This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
We're treated to a solid seven-game slate Wednesday, with elite options like Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in action. A rash of injuries at the center position that could bump up the value of several players is one of the main storylines heading into the evening, and a Rockets-Clippers tilt at the back end of the ledger promises to have some fireworks. With an intriguing night all around, let's drill down on some of the best options to stock your roster with:
GUARDS:
Premium
James Harden, HOU at LAC ($21,200): Harden has scored 50.00 to 67.00 fantasy points over his last nine games, and he racked up 51 points (on 53.6 percent shooting), eight assists, four rebounds and three steals across 41 minutes in his one prior meeting against the Clippers this season back on Dec. 22. Los Angeles hasn't exactly shored up its defense against two-guards since that point, as they come into Wednesday allowing the seventh-most fantasy points (43.5) to the position on the season, and an elevated figure of 53.8 over the last five. They're also allowing the sixth-highest efficiency rating (21.7) to the position and are playing at the third-fastest pace over the last three games (110.4 possessions per contest), a notable uptick from the 102.0 possessions per game they've averaged on the campaign.
Mid-Tier
Lou Williams, LAC vs. HOU ($13,600): Given another expected absence on the part of Avery Bradley (sports hernia), the Clippers' accelerated pace and the fact that they'll need to remain aggressive to keep up with the Rockets, Williams is a strong play on the other side of the matchup from Harden on Wednesday. The veteran sharpshooter was at it again Tuesday in a spirited comeback versus the Nuggets, eclipsing 40 fantasy points for the third straight contest and fourth time overall in the last seven. Williams also it up the Rockets for 51.75 fantasy points the last time he encountered them on Jan. 15, and the fact that Houston is allowing the fifth-highest percentage of scoring from three-pointers (31.3) on the road also certainly works in his favor. Moreover, they've been notably more susceptible to the shooting guard position of late, as the 48.7 fantasy points they're allowing to the position over the last five is a notable increase over the 40.9 they're surrendering on the season.
Affordable
Andrew Harrison, MEM vs. PHO ($9,900): Harrison is subject to the occasional clunker, but those have been more infrequent the longer he's had a chance to man the starting point guard position. The second-year pro has flashed an improved shot this season, and he's hit or eclipsed 30 fantasy points in four of the last six contests. The Suns make for an appealing target Wednesday, considering they've yielded the sixth-most fantasy points (41.9) to point guards on the season, including 50.5 over the last five games. Phoenix's fourth-fastest pace of play (103.4 possessions per game) will also represent a significant bump in tempo for the Grizzlies, and Harrison's 22.9 percent usage rate with Tyreke Evans (ribs) off the floor and his elevated average of 13.0 shot attempts in the last five contests are also definite points in his favor Wednesday.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Kevin Durant, GS at WAS ($17,800): Naturally, Anthony Davis ($21,100) must be considered for those that can afford him, even with a tough matchup against the Spurs. However, for those looking for elite upside at a relative discount, Durant presents as an intriguing option. The All-Star forward has scored 42.25 to 72.75 fantasy points in his last four contests and had no trouble against the Wizards in his one prior meeting against them, either, posting a 31-point, 11-rebound double-double back on Oct. 27. He could well be facing a particularly fatigued Washington squad Wednesday, as they'll be on their fifth game in seven nights. They've also been increasingly vulnerable to small forwards, allowing 39.6 fantasy points to the position over the last five games, along with the fifth-highest shooting percentage (48.0) to the position over that span. Golden State also continues to play at a particularly accelerated pace on the road, as they come into Wednesday generating the second-most possessions (105.2 per game) away from their home floor.
Mid-Tier
Myles Turner, IND at ATL ($12,500): Turner's production has been a bit unsteady in recent games, but he provided a glimpse at his significant upside by scoring 50.75 fantasy points on Monday against the Mavericks. He'd also scored over 30 in two of the prior four games, and his Wednesday matchup sets him up for a similar caliber of production. The Hawks come in allowing the third-most fantasy points (36.5) to centers on the season, along with the eighth-highest offensive efficiency rating (30.8) to the position. They've also yielded the second-most blocks (1.6) to fives on the campaign -- a notable nugget considering Turner has notched multiple stuffs in four of the last eight contests.
Affordable
Marcin Gortat, WAS vs. GS ($9,400): Frank Kaminsky ($8,700) is also intriguing if both Dwight Howard (ribs) and Cody Zeller (knee) fail to play through their questionable designations Wednesday, but Gortat also holds value considering recent play and his matchup. The Polish Hammer has scored over 30 fantasy points thrice in the last six games, while also posting 20.00 and 22.50 in two others over that span. The Warriors' aforementioned pace of play on the road also works in Gortat's favor, as does the fact that the Warriors have allowed 41.7 fantasy points to centers over the last five, a sizable bump over their 31.9 seasonal figure. They've been porous in the paint all season as well (47.4 points allowed per game) -- an area of the court where 73.8 percent of Gortat's scoring emanates from.
UTILITY
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. NO ($14,800): Pau Gasol (knee) is doubtful for Wednesday's contest, making Aldridge an even better play than usual. He's sporting a 29.8 percent usage rate and averaging 1.22 fantasy points per minute with Gasol off the floor this season, and he's scored 40.00 to 51.25 fantasy points in four of the last five games. Aldridge is draining an impressive 58.9 percent of his 18.0 shot attempts per contest over that stretch, and he'll be in an excellent position for similar production Wednesday regardless of whether he's deployed at power forward or fills in at center. The Pelicans are ranked in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency rating allowed (77.2) to frontcourts, while also surrendering the most fantasy points (42.0) to fours on the campaign. The Pels have also allowed the most points in the paint (60.7) over the last three, while Aldridge is logging nearly half of his scoring (48.4 percent) in that area of the floor, his highest figure in that category since the 2010-11 campaign.
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at ATL ($10,400): Bogdanovic has often outpaced his current price lately, scoring 25.75 to 45.00 points in six of the last nine contests, while also eclipsing the 20-mark in two of the other three games during that span as well. He's drained 50.5 percent of his shots over the last 10 overall, including 44.0 percent from distance. The matchup could hardly line up for him better Wednesday, considering the Hawks come in allowing the second-most fantasy points (38.9) to small forwards, including a whopping 58.3 over the last 10. They're also yielding the highest shooting percentage to the position on the campaign, along with the fifth-highest percentage of scoring from three-pointers (31.5) overall – numbers that could well coax another handsome return out of Bogdanovic.
