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.
FantasyDraft is running NBA contests each and every day. There are 50/50s, guaranteed tournaments and more available options in the lobby, so be sure to check it out. With contests at every entry fee level, there are a ton of options to choose from.
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.
Archie Goodwin ($9,000)
Goodwin played terrific basketball in his first three starts in place of Brandon Knight (groin), scoring 70 points in 108 minutes. The Suns have handed the third-year pro primary ball-handling duties, and his combination of volume and playing time should allow him to easily outperform his modest current price tag. With Knight out for the team's four-game road trip and probably beyond, Goodwin should have staying power as a major fantasy factor even if he regresses from his current form.
Khris Middleton ($12,900)
Middleton has taken his offensive game to a whole new level lately, topping 20 points in 10 of his last 11 appearances. He has also displayed excellent unselfishness to complement his scoring in that span, recording at least five assists eight times. It should come as no surprise that Middleton has managed to exceed expectations for a player of his price nine times in that timeframe, and there's no reason to believe that he'll slow down any time soon.
Spencer Hawes ($8,600)
Injuries to Al Jefferson (knee), and more recently Cody Zeller (shoulder), have allowed Hawes to rise from deep down the depth chart into a prominent fantasy role. Charlotte's starting center by default has logged over 30 minutes in each of his last three games, averaging 31.4 fantasy points per game over that span. With Zeller out at least the rest of the week and Jefferson nowhere near returning, Hawes' hot streak should have some staying power.
DeAndre Jordan ($12,700)
With a full month's sample size to work with since Blake Griffin's quadriceps injury, it's safe to say Jordan is a better fantasy player with the Clippers frontcourt spotlight to himself. The almost-Maverick has averaged 38.4 fantasy points in 12 games since Griffin last played on Dec. 25, easily exceeding the 31.75 fantasy point expectation for a player at his price. Since Griffin's return is nowhere in sight, you should keep taking advantage of Jordan's lowball valuation until either his price goes up or his level drops.
Notable Injuries
Cody Zeller (shoulder), Day-to-Day
Zeller will be out for at least the rest of the week with a sprained ligament in his shoulder. With Al Jefferson (knee) out long term, Spencer Hawes should get all the minutes he can handle at center with Frank Kaminsky seeing extra playing time to spell him.
Blake Griffin (quadriceps/hand), Out 4-to-6 Weeks
Griffin was just starting to show serious progress in his return from a quadriceps injury when he fractured his hand punching an equipment staff member Monday. He's predicted to be out for 4-to-6 weeks, so expect Clippers like Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford to continue to thrive without Griffin.
Brandon Knight (groin), Week-to-Week
Knight won't travel with the Suns on their upcoming four-game road trip due to a groin ailment, meaning young guards Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker should continue to play major roles as starters in the Suns' backcourt. He's still hoping to avoid surgery at this point, but it doesn't look like Knight is close to returning.
Rudy Gay (eye), Day-to-Day
Gay was almost immediately ruled out of Tuesday's contest after suffering a corneal abrasion Monday in his return from a bruised heel. The quick decision suggests the high-scoring forward could miss extended time, and Omri Casspi should benefit with a spot in the starting lineup while Gay remains sidelined.
Bradley Beal (head/face), Day-to-Day
Beal suffered a broken nose and was tested for a concussion after taking an elbow to the face from Celtics guard Marcus Smart on Monday. He seemed clear of concussive symptoms, meaning there's a good chance the guard will be able to return before the end of the week. Garrett Temple stepped up during Beal's absence earlier this season, so he could be worth a speculative play in the meantime.
Goran Dragic (calf), Day-to-Day
Dragic is targeting a Friday return, which would mean missing no more games with the Heat off Wednesday and Thursday. Beno Udrih and Tyler Johnson have been filling in for the Slovenian since he went down on Jan. 11, but their moment in the Miami sun looks to be coming to an end.
