This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Tuesday's eight-game slate sets us up with a multitude of options at each position. Additionally, Monday's bombshell Clippers-Pistons trade opens up some nice value on both clubs, while a potential prominent absence at point guard boosts the already sky-high value of one of the night's elite options. With so much to break down, let's dive right into what should be an exciting DFS night:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
James Harden, HOU vs. ORL ($21,400): Harden typically shapes up as an elite play under normal circumstances, but his individual matchup and a potential Chris Paul absence Tuesday due to a groin injury boost his stock even further. The Magic come in allowing the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards (49.1) on the season, along with the highest shooting percentage (47.0) to the position. Harden boasts a 37.2 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.17 points per possession along with 1.61 fantasy points per minute with Paul off the floor this season, and Houston is also playing at the seventh-fastest pace in the league at home (103.0 possessions per game). Harden has also eclipsed 50 fantasy points in three straight games as well, logging double-doubles in all of those contests.
Mid-Tier
DeMar DeRozan, TOR vs. MIN ($13,900): In the wake of the Blake Griffin trade, Lou Williams ($14,900) is naturally a very viable option as well at this level. However, DeRozan makes for an intriguing tournament play himself at a full $1K less, as a pair of recent sub-30 fantasy-point tallies have served to bring his price down considerably. DeRozan is still averaging 39.52 fantasy points per contest and brings 40-fantasy-point upside on any given night. The Timberwolves will also be playing their third game in four nights and have allowed 55.4 fantasy points over the last 10 contests to shooting guards, including 60.7 over the last five. They've also allowed the second-most made three-pointers (3.8) to the position, while DeRozan just compiled 37.75 fantasy points over 34 minutes against this same Minnesota squad on Jan. 20.
Affordable
De'Aaron Fox, SAC at NO ($10,600): Dejounte Murray ($11,500) also makes for an appealing value play at guard, but for those that need the savings, Fox finds himself in a favorable position as well. The rookie has compiled 24.75 to 35.50 fantasy points in four of the last five games, a span during which he's shooting 45.9 percent, including a blistering 64.3 percent from distance. He's also posting a solid 24.9 percent usage rate and averaging 1.20 points per possession during that stretch, and the Pelicans have proven vulnerable to ones all season as well. They've allowed the third-most fantasy points to point guards on the season (49.0), including the third most (57.3) over the last 10. Moreover, they've yielded the most made three-pointers (3.8) and a 45.0 percent success rate from the field to ones over the latter span, numbers that dovetail nicely for fantasy purposes with Fox's recent hot hand.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Anthony Davis, NO vs. SAC ($20,300): Davis racked up 60.75 fantasy points on the strength of a 25-point, 17-rebound double-double in his first full game without DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) on Sunday, and he now sports a 32.0 percent usage rate and averages a whopping 1.68 fantasy points per minute without the latter on the floor this season. The Kings shape up as excellent targets as well, as they've allowed the second-most fantasy points (47.3) to power forwards, along with the most made three-pointers (2.5) and the third-highest shooting percentage (48.0). Moreover, Davis had already been seeing a boost in shot attempts prior to Cousins' injury, as he's put the ball up 20 times per game over the last 10 (as compared his 17.6 season figure).
Mid-Tier
Enes Kanter, NY vs. BKN ($14,000): Kanter is on the injury report due to a lip laceration suffered in Monday's practice, but he's fully expected to suit up Tuesday. That will put him in a premium matchup against the most porous defense in the NBA against centers, as the Nets have allowed the most fantasy points on the season (39.5) to fives, including 48.1 over the last five. They've surrendered bottom-five figures in multiple other categories to the position over the latter span as well, while Kanter has scored 31.75 to 39.00 fantasy points in five of the last six contests. He's sporting a 24.0 percent usage rate and averaging 1.19 fantasy points per minute during that stretch, and he currently boasts career bests in shooting percentage (60.3) and rebounds (9.9).
Affordable
Reggie Bullock, DET vs. CLE ($8,700): Bullock is likely the Pistons' shooting guard moving forward in the wake of Avery Bradley's departure, but his current price has yet to catch up. Bullock has already scored 32.50 and 30.25 fantasy points, respectively, over the last two contests, and he'll be set up for more of the same Tuesday. The Cavaliers season-long struggles against two-guards include allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (48.2) allowed to the position, along with the second-most made three-pointers (3.8). Bullock is shooting an impressive 49.4 percent overall in the last 10 games – including 50.0 percent from behind the arc – and the double-digit shot attempts he's put in the last two games should be a trend that endures on most nights moving forward.
UTILITY
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. DEN ($14,600): Kristaps Porzingis ($16,700) is also in an appealing matchup against the Nets if you can pay up, but Aldridge comes at a significant discount and faces a Nuggets squad playing on their third game in four nights. Denver comes in allowing the sixth-most fantasy points (47.2) to power forwards, along with the fourth-most made threes (1.9) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (47.0). Meanwhile, Aldridge has been under 30 fantasy points on just two occasions over the last seven games, and he's still sporting a 30.1 percent usage rate and averaging 1.16 fantasy points per minute without Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) on the floor this season.
Montrezl Harrell, LAC vs. POR ($7,900): Like Bullock, Harrell sports a price that doesn't quite match up to the expanded role he should enjoy Tuesday. The newly acquired Tobias Harris isn't expected to make his Clippers debut against the Blazers, leaving Harrell with the likelihood of significant minutes at a minimum and a possible start as well. He's already proven highly efficient even when seeing modest playing time, scoring over 30 fantasy points in four of his last nine contests and averaging 1.05 fantasy points per minute on a 22.6 percent usage rate for the season. He's scored in double digits in eight of his last 10 games as well, shooting an impressive 64.0 percent on an average of 8.9 shot attempts across a modest 23.6 minutes during that span. Meanwhile, the Blazers have become increasingly vulnerable to fours as the season has gone on, as they're allowing 53.8 fantasy points over the last five, a notable bump over their 44.7 season figure.
