This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
The NBA's yo-yo scheduling has us back down to a three-game slate Tuesday, which helps narrow down the number of decisions to make at each pricing tier. There's value to be had at each salary level, so let's break down how best to allocate your budget:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Damian Lillard, POR vs. WAS ($17,300): Lillard has scored between 41.75 and 57.00 fantasy points in four of his last five games, shooting an impressive 48.5 percent over that span on 19.4 shot attempts per contest. He'll be primed for more of the same Tuesday, considering the Wizards have allowed 48.4 fantasy points per game to point guards on the season, including 49.6 over the last five. Lillard is sporting a 30.7 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.13 points per possession, making him worthy of the investment in the favorable matchup on the short slate.
Mid-Tier
Devin Booker, PHO at TOR ($14,900): Following a season-high 46 points against the Sixers on Monday, Booker has back-to-back outings with more than 50 fantasy points. He's also shooting a blistering 54.3 percent from the field – including 53.6 percent from three-point range – over the last four contests, and he draws a matchup Tuesday against a Raptors squad that's allowed the sixth most fantasy points (58.4) to two-guards over the last five games, more than eight points above their season average. Booker is sporting a team-high 33.2 percent usage rate and averaging 1.19 fantasy points per minute over the last 10 games, making him a highly appealing, reasonably-priced tournament option Tuesday.
Affordable
Alec Burks, UTA at OKC ($8,600): Burks is currently on a three-game heater, shooting 63.8 percent while scoring between 24 and 28 points in those contests. The veteran sharpshooter has scored over 20 fantasy points in eight of his last 13 games overall, making him an intriguing tournament play if you need to save some dollars. Burks is also sporting a 24.1 percent usage rate, averaging 1.27 points per possession and posting a 57.8 true shooting percentage over his last 10 contests overall, rendering him the Jazz's most productive second unit member.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Rudy Gobert, UTA at OKC ($14,500): Gobert racked up 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes Monday against the Wizards in his return from an 11-game absence due to a knee injury. He should see a bump in playing time Tuesday and will be in a good position to improve on his numbers against a Thunder squad that's just outside the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to centers (37.8) on the season. Gobert was solid in this matchup against Steven Adams last season as well, averaging 12.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks across three contests. He's already scored over 30 fantasy points in eight of 13 games this season, rendering him a solid cash or tournament play on a three-game ledger.
Mid-Tier
Serge Ibaka, TOR vs. PHO ($9,600): Ibaka has been particularly consistent over his last seven, scoring between 20.50 and 29.50 fantasy points in those contests. He's also shown some nice upside this season with a pair of contests over 30 fantasy points, and will be in an enviable spot Tuesday against a Suns team that's allowed 49.4 fantasy points to power forwards over the last 10, nearly five fantasy points over their 44.7 season figure. They're also surrendering bottom-five figures in points (25.1) and rebounds (13.4) along with the most three-pointers (2.7) over that span to the position, while Ibaka is taking a career-high 4.3 three-point shot attempts this season.
Affordable
Greg Monroe, PHO at TOR ($8,600): Monroe's teammate Tyson Chandler ($8,100) would usually get the call here, but he played a season-high 37 minutes Monday night and the Suns will be on their third game in four nights. That means the veteran's playing time could be curtailed to an extent, leading to a corresponding boost in opportunity for Monroe, who's scored between 32.75 and 20.00 fantasy points in his last two games, and who didn't see action in Monday's contest. Given his inactivity, Monroe should be out there Tuesday against a Raptors squad that's allowed the ninth most fantasy points (38.1) to centers over the last 10 contests.
UTILITY:
Kyle Lowry, TOR vs. PHO ($15,800): Lowry has compiled between 43.75 and 57.00 fantasy points in four of his last five games, eclipsing the 50-mark in three of those games. The perennial All-Star is averaging a 24.2 percent usage rate, 1.35 points per possession and 1.34 fantasy points per minute over that span and will be in a prime spot for another explosive outing against a Suns squad that's allowed the most fantasy points per game (57.0) to point guards on the season, including 63.1 over the last five games. They're also yielding the most points (26.8), second most rebounds (7.9), fourth most assists (9.6), most steals (3.2) and second highest shooting percentage (46.0) to the position, furthering Lowry's already strong case.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. WAS ($14,300): Nurkic had a down game against the Pelicans his last time out, but he'd scored between 31.25 and 63.25 fantasy points in the five prior contests. The Wizards also check in allowing the third most fantasy points (47.2) to centers over the last 10 games, along with the most rebounds (14.7) over that span. The former figure is more than 10 fantasy points per game over Washington's season average allowed (36.8), while Nurkic is posting a 27.8 percent usage rate and averaging a team-high 1.08 fantasy points over his last 10 contests.
