This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Each week, RotoWire will provide value plays for your daily fantasy basketball lineups on FantasyDraft. Users have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players.
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The target for each player to reach value is 2.5x the player's salary. If a player costs $10,000 against the cap, expected value is 25 fantasy points.
Michael Carter-Williams ($13,300)
Carter-Williams had been playing fantastic basketball prior to Sunday's dud against the Knicks, averaging 14.3 points, 8.2 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game over his previous six. With Jerryd Bayless nursing an ankle injury and O.J. Mayo at less than 100 percent due to a hamstring ailment, Carter-Williams should see the vast majority of ball-handling duties for the foreseeable future. This high level of responsibility is reminiscent of the point guard's days in Philadelphia, where he was able to replicate his recent high level of production over a full season.
Harrison Barnes ($9,800)
There's talk of the Warriors resting Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and/or Shaun Livingston during their back-to-back set Wednesday and Thursday. The absence of those players would create a minutes void that could easily be eaten up by the young and athletic Barnes. His playing time has risen every game since returning from an ankle injury, and Barnes should easily eclipse 25 fantasy points per game once at his full load considering he scored over 32 fantasy points in each of his last three appearances prior to sustaining the injury.
Andrew Wiggins ($11,700)
Despite Minnesota going 1-8 in the last nine games, Wiggins has done everything he can for the Timberwolves over that span, eclipsing the 29.25 fantasy points needed for him to reach his target value seven times in nine tries. The sophomore forward's last three outings have been especially impressive, as his excellent real-life scoring (26.0 points per game) has translated into tremendous fantasy production (38.3 fantasy points per game). It doesn't look like the Timberwolves are going to do much more winning this season, so expect them to continue grooming their go-to scorer of the future by giving him the green light in any situation imaginable.
Jrue Holiday ($11,800)
Holiday no longer has to deal with a minutes restriction, and that's a great thing for his fantasy prospects. Although he is still operating in a reserve role, he has played over 30 minutes three times in the last five games after not having done so previously this season. Holiday averaged a jaw-dropping 41.3 fantasy points per game in his three appearances playing at least 30 minutes, so he should easily be able to return value on an $11,800 investment now that he's getting the requisite playing time.
Notable Injuries
Anthony Davis (back), Day-to-Day
Davis missed the last two games with a back injury and is listed as questionable for Wednesday's tilt with the Kings. Considering he took part in pregame warmups Tuesday, the Pelicans star shouldn't be out much longer. Stretch-four Ryan Anderson is expected to remain in the starting lineup as long as Davis is out.
Bradley Beal (leg), Day-to-Day
Beal's status has been upgraded to day-to-day, as the Wizards shooting guard is hoping to return either Friday or Saturday. Even if he's eased back into the lineup, Beal's return should put a damper on veteran Garrett Temple's production.
Hassan Whiteside (knee), Day-to-Day
Whiteside was held out of Monday's game with right knee tendinitis and it's unclear when he will be deemed fit enough to return. The NBA's blocks leader had previously been playing through the injury, but he was clearly operating at limited effectiveness. Miami went with a small-ball lineup with Whiteside unavailable Monday by inserting Justise Winslow into the starting five, and that should serve as the status quo until the big man is ready to make his return.
Blake Griffin (quad), Week-to-Week
Griffin has begun running on a zero-gravity treadmill and is expected to be re-evaluated within a week. It's been over two weeks since he originally suffered the injury on Christmas, but Griffin still appears to be nowhere near returning. The Clippers have played shockingly well in his absence, but the power forward's pedigree suggests he'll be right back in his normal role whenever he finally gets back into game shape.
Jerryd Bayless (ankle), Day-to-Day
Bayless has missed the past four games, and still hasn't even resumed practicing. Michael Carter-Williams should continue to have the ball in his hands even more than usual as long as Bayless is out.
Carmelo Anthony (ankle), Day-to-Day
Anthony appeared to have sprained his ankle in Tuesday's win over the Celtics, playing just 20 seconds in the second half as a result. The severity of Anthony's injury is unclear at the moment, and he is listed as questionable to play Wednesday against the Nets. Lance Thomas stands to be the most likely beneficiary from a playing time perspective should Melo be forced to miss any games.
