This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
FantasyDraft has one of the most interesting fantasy basketball formats out there, as the scoring rules are unique and the roster is made up of three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players, which makes for a much more diverse lineup and allows you to get more players at the same position. Today's we'll focus on value plays so you can get as many studs into your lineup as possible:
GUARDS
Jrue Holiday, NOP vs. TOR ($12,700): Holiday has been a much better player this season than this price indicates, and it's players like Dion Waiters, Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade that make him look like such a bargain, as they are all within $100 in salary. Not only has Holiday been destroying those players in fantasy points, but he'll get to match up against a Raptors team allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to point guards since Kyle Lowry went down injured.
Dennis Schroder, ATL vs. BKN ($12,600): Schroder as scored at least 28 fantasy points in 10 straight games, including at least 36 in each of his last two. He'll now face the Nets, who rank as the worst defense in the league in numerous metrics, and a team Schroder had 19 points and 10 assists against earlier this season.
Reggie Jackson, DET at IND ($10,100): Jackson has been wildly inconsistent this season, but his recent form is a promising sign. With at least 31 fantasy points in four of his last seven games, Jackson may be ready to break from his slump. That sort of upside at this price is hard to pass up, as Jackson was a $12,000 talent just last season. He has done well against Indiana as well, averaging 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game in three starts this season.
FORWARD/CENTER
Paul Millsap, ATL vs. BKN ($14,200): Millsap is one of the most reliable fantasy players out there and that reliability should become even more useful in such a great matchup. He has scored at least 39 fantasy points in five straight games and will now face a Brooklyn defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to power forwards this season.
Brook Lopez, BKN at ATL ($12,200): I've never been huge on using Lopez because of his role, but this price is simply too cheap. The players surrounding Lopez in salary are Aaron Gordon, Greg Monroe and Marcus Morris, and Lopez is the far superior option among the group. Prior to a dud against the defensively stout Grizzlies in his most recent game, Lopez had scored at least 28 fantasy points in 15 of his prior 19 games. That's all you can ask for from a $12,000 player, and the fact that he scored at least 36 fantasy points in nine of those games shows his upside.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA at MIA ($9,900): MKG is one of the best glue guys in the league and he's one of the only reliable fantasy options that produces while struggling to score. Despite the fact that he's only reached double figures in scoring in four of his last 16 games, Kidd-Gilchrist has at least 22 fantasy points in 14 of his last 20 games.
UTILITY
Paul George, IND vs. DET ($15,000): George has scored at least 34 fantasy points in four straight games, averaging 45 per game over that span. The shot attempts are what's risen significantly, as he's averaging 20 shots per game during that run. Detroit has had a hard time slowing down George in their three meetings this season too, with George averaging 26.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Jeremy Lin, BKN at ATL ($8,800): Lin's price has dropped significantly due to his injuries this season, but now that he's back, he's an excellent value. He was playing at a $12,000 level earlier this season, and he's shown signs of that recently. Not only does he have at least 25 fantasy points in three of his last four games, he's seen an increase in minutes each time out. The icing on the cake is the matchup, with Atlanta allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to point guards this season.
