This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a six-game evening slate on tap Sunday, and, fortunately, it's one that seems to be overflowing with viable value options. A potential Karl-Anthony Towns absence in Minnesota due to a knee injury certainly plays a part in raising the profile of several of his affordable teammates, while other depleted squads also feature multiple bargains who could thrive in favorable matchups. With plenty to examine, let's jump right into our Sunday bargain hunting:
POINT GUARD
Derrick Rose, MIN vs. NYK ($5,300): Rose continues to offer starter-quality production in his solid bench role, with his 38.1 fantasy points versus the Wizards on Saturday night serving as the latest example. The veteran has scored over 25 fantasy points with regularity this season and could see an uptick in offensive responsibility if Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) were to miss Sunday's game. Rose sports a team-high 34.1 percent usage rate and averages 1.19 fantasy points per minute with Towns off the floor this season, and he'll face a Knicks squad allowing 37.7 fantasy points per game to point guards, along with the fifth-most assists (7.2) and second-highest shooting percentage (46.0).
Frank Jackson, NO at ATL ($4,800): Jackson is playing with the first unit in place of Jrue Holiday (abdomen), and recent results are encouraging. The 2017 second-round pick has scored more than 20 fantasy points in three of his last four games, including 25.4 as a starter on Friday night against the Raptors. The matchup against the Hawks is enticing, considering Atlanta's league-high pace of play and that it allows the most fantasy points per game (46.6) to point guards on the season, along with the most points (21.8) and assists (8.5). Additionally, the Hawks are tied with the Knicks for the second-highest shooting percentage (46.0) allowed to the position, and with the Cavs for highest offensive efficiency rating (29.5) yielded to ones as well.
SHOOTING GUARD
Eric Gordon, HOU at DAL ($5,100): Like Rose, Gordon continues to see plenty of run off the bench and offer production befitting a higher price tag. Most recently, the veteran has scored 21.7 and 43.1 fantasy points, respectively in two of his last three games. He also had scored 22.4 to 37.2 fantasy points during a seven-game stretch sandwiched around the All-Star break, and he'll face a Mavs team allowing 38.3 fantasy points per game to twos. That includes a much higher 61.2 over the last 10 games, a stretch during which they're also yielding the fourth-most made threes (4.9) per contest to the position.
Damyean Dotson, NYK at MIN ($4,800): Dotson continues to enjoy plenty of minutes down the stretch as the Knicks play out the string, as he's now logged at least 30 minutes in four consecutive contests. Dotson has also scored 26 to 32.3 fantasy points in three of his past five games, providing a glimpse at upside that outpaces his current price. The second-year wing draws a favorable matchup versus the T-Wolves, which have 51.0 fantasy points per game to shooting guards over the last 10 contests, including the sixth-most made threes (4.6) during that span. Dotson is capable of exploiting that weakness, considering he's drained his 4.1 three-point attempts per contest at a solid 37.7 percent clip.
SMALL FORWARD
Kenrich Williams, NO at ATL ($5,200): Williams has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Pelicans in the latter portion of the season, and he comes into Sunday's game having scored 25.2 to 33 fantasy points in his last three games. The rookie could be in for even more of a boost in both usage and production Sunday if Anthony Davis (back) misses the game, and he'll draw an excellent matchup irrespective of Davis' status. The Hawks have allowed the most fantasy points per game (42.7) to small forwards this season, along with the second-most points (21.9) and most steals (2.2). Notably, Williams has especially been trending upward in the latter category recently, as he just tallied five steals versus the Raptors in his last game and has multiple steals in three of his past four games overall.
Taurean Prince, ATL vs. NO ($5,000): When healthy, Prince has offered solid production, as he's scored 22.5 to 43.6 fantasy points in four of his last five games. Like his opposite number Williams, Prince is also locked into an appealing matchup, as the Pels come into Sunday allowing the most fantasy points (73.6), points (36.8), assists (9.8) and steals (3.3) to per game to small forwards over the last 10 games. They're also yielding the third-highest offensive efficiency rating (22.9) to the position for the season, offering Prince no shortage of paths to a strong return on a modest price.
POWER FORWARD
Taj Gibson, MIN vs. NYK ($4,800): I'm going right back to Gibson after a successful night against the Wizards on Saturday in which he posted 30.6 fantasy points in 23 minutes. The positional matchup versus the Knicks is as strong as the one against Washington. New York has allowed the most fantasy points per game (45.4) to power forwards this season, along with bottom-10 figures in both points (21.8) and rebounds (11.2). The Knicks also yield the sixth-most points in the paint per road game (51.9), while Gibson logs 70.1 percent of his points in that part of the floor. And finally, it's worth noting that Gibson is averaging a solid 1.09 fantasy points per minute with Towns off the court this season, enhancing his already strong value if the latter misses Sunday.
Ivan Rabb, MEM vs. ORL ($3,600): There are several other appealing options at PF above Rabb if you've got the cash to spare, such as Dario Saric ($4,300), Richaun Holmes ($4,000), and if either or both of Anthony Davis (back) and Jahlil Okafor (ankle) were to miss, Cheick Diallo ($3,900). However, Rabb carries appeal in his own right at a lower salary than all of them. The emerging big continues to be a solid component of the frontcourt rotation, scoring 18.6 and 21.2 fantasy points in his last two games respectively. Those are excellent returns at a price just $100 away from minimum, and he'll draw a solid matchup Sunday against a Magic team allowing 38.6 fantasy points per game to power forwards for the season (including 51.1 over the last 10 games), along with a bottom-10 figure in offensive efficiency rating (43.6) to opposing second units.
CENTER
Kevon Looney, GS vs. PHO ($3,500): For those with some extra cash, Joakim Noah ($5,500) is also an appealing value option against the Mavericks. However, Looney sits a minimum price and will almost assuredly come at minimal ownership in an appealing matchup. The fourth-year big returned from two-game absence due to a pelvic injury to post 17.6 fantasy points over 15 minutes against the Nuggets on Friday, and he'll face off versus a Suns squad allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to centers (38.9) for the season, along with the second-highest offensive efficiency rating (36.8) to the position. What's more, Phoenix also yields the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating (45.4) to second units and in the paint (61.7), while Looney logs 77.3 percent of his scoring near the basket.
