This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Tonight's modestly-sized five-game slate makes lineup-building a bit more straightforward than Wednesday's 12-game ledger. Nevertheless, some tough matchups for a couple of elite options add some intrigue to the process, bringing other less expensive selections into consideration. Without further ado, let's dive into how to best spend your salary cap dollars Thursday:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
DeMar DeRozan, TOR at PHI ($16,500): DeRozan has scored between 40.25 and 51.25 fantasy points in three of the past four games, and he's exceeded the 40-mark on five other occasions in the last 10 contests as well. He also lit up the Sixers for 30 points (on 66.7 percent shooting), three rebounds and three assists in the second game of the season and should find himself in a good spot Thursday, considering Philadelphia comes in allowing 48.7 fantasy points per game to two-guards, along with the ninth-most points (28.4). Meanwhile, DeRozan is sporting team highs in usage rate (30.9) and fantasy points per minute (1.27) over the aforementioned 10-game span.
Mid-Tier
Kris Dunn, CHI at CLE ($13,400): Dunn has unabashedly taken the reins of the Bulls offense over the last 11 contests, scoring between 30.50 and 52.50 fantasy points in nine of those games and posting respectable figures of 23.00 and 26.00 in the other two outings during that stretch. He boasts a team-high usage rate of 25.0 percent and is averaging a team-best 1.21 fantasy points per minute over that span, and he'll be in a favorable position to extend his hot streak Thursday against a Cavs team he already compiled 31.50 fantasy points against Dec. 4. Cleveland comes into Thursday's game allowing 46.7 fantasy points to point guards over the last five games, and Dunn has also been supplementing his fantasy production with strong complementary contributions in rebounds, assists and steals, giving him plenty of paths to a strong return.
Affordable
Marcus Smart, BOS at NY ($10,300): Smart has been encouragingly consistent over the last six games, scoring between 21.00 and 29.00 fantasy points. He's had the hot hand from the field, particularly long distance, over the last four contests as well, shooting 55.0 percent from behind the arc on an average of 5.0 three-point attempts per contest. The matchup Thursday works in his favor, as the Knicks have allowed 48.8 fantasy points per contest to two-guards, along with the eighth-most made three-pointers (3.7) per contest. His recent playing time profile also furthers his case, as he's seen no fewer than 30 minutes in five of the last six games.
For those looking to take a tournament flyer on a much cheaper guard option, the Raptors' Fred VanVleet ($6,700) is in play against the Sixers' vulnerable two-guard defense after scoring 21.75 and 24.50 fantasy points in his last two games.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
LeBron James, CLE vs. CHI ($22,900): James has taken his elite game to another level over the last eight contests, scoring no less than 60.00 fantasy points in any of those games while sporting a 33.5 percent usage rate and averaging a whopping 1.65 fantasy points per minute. He also posted a solid 44.75 fantasy points over 34 minutes against this Bulls squad on Dec. 4, and Chicago comes into Thursday's game allowing the fifth-highest shooting percentage (45.0) to small forwards on the season and the third-most fantasy points (56.8) to point guards over the last five, the two positions that James is slated to see some time in Thursday. Moreover, the Bulls have considerably upped their level of play since their last meeting with the Cavs, which should result in a competitive affair that will keep LeBron aggressive through four quarters.
Mid-Tier
Marc Gasol, MEM at PHO ($14,600): Gasol is poised to have his way with a Suns squad that's allowed the second-most fantasy points (41.9), points (17.8) and rebounds (12.5) to centers on the season. The veteran big man has been hot as well, scoring between 54.00 and 43.25 fantasy points in the last two games, with the former tally coming on the strength of a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double. Gasol is also sporting a 28.5 percent usage rate and averaging 1.10 fantasy points per minute since the inception of Mike Conley's absence on Nov. 15, a pattern that should persist in Thursday's favorable matchup.
Affordable
OG Anunoby, TOR at PHI ($6,900): Anunoby's teammate Serge Ibaka ($11,200) is also a nice option if you're going to spend up to the higher end of the affordable tier, but Anunoby comes into Thursday's contest providing solid fantasy-point-per-dollar value over the last two contests. He's scored over 20 fantasy points in consecutive games for the first time all season, and his strong defense is also helping afford him a solid 25.1 minutes per contest during the last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Sixers present as one of the more appealing teams to attack with small forwards, as they've allowed the third-most fantasy points (45.9) to threes -- including 52.3 over the last 10 games – along with the second-most points (23.7), fourth-most rebounds (9.4), second-most steals (2.2) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (46.0) to the position on the season.
UTILITY:
Tyreke Evans, MEM at PHO ($13,700): Evans is coming off an atypically rough shooting night against the Warriors on Wednesday in which he went just 4-for-16 from the field, but he'd scored between 32.50 and 56.25 fantasy points in four of his previous five games. Much like Gasol, he's thrived during Conley's extended absence, posting a 26.5 percent usage rate and 55.8 percent true shooting percentage over that span, while also averaging 1.01 fantasy points per minute. The Suns have been vulnerable defensively to every position and come into Thursday allowing 44.8 fantasy points per game to two-guards, furthering Evans' case.
Dwyane Wade, CLE vs. CHI ($10,100): Wade lit up his former Bulls squad for 35.00 fantasy points in 25 minutes in his previous meeting with them on Dec. 4, and Chicago hasn't been able to prop up their backcourt defense much since that point. The Bulls come in allowing the second-most fantasy points (53.6), most rebounds (9.1), second-most assists (6.4), eighth-most made three-pointers (3.7) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (43.0) to two-guards, giving Wade plenty of ways to generate a strong return. Furthermore, despite his bench role, the perennial All-Star is encouragingly seeing a solid 24.6 minutes per game over the last 10 while shooting an impressive 51.0 percent – including 52.4 percent from three-point range – on 10.0 shot attempts per contest during that stretch.
