This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
As is often the case, Sunday brings a modestly-sized five-game slate, but it nevertheless packs some star power. The likes of Stephen Curry, John Wall, Kevin Durant and LeBron James are all options to consider, making budgeting particularly important. Without further ado, let's analyze where the dollars can be most wisely invested:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Stephen Curry, GS vs. DET ($18,800): Curry has scored between 42.75 and 51.50 fantasy points in his last five contests and lit up Reggie Jackson and the Pistons last season for 24.5 points (on 48.5 percent shooting, including 42.1 percent from three-point range), 7.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals across two contests. Detroit has been relatively tough against point guards this season (40.2 fantasy points per game allowed), but Curry is sporting a team-high 29.1 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.36 fantasy points per minute.
Mid-Tier
Bradley Beal, WAS at SAC ($13,300): The sharp-shooting Beal finds himself in a favorable spot against the Kings, who check in allowing 48.8 fantasy points per game to two-guards, along with 30.6 points and 4.2 made three-pointers per contest. The latter number is particularly relevant in Beal's case, given his long-distance prowess. He also should be especially motivated to take the floor after having to sit out the second half of Friday night's contest against the Warriors due to getting tossed, and he checks in having scored over 40 fantasy points in three of his four full games this season.
Affordable
Evan Fournier, ORL at CHA ($11,800): Fournier is underpriced in his own right against a Hornets squad that's allowed the third-most fantasy points (60.4) and fourth-most points (33.6) to shooting guards. Fournier has also taken his game to a new level this season, scoring between 29.75 and 48.00 fantasy points in his first five games while averaging career highs in points (22.2), rebounds (4.8), assists (3.6) and steals (1.8). He's draining a career-best 54.1 percent of his shots as well, including 56.0 percent from three-point range. With a 1.19 fantasy-point-per-minute average, he presents as one of the most appealing value plays on the short slate.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Kevin Durant, GS vs. DET ($20,200):LeBron James ($22,000) is in an excellent
matchup against the Knicks, but Durant presents as a cost-saving alternative for those who can't quite foot the bill. He went off for a season-best 61.25 fantasy points against the Wizards on Friday night, although teammate Draymond Green's absence for the entire second half certainly boosted Durant's usage to a degree. However, his qualifications as a high-upside GPP or cash option are unquestioned under any circumstance, and he draws an appealing matchup in his own right versus a Pistons defense that's allowing 47.2 fantasy points and 21.4 points per game to small forwards on 48.0 percent shooting.
Mid-Tier
Nikola Jokic, DEN at BKN ($15,300): The Nets check into Sunday allowing 41.8 fantasy points, 19.8 points and 12.3 rebounds per game to centers, while Jokic has scored between 32.50 and 47.75 fantasy points in four of his first five games. Just as important, he's logged consistent and abundant playing time, logging no less than 30 minutes and as many as 35 in his first five games. He's coming off back-to-back double-doubles as well, furthering his case against one of the more vulnerable frontcourts in the league.
Affordable
Tobias Harris, DET at GS ($12,100): Harris has admittedly had a couple of unexpected down games, but he's also eclipsed 40 fantasy points in three contests already. Therefore, while he may be a tad hard to trust in cash, he makes for a very viable tournament play against a Warriors squad that's allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (56.7) and most points (29.8) per game to power forwards, along with 13.8 rebounds, 2.3 made three-pointers and a 49.0 percent success rate from the field. Harris thrived in this matchup last season as well, averaging 22.0 points (on 55.2 percent shooting, including 50.0 percent from three-point range), 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals across two games versus the Warriors.
Utility:
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. ORL ($13,000): Despite going off for 42.75 fantasy points in his last contest against the Rockets on Friday night, Walker remains very reasonably priced for another solid matchup. The Magic have given up 43.3 fantasy points per game to point guards, along with 22.4 points, 6.8 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Meanwhile, Walker sports a team-high 25.8 percent usage rate and is seeing heavy minutes, having logged between 34 and 38 in four of his first five games.
Kelly Oubre, Jr., WAS at SAC ($10,300): Oubre has been solid while filling in at power forward for Markieff Morris (abdomen) to start the season, posting between 27.00 and 38.50 fantasy points in three of his first five games. Although he's had a couple of more modest efforts as well, matters line up well for him fantasy-wise Sunday versus a Kings defense that's allowed the third-most fantasy points (58.7), third-most points (29.2), second-most rebounds (16.4) and most made three-pointers per game (3.2) to power forwards. Oubre is coming off a season-high 19 points and eight rebounds versus the Warriors on Friday, a game in which he drained four of six three-point attempts to push his success rate from long range for the season to 43.5 percent.
