This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
FantasyDraft offers an innovative salary structure and allows for a flexible lineup construction, allowing you to load up on fantasy-prolific positions like point guards and centers if you so choose. That comes in particularly handy on larger slates like Friday's, so let's dive in to see where the best values might be across the pricing scale:
GUARDS
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. IND ($18,000):James Harden ($20,800) makes for a strong play if you can afford the salary, and John Wall ($17,900) is certainly another viable option at the top tier, but the Greek Freak has scored between 42.50 and 71.75 fantasy points in his last four games, with the high end of that range coming Wednesday versus the Knicks. Meanwhile, the Pacers have allowed 44.5 fantasy points per game to point guards on the season, along with the sixth-most assists (8.9).
Seth Curry, IND vs. DET ($12,600):Elfrid Payton ($13,300) always makes for a viable tournament play with his inconsistent production but sky-high ceiling, but Curry can be deployed in any contest type given his impressive consistency and solid all-around production. He's scored over 30 fantasy points in six of his last seven games while playing no fewer than 30 minutes. He couldn't ask for a better matchup Friday, as the Nets surrender the most fantasy points (39.5), third-most points (23.0) and second-most rebounds (6.3) to two-guards on the season.
Bojan Bogdanovic, WAS at SAC ($9,900):Jeremy Lin ($9,800) and Malcolm Brogdon ($9,800) are also appealing plays at this level, but Bogdanovic may carry the most upside of the trio. He's eclipsed 30 fantasy points twice, including 40 once, in the last five games, while the Kings have allowed the second-most fantasy points (48.0) to the position over the last five games, and most (46.4) over the last 10. They've also given up the fifth-most three-pointers (2.2) and 10-highest field-goal percentage (45.7) to the position, especially relevant in the case of a scoring-reliant player like Bogdanovic.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. GS ($18,900): Towns has scored no fewer than 46.75 fantasy points and as many as 73.00 in the last seven games, making his current price justifiable, especially in what should be a fast-paced, high-scoring affair Friday. The Warriors have surrendered 49.3 fantasy points per game to centers, along with the fifth-most rebounds (15.4) and most assists (3.5) this season, while Towns has averaged 21.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game against Golden State in two previous starts this season.
Wilson Chandler, DEN vs. BOS ($13,300):Paul Millsap ($14,000), Harrison Barnes ($12,600) and Dirk Nowitzki ($12,000) are also solid options, but Chandler could pay off nicely if Danilo Gallinari (vertigo) is forced to miss a second consecutive game. Chandler draws a matchup against a Celtics defense that's surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points (43.3) to power forwards, and sixth-most (44.4) over the last five games. Meanwhile, Chandler has scored 64.50 and 34.50 fantasy points in the last two games, respectively, and he has a 24.9 percent usage rate without Gallinari on the floor this season.
Kosta Koufos, SAC vs. WAS ($7,700):Robin Lopez ($8,800), Ersan Ilyasova ($8,700) and C.J. Miles ($7,800) will get some attention in this salary range, but Koufos is cheaper and has been flashing some appealing upside since DeMarcus Cousins was traded, scoring between 19.50 and 32.50 fantasy points in five of seven games. He's been particularly good over the last three, scoring no fewer than 25.50 fantasy points while playing at least 24 minutes. Meanwhile, the Wizards have yielded the fifth-most fantasy points (54.6) to centers over the last 10 games.
UTILITY
Paul George, IND at MIL ($14,300): George draws a matchup against a Bucks defense that's allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (39.7) per game to the position this season. He has scored between 34.0 and 57.50 fantasy points in his last five games and is posting red-hot 60.7 and 53.7 percent success rates from the field and three-point range, respectively, over that span.
Dwight Howard, ATL vs. TOR ($13,000):Dennis Schroder ($12,700) is also an appealing choice for those who need to go a bit cheaper, but the big man has been the epitome of consistency lately, scoring between 31.25 and 44.0 fantasy points in seven straight games. He's thrived in his two previous matchups against the Raptors as well, averaging 18.5 points and 16.0 rebounds, and Toronto allows 47.5 fantasy points per game to centers over the last five.
