This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Sunday brings a compact four-game main slate that still has some high-priced pieces for which to make room. That naturally makes identifying viable value a priority, and fortunately, there's a solid array of candidates despite the modest number of games. Let's dive into examining some options at each position that will save you the dollars necessary to roster some of the studs:
POINT GUARD
Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. LAL ($4,700): Johnson has exceeded 20 fantasy points in six consecutive games, including one contest over 30. He's seeing at least a mid-20s minutes load consistently and will be in prime position to deliver a solid return on his modest price Sunday. The Lakers bring the second fastest-paced attack in the NBA to town (108.8 possessions per game) and are allowing the most fantasy points (45.5) per game to shooting guards, along with bottom-five figures in points (25.9) and assists (5.9) to the position. And, there's also a chance that Johnson could actually draw the start at point guard Sunday, considering Goran Dragic is listed as a game-time decision due to a knee injury.
Bryn Forbes, SA vs. GS ($3,600): Forbes is just $100 away from minimum, rather surprising considering he's scored in double digits in six straight and is consistently seeing minutes in the mid-20s or higher. The third-year sharpshooter has delivered over 20 fantasy points in two of the last five, and even though his lines are often scoring-dependent, he recent returns are more than adequate
Sunday brings a compact four-game main slate that still has some high-priced pieces for which to make room. That naturally makes identifying viable value a priority, and fortunately, there's a solid array of candidates despite the modest number of games. Let's dive into examining some options at each position that will save you the dollars necessary to roster some of the studs:
POINT GUARD
Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. LAL ($4,700): Johnson has exceeded 20 fantasy points in six consecutive games, including one contest over 30. He's seeing at least a mid-20s minutes load consistently and will be in prime position to deliver a solid return on his modest price Sunday. The Lakers bring the second fastest-paced attack in the NBA to town (108.8 possessions per game) and are allowing the most fantasy points (45.5) per game to shooting guards, along with bottom-five figures in points (25.9) and assists (5.9) to the position. And, there's also a chance that Johnson could actually draw the start at point guard Sunday, considering Goran Dragic is listed as a game-time decision due to a knee injury.
Bryn Forbes, SA vs. GS ($3,600): Forbes is just $100 away from minimum, rather surprising considering he's scored in double digits in six straight and is consistently seeing minutes in the mid-20s or higher. The third-year sharpshooter has delivered over 20 fantasy points in two of the last five, and even though his lines are often scoring-dependent, he recent returns are more than adequate for his minimal price. Moreover, the Warriors come in allowing the fourth-most points (25.1) per game to two-guards and 44.2 fantasy points per game to point guards, the two positions where Forbes would conceivably see action Sunday. Golden State should also force the Spurs into a slightly higher-paced game than usual, another factor that could help Forbes' outlook and production.
SHOOTING GUARD
Allonzo Trier, NY at ORL ($4,600): Trier continues to be one of the Knicks' most consistent secondary assets, as he's now scored 20.7 to 33.1 fantasy points in six straight, and in nine of his last 10 overall. The versatile rookie draws an appealing matchup versus a Magic squad that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game (42.3) to shooting guards, along with the second-most rebounds (7.2) and seventh-highest shooting percentage (45.3). Trier's minutes have remained consistent even when coming off the bench, so the floor is seemingly there at a modest price.
Josh Hart, LAL at MIA ($4,400): Hart continues to enjoy a steady role off the bench, and he's bene producing well with it more often than not of late. The second-year guard has eclipsed 20 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, hitting double digits in the scoring column on four occasions. Hart has upped his aggressiveness on offense this season as well, putting up a career-high 5.3 three-point attempts per game and draining them at a 44.3 percent clip. The Heat make for an appealing matchup, considering Miami is allowing 42.0 fantasy points per game to two-guards, along with the second-most steals (2.0) and blocks (1.0) per contest to the position. Meanwhile, Hart has notably more than doubled his steals average (1.5, as compared to 0.7) over last season.
SMALL FORWARD
Kelly Oubre, Jr., WAS vs. POR ($4,400): Oubre has his occasional downturns as a second-unit player, but he's proven a reliable asset more often than not. The emerging wing has scored 21.9 to 29.8 fantasy points in six of his last nine games, offering a glimpse at his upside on an average of 25.5 minutes per contest. He'll walk into one of the best matchups for small forwards in the NBA on Sunday, as the Trail Blazers have allowed the most fantasy points per game (46.7) to the position, along with the most points (24.8), fourth-most rebounds (9.3) and third-most blocks (1.4). Oubre is remaining aggressive when on the court, which has led to him averaging career highs in points (12.2), tying a career best in rebounds (4.5) and putting up a career-high 9.9 shot attempts per game.
Evan Turner, WAS vs. POR ($4,400): Turner is also an enticing value play on the other side of the Wizards-Blazers matchup, as he's shown the ability to consistently stuff the stat sheet off the bench in a high-usage role. Turner is also shooting a career-high 46.7 percent, and most recently, he's scored over 20 fantasy points in three of his last five games. The Wizards also make for almost as good a matchup as the Blazers do for Oubre, as Washington has allowed the second-most fantasy points (45.2) to small forwards, along with the most rebounds (11.2) and fourth-most assists (4.2) to the position. That should give Turner plenty of paths to fantasy success even if his offensive contributions take a downturn.
POWER FORWARD
Brandon Ingram, LAL at MIA ($6,100): Ingram is listed as a power forward but has been drawing starts at shooting guard, where he'll enjoy the advantages of facing a Heat defense whose vulnerabilities were highlighted earlier in Hart's entry. Ingram had a clunker three games ago versus the Hawks, but he's been very productive relative to his current price otherwise. Ingram has scored 22.1 to 41 fantasy points in seven of his nine games, and with minutes that should once again be in the low 30s, he should ample opportunity to provide a solid return on his modest price.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at WAS ($5,400): Aminu has scored over 20 fantasy points in six of his last eight games, including a trio of contests where he's hit or eclipsed 30. The veteran floor spacer is always a threat for a double-double due to his excellent work on the boards (career-high 8.4 rebounds per game), and he'll be poised for another potentially rewarding return Sunday. The Wizards come into Sunday's game allowing 46.3 fantasy points per game to power forwards and are also yielding the sixth-most assists (4.0) per game to the position. Aminu is averaging just under 30 minutes per contest and should multiple paths to success against a Washington team that's also allowing the second-highest three-point percentage (38.0).
CENTER
Mitchell Robinson, NY at ORL ($4,500): Like Trier, Robinson is one of the young pieces on the Knicks offering reason for optimism in a rebuilding season. The emerging big man has scored 20.2 to 41.5 fantasy points in seven of the last eight games. Robinson is keeping a hold of the starting center job for now with Enes Kanter coming off the bench, a role that's afford him over 20 minutes on most nights. The Magic come in allowing a robust 54.3 fantasy points per game to centers, along with 16.2 rebounds, giving Robinson a solid opportunity to offer another 20-plus return in fantasy points Sunday.
