This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
After easing back into action with a six-game slate Thursday, the NBA returns in grand fashion Friday with a mammoth, 11-game ledger Friday. That leaves us with a plethora of options at every price point, as well as plenty of well-rested players that should be raring to go. With no shortage of considerations, let's tackle the task of breaking down some top options at each tier:
GUARDS
Victor Oladipo, IND vs. ATL ($17,500): Oladipo serves as an excellent "consolation" choice for those that can't or won't foot the bill for James Harden ($21,000), considering his upside and individual matchup. The aggressive two-guard eclipsed 60 fantasy points in two of his three games prior to the All-Star break and has scored no less than 40.25 over his last five contests overall. He's sporting a 33.8 percent usage rate and averaging 1.43 fantasy points per minute during that stretch while also taking a whopping 23 shot attempts per contest. His matchup coming out of the All-Star break leaves him poised for more of the same, as the Hawks have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (44.1) to two-guards on the campaign, along with the second-most made three-pointers (3.5) to the position per contest. They're yielding the fifth-most points per game from distance (34.0) as a team as well, furthering Oladipo's formidable case.
Lou Williams, LAC at PHO ($13,600): Williams picked up where he left off prior to the All-Star break by racking up 43.25 fantasy points over 33 minutes against the Warriors in Thursday's loss. He continues to be priced reasonably relative to production, as he's been a virtual lock for at least 30 fantasy points – and often more than 40 – whether he's deployed on the first or second unit. Meanwhile, no team has been more vulnerable to two-guards than the Suns, which come into Friday's contest allowing the most fantasy points to the position on the season (46.4) and the last 10 (67.7). They've also yielded bottom-10 figures in multiple other categories to twos, and they're playing at the fifth-highest pace (103.0 possessions per game), as well. Williams' 18.2 shot attempts per contest over the last 10 also represents a nice bump over his 16.8 season figure, and he could be in for a slight increase in usage Friday if Avery Bradley (sports hernia) remains out.
Andrew Harrison, MEM vs. CLE ($8,500): Harrison is priced at a discount for a player that's eclipsed 38 fantasy points in two of his last three contests, and that scored 25.25 to 38.25 fantasy points in four of the five games prior to that stretch as well. He went into the All-Star break on a hot shooting streak, posting a 54.7 percent success rate from the field overall – including 55.6 percent from distance – over the last five games before the layoff. The Cavaliers shape up as a tantalizing target for him Friday, considering they've yielded the most fantasy points to point guards on the season (42.8), including 61.8 in the last five. They're also allowing the highest shooting percentage (45.0) to the position on the campaign – and the second-most points from distance (35.5) per game overall -- two figures that bode well for Harrison's fantasy prospects given his impressive marksmanship.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at TOR ($19,400): Antetokounmpo is averaging 25.0 points (on 56.3 percent shooting), 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steal across 37.5 minutes in two games versus the Raptors this season, and he went into the All-Star break having scored 45.25 to 75.75 fantasy points in the last five contests. The Greek Freak sported a 32.9 percent usage rate and averaged 1.41 fantasy points per minute during that stretch, and he'll be poised to continue spearheading the Bucks' playoff push in Friday's matchup. Toronto comes in allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (39.8) to fours on the season -- including 46.0 over the last five – along with the seventh-most points in the paint (48.0) over the last three. The latter number is particularly relevant in Antetokounmpo's case, considering he's scoring a career-high 16.4 points per contest in that area of the floor this season.
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at NO ($12,800): Whiteside is underpriced relative to his pre-All-Star-break production, as he'd scored 31.00 to 39.75 fantasy points in his last five games prior to the layoff while generating a 25.6 percent usage rate and averaging 1.35 fantasy points per minute. The elite rim protector generated a double-double in each of those games as well, while the Pelicans come in ranked in the bottom 10 in multiple categories versus centers, including points (14.6), rebounds (10.1) and shooting percentage (56.0). Moreover, New Orleans is allowing the fifth-most points in the paint at home (46.1), an area of the floor where 73.6 percent of Whiteside's scoring has emanated from this season.
Alex Len, PHO vs. LAC ($9,800): As was the case in his last game before the All-Star break – a contest in which he racked up 38.75 fantasy points over 37 minutes – Len is projected for another start with Tyson Chandler (neck) already ruled out for Friday. That puts him squarely in play at a four-figure price tag against a Clippers squad that's allowed 44.3 fantasy points to centers over the last five games, a notable increase over their 33.9 season figure. Len has demonstrated 30-fantasy-point upside on multiple occasions when he's had sufficient minutes, and he should log heavy playing time again Friday as the Suns look to counter DeAndre Jordan's presence down low.
UTILITY
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. SA ($17,700): Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double in three prior games against the Spurs this season, posting 19.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists across 32.7 minutes. He headed into the All-Star break on an eye-popping tear, scoring 61.25 and 80.75 fantasy points in the last two games on the strength of a pair of triple-doubles. The Spurs also start post-All-Star-break play on a downward trend against centers, as they've allowed 39.9 fantasy points to the position over the last five, along with the sixth-highest shooting percentage (60.0) during that span. That's been accompanied by a notable boost in the amount of points they allow in the paint, as San Antonio has yielded the fourth-most scoring in that area of the floor (51.3) over the last three, another factor in Jokic's favor Friday. Considering he's averaged 20.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 9.6 assists over a five-game sample prior to the break, Jokic looks poised to offer a strong return despite his justifiably elevated price.
Harrison Barnes, DAL at LAL ($12,000): Barnes draws a premium matchup for small forwards Friday, as the Lakers come in allowing the most fantasy points to the position on the season (40.8), including the second most (52.2) over the last 10. He's also averaged a solid 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal across 33.0 minutes in two games against Los Angeles this season, and he's seen a slight downturn in price due to a few sub-30-fantasy-point outings prior to the All-Star break. However, Barnes is capable of exceeding that mark on any given night, and he should be well-rested following the extended All-Star break layoff.
