This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
A four-game Sunday evening slate narrows down our value choices, but there are still some appealing fantasy-point-per-dollar plays to consider. Those savings come in handy on a night when you'll want to do what you can to roster the likes of Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. Let's examine who can help you carve out the necessary salary to roster the elite stars on Sunday night:
POINT GUARD
Tim Frazier, NO vs. MIA ($5,800): Frazier has quietly racked up strong fantasy production as the starter in place of Elfrid Payton (finger), scoring over 20 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including one tally over 30. The Heat make for likely facilitators of more of the same, considering Frazier already racked up 25.7 fantasy points over 24 minutes versus the Heat on Nov. 30. Moreover, Miami is allowing the seventh-most fantasy points (47.7) per game to ones, along with the sixth-most made threes (2.8) to the position. In turn, Frazier is draining a career-best 39.5 percent of his three-point attempts.
Fred VanVleet, TOR at DEN ($5,000): Kyle Lowry remains a game-time decision for Sunday's game due to a thigh injury, and his potential absence would thrust VanVleet into a starting role again. The emerging guard thrived in that role Friday against the Trail Blazers, posting 33.8 fantasy points, his second game over the last three eclipsing the 30-mark. Even if Lowry does play, VanVleet has enjoyed a robust role in the backcourt rotation this season and will be facing a Nuggets defense that's allowed 44.2 fantasy points per game to point guards, placing them in the bottom half of the league.
SHOOTING GUARD
Buddy Hield, SAC at DAL ($6,300): Hield has been about as dependable a mid-priced fantasy asset as there's been thus far this season, yet his price has remained extremely appealing given the safety he brings. The third-year wing has averaged 29.6 fantasy points per contest, and he's coming off a 34.8 fantasy-point outing versus the Warriors in his most recent contest. The matchup lines up well for him Sunday, as the Mavericks have allowed 42.3 fantasy points per game to twos, along with the third-most points (25.2), second-most steals (1.8) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (45.6) to the position. Hield regularly stuffs the stat sheet and is averaging a career-high 2.5 assists per contest while shooting a career-high 47.8 percent.
Wesley Matthews, DAL vs. SAC ($5,100): Matthews is an intriguing spot himself on the other side of the Mavs-Kings matchup, as Sacramento has been about as vulnerable to twos as Dallas has. The Kings are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game (42.3) to the position, along with the fourth-most points (24.8), most made threes (3.6) and fourth-most steals (1.8) to the position. Matthews is taking 6.1 three-point attempts per contest, and he's draining an impressive 38.3 percent of his attempts from distance. His production has been a bit uneven, but it's worth noting he's just three games removed from a five-game streak of 20-fantasy-point outings.
SMALL FORWARD
Jeff Green, WAS vs. LAL ($5,100): Green has a very good opportunity of drawing a start Sunday, considering Otto Porter, Jr. is a game-time decision due to a knee injury. Green racked up 43 fantasy points two games ago over 45 minutes versus the Celtics, and he has the opportunity for another heavy workload in a good matchup if he starts again Sunday. Not only should the game feature plenty of possessions considering the accelerated pace that both teams play at, but the Lakers have allowed 39.2 fantasy points and the seventh-highest shooting percentage (46.3) to the position as well. Meanwhile, Green is shooting a career-high 50.7 percent.
Derrick Jones Jr., MIA at NO ($4,600): Jones has largely flown under the radar, but he's been far outpacing his current price over the last several games. Jones has scored 27.8 to 41.8 fantasy points over the last four contests. Those totals have been the byproduct of Jones logging at least 24 minutes in each game, and he should see plenty of playing time again Sunday. The Pelicans bring a bump in pace for the Heat, and they're also allowing the third-most fantasy points (44.0) to small forwards, along with the sixth-most points (22.1) and the fifth-most steals (1.1) per contest to the position.
POWER FORWARD
Kelly Olynyk, MIA at NO ($5,500): Olynyk is another member of the Heat that's been shining recently and will be in a good position to do so again Sunday. Olynyk has scored in double digits in eight straight games, leading to fantasy-point tallies of between 24.3 to 35.5 fantasy points during that stretch. That sample includes four games over 30, excellent returns on his bargain price. Like Jones, he'll be in position from the bump in pace Sunday, and will face a Pelicans squad that's allowed 47.1 fantasy points per game to power forwards, along with the third-most points (23.8), second-most made threes (2.7) and second-highest shooting percentage (51.7) to the position. The floor-spacing Olynyk's skill set dovetails well with those vulnerabilities, making him one of the best high-upside plays at his price.
Dwight Powell, DAL vs. SAC ($3,500): Powell is surprisingly at bare minimum, somewhat unexpected for a player who's averaged 18 fantasy points and has eclipsed 20 in two of his last five games. Powell is still playing minutes in the mid-teens at minimum, and he'll be in a position to thrive against a Kings defense that's allowed 48.2 fantasy points per contest to fours, along with 23.1 points per contest. Sacramento is also allowing the most points in the paint per game (52.4), while Powell is logging 63 percent of his scoring in that area of the floor.
CENTER
Thomas Bryant, WAS vs. LAL ($3,900): Bryant doesn't have an impressive ceiling in most contests by any means, but at his price, he doesn't need a sensational return to justify rostering him. The young big has scored double-digit fantasy points in seven of his last eight, a sample that includes on game over 20 and another over 30. The Lakers present as one of the more favorable matchups to centers as well, as they've allowed bottom-five or bottom-10 figures in fantasy points (59.7), points (26.8) and rebounds (17.5) per game to fives. Los Angeles also is a bottom-10 team in points in the paint allowed per game (50.5), while Bryant logs 68 percent of his scoring near the basket.
