This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Sunday brings a modest three-game slate that nevertheless doesn't lack for star power. With the likes of Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Lonzo Ball in action, there's no shortage of decisions to make. Without further ado, let's dive into the where best to allocate resources Sunday:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs MIN ($20,500): Westbrook is the clear-cut top choice at guard on the three-game slate and draws a matchup against a Timberwolves defense already surrendering 55.8 fantasy points per game to ones. Westbrook should see plenty of Jeff Teague as his primary defender, a matchup he averaged 29.0 points, 14.5 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals last season over two games when Teague was in Indiana.
Mid-Tier
Dennis Schroder, ATL at BKN ($14,300): Schroder has gone for 44.75 and 36.75 fantasy points, respectively, over his first two games, and he draws a matchup ripe for more of the same Sunday. The Nets have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to point guards in the early going (59.4), along with a robust 52.8 percent success rate from the field. Schroder is one of the focal points of the Hawks offense, as his team-high 33.5 percent usage rate in the early going attests.
Affordable
Lonzo Ball, LAL vs. NO ($13,000): After a rough first day on the job against the Clippers' Patrick Beverley, Ball bounced back with a breakout effort versus the Suns in which he scored 59.75 fantasy points. The heralded rookie came just an assist short of a triple-double and now faces a Pelicans defense that's allowed 46.9 fantasy points per game to point guards thus far. Ball is already boasting a 24.0 percent usage rate, and given his confidence-building effort against Phoenix, he could be primed for a boost in that number versus New Orleans.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Anthony Davis, NO at LAL ($18,900): The combination of Davis' vast skill set and the Lakers' highly generous frontcourt defense jumps off the screen on Sunday's small slate. Davis has already compiled 57.00 and 69.25 fantasy points, respectively, in the first two games of the season, while the Lakers are tied with the Thunder for most fantasy points allowed to power forwards (68.1). It's also worth noting that Davis steamrolled the Lakers for 35.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 steals over three games last season against much of the same personnel he'll see Sunday.
Mid-Tier
Andrew Wiggins, MIN at OKC ($12,600): Wiggins has eclipsed the 20-point mark in his first two games of the season and is sporting an impressive 29.3 percent usage rate thus far. His matchup against Paul George isn't a cakewalk, but Wiggins is priced reasonably relative to his significant offensive role (33 shot attempts over first two games) and playing time (32.5 minutes).
Affordable
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at BKN ($9,700): Dedmon's four-figure price looks particularly appealing considering his matchup against a Nets squad that's given up the most fantasy points (78.0) and points (38.0) to centers in the early going. Dedmon has been serviceable in his first two games as the starter, posting 23.25 and 26.75 fantasy points, respectively, in those contests. Dedmon is seeing 24.5 minutes per game thus far, which should afford him enough opportunity to return solid value on a bargain price.
Utility:
DeMarcus Cousins, NO at LAL ($18,500): The Lakers have allowed 54.6 fantasy points and a whopping 23.2 rebounds per contest to centers in the early going, rendering Cousins just as much of a high-upside play as teammate Anthony Davis. Cousins has already exploded for 58.50 and 69.25 fantasy points in the first two games, corroborating the fact that he and Davis are perfectly capable of massive production in the same game. Cousins also dominated Brook Lopez, who he should see plenty of Sunday, to the tune of 37 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, four steals and one block over 36 minutes in his one game against him last season when the latter was with the Nets.
Brook Lopez, LAL vs. NO ($12,200): Lopez is also a viable option on the other side of that matchup, considering that the Pelicans have allowed 51.9 fantasy points to centers over the first two games. Lopez has put up 34.50 and 38.75 fantasy points over his first two games in Los Angeles and is boasting a solid 25.8 percent usage rate over that span, adding to his appeal as a reasonably-priced utility option.
