This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are seven games on the Sunday evening main slate, which presents us with more than enough options for viable value plays. The final game of the night between the Lakers and Suns particularly holds potential in that regard, but there are several appealing affordable options earlier in the evening as well. Without further delay, let's jump right into a breakdown some of the best combinations of price and upside Sunday:
POINT GUARD
Rajon Rondo, LAL vs. PHO ($6,700): Rondo's price checks in just a hair above the $6.5k threshold I typically like to stick to when it comes to defining a value play, but he's worthy of the exception. The veteran jumped right back into action for the first time since Christmas on Thursday night and racked up 48.7 fantasy points versus the Timberwolves over a robust 37 minutes. With any concerns of playing time restrictions clearly cast aside, Rondo is a highly appealing option Sunday in what will be another start in place of Lonzo Ball (ankle). The Suns come in allowing the most fantasy points (49.3) and points (24.8) per game to point guards, along with the third-most assists (8.6) and third-highest shooting percentage (47.0). Meanwhile, Rondo is averaging 1.28 fantasy points per minute with both Ball and LeBron James (groin) off the floor this season, and his opportunities would expand even further if Kyle Kuzma (hip) doesn't play.
Derrick White, SA vs. WAS ($5,600): For those that need further savings, White's teammate Bryn Forbes ($4,300) also makes for an appealing play at his price point. Meanwhile, White's salary encouragingly continues modest despite his strong track record of outpacing it. The second-year point guard has scored 35.3 and 31.6 fantasy points over his last two games, respectively, and 24.7 to 48 in five of the prior six games as well. He'll draw a matchup with the potential to continue coaxing similar production out of him Sunday, as the Wizards have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (45.3) per game to ones, along with bottom-half figures in points (23.1), assists (8.1) and made threes (2.7) per contest to the position. In turn, White is impressively shooting 50.0 percent for the season, including 35.3 percent from three-point range, while the Wizards come in allowing the highest road three-point percentage (39.0) in the NBA. Finally, it's worth noting White could see some extra offensive responsibility Sunday if DeMar DeRozan (knee) misses a second straight game.
SHOOTING GUARD
Danny Green, TOR at DAL ($4,400): Green has a hand injury, but he's listed as probable. He'll draw an appealing matchup versus a Mavericks team that's been susceptible to shooting guard production all season, as evidenced by the 44.7 fantasy points per game they allow to the position. Dallas is also surrendering a bottom-half figure in points (24.6) to twos, while Green checks into Sunday's contest on a roll. He's scored 20.5 to 44.7 fantasy points in six of his last eight games, a stretch that includes a pair of tallies over 30 in addition to the one over 40 that makes up the high end of the range.
Terrance Ferguson, OKC vs. MIL ($4,200): After mostly serving as an offensive afterthought for much of the season, Ferguson's usage has gone up recently with very positive results. The second-year guard has scored 20.6 to 28.9 fantasy points in four of his last five games, and he's eclipsed the 20-mark in six of the last nine contests. Ferguson has encouragingly put up double-digit shot attempts in three of those games, and at least seven in seven of those contests overall. Moreover, many of those tries have come from distance. That particularly bodes well versus a Bucks squad that's allowed the second-highest road three-point success rate in the NBA (38.7 percent), along with 44.6 fantasy points per game to shooting guards overall.
SMALL FORWARD
Jeff Green, WAS at SA ($4,600): Green continues to draw starts at power forward in place of Markieff Morris (neck), a role that most recently led to a 33.7 fantasy-point performance versus the Magic on Friday. Green has eclipsed 20 fantasy points in nine of the 13 games of his current starting tenure, a stretch that includes a pair of tallies over 30 and one over 40. That ceiling is especially appealing considering his price, and the matchup Sunday is relatively favorable as well. The Spurs come in allowing the 12th-most fantasy points (42.0) to power forwards, along with 47.0 percent shooting to the position. Meanwhile, Green currently sports the second-best overall shooting percentage (47.4) and third-best three-point shooting percentage (37.4) of his long career, and he's put up double-digit shot attempts in five of his last six games.
Derrick Jones Jr., MIA at NY ($3,800): Jones has had a couple of clunkers recently, but his ceiling has far outpaced his current price. The emerging wing just racked up 29 fantasy points against the Cavaliers on Friday on the strength of a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, and he tallied 34.8 fantasy points two games prior versus the Celtics. Jones also boasts a three-game stretch of 25 to 29.4 fantasy points within his last 10 contests, so the upside is certainly there for tournaments. If the minutes are afforded Sunday, he'll be in a highly favorable spot versus a Knicks squad that's allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to small forwards (49.7) and the most per contest to power forwards (46.3), the two positions that Jones will spend time in.
POWER FORWARD
Kenneth Faried, HOU vs. ORL (6,400): The Faried experiment as the starter at center couldn't be going any better after two games. The energetic big man has parlayed the opportunity into tallies of 38.1 and 43.8 fantasy points against the Knicks and Raptors, respectively, while logging 26 and 37 minutes and putting up double-digit shot attempts in both contests. The Magic sport bottom-half figures in fantasy points (39.9) and rebounds (12.1) allowed per game to centers, furthering Faried's appeal. Additionally, it's worth noting that the Magic's pedestrian 43.8 road shooting percentage – the fourth-lowest road figure in the NBA – should set up Faried with plenty of rebounding opportunities on the defensive glass.
Josh Jackson, PHO at LAL ($5,400): Jackson will continue starting at power forward while T.J. Warren (ankle) remains sidelined, making him a strong value play at his sub-$5.5k price. The second-year pro just exploded for 51.5 fantasy points three games ago versus the Timberwolves, and he also posted 30.6 fantasy points in his most recent contest on Friday versus the Nuggets. Jackson has displayed the ability to consistently eclipse the 30-mark when given starter's minutes this season, and a Sunday matchup versus a Lakers team allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to power forwards (42.5), along with the sixth-most rebounds (10.9) to the position, could certainly lead to more of the same. Moreover, Los Angeles checks in allowing the fourth-most points in the paint at home (51.4), while Jackson is scoring just under half his points (49.0 percent) in that area of the floor.
CENTER
JaVale McGee, LAL vs. PHO ($4,400): McGee's teammate Ivica Zubac ($4,800) is also very appealing, but with coach Luke Walton keeping minutes almost evenly split between the two on many nights, I'm simply suggesting the cheaper of the two options. McGee has scored 20.2 to 35.3 fantasy points in his last three games, and he's eclipsed the 20-mark in six of the last eight contests overall. His minutes aren't likely to climb above the low 20s Sunday, but that could well be enough versus a Suns squad that could be down both Deandre Ayton (ankle) and Richaun Holmes (foot) down low. The Suns are already allowing the second-most fantasy points (45.9) per game to centers, along with the fifth-most rebounds (12.6) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (56.0). Phoenix is also surrendering the second-most points in the paint per road game (53.4), while McGee is logging 86.2 percent of his points in that area of the floor. Finally, McGee's track record versus the Suns this season offers plenty of reason for optimism – he's averaging 17.0 points (on 65.2 percent shooting), 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 2.5 blocks and 1.0 steal across just 23.0 minutes over two games against Phoenix.
