This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Friday offers an eight-game slate that has no shortage of superstars near -- or in one case, above -- the $20K range, making it particularly important to sort out who's worthy of your investment if you're paying up.
Luckily, there are also a number of mid-tier pivots in good spots, as well as a potential bargain or two that could really help you afford some firepower in the rest of your lineup. Without further ado, let's see where some of the best choices are at each pricing level:
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. MIN ($21,200): Westbrook has now eclipsed 60 fantasy points in five straight games, and despite carrying an injury designation due to a left hand contusion, he's been deemed probable for Friday after practicing Thursday. He once again finds himself in an appealing spot, irrespective of whether the Timberwolves trot out Tyus Jones or Jeff Teague (Achilles) to man the point. Minnesota has allowed 48.0 fantasy points per game to point guards on the season, including a slightly higher 49.5 over the last five. Westbrook sports a team-high 36.7 percent usage rate and is averaging a whopping 1.69 fantasy points per minute during the aforementioned five-game stretch and figures to take the reins of the offense once again given the Thunder's current struggles.
Victor Oladipo, IND at TOR ($14,500): Oladipo shook off a knee ailment Wednesday to compile 43.25 fantasy points against the Rockets, and he'd also scored 65.75 and 52.50 fantasy points in two of the prior three games. He's embraced his opportunity as the focal point of the offense in Indiana, sporting a team-high 30.4 percent usage rate and averaging 1.22 fantasy points per minute on the season.
He'll draw what has been a good matchup for two-guards thus far this season in the Raptors, who he averaged 20.5 points (on 48.4 percent shooting, including 66.7 percent from three-point range), 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals against over two games last season when he had a considerably smaller role with the Thunder. Toronto allows 49.4 fantasy points per game to two-guards on the season -- including a notably higher 54.0 over the last five – along with the fifth highest shooting percentage (44.0) and 3.9 made three-pointers per game.
Frank Mason III, SAC at CHI ($7,200): Mason has quietly been outproducing his current price recently, scoring between 21.50 and 27.75 fantasy points in four of his last five games and averaging 1.02 fantasy points per minute over that span. He's seen at least 21 minutes in those four contests as well, putting him in play against a Bulls squad that allows 48.6 fantasy points per game to point guards and 54.8 to shooting guards, the two spots that Mason could potentially be deployed in. While there's always a bit of concern with the potential playing time, it seems that head coach Dave Joerger is impressed with what the rookie has been able to do with his opportunities thus far.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at MEM ($17,400): Aldridge offers you some savings off the top three options at forward/center and finds himself in the best matchup for power forwards in the NBA. He thrived against this same Grizzlies squad Wednesday, posting 53.00 fantasy points on the strength of a 41-point, six-rebound effort. He'd also tallied 61.00 fantasy points in the prior contest against Dallas and continues to sport a team-high usage rate (28.4 percent) on the season while Kawhi Leonard (ankle) remains sidelined. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies allow the most fantasy points (49.6) per game and rebounds (14.4) to fours on the season, along with the third highest shooting percentage (51.0).
Carmelo Anthony, OKC vs. MIN ($12,200): Anthony has been as steady as they come, averaging 33.68 fantasy points per game and scoring at least 30 fantasy points in all but two games this season. He should be able to win his fair share of matchups against Taj Gibson on Friday, considering the Timberwolves check in allowing 43.9 fantasy points per game to fours on the season, including 45.6 over the last five. They're also allowing the third-most made three-pointers (2.0) to power forwards on the season, while Anthony is averaging career highs in made threes (2.4) and three-point attempts (6.6) and boasts his best three-point shooting percentage (36.8) since the 2013-14 season.
Kelly Oubre, Jr., WAS vs. DET ($9,200): Oubre broke out for a season-high 39.75 fantasy points against the Sixers on Wednesday had also scored between 24.50 and 29.50 fantasy points in three of the previous four games. He's boasting a 25.3 percent usage rate and averaging 1.03 fantasy points per minute on an average of 26.2 minutes per game over that span. Oubre's shot attempts are also considerably up to 13.7 per game in the three contests since John Wall went down with a knee injury, while the Pistons check in allowing the fourth most fantasy points (44.4) to small forwards on the season, including the most (64.6) over the last five games.
UTILITY
Dwight Howard, CHA at MIA ($14,300): Howard has flashed some excellent upside this season relative to price, scoring over 40 fantasy points on eight occasions, including one game over 50. The Heat make for a tantalizing target Friday, considering he'll see plenty of rookie Bam Adebayo in Hassan Whiteside's (knee) stead. Adebayo had a big hand in allowing a 22-point, 14-rebound double-double to Enes Kanter on Wednesday, and Howard should be able to similarly feast, especially in a game that Kemba Walker (shoulder) will miss, as well.
Reggie Jackson, DET at WAS ($11,600): Jackson racked up 33.00 and 34.75 fantasy points in the last two games and has eclipsed the 30-mark on nine other occasions this season as well. The Wizards have seen their already-suspect point-guard defense slip even further since John Wall went down with a knee injury three games ago, as they're allowing 53.6 fantasy points to ones over the last five, a bump over their 49.5 figure on the season. Jackson's offense has also been trending upward overall recently, as he sports a 23.6 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.12 fantasy points per minute over his last five contests.
