This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
As is typical of many Wednesdays, we have a robust ledger on tap with nine games overall. That opens up a virtually limitless amount of possibilities in lineup construction for both cash games and tournaments, including at the value level, where injuries continue to open up more options. With plenty to examine, let's dive right into what shapes up as an exciting slate:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Chris Paul, HOU at DAL ($17,600): Paul had what might be considered a "down" game against the Heat on Monday night in what is one of the tougher point guard matchups in the NBA, but he still generated an impressive 38.50 fantasy points over 35 minutes. However, he'd scored 40.00 to 70.25 fantasy points in the previous eight games, with two of those contests coming even with Harden back in the lineup. Now he draws a matchup against a Mavericks squad allowing the second-most fantasy points (50.2) to point guards on the season, including 56.9 over the last 10. They're also yielding the most made three-pointers (2.9) and second-highest shooting percentage (45.0) to the position, while Paul is putting up an average of 8.0 three-point attempts over the last three games and draining an impressive 54.2 percent of them.
Mid-Tier
Darren Collison, IND vs. PHO ($12,800): Collison offers an appealing combination of price and upside among a multitude of solid mid-tier guard options Wednesday. The only team more porous in terms of point-guard defense than the Mavericks is the Suns, who come in allowing the most fantasy points (51.1) to point guards on the season, including 58.8 over the last 10. They're also surrendering league-worst or bottom-five figures to the position in multiple other categories, while Collison has scored 27.75 to 34.00 fantasy points in four of the last six games, a stretch during which he's hit or exceeded the 30-mark thrice. Historically an above-average shooter, Collison has taken his game up a notch in that category this season, as evidenced by career bests in overall shooting percentage (49.9) and three-point percentage (43.5). Moreover, he's averaging 11.7 shot attempts over his last three, a notable bump over the 9.4 he's averaging for the season.
Affordable
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, PHI vs. CHI ($8,800): Luwawu-Cabarrot has drawn starts in the last two games in place of J.J. Redick (leg) and produced 24.25 and 26.50 fantasy points, respectively, in those contests. His price remains well below that level of production for the moment, and given his matchup against a Bulls squad that's playing at the highest pace in the NBA over the last three games (112.4 possessions per game), he makes for a highly appealing cost-effective option Wednesday. Chicago has also been susceptible to two-guards throughout the season, as they've allowed 47.2 fantasy points per game to the position, along with the fifth-highest amount of made three-pointers (3.7) and third-highest shooting percentage (44.0).
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. CHI ($18,300): Embiid is in a favorable spot against another increasingly weak area of the Bulls' defense, as Chicago comes into Wednesday allowing the most fantasy points (50.7), most assists (6.0) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (64.0) to centers over the last five games. Embiid dipped to a still-impressive 33.50 fantasy points over 31 minutes against the Grizzlies on Monday night, but he'd scored 41.00 to 60.50 fantasy points in the prior four games, and he'd generated 43.25 to 55.00 fantasy points in a previous four-game stretch between Christmas Day and Jan. 3. A threat for a double-double on any given night, Embiid should likewise benefit from the uptempo pace this game should feature.
Mid-Tier
T.J. Warren, PHO at IND ($14,400): Warren has scored no fewer than 30.00 and as many as 41.75 fantasy points in seven of the last eight games, a span during which he's sporting a 26.7 percent usage rate and averaging 1.27 points per possession. He'll be in line for more of the same against a Pacers squad that's allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (44.3) to small forwards on the season, along with the second-most points (23.6), third-most assists (4.0), most blocks (1.2) and most made three-pointers. Although he's struggled from distance throughout most of the season, Warren is in midst of an extended torrid stretch from in front of the arc, as he comes into Wednesday having shot a blistering 56.3 percent over his last 10 contests on an average of 18.3 shot attempts, a notable increase over his 16.5 seasonal figure.
Affordable
Marvin Williams, CHA vs. NO ($7,800): Williams' occasional scoring fluctuations essentially make him a tournament-only play, but a low-risk one relative to price. He's most recently flashed his upside with three games of over 30 fantasy points over his last six, and he'll be poised to thrive against a Pelicans defense that's proven itself to be the worst in the NBA against power forwards. New Orleans has allowed the most fantasy points (48.0) on the season to fours, including 58.2 over the last five games. Those figures are largely comprised of league-worst or bottom-five rankings in multiple categories against the position, including shooting percentage (49.0). Meanwhile, Williams is sporting career-best shooting percentages on the season, and he's posted a jaw-dropping 59.5 percent success rate – including 60.9 percent from three-point range – over the last five games.
UTILITY
DeMar DeRozan, TOR at ATL ($15,000): DeRozan could hardly walk into a better individual matchup Wednesday, as the Hawks have been a proverbial sieve versus two-guards throughout the season. Atlanta has given up the second-most fantasy points (50.7) to shooting guards on the season, including 59.8 over the last five games. They've also allowed bottom-five figures to the position in several other categories, including assists (5.8) and made three-pointers (4.0). Those figures are particularly relevant to DeRozan, who's averaging a career high in dimes (5.0), three-point attempts (3.2) and three-point shooting percentage (34.5) through his first 45 games. Moreover, he already compiled 37.75 fantasy points over 33 minutes against this same squad on Dec. 29, and he comes in having scored over 35 fantasy points in 10 of his last 12 contests.
Rudy Gobert, UTA at DET ($13,800): Gobert has jumped right back into the fray after his most recent extended layoff due to a knee injury, as he's scored 30.50 to 48.00 fantasy points in his first three games. The Stifle Tower has encouragingly logged no fewer than 27 minutes in any of those contests, so playing time won't be an issue in a favorable matchup Wednesday. The Pistons have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (37.8) to centers on the campaign, including 40.0 over the last 10. Gobert shot 80.0 percent against Detroit and Andre Drummond over two games last season, and he's shooting 60.0 percent on an average of 8.3 attempts (while averaging 15.0 points) over the aforementioned three-game sample.
