This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Thursday's five-game slate is a high-end shopaholic's dream, as there's no shortage of superstars to pay up for. With so many choices tugging at your dollars, let's break down who's poised to provide the most bang for the buck and which values will allow you to afford them:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
James Harden, HOU vs. CLE ($20,900): It comes down to Harden or Russell Westbrook ($20,900) if you're paying up at guard Thursday, and I give The Beard a slight edge in his home matchup. The Cavaliers have allowed the most fantasy points (57.7) and assists (12.7) to point guards on the season and are ranked in the bottom five against the position in all other major statistical categories as well. Harden will be coming in with three full days of rest and off a season-high 83.50 fantasy points versus the Jazz on Sunday night, a haul that pushed his season average to 53.68 fantasy points per contest.
Mid-Tier
Bradley Beal, WAS vs. LAL ($14,000): Beal lit up this Lakers squad for 45.50 fantasy points in their Oct. 25 meeting and has scored between 47.50 and 53.00 fantasy points in three of his last four. The Lakers have allowed 49.9 fantasy points per game to shooting guards, along with the seventh most points (29.7), eighth most made three-pointers (4.0) and fourth highest shooting percentage (45.0) to the position. Beal is enjoying the best season of his six-year career, with personal bests in scoring (25.4), rebounds (4.6) and shooting percentage (49.2).
Affordable
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. PHI ($9,500): A move to the bench has agreed with Hield, who's scored between 25.00 and 35.75 fantasy points in his last three contests. He's shooting a blistering 61.3 percent from the field -- including 63.6 percent from three-point range -- over that span, while also boasting a 25.3 percent usage rate and averaging an impressive 1.28 fantasy points per minute. He draws a matchup Thursday that could facilitate more of the same, considering the Sixers defense is allowing the fourth most fantasy points on the season (55.7) and over the last five (59.0) to two-guards, along with the second most points (34.0), including 3.8 made three-pointers per game.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
DeMarcus Cousins, NOP at TOR ($20,200): You're not likely to go wrong with any of the top three choices at forward/center Thursday, but Cousins checks in as the least expensive among Anthony Davis ($20,700) and LeBron James ($20,400), while his 62.45 fantasy points per game comfortably outpaces the aforementioned duo. Cousins has scored between 59.50 and 71.75 fantasy points in three of the last four and performed well in this matchup last season, averaging 22.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 blocks across 35.0 minutes over three games versus Toronto. Meanwhile, the Raptors have allowed 41.2 fantasy points per game to centers over the last five, almost seven points per contest higher than their season average.
Mid-Tier
Joel Embiid, PHI at SAC ($14,100): Embiid should be back on the court after a day off for rest on Tuesday, putting him squarely in play versus a Kings defense that's allowed the fifth most fantasy points (42.8) per game to centers on the season, including the fourth most (44.9) over the last five. They're also yielding the third most rebounds (14.3), second most assists (3.1), most steals (2.1) and third highest shooting percentage (61.0) per game to the position, while Embiid has scored no less than 38.00 fantasy points in any contest and has posted between 41.75 and 58.00 in the last three.
Affordable
Brandon Ingram, LAL at WAS ($12,500): Ingram exploited the Wizards' vulnerability against small forwards in his previous encounter with them, posting 39.50 fantasy points on the strength of a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. That line is a pretty accurate representation of Ingram's considerable improvement this season, one that's seen him bump up his numbers across the stat sheet. He's priced right for a rematch with Washington, which continues to allow the most fantasy points per game to threes on the season (59.1), including over the last five (63.4). They're also surrendering league-high figures in points (33.0), rebounds (9.9), blocks (1.7) and shooting percentage (54.0) to small forwards on the campaign, while Ingram has scored no less than 25.75 fantasy points in his last six games.
UTILITY:
John Wall, WAS vs. LAL ($18,500): Wall has turned it up over the last five, scoring between 42.75 and 51.25 fantasy points in four of those contests while sporting a 27.3 usage rate, shooting 45.2 percent and averaging a team-high 1.26 fantasy points per minute over that span. The Lakers check in allowing the sixth most fantasy points per game to point guards on the season (49.2), including the most over the last five (63.3). They're also ranked in the bottom 10 in points (24.1) and rebounds (7.6) surrendered to the position on the campaign, while Wall should have a little extra dose of motivation after shooting just 31.8 percent and coming up short on a would-be game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer in the previous Wizards-Lakers meeting.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. OKC ($15,200): Those who can afford to pay up for Ben Simmons ($18,400) are certainly advised to do so given his impressive consistency, but Jokic comes with as much potential upside and at a very reasonable price. The Thunder's Steven Adams has not been as effective defending opposing fives this season, as OKC is just outside the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed per game to centers (38.8). They're also allowing the seventh most points (17.6) per contest to the position, while Jokic is coming off a jaw-dropping 74.50 fantasy-point outing against the Nets on Tuesday and had scored between 46.75 and 51.50 fantasy points in five of his prior six outings as well.
