This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA has only four games on tap Sunday, but unlike usual there are no early games. All four games start 6 pm EST or after, meaning there's only one primary slate of games. The Thunder/Pelicans matchup is the eye-catcher to me, pitting two video-game-level producers in Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis against each other. The Kings/Knicks tilt also stands out, but for a different reason, as there are a lot of punt-level value plays on these two teams that could be used as filler to allow you to take some chances on superstars.
Chris Paul, LAC vs IND ($9100): This was a two-horse race between Westbrook and Chris Paul. In this scoring system Westbrook has been averaging 64.1 fantasy points over his last four games while Paul is at 48.1 over his last three. Meanwhile, Paul is $3500 cheaper and has a great match-up on Sunday against a Pacers defense that struggles against opposing point guards. I started this write-up planning to put Westbrook here, but the numbers have convinced that Paul is the better play.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs ORL ($5700): KCP has scored more than 30 fantasy points in six of his last seven outings, and has been even better in his last three in which he has averaged 38.3 fantasy points per game.
Justin Holiday ($4100) or Brandon Jennings ($4000), NY vs SAC: Both affordable guard options come out of the Knicks backcourt, though Holiday's inclusion is predicated upon Courtney Lee (questionable, ankle)
The NBA has only four games on tap Sunday, but unlike usual there are no early games. All four games start 6 pm EST or after, meaning there's only one primary slate of games. The Thunder/Pelicans matchup is the eye-catcher to me, pitting two video-game-level producers in Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis against each other. The Kings/Knicks tilt also stands out, but for a different reason, as there are a lot of punt-level value plays on these two teams that could be used as filler to allow you to take some chances on superstars.
Chris Paul, LAC vs IND ($9100): This was a two-horse race between Westbrook and Chris Paul. In this scoring system Westbrook has been averaging 64.1 fantasy points over his last four games while Paul is at 48.1 over his last three. Meanwhile, Paul is $3500 cheaper and has a great match-up on Sunday against a Pacers defense that struggles against opposing point guards. I started this write-up planning to put Westbrook here, but the numbers have convinced that Paul is the better play.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs ORL ($5700): KCP has scored more than 30 fantasy points in six of his last seven outings, and has been even better in his last three in which he has averaged 38.3 fantasy points per game.
Justin Holiday ($4100) or Brandon Jennings ($4000), NY vs SAC: Both affordable guard options come out of the Knicks backcourt, though Holiday's inclusion is predicated upon Courtney Lee (questionable, ankle) missing another game. With Lee out Friday, Holiday started and scored 13 points with seven boards, three steals and a blocked shot in 31 minutes. If Lee plays, Holiday would go back to an uninteresting bench role, but Jennings would still be viable. He's up-and-down, but the chance to get starters numbers at his price could be worth it as a punt option.
Anthony Davis, NO at OKC ($11,900): In this scoring format, Davis has been even more potent than Russell Westbrook of late — as long as he's been able to play the whole game. Twice in his last six games Davis has suffered an injury that has caused him to leave the action for extended periods. But in the other four games he has scored between 58.6 and 75.7 fantasy points per game, making it worth the injury risk to consider him even at ultra-max prices.
Kristaps Porzingis, NY vs SAC ($7500): Porzingis had a clunker in his last outing out with only 11 points, five boards, three assists and three blocks but four turnovers against the Timberwolves. However, in the nine games before that he averaged 24 points, 8.0 boards, 1.7 assists, 2.6 treys and 2.6 combined steals and blocks per game. Look for him to bounce-back on Sunday.
Marcus Morris, DET vs ORL ($4800): Morris started the season as a regular value-play with upside, then played his price up out of value range then cooled way off. Now, his price is down near the punt category, but he's been playing well of late. Morris has scored in double-digits in five straight games, a stretch in which he is averaging 13.4 points, 4.0 boards and 1.4 assists per game with a high game of 34.3 fantasy points on Wednesday.
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC at NY ($10,900): Cousins has been playing to his considerable ability of late, and when he does there isn't another center in the game in his class. Over his last five games, Cousins is averaging 33.8 points with 12.4 boards, 2.4 assists, 3.0 treys and 3.6 combined steals and blocks. The Knicks have generally been solid against opposing centers this year, but they gave up 47 points to Karl-Anthony Towns just this week so they can be exploited.
Myles Turner, IND at LAC ($6400): Turner has averaged 17.3 points, 10.0 boards, 1.7 assists and 1.3 treys with 2.0 blocks in his last three games. On Sunday he gets to face a Clippers defense that struggles against opposing centers.
Kyle O'Quinn, NO at OKC ($4300): O'Quinn popped on Friday in his fourth start in seven games (replacing Joakim Noah, ankle). O'Quinn scored 20 points with 13 boards, two blocks and two assists in 31 minutes. While the team hasn't announced anything, if Noah sits again you would think that his Friday performance would earn O'Quinn continued minutes on Sunday.
