This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Sunday brings another seven-game slate, one that has a couple of particularly relevant storylines. The Pelicans will play their first full game following DeMarcus Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury, while the red-hot Sixers and Thunder will have the rematch of the triple-overtime classic they put on back in December. With plenty to contemplate, let's get to the business of sorting out some of the best plays at each price tier:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. PHI ($20,900): Westbrook lit up the Sixers for a 27-point, 17-rebound, 15-assist triple-double in a triple-overtime victory back on Dec. 15. He's also averaging 23.8 shot attempts per game over the last four contests while shooting 55.8 percent during that stretch, and the Sixers come in allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to point guards on the season (46.9), including 48.5 over the last 10. Philadelphia is also playing at the second-fastest pace in the NBA (104.3 possessions per contest), while Westbrook has eclipsed 60 fantasy points in three of the last four contests.
Mid-Tier
Lou Williams, LAC at NO ($15,200):Jrue Holiday ($14,500) also makes for an appealing option on the other side of this matchup for those that need the savings, but Williams carries an abundance of upside in his own right. He exploded for 70.00 fantasy points on the strength of a 40-point, 10-assist double-double against the Grizzlies on Friday, and he also racked up 65.00 fantasy points three games prior versus the Jazz. That provides a glimpse of his massive ceiling irrespective of whether he's deployed on the first or second unit, and the matchup lines up well for him once again Sunday. The Pelicans have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to two-guards on the season (49.8), including the second most (69.8) over the last five. They're also yielding the second-highest shooting percentage (45.0) to the position on the campaign, while Williams is shooting 47.9 percent on an average of 18.3 shot attempts in the last four games.
Affordable
Avery Bradley, DET at CLE ($9,900): Bradley's recent struggles make him a tournament-only play, but one that's priced well below his usual level. The veteran guard has produced three consecutive lackluster outings, but a matchup against a Cavs defense that's been among the most porous to two-guards on the season might just be the cure for what ails him. Cleveland has allowed the third-most fantasy points (49.8) to two-guards on the campaign, along with the second-most made three-pointers (4.0). Bradley is still taking a solid 13 shot attempts per game over the last five despite his difficulties, providing him with an opportunity to return solid value on a very reasonable price.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Anthony Davis, NO vs. LAC ($21,400):DeMarcus Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury, unfortunate as it is, should have a positive fantasy impact on several of his teammates, with Davis likely the biggest beneficiary. He's already sporting a 32.2 percent usage rate while averaging 1.24 points per possession and 1.70 fantasy points per minute with Cousins off the floor this season, and he touched up the Clippers for 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks over 40 minutes in his one previous meeting against them on Nov. 11. Meanwhile, Los Angeles comes in allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to power forwards on the season (45.5), including 49.5 over the last five contests. Davis was already churning out some eye-popping performances before Cousins' injury, as he's eclipsed 50 fantasy points three times, 70 once and 80 on another occasion in the last eight contests.
Mid-Tier
Blake Griffin, LAC at NO ($15,700): Griffin is in a tantalizing spot in his own right, considering the Pelicans have allowed the most fantasy points on the season to power forwards (47.4), including 53.8 over the last five. They're also surrendering league-worst or bottom-10 figures to the position in multiple other categories, and they yielded 26 points, six assists, four rebounds and one steal to Griffin in his one previous contest against them on Nov. 11. Griffin has also scored 36.00 to 67.75 fantasy points in the last six games, a stretch during which he's sporting a 31.4 percent usage rate and averaging 1.31 fantasy points per minute. The fact that the Pelicans have allowed the eighth-most points in the paint on the season (45.9) – including the fifth most over the last three games (52.0) – combined with Griffin scoring 46.7 percent of his points in that area of the floor only serves to further his case.
Affordable
Darius Miller, NO vs. LAC ($8,600): Miller could be another player who sees an overall fantasy boost in the wake of Cousins' injury. He's already been coming on in recent games, as he's scored 24.00 to 28.75 fantasy points in four of the last five contests. Miller has averaged an impressive 1.31 points per possession and shot 50.0 percent from the floor on an average of 9.2 attempts during that stretch. Meanwhile, the Clippers come in allowing 41.1 fantasy points per game to small forwards, along with the third-highest shooting percentage (46.0) and fifth-highest number of made three-pointers (2.6).
UTILITY:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at CHI ($20,400): Antetokounmpo confirmed in no uncertain terms that he was fully recovered from his recent knee issue in his first game back, as he compiled a whopping 78.25 fantasy points against the Nets on Friday. He'd also generated 65.00 and 53.50 fantasy points, respectively, in the two games prior to his injury, and Sunday's matchup against the Bulls shapes up almost as appealing. Chicago has allowed 45.4 fantasy points to power forwards on the campaign, along with the most (69.2) over the last five. They're also yielding the highest shooting percentage (50.0) to the position on the campaign, and Antetokounmpo is already averaging 28.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 block across two games versus the Bulls this season.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. LAL ($10,600): Valanciunas has generated some eye-popping production over the last five games, as he's scored 43.50 to 60.50 fantasy points in three of those contests, and 31.25 in another instance during that span. He's racked up double-doubles in all of those outings as well while averaging 10.6 shot attempts, a notable bump up from his 8.1 seasonal figure. The Lakers have been vulnerable to centers all season, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points (37.6) to the position, along with the third-highest shooting percentage (56.0) and third-most rebounds (11.3). They've also yielded the second-most points in the paint on the campaign (48.8), while Valanciunas is scoring 65.7 percent of his points in that area of the floor.
