This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
With only a three-game all-day slate Sunday, we're more challenged than usual to find viable cost-savings plays. The good news is that there's enough modestly priced options to round out our lineups, and there are multiple positional matchups that line up particularly well for some of those players. Let's break down who can offer both upside and savings Sunday.
POINT GUARD
Jeremy Lin, TOR vs. ORL ($4,900): Lin is set for an extended run as Kyle Lowry's primary backup in the wake of Fred VanVleet's thumb injury, positioning him as a solid value play any time he takes the court. Lin has amply proven his ability to rack points in a hurry, and he's produced over 20 fantasy points in four straight contests and five of the last six overall. Lin is regularly seeing minutes the high teens to low 20s recently, and he'll face a Magic team that's been about league average against point guards while allowing 37.2 fantasy points per game to the position. Moreover, it's worth noting Orlando is ranked just outside the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to opposing second units (43.5), furthering Lin's case on the short slate.
Isaiah Thomas, DEN vs. LAC ($3,900): Thomas' price isn't likely to remain this low for very long, making it prudent to pounce now. The talented guard has logged 13 and 15 minutes in his first two games of the season following hip surgery, and he's made good use of his abbreviated playing time in both instances. Thomas has scored eight and 16 points, respectively, with the latter total leading to an impressive 21.6 fantasy points versus the Mavericks on Friday. With at least another slight bump in minutes possible Sunday and the Clippers allowing the seventh-most fantasy points (40.3) and fourth-most points (20.3) per game to point guards, Thomas is certainly worthy of GPP consideration if you're looking to save at one point guard spot.
SHOOTING GUARD
Malik Beasley, DEN vs. LAC ($5,200): Beasley is another potential Nuggets target in the same matchup, as he looks set to continue logging solid minutes despite Gary Harris' recent return to action. Beasley outpaced the returning Harris by 12 minutes in the first game coming out of the All-Star break versus the Mavericks on Friday, scoring 22.6 fantasy points in the process. It was the emerging guard's third straight game with more than 20 fantasy points, and his ninth such tally in the last 10 games overall. The Clippers have been more susceptible to shooting guards since the trade of Avery Bradley to the Grizzlies, as they're allowing 40.4 fantasy points per contest to the position over the last five (compared to 36.0 for the season). Additionally, Beasley's impressive marksmanship from distance always has to be factored in when considering his ability to outpace his price, as the second-year pro is draining an impressive 43.3 percent of his three-point attempts, a figure that bumps up to 45.0 percent at home.
Damyean Dotson, NY vs. SA ($4,300): Dotson continues to regularly outpace his current price in his new starting role at two-guard, as he's scored 22.9 to 29.1 fantasy points in his last three games. The Spurs make for appealing targets as well, as they've allowed the 10th-most fantasy points (37.7) per game to shooting guards, as well as the sixth-most points (21.2) and sixth-highest offensive efficiency rating (23.4). Furthermore, San Antonio is yielding the fourth-highest three-point shooting percentage (37.8) to twos, while Dotson checks in averaging a solid 37.4 percent success rate from behind the arc on 3.9 three-point attempts per contest. He's been particularly aggressive from distance in the aforementioned three-game span as well, putting up between seven and nine attempts from downtown in each of those contests.
SMALL FORWARD
Rudy Gay, SA at NY ($6,000): Gay's price remains surprisingly modest despite his recent production. The veteran wing has scored 43.4 and 32 fantasy points in the two games sandwiching the All-Star break, double-doubling in each contest. Gay also eclipsed the 30-fantasy-point mark in three of the prior six games, and he'll draw a highly appealing matchup Sunday. The Knicks have yielded the most fantasy points (45.6) per game to power forwards, along with the most points (21.6), second-most rebounds (11.3), fifth-highest shooting percentage (48.0) and second-highest offensive efficiency rating (27.9). In turn, Gay is shooting a career-best 51.8 percent, including a career-high 43.0 percent from behind the arc. Rebounding production could also be plentiful for him against New York, considering the Knicks have the lowest shooting percentage (43.3) of any team on its home court.
Davis Bertans, SA at NY ($4,200): Bertans is in a good position in his own right Sunday, considering the Knicks' metrics against power forwards that were just cited. The floor-spacing big man is still seeing a solid allotment of minutes when he's on the second unit, and another allotment of minutes in the mid-20s along the lines of what he's been seeing lately should give him ample opportunity to offer a solid return. Bertans scored 23.6 and 21.6 fantasy points in his last two games, respectively and he's eclipsed the 20-mark in four of his last six games overall. On a short slate, he presents as a solid play when considering the matchup and very afforable price.
POWER FORWARD
Paul Millsap, DEN vs. LAC ($7,000): Millsap is an exception to my self-imposed rule of trying to stick to plays priced $6,500 and under for value purposes. The abbreviated list of viable choices and his matchup both thrust him into consideration Sunday. The Clippers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (42.2) per game to power forwards on the season, along with bottom-five or bottom-10 figures in points (20.0), rebounds (9.9), shooting percentage (51.0) and offensive efficiency rating (25.7). Meanwhile, Millsap has been on a tear since prior to the All-Star break, scoring 32.5 to 52.6 fantasy points over the last three games while double-doubling in the last two. Millsap has encouraging averaged 15.0 shot attempts over the last pair of contests as well, a level of usage that should lead to a handsome return if it persists versus Los Angeles.
JaMychal Green, LAC at DEN ($4,200): With Luke Kornet ($4,500) likely set for extra run as a result of Deandre Jordan's ankle injury, he also is worthy of consideration if you've got a few extra hundred to spare. Meanwhile, Green has scored 17.5 to 26.9 fantasy points in his last three games as he acclimates to his new Los Angeles digs, and he appears poised for a solid allotment of playing time consisting of minutes in the upper teens to low 20s. That puts him in play on Sunday's small slate despite the relatively tough matchup against the Nuggets. Green is relatively aggressive when on the floor, and it's worth noting he's averaging a career-best 41.5 percent from three-point range this season on 2.4 attempts per contest.
CENTER
Mitchell Robinson, NYK vs. SA ($6,100): For those that need the savings, it's worth noting Mason Plumlee ($5,800) is also certainly in play in this spot. However, as just mentioned, Deandre Jordan is doubtful for Sunday's game due to an ankle injury, and his likely absence should thrust Robinson into the starting lineup. The young big has been highly productive in multiple games recently off the bench, scoring more than 28 fantasy points in six of the last seven games. The extended run he's poised for Sunday could lead to a similar return, considering the Spurs have been much more vulnerable to centers recently. Despite being one of the stingiest teams against the position for the season, San Antonio is allowing the eighth-most fantasy points (46.7) per game to centers over the last five games, along with the third-highest shooting percentage (60.0). It's also worth noting the Spurs see a notable spike in points in the paint allowed when traveling, as they're yielding 50.4 per road contest, compared to just 44.3 per home game. In turn, Robinson is scoring 86.0 percent of his points in that area of the floor.
