This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Thursday's NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features six games. Below, you'll find players from all over the price spectrum that are primed to outperform their respective valuations. 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
Reggie Jackson, DET vs. DAL ($5,400): Jackson's 40.2 shooting percentage is his lowest mark since his rookie year back in 2011, but he's improved his shot selection recently, knocking down more than half his shots in two of the past three games. The rest of his game has improved accordingly, as Jackson's averaging 18.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 5.7 APG over these past three contests. He gets a nice opportunity to keep rolling against a Mavericks team that's playing its second road game in as many nights.
Fred VanVleet, TOR vs. MIL ($4,500): VanVleet is a marksman from deep. He's averaging career highs in both made and attempted 3-pointers (1.7 and 4.5), and he still has room for improvement considering his 36.5 percent success rate is below his career 39.2 percent mark. His prowess from deep should be on full display here against a Bucks team that allows opponents to sink a league-high 12.9 successful 3-pointers per game.
SHOOTING GUARD
Terrence Ross, ORL vs. IND ($5,200): Ross has morphed into one of the league's most dangerous sixth men, pouring in 16.7 PPG over the past 12 games while only dipping below 16 points four times and below 13 once in that span. While Indiana ranks among the league's stingiest teams defensively, the Pacers will likely be a step slow in the second leg of a back-to-back, allowing the affordable shooting guard to once again wreak havoc off the bench.
D'Angelo Russell, BKN at SA ($8,800): Russell's showing no signs of slowing down, having churned out north of 50 fantasy points in five of his past eight games. San Antonio's past four opponents have averaged 119.8 points per game, and Russell's likely to be a big part of the equation should his Nets approach or surpass that mark. He's scored at least 25 points six times in this prolific eight-game stretch while also adding seven or more assists in six of those eight contests.
SMALL FORWARD
Kevin Durant, GS vs. PHI ($9,400): Durant was held to 16 points by the Pacers' elite defense in his last game, ending a streak of 22 consecutive outings with 20-plus. The last time he was held under 20, he responded with 30-plus points in four of the next seven games (and 29 in one of the others), and a similar bounce back can be expected by the consistently excellent scorer here. Bouncing back should be easy against a 76ers team that struggles on the road defensively, surrendering 115.2 points per game.
Brandon Ingram, LAL at LAC ($7,100): This is expected to be the last game of LeBron James' (groin) absence, giving owners one last chance to capitalize on Ingram's increased role in the meantime. Ingram has been making the most of his extended usage, contributing 23.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 3.2 APG over the past five games. His offensive prowess should be on full display against a Clippers team that's giving up 113.5 points per game -- seventh-most in the league.
POWER FORWARD
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. BKN ($9,600): Aldridge is in a groove offensively, averaging 29.0 PPG in his past three games while scoring at least 25 in five of the past six. He's also chipping in 10.5 RPG and 4.0 APG over this six-game span, making the skilled big man an all-around threat. Aldridge should be effective on the boards against a Nets team that lets opponents snag 55.0 rebounds per game on the road, and another strong scoring outing will likely be in the cards as well, even if DeMar DeRozan returns from his knee injury.
Montrezl Harrell, LAC vs. LAL ($7,200): Harrell is having a career season, with averages of 15.8 PPG and 6.7 RPG in 26 minutes per game. He's matched or exceeded that playing time average in each of his past 10 games, setting the bouncy big man up for even greater production. Don't be surprised to see Harrell exceed both his scoring and rebounding averages against a Lakers team that's allowing 111.9 points and 54.9 rebounds per game -- both among the league's 10 most generous marks.
CENTER
Brook Lopez, MIL at TOR ($5,700): The 7-foot Lopez may not rebound well for his height, but he makes up for that lack of contributions on the glass with gaudy block totals, much to fantasy owners' delight. He's blocking 3.1 shots per game over the past 11, and Lopez is also a capable producer on the offensive end, having averaged north of 20.0 PPG four times in his career and shooting 39.1 percent from deep on 6.5 attempts per game this season. At just $5,700, you're getting a guy who can provide tremendous value on both ends.
