This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
We've got the first mega-sized ledger of the week Wednesday, which should lead to an entertaining night of DFS play. There are plenty of options to consider for both cash games and tournaments, and no shortage of elite selections to sift through. With price sensitivity particularly important due to the size of the slate, let's take a closer look at how you might best invest at each salary tier:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Stephen Curry, GS at CHI ($18,900): Those looking for a discount from the always appealing Russell Westbrook ($21,300) have an excellent consolation prize in Curry, who's scored no fewer than 43.50 and as many as 66.00 fantasy points in the last 10 games. He's sporting a 29.7 percent usage rate and averaging 1.60 fantasy points per minute over that span, numbers that he could well continue generating in a highly favorable Wednesday matchup. The Bulls have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (52.9) to point guards over the last 10 games, while the Warriors are playing at a pace that's generating the third-most road possessions (105.3), with the latter giving Curry plenty of opportunity to exact damage.
Mid-Tier
Kent Bazemore, ATL vs. NO ($11,300): There are a number of appealing mid-tier guard options Wednesday, including Jrue Holiday ($12,800) in this same contest. However, Bazemore has put together a nice stretch during which he's been providing solid returns on his current price, as he's scored 23.75 to 36.50 fantasy points in the last five games. He's encouragingly averaging a full shot attempt over his season figure on his way to a solid 22.3 percent usage rate over that span. He'll be in a favorable spot to continue churning out that type of production Wednesday, considering the Pelicans will be on their third game in four nights and have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points (47.4) to shooting guards, along with the sixth-most made three-pointers (3.5) and second-highest shooting percentage (45.0).
Affordable
E'Twaun Moore, NO at ATL ($8,600): Moore is reasonably priced for a player who's scored 23.75 to 32.50 fantasy points in three of his past four games, and who finds himself in one of the better individual matchups of the night. The Hawks have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (44.9) to small forwards on the season, along with the second-most points (24.1), fourth-most assists (4.1), highest shooting percentage (51.0) and third-most made three-pointers (2.8). Granted, his scoring fluctuations and the sky-high usage of his other first-unit teammates make him strictly a tournament option, but a relatively low-risk one at that due to his price.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Kristaps Porzingis, NY at MEM ($14,400): To be clear, a case could essentially be made for all the forward/centers priced above Porzingis on Wednesday, a distinguished group that includes the Pelicans' dynamic duo of Anthony Davis ($20,100) and DeMarcus Cousins (19,700). However, Porzingis comes at a steep discount over many of those elite-level options while providing impressive upside relative to price, and he finds himself in a favorable individual matchup as well. Porzingis has scored 39.50 to 51.50 fantasy points in the last five games, a stretch during which he's posting a 30.6 percent usage rate and averaging 1.15 fantasy points per minute. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies come in allowing the third-most fantasy points (60.0) to power forwards over the last five games, a drastically higher figure than the 43.9 they're yielding to the position on the season. They're also allowing the third-most rebounds (12.1) to fours on the campaign -- a figure that's partly a byproduct of their fourth-lowest team shooting percentage (44.4). Porzingis' considerable six-inch height advantage over the 6-foot-9 JayMychal Green should not only afford him plenty of chances to haul in boards, but to rack up a substantial number of blocks as well.
Mid-Tier
Nikola Mirotic, CHI vs. GS ($11,300): Mirotic's teammate Lauri Markannen ($13,300) is also worthy of consideration for the same reasons that are about to be cited, but Mirotic's discount and similar – if not greater – upside is difficult to pass up. He's been solid over his first two contests back from a two-game absence due to an illness, compiling 30.00 and 28.75 fantasy points, respectively. The Warriors come in allowing 43.8 fantasy points to power forwards on the season, along with 1.6 made three-pointers and a 46.0 percent success rate from the field. Moreover, Golden State's aforementioned accelerated pace of play on the road should afford Mirotic plenty of opportunities with which to offer a strong return on his reasonable price.
Affordable
Ersan Ilyasova, ATL vs. NO ($9,800): Ilyasova can vex those who roster him with the occasional downturn, but he brings considerable GPP upside at his sub-$10K cost. The veteran forward has scored 25.75 to 36.75 fantasy points in 10 of the last 12 games, solid-to-excellent returns on his current price. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have been considerably vulnerable to power forwards on the season and even more so in recent contests, allowing 48.9 fantasy points to the position over the last 10, along with 1.9 made three-pointers and a 48.0 percent success rate from the floor.
UTILITY
Andre Drummond, DET at TOR ($16,300): Drummond averaged a solid 11.3 points, 15.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals across four games versus Jonas Valanciunas and the Raptors last season, and Toronto comes in ranked in the bottom half of the league in most categories against centers in the current campaign. That includes an average of 36.3 fantasy points allowed to the position on the season, along with the eighth-most points (15.9) and third-most assists (2.9). Drummond scored only three points in a tough matchup against Dwight Howard in his last game on Monday, but his strong work on the glass still helped carry him to 30.00 fantasy points. He'd also scored 43.50 to 62.00 fantasy points in seven of the prior eight games, a stretch that included four games with more than 50 and one over 60.
Carmelo Anthony, OKC vs. LAL ($12,200): Anthony bounced back from a two-game downturn in fine fashion against the Kings in his last contest, scoring 38.25 fantasy points over 31 minutes. He'll find himself in a similarly appealing matchup Wednesday, as the Lakers come in allowing the third-most fantasy points (47.1) on the season to power forwards, along with the third-most points (22.1), most rebounds (12.5), second-most blocks (1.8) and third-highest shooting percentage (48.0). Anthony also racked up 33.00 fantasy points in 26 minutes against this same squad back on Jan. 3, a game in which he shot a blistering 57.1 percent (8-for-14), including 60.0 percent (3-for-5) from distance.
