This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
GUARDS
James Harden, HOU vs. NYK ($11,200): Harden is a stud for fantasy purposes and there's no player on this slate who's a more reliable option. Not only is he averaging 53 fantasy points per game for the season, but he's averaging over 59 fantasy points across his last eight games. The Knicks are a team that Harden has obliterated throughout his career, averaging 41.5 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists in two games against them last season. That's 80 fantasy points per game against a team which ranks bottom-five this season in fantasy points allowed to opposing guards.
Lou Williams, LAC at SAC ($6,800): Williams is really the only threat in the Clippers' backcourt, as Patrick Beverley is now out for the year. That got Williams into the starting lineup in the most recent game, and he dropped 30 fantasy points in 37 minutes of action. Williams now finds himself with a usage rate of 26.8 percent, which is a key number for someone who could approach 40 minutes of action.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs. ORL ($4,700): With Ben Simmons and Jerryd Bayless both dealing with injuries, McConnell should start and see 30-plus minutes of action. McConnell is a stat stuffing machine when given the opportunity, as his career per-36 minute averages come to 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game. That's well over 30 fantasy points per game, and it would not be a stretch to see him approach those 36 minutes in this shorthanded backcourt.
FORWARDS
Blake Griffin, LAC at SAC ($9,400): Griffin is coming off of his first triple-double of the season on Wednesday, and a rash of injuries has led to Griffin leading this team in both usage and shots per game, while running the offense through the post. That makes Griffin an intriguing option, and he gets to face a Sacramento defense which allows the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards. Until Griffin reaches the five-figure price threshold, he's always worth a look.
Jaylen Brown, BOS at IND ($6,000): Brown's price has dropped $800 since the beginning of the week, despite the fact that he's scored 30 fantasy points or more seven times and is averaging over 28 fantasy points per game for the season. The usage and shots are still there, and he's putting up more than 12 shots per game in 33 minutes of action. The fact that he plays against Indiana only adds to his intrigue, considering the Pacers sit with a 108.1 defensive efficiency rating.
Serge Ibaka, TOR at ATL ($4,800): Ibaka hasn't given us a whole lot of reason to use him this season, but this price has fallen too far. While he's been a disappointment, he's still averaging 23 fantasy points per game on the year. That's nothing special, though it's certainly good enough value for a player south of $5,000.
CENTERS
Al Horford, BOS at IND ($7,000): Horford has quietly been a beast this season, as he continues to provide unbelievable reliability. Horford has scored at least 23 fantasy points in every game this season and has only scored fewer than 26 fantasy points once. That's pretty much guaranteed 4X value, which is impossible to pass up when you only have one center slot.
Marcin Gortat, WSH vs. POR ($5,300): Gortat is not an overly enticing option, but he's one of the best bets for cash games and 50/50's. Gortat is averaging 26.4 fantasy points per game in nearly 30 minutes of action -- the sort of production that's more typical of a $6,000 player, and we get to use Gortat at just $5,300. The Blazers are also a team that play a traditional center in Jusuf Nurkic, so Gortat is a near guarantee for 30 minutes of action considering he's a good matchup for Nurkic on both ends.
