This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Wednesday offers the first truly big slate in a few days, as 10 games are on the docket. There's much to pay up for in the form of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and James Harden, among others. Some appealing value can be had as well. Let's break down where some of the best buys are Wednesday:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. IND ($23,900): The Pacers have allowed 52.7 fantasy points per game to point guards in the early going, a figure that's partly comprised of 26.3 points per game allowed -- sixth-most in the NBA. Westbrook has well over 50.00 fantasy points in two of his first three games and comes in with two full days of rest. And, despite now sharing the court with two other highly capable scorers in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, is still sporting a robust 28.3 percent usage rate.
Mid-Tier
John Wall, WAS at LAL ($17,900): Wall is in a good spot in a primary matchup against Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, who's played a part in the Lakers allowing 50.0 fantasy points and 24.3 points per game (on 48.1 percent shooting) to point guards. Even with a rough shooting night against the Nuggets on Monday, Wall still managed a 19-point, 12-assist double-double that netted 44.75 fantasy points -- his third straight game with more than 40 fantasy points to open the new season. Wall is sporting a team-high 33.7 percent usage rate as well, furthering his case.
Affordable
Lonzo Ball, LAL vs. WAS ($12,500): That said, Ball is priced attractively relative to his production over the last pair of contests, as he's compiled 59.75 and 37.00 fantasy points, respectively. While his shooting has definitely been hit-or-miss, Ball is consistently producing in the area of rebounds and assists, while the Wizards are allowing 52.2 fantasy points, 24.6 points, 6.7 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game to point guards. At his price and with his usage, Ball seemingly has a good opportunity to return solid value on his still-discounted price.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
LeBron James, CLE at BKN ($18,500): The Nets will be on their third game in four nights Wednesday and are allowing 122.5 points per game. Moreover, James could well be deployed at point guard once again as was the case Tuesday, a strategy that led to a 34-point, 13-assist double-double. He'll draw a premium matchup against D'Angelo Russell if he plays the point again Wednesday, as the Nets have allowed 55.2 fantasy points and 11.7 assists per game to ones while also sporting the fifth-worst defensive efficiency rate (111.3) in the NBA.
Mid-Tier
Kevin Love, CLE at BKN ($15,800): Love is once again in play for many of the same reasons just cited for James, and he draws an excellent positional matchup as well. The Nets just allowed the Magic's Aaron Gordon to explode for 41 points and have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points (56.1) per game to power forwards, along with 23.3 points (on 50.9 percent shooting), 14.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Meanwhile, Love has scored over 40 fantasy points in two of his last three contests.
Affordable
Paul Millsap, DEN at CHA ($13,500): The Hornets are once again struggling to defend power forwards in the early going this season, as they check in allowing 50.8 fantasy points and 21.2 points per game (on 48.9 percent shooting) to fours. Millsap has pretty much made a seamless transition in Denver, scoring between 26.00 and 33.75 fantasy points in his first three games on the strength of between 17 and 19 actual points and six and nine rebounds in those contests.
UTILITY:
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. HOU ($16,700): Embiid's frontcourt mate Ben Simmons ($16,300) has been excellent as well, but he draws a much tougher positional matchup Wednesday. Meanwhile, Embiid is in a good spot against Clint Capela, a player who he has a two-inch height advantage on and who's played a big part in the Rockets allowing 25.6 points (on 57.9 percent shooting) and 11.7 rebounds per contest to centers. Embiid has essentially been matchup-proof again, scoring between 39.00 and 42.25 fantasy points in the three games he's played this season while sporting a team-high 32.6 percent usage rate.
Reggie Jackson, DET vs. MIN ($10,300): Jackson has enjoyed a resurgence in the early going after an uneven year last season, as he's scored between 30.75 and 42.50 fantasy points in his first four games and is averaging 1.18 fantasy points per minute. The Timberwolves are allowing the most fantasy points per game to point guards (68.4), along with 28.4 points (on a league-high 57.3 percent shooting), 10.7 assists and 6.8 rebounds. The Wolves will also be on their third game in four nights Wednesday.
