This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
We're back down to a typically modest five-game slate Tuesday, although there are still a number of big names on the docket. However, more than a few strong mid-tier and value plays allow us to potentially accommodate at least a couple of elite options, setting up an interesting night of lineup construction. Let's delve further into what should be an entertaining night of DFS action:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Kyrie Irving, BOS at LAL ($16,200): Irving makes for an excellent pivot for those not willing to fork out the cash for top choices Russell Westbrook ($21,200) and Stephen Curry ($19,100), especially considering that he racked up 42.25 and 60.25 fantasy points, respectively, in the last two games. He showed no ill effects in the latter contest from the shoulder problem that caused him to miss last Thursday's contest against the Sixers, and he'll draw a matchup Tuesday against a Lakers squad that's allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (54.8) to point guards over the last 10 games -- a notable bump over the 43.6 fantasy points they've allowed to the position on the season. They've also yielded the third-most assists (10.2) and second-most steals (2.9) to ones over the former span, while the Lakers' league-high pace of play (105.7 possessions per game) should also work in his favor.
Mid-Tier
Klay Thompson, GS vs. NY ($12,200): A few options look appealing at this level, including Jaylen Brown ($13,500), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($12,800) and Kyle Anderson ($11,500), but Thompson provides some cost-effective exposure to the Warriors and draws a solid individual matchup. An atypical 3-for-11 shooting night against the Rockets on Saturday night led to just 15.25 fantasy points for Thompson, but he'd scored 29.50 to 50.00 fantasy points in the prior three games. Meanwhile, the Knicks have been increasingly vulnerable to two-guards as of late, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (58.2) to the position over the last five, along with the fourth-most rebounds (10.0), most assists (8.6) and 4.2 made three-pointers. Moreover, despite his ragged shooting effort versus Houston, Thompson is still shooting a red-hot 52.1 percent from the floor over the last five games, including 45.2 percent from three-point range.
Affordable
De'Aaron Fox, SAC at ORL ($10,800): Courtney Lee ($9,900) is also a tournament option at a discounted price in what should be an uptempo matchup against the Warriors, while Fox's teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic ($9,900) is also worthy of consideration. However, Fox has considerably stepped up his game after a six-game layoff in late December due to a quad injury, averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his 10 contests since returning. He's scored 22.00 to 37.25 fantasy points in nine of those contests and will take on a Magic squad that's allowed the second-most fantasy points (61.7) to point guards over the last five, along with the second-most points (32.2), fourth-most steals (2.4) and most blocks (2.2) over that span. Fox is encouragingly sporting a solid 21.9 percent usage rate in the aforementioned 10-game sample, and remains priced very reasonably relative to recent production.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Kevin Durant, GS vs. NY ($19,300): Durant has scored no fewer than 41.50 fantasy points in his last nine games, a stretch that includes three performances where he's eclipsed the 50 mark. The Knicks check in about middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to small forwards on the season (38.8), but they are allowing the second-most made three-pointers (2.8) to the position. Durant also enjoys a four-inch height advantage on Tim Hardaway -- a defender he should see plenty of in Tuesday's matchup. Moreover, he comes into the contest red-hot from the field, as he's shot 57.7 percent over his last six games, including 52.8 percent from three-point range.
Mid-Tier
Aaron Gordon, ORL vs. SAC ($14,500): Gordon is now averaging 35.45 fantasy points per game after a stretch where he's scored over 30 fantasy points thrice and over 40 on another pair of occasions in five of the last seven contests. He's posting a team-high 27.0 percent usage rate over that span and will find himself in a favorable position for more of the same Tuesday. The Kings have facilitated superior fantasy production to power forwards all season, allowing the most fantasy points to the position on the season (48.2), including 50.7 over the last 10 games. They're also allowing league-worst figures in points (23.9) and made three-pointers (2.6) to the position on the campaign, along with the third-highest shooting percentage (48.0).
Affordable
Steven Adams, OKC vs. BKN ($12,200): A case can also be made for Adams' teammate Carmelo Anthony ($12,900) at this level, but Adams comes at a discount and draws one of the best matchups in the league for centers. The Nets come in tied with the Pacers with the most fantasy points allowed to fives on the season (40.0), and they've yielded the most over the last 10 games (46.5) as well. They've also allowed league-worst or bottom-five figures to the position in multiple other categories, while Adams has scored 36.25 to 43.25 fantasy points in the last four contests. The big man is sporting a 24.9 percent usage rate and averaging 1.28 fantasy points per minute in that stretch, particularly impressive figures considering the caliber of teammates he shares the floor with.
UTILITY
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. CLE ($15,900): Aldridge disappointed somewhat in his last game versus the Pacers on Sunday, as a 6-for-25 shooting effort led to an underwhelming 25.50 fantasy points. However, he'd scored 45.50 to 51.50 fantasy points in his three prior games, and he's sporting a 30.4 percent usage rate and averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute without Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) on the floor this season. He'll draw a matchup against an increasingly troubled and vulnerable squad in the Cavaliers, which have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points (46.2) to power forwards on the season, along with league-worst or bottom-10 figures in multiple other categories against the position. Cleveland is also playing at an accelerated pace as of late, as their 107.3 possessions per game over the last three ranks second only to the Bulls during that span.
Kristaps Porzingis, NY at GS ($15,000): Much like Aldridge, Porzingis failed to meet expectations in his last contest, scoring 28.50 fantasy points versus the Lakers on Sunday. However, he'll likely benefit from a fast-paced matchup against the Warriors, who average the fourth-most possessions per game on the season (103.8) and over the last three (105.8), and which have allowed 47.2 fantasy points to power forwards over the last five games. They're also allowing a 47.0 percent success rate from the floor to fours on the season, while Porzingis is taking a career-high 19.1 shot attempts and draining a career-best 38.7 percent of his three-point attempts. Moreover, his massive eight-inch height advantage over Draymond Green should result in plenty of fairly easy buckets and more than a few rebounding and block opportunities.
