This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Saturday offers an eight-game slate headlined by an intriguing Cavs-Pelicans showdown. With the likes of LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins and James Harden in action, let's take a look at who's worthy of jamming into your lineups.
GUARD
James Harden, HOU at MEM ($21,500): Harden has already eclipsed 50 fantasy points on a couple of occasions in the early going, and is capable of accomplishing the feat on any given night in his current role as point guard. The Grizzlies did notably hold him to his lowest tally (39.75 fantasy points) of the first five games, but Harden thrived in the matchup against Memphis last season, averaging 26.3 points (on 54.9 percent shooting, including 48.3 percent from three-point range), 11.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals across four contests. The Grizzlies also check in allowing 24.4 points (on 47.0 percent shooting) and the fifth most made three-pointers (3.0) per game to point guards this season.
Damian Lillard, POR vs. PHO ($14,900): It's rare to find Lillard at this discounted of a price, especially when he's averaging 40.80 fantasy points, as is currently the case. The multi-time All-Star has struggled from the field over his first five games (37.9 percent shooting), but he's still managed to score over 40 fantasy points on three occasions and posted 38.00 in another contest. He draws a matchup that could help cure his shooting woes, considering the Suns allow the fourth most fantasy points (56.3), fifth most points (26.8) and third highest field goal shooting percentage to point guards. Moreover, despite his early struggles, the offense still runs through Lillard, as he sports a 30.8 percent usage rate.
Tyreke Evans, MEM vs. HOU ($8,700): Evans can save you some significant cash in GPPs and carries some solid upside relative to price in his high-usage bench role. The veteran guard is consistently seeing over 20 minutes and has scored over 20 fantasy points on four occasions over his first five games. He's been solid on the glass as well (between four and seven rebounds in each contest) and has put up double-digit shot attempts in three of five games, leading to a solid 21.8 percent usage rate. Coming off a season-best 30.50 fantasy points in just 22 minutes against the Mavericks in his last game, Evans stands a good chance of returning solid value at his bargain price.
FORWARD/CENTER
LeBron James, CLE at NO ($18,800): Naturally, DeMarcus Cousins ($22,000) is in play in this same contest if you can afford him, particularly if Anthony Davis (knee) is out once again. However, James is available at over $3K cheaper and is going to be honed in on getting a win after the Cavs were shockingly upset by the Nets in their last game. His projected move back to small forward will likely put a bit of a dent in his overall production, but it also gives him a crack at a defense that's tied for the third highest shooting percentage (51.0) surrendered on threes this season. The Pelicans were also a plus matchup for LeBron last season with many of the same personnel in their starting five, as he compiled 26.0 points (on 47.6 percent shooting), 9.0 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals across two games.
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. LAL ($14,000): Gobert racked up a season-high 44.50 fantasy points in his most recent game Wednesday versus the Suns, and he's over 30 fantasy points in three of his other four contests as well. He'll come in well rested – considering the Jazz last played Wednesday – and takes on a Lakers squad that's allowing 41.9 fantasy points and the second most rebounds (17.0) per game to centers. Given his size and rebounding prowess, Gobert always brings the possibility of a double-double bonus to the table, and he's accomplished the feat in four of his first five contests.
Lauri Markkanen, CHI vs. OKC ($12,400): Kelly Olynyk ($11,300) is also an intriguing value play in a matchup against his old Celtics teammates, but Markkanen is in a plus matchup against a Thunder team that's on their third game in four nights and that's a bottom-10 squad in fantasy points (46.7), points (23.2), rebounds (13.6) and shooting percentage (53.0) allowed to power forwards. Markkanen is priced very reasonably for a player that's scored between 28.50 and 32.50 fantasy points in his first four games while seeing no less than 30 minutes in any contest.
UTILITY
Marc Gasol, MEM vs. HOU ($14,300): Gasol has taken his already impressive game to a new level in the early going, as he's scored between 37.25 and 59.50 fantasy points in his first five contests. He's double-doubled in four of those games while sporting a team-high 30.3 percent usage rate and averaging 1.33 fantasy points per minute. He faces a Rockets squad that he already scored 26 points against last Monday, and that allowed an average of 20.0 points and 11.0 rebounds to Joel Embiid and Dwight Howard, respectively, over the last two games.
Steven Adams, OKC at CHI ($12,500): Adams has surprisingly taken on a much larger offensive role this season despite the Thunder having added plenty of firepower on that side of the ball in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, as he's averaging 1.02 fantasy points per minute and has scored over 30 fantasy points twice and over 40 on another two occasions in his first five games. He's been a force on the glass as well (between eight and 13 rebounds in his last three contests) and draws an appealing matchup against a Bulls squad allowing the fifth most fantasy points (43.9), third most rebounds (15.5) and second most assists (3.8) per game to centers.
