This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Thursday's NBA slate is a small one, with just three games on tap after 8:00 PM Eastern time. Despite the limited selection, certain players still stand out as value plays at their respective prices. FanDuel's format only counts the eight highest scores in your nine-player lineup, so keep that in mind when making your selections.
POINT GUARD
Jamal Murray, DEN at SAC ($8,000): Murray's been frustratingly inconsistent of late, but his upside is terrific relative to his $8,000 valuation, as evidenced by the 63.2 fantasy points the third-year point guard produced in his final game of 2018. That performance came in a favorable matchup against the lowly Suns, and Murray's facing an even more vulnerable opponent here in the defensively challenged Kings. Only the Hawks and Wizards give up more points per game than Sacramento's 116.7.
Derrick White, SA vs. TOR ($6,100): White has scored 38.7, 32.4 and 38.1 fantasy points in his past three games, with the latest strong performance powered by a career-high 22 points. He's a budding two-way contributor who's logged at least 27 minutes in each of the past five games, and White's doing enough in the starting point guard role to justify a look at $6,100. Don't be surprised to see his price climb as White gets more used to his expanding role.
SHOOTING GUARD
Austin Rivers, HOU at GS ($3,800): While Rivers is averaging only 21.5 fantasy points over his past three games, he's doing so in an average of 37 minutes per contest. He may not be an impressive per-minute contributor, but Rivers should continue to spend plenty of time on the court with both Chris Paul (hamstring) and Eric Gordon (knee) sidelined. Given Houston's lack of backcourt alternatives, Rivers is bound to stumble into enough production to provide good value at $3,800.
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. DEN ($7,000): Hield's trending in the right direction of late -- he's seen his fantasy point total rise in each of his last three games while averaging 34 minutes of playing time over the past seven. He's made the most of those minutes, scoring 40.0 or more fantasy points in three of those seven games. You'll be hard-pressed to find better value at the shooting guard position without paying through the nose for one of the more expensive options.
SMALL FORWARD
Kawhi Leonard, TOR at SA ($10,300): Leonard's in good form right now, having topped his season average of 45.9 fantasy points five times in his last seven appearances. He's coming off a 45-point, six-rebound outburst against the Jazz, and Leonard should once again be asked to carry a greater load on the offensive end with Kyle Lowry questionable, but trending toward doubtful, due to a back injury. Add in the revenge factor with this being Leonard's return to San Antonio, and it's hard not to take him here.
Gerald Green, HOU at GS ($3,700): Green's in a similar boat to his teammate Rivers, as he's also seen an increase in role due to Houston's injury issues. The springy wing is a more dangerous offensive option than Rivers, as evidenced by the 18 points and five rebounds he churned out in just 24 minutes with both Paul and Gordon out Monday. Don't be surprised to see Green rewarded with more playing time following that productive outing.
POWER FORWARD
Pascal Siakam, TOR at SA ($7,000): Siakam is a well-rounded player whose offensive game is growing before our eyes. He's scored over 25 points twice in the past five games while also snagging double-digit rebounds in each of the last two. Add his growing offensive ceiling to a diverse base of skills that's helped Siakam record 36.5 or more fantasy points in five of the past seven games, and it becomes tough to turn him down at $7,000.
Draymond Green, GS vs. HOU ($6,900): Green's ability to explode in the hustle stats at any time while stuffing every category of the stat sheet allows him to overcome poor shooting nights, and scoring totals in the low teens are usually enough to provide excellent value at $6,900. The versatile competitor should bring a little extra fire for a matchup with the Houston team that almost knocked the Warriors out of the playoffs last season, and he can be had cheaper than each of Golden State's three other high-profile stars.
CENTER
Nikola Jokic, DEN at SAC ($10,300): In a slate featuring a few versatile big men, Jokic takes the cake as the most productive one. He's averaging a triple-double and then some over the past three contests: 21.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 11.0 APG, 1.3 steals per game and 1.3 blocks per game. Not only do the Kings give up the third-most points per game, but they also surrender a league-high 57.2 rebounds per game, so the sky's the limit for Jokic here.
