This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
The NBA returns with a solid nine-game slate following its annual Thanksgiving sabbatical. Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and DeMarcus Cousins are among the high-price studs available, but there's also plenty to be considered at the mid-tier and below. Without further ado, let's dive into who's worthy of consideration:
GUARDS
Stephen Curry, GS vs. CHI ($19,800): Even in Wednesday's rare double-digit defeat for the Warriors, Curry compiled 39.75 fantasy points over 30 minutes, and he'd scored between 43.00 and 69.25 fantasy points in four of his prior five contests. The Bulls set up as inviting targets Friday, considering they've allowed the sixth most fantasy points (50.0) and assists (9.5) to point guards on the season. Curry checks in with a team-high 29.2 percent usage rate, along with 1.41 fantasy points per minute.
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. ORL ($14,400): Irving continues to excel as the unquestioned leader of the Celtics' offense, a title that's evidenced by his team-high 32.5 percent usage rate and average of 1.27 fantasy points per minute. He's scored no less than 34.25 fantasy points in his last seven non-injury games and draws an appealing matchup against a Magic squad that's allowed 49.9 fantasy points per game to point guards on the season, including the sixth most (53.2) over the last 10. It's also worth noting Irving's success versus Orlando last season, which included averages of 22.0 points (on 47.3 percent shooting), 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists across three games.
Marco Belinelli, ATL vs. NY ($7,300): Belinelli has been outpacing his current price throughout the majority of the season thus far and has scored over 20 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games. The veteran sharpshooter has been aggressive with his minutes all season, posting the second-highest field-goal attempts per game (10.1) of his career (including 5.3 from three-point range) while averaging a career-high 12.1 points. Meanwhile, the Knicks have been vulnerable to shooting guards all season and check in allowing 61.5 fantasy points per game to the position over the last five, eight points over their season average. They're also allowing the second most made three-pointers to two-guards (4.7), while Belinelli is shooting an impressive 40.0 percent from behind the arc.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
DeMarcus Cousins, NO at PHO ($20,800): Cousins draws a tantalizing target in the form of the Suns, who've been unable to slow down big men all season. They check into Friday allowing the most fantasy points (42.8) per game to centers, including 46.3 over the last five contests. They're also ranked in the bottom 10 in points (17.2), rebounds (13.5) and blocks (2.1) surrendered to the position, while Cousin is averaging 57.18 fantasy points per game and has scored under 40 fantasy points just once in the first 18 games.
Paul George, OKC vs. DET ($15,600): George has scored between 41.75 and 70.25 fantasy points in five of his last six games and checks into Friday with back-to-back 50-fantasy-point tallies. He's managing a solid 25.3 percent usage rate despite sharing the floor with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, and he draws the best matchup for small forwards at present. The Pistons have allowed a whopping 71.9 fantasy points per contest to threes over the last five -- nearly 28 points over their season average of 44.1 -- while George is taking a career-high 8.1 three-point attempts per contest and shooting a career-best 42.3 percent from long distance.
Greg Monroe, PHO vs. NO ($8,800): Monroe has made quite the impression in his new Phoenix digs, as he's already posted over 40 fantasy points in two of his first four contests. The minutes have mostly been there, as he's seen between 21 and 32 in three of those games. He might be able to often avoid DeMarcus Cousins down low Friday while coming off the bench, and the Pelicans also check in allowing the ninth most fantasy points (40.1) to centers over their last 10.
UTILITY
Tim Hardaway, Jr., NY at ATL ($13,800): Hardaway should have a bit of extra motivation against his former teammates and checks in hot, as he scored a season-high 61 fantasy points versus the Raptors on Wednesday. He'd also scored over 40 thrice and over 50 on two other occasions over the previous 12 games, while the Hawks have allowed the eighth most fantasy points (42.1) per game to small forwards in the last 10, along with the highest field goal percentage (50.0) to the position on the season.
Tyreke Evans, MEM at DEN ($12,700): Evans is sporting a robust 25.7 percent usage rate and has averaged 1.18 fantasy points per minute in the four games since Mike Conley went down with an Achilles ailment, scoring between 30.75 and 44.50 fantasy points in three of those contests. He'd been over 40 in the three games prior to that stretch as well, leaving him poised for another strong outing against a Nuggets defense that allows 46.7 fantasy points per contest to two-guards. They're also surrendering 3.9 made three-pointers per contest, while Evans is taking a career-high 4.2 three-point attempts per game and boasts a career-best 41.7 percent success rate from behind the arc.
