This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
A compact three-game slate always leaves us with some lineup construction challenges, and Sunday evening's ledger is no exception. There's a good amount of selections to pay up for in both cash and tournaments despite the abbreviated schedule, so let's break down where some of the best options can be found:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Ben Simmons, PHI at NO ($17,800): Simmons has scored over 40 fantasy points in five of his last six games and shapes up as the clear-cut top option at guard on the three-game slate. The Pelicans have been generous to point guards throughout the season, allowing 50.4 fantasy points per game to the position, including the fourth most (57.0) over the last five games. Simmons' move back to point guard has been key for the aforementioned boon in his fantasy production, as he's amply proven capable of stuffing the stat sheet on any given night.
Mid-Tier
Jeff Teague, MIN vs. DAL ($12,400): Teague draws an excellent matchup for point guards in his own right, as the Mavericks have allowed 53.3 fantasy points per game to ones on the campaign. Teague is averaging 32.35 fantasy points per contest and has been over the 30-mark in five of his last six. He's also shooting a career-best 42.5 percent from three-point range on a career-high 3.6 three-point attempts per contest, while the Mavericks have notably allowed the most points (27.1) and made three-pointers (3.0) to ones.
Affordable
Marco Belinelli, ATL at NY ($8,100): Belinelli has proven capable of some strong fantasy-point-per-dollar returns on multiple occasions, scoring over 20 fantasy points in 13 games, including five over 30. He's seeing a solid 25.7 minutes per contest and draws an appealing matchup Sunday versus a Knicks squad that's allowed 50.2 fantasy points per game to two-guards, along with the second most made three-pointers (4.1). The latter figure is particularly notable, considering Belinelli is taking a career-high 5.1 three-point attempts per contest.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
DeMarcus Cousins, NO vs. PHI ($20,200): Cousins went off for 63.25 fantasy points against his former Kings squad Friday night on the strength of a 38-point, 11-rebound double-double, and did so with Anthony Davis back from his adductor injury. He finds himself in a premium spot again Sunday despite a showdown with Joel Embiid, considering the Sixers allow the second most fantasy points (42.7) to centers on the season, including 47.3 over the last five. They've also surrendered the second most rebounds (12.3), most steals (1.8) and second most blocks (2.1) to the position, giving Cousins plenty of paths to another spectacular return.
Mid-Tier
Kristaps Porzingis, NY vs. ATL ($15,700): Porzingis should be able to frequently have his way with a Hawks squad that's allowed 40.0 fantasy points per game to power forwards. Porzingis is averaging 40.1 fantasy points per contest himself and touched up Atlanta for 40.50 fantasy points Nov. 24 on the strength of a 28-point performance. He's also sporting a team-high 36.7 percent usage rate, 1.25 points per possession and 1.27 fantasy points per minute with Tim Hardaway (leg) off the floor, furthering his already strong case.
Affordable
Dario Saric, PHI at NO ($10,600): Saric has been a highly effective complementary source of fantasy production despite sharing the floor with Embiid and Simmons, and he's scored between 22.00 and 39.75 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games. The Pelicans have been vulnerable to power forwards despite Davis' presence down low, as they've allowed the fourth most fantasy points (47.1) to the position, including the third most (59.8) over the last five.
UTILITY:
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. DAL ($16,000): KAT posted 34.75 fantasy points against the Mavericks on the strength of a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double on Nov. 17, and Dallas continues to be vulnerable to centers, particularly recently. The Mavericks have allowed the fifth most fantasy points (39.6) to fives on the season, including the sixth most (46.4) over the last five. Meanwhile, Towns has scored over 50 fantasy points twice and between 34.50 and 43.75 in three others in the last seven games, providing a glimpse at his considerable upside.
Enes Kanter, NY vs. ATL ($12,800): Kanter is in an enviable spot against a Hawks team that's been trampled by another offensively proficient center in Nikola Vucevic recently. Vucevic posted a double-double and triple-double against Atlanta in a pair of contests this past week, with the latter having come Saturday night. Kanter's skill set could well allow him to similarly exploit the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back, with his three games over the last six with at least 40.00 fantasy points providing evidence of a very impressive ceiling relative to his current price. Atlanta has also given up the seventh most fantasy points (38.9) to centers on the season, furthering cementing Kanter as an appealing mid-tier play.
