This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Wednesday brings us the first massive slate of 2018, as 12 games are on the ledger overall. That means plenty of options, but naturally, plenty of decisions as well. Luckily, there appears to be some favorable pricing at the mid-tier and affordable levels, and one very notable injury should result in a nice boost in fantasy production for several players. Without further delay, let's immerse ourselves into some of the best candidates for your dollars on what should be an entertaining night of DFS action:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Chris Paul, HOU at ORL ($17,400): Paul makes for an appealing pivot off the top guard duo of Russell Westbrook ($20,500) and Stephen Curry ($17,800), considering his 31.7 percent usage rate and average of 1.80 fantasy points per minute with James Harden (hamstring) off the floor this season. Paul also flashed some explosive upside with Harden alongside him in recent games, as he's scored between 40.75 and 62.75 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 contests, a stretch that includes three tallies over the 50-mark and two others over 60. The Magic have also been a proverbial sieve against point guards the majority of the season, as they've allowed the seventh-most fantasy points (47.7) to ones, along with averages of 22.7 points, 8.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds 2.2 steals and 2.2 made three-pointers per contest.
Mid-Tier
Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. NO ($13,300): For those that need to save a bit at this level, Eric Gordon ($12,500) is also an excellent option in Harden's absence. However, Mitchell remains very reasonably priced himself for a player who's scored between 35.25 and 50.00 fantasy points in three of his past four games. The rookie is boasting a team-high 29.6 percent usage rate in his 13 games since Dec. 1, while also averaging 1.08 fantasy points per minute during that span. He's likely to be firing away again Wednesday against a Pelicans squad which can put points on the board and that allows the eighth-most fantasy points (49.1) to two-guards, along with the fifth-most made threes (3.8) and the highest shooting percentage (46.0) to the position. The latter number could particularly spell trouble against the hot-handed Mitchell, who's drained 53.7 percent of his attempts over the last five contests.
Affordable
Justin Holiday, CHI vs. TOR ($9,500): Allen Crabbe ($8,900) is also a viable tournament-only pivot for those who need to save a few hundred, but Holiday is priced right as well for a matchup against a Raptors team that's allowed 47.4 fantasy points to two-guards on the campaign. They're also surrendering the sixth-most made threes to the position (3.7), while Holiday is putting up 4.6 three-point attempts and draining 39.1 percent of them in the last 10 games. He's also scored between 22.25 and 35.00 fantasy points in nine of those contests, solid-to-excellent returns on his current price.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Kevin Durant, GS at DAL ($18,600): Durant smoked the Mavericks for 65.25 fantasy points on Dec. 14 with Stephen Curry out of the lineup with his ankle injury. Even with the latter back in action and apparently at full health, Durant still makes for an appealing play Wednesday at a slightly reduced price. The Mavericks have been unable to slow down many threes this season, as they come in allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (46.0) to small forwards, including 47.9 over the last 10 contests. They're also yielding bottom five figures in points (23.5), rebounds (9.9) and made three-pointers (2.9) to the position on the campaign, while Durant is still sporting a 27.4 percent usage rate and averaging 1.28 fantasy points per minute with Curry on the floor this season.
Mid-Tier
Paul George, OKC at LAL ($13,800): George's selection is as much about value as it is about matchup, as he's very cost-effective for a player that's averaging 38.5 fantasy points per game, and that's scored between 32.75 and 50.75 fantasy points in his last six contests. The All-Star forward is shooting a red-hot 51.8 percent – including 54.8 percent from three-point range – over that span, while the Lakers come in allowing the third-most fantasy points (46.2) to small forwards on the season, including the most (72.6) over the last 10 games. Given that he's averaging a robust 16.5 shots per game and draining a career-best 43.0 percent of his career-high 7.3 three-point attempts per contest, the upside is undeniably there for GPPs in particular.
Affordable
Thabo Sefolosha, UTA vs. NO ($7,600): Sefolosha has been thriving recently in a starting power forward role, as he's scored 28.00 and 33.50 fantasy points in his last two contests while seeing over 30 minutes in each. The playing time should be there again Wednesday against a Pelicans squad that's been vulnerable to fours despite the presence of Anthony Davis down low. New Orleans is allowing 48.5 fantasy points to power forwards on the campaign, including 50.5 over the last 10 contests. Moreover, they've allowed 2.2 made threes and 49.0 percent shooting to the position, while Sefolosha is currently posting the second-highest shooting percentage (48.4) of his long career. At just $1,600 above minimum and with a possible 30-minute workload, he's potentially one of the best values on the big slate.
UTILITY
Kyle Lowry, TOR at CHI ($14,300): Lowry's backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan ($16,900) is sure to have plenty of fans in GPPs Wednesday given his outstanding 52-point effort on Monday, but the All-Star point guard is certainly worthy of consideration at his significantly lower cost. The Bulls have allowed the most fantasy points (58.4) to ones over the last 10 games, along with bottom five or 10 figures in points (28.0), rebounds (8.0), assists (10.3), blocks (1.5), made threes (2.7) and shooting percentage (45.0) to the position during that span. Lowry has provided some impressive upside relative to his current price as well, as he's scored between 40.00 and 47.50 fantasy points in four of the last six games.
Trevor Ariza, HOU at ORL ($11,400): There might be a good amount of tournament players flocking to Ariza's teammates Clint Capela ($13,900) and Gordon on Wednesday in Harden's absence, but Ariza stands to see a nice uptick in offensive responsibility as well. He comes in notably cheaper than the aforementioned pair, and he'll face a Magic squad that's allowed 42.4 fantasy points to small forwards on the season, including the second-most (60.0) over the last five. Orlando is also allowing the most made three-pointers (5.0) to the position over the latter span, while Ariza is taking a career-high 7.1 attempts from behind the arc on the season and shooting 43.5 percent from long distance in the last three contests.
