer option here and has consistently hit around 20 fantasy points per game. He also comes into play if you think you'd rather go with Tony Allen ($5,000) over Courtney Lee at shooting guard and spend an extra $1,200. If going with Allen is the favorable scenario, going with Barnes over Porter and using the rest of this lineup will still fit under the salary cap. Just make sure Allen (hamstring, questionable) suits up for the Grizzlies.
Power Forward
Nene Hilario, $3,800: It took Nene a few games to get going, and it now appears he's found his groove. After a pair of duds to start the series, he's rebounded with games of 26.4 and 35.4 fantasy points, and not coincidentally, his playing time has increased to 30 minutes or more. Like Lee, it's nearly impossible to find anyone less than $4,000 who gets that kind of playing time, and it's difficult to not produce fantasy points when that happens.
Paul Millsap, $8,800: It's a good discussion on whether Millsap or Draymond Green ($8,000) is the top option at the position Wednesday. Outside of the one game that he was limited by illness in, Millsap has been a beast with 36, 44.7, and 45.4 fantasy points. In comparison, Green has fantasy games of less than 31 fantasy points in three of his last four. Zach Randolph ($7,200) is worth a look as well, but pairing the upside of Millsap with Hilario makes more sense.
Center
Marc Gasol, $8,700: If your lineup doesn't include Zach Randolph, it should include the other Memphis big man for sure. Gasol continues to show why he's one of the best centers in the game and has averaged over 40 fantasy points per game in the playoffs. He's even thriving in a tough matchup against Andrew Bogut, and Gasol's ability to log heavy minutes is the difference between the two. Going with Al Horford ($7,900) isn't a terrible idea either. The preference should still be Gasol, but make sure one of the two is in your lineup.
