This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Thursday may offer a modestly-sized four-game ledger, but there's plenty to analyze. A couple of prominent names are also shaping up as game-time decisions, which add more intrigue to the lineup-building process. Without further delay, let's dive right into how each price level shapes up on the abbreviated slate:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
Stephen Curry, GS vs. MIN ($19,300): Curry already racked up 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block across 30 minutes versus the T-Wolves back on Nov. 8, and Minnesota comes in having allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to point guards over the last five (61.9), along with the fourth-most made three-pointers (2.4) and highest shooting percentage (46.0) to the position on the season. They'll also be on their third game in four nights Thursday, while Curry checks in with a 52.2 percent success rate from the field over the last 10, including 49.2 percent from three-point range. Curry has also essentially been a lock for 40 fantasy points at a minimum over nearly the last two months, failing to hit that mark in only one game out of 16 since Nov. 24.
Mid-Tier
Jamal Murray, DEN vs. NY ($12,400): Murray broke out for a career-high 38 points against the Trail Blazers on Monday night, leading to 54.75 fantasy points. It was his second straight 30-point effort, and his matchup Thursday could well leave him poised for another outing with that caliber of production. The Knicks come in allowing the sixth-most fantasy points (47.7) to point guards on the campaign, along with bottom-10 figures in rebounds (6.3), assists (8.9) and steals (2.3). Moreover, the Knicks' recent penchant for turnovers – they've committed the sixth-most (15.3) per game in January -- combined with the fact they've yielded the fourth-most fast break points on the road (15.2) on the season should serve Murray particularly well.
Affordable
Buddy Hield, SAC at MIA ($9,700): The Kings' backcourt and wing positions are fluid heading into Thursday's contest, considering that De'Aaron Fox is questionable with an abdominal issue. The domino effect of that in-game injury on Tuesday brought Garrett Temple ($8,400) into a prominent role, and if Fox were to miss again Thursday and Temple draws the start at point guard, he's worthy of consideration. However, Hield, while a bit more expensive, has scored 28.25 to 32.75 fantasy points in four of the last five games. He's shooting a solid 44.1 percent from the field on an average of 11.3 shot attempts per contest over the last three, including 56.3 percent from three-point range. Moreover, if Hield sees some run at shooting guard, he'll be facing a Heat squad that's allowed the most fantasy points on the season (52.5) and over the last five (73.2) to the position. They've also yielded the fifth-most fantasy points (47.0) to Hield's other position of small forward over the last 10, a notable bump up from their 38.8 seasonal figure.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. NY ($16,200): Jokic comes into Thursday having scored 37.00 to 67.00 fantasy points in the last five games, and he's posted three double-doubles in the last four contests as well. The Knicks have tightened up some against centers in recent games, but Jokic already trampled them to the tune of 28 points (on 60.0 percent shooting from both the floor and behind the arc), eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 30 minutes back on Oct. 30. Moreover, one of Jokic's primary defenders Thursday, Enes Kanter, has allowed an average of 24.1 points in the paint this season, while Jokic is scoring 44.5 percent of his points in that area of the floor.
Mid-Tier
Paul George, OKC vs. WAS ($13,700): George has scored at least 40.00 fantasy points in three of the last four games, a stretch during which he's sporting a 26.5 percent usage rate while averaging 1.15 fantasy points per minute. Fresh off an All-Star snub, he'll be in position to channel his frustrations into some explosive production Thursday, considering the Wizards have been vulnerable to small forwards throughout the season. They've been even more porous in recent games, having allowed the third-most fantasy points (48.6) to threes over the last 10 contests, including 52.7 over the last five. They're also allowing the highest shooting percentage (54.0) to the position over the latter span, while George his draining an impressive 48.8 percent of his shots – a notable increase over his 43.6 percent seasonal figure – in the last 10 contests.
Affordable
Kelly Olynyk, MIA vs. SAC ($8,800): Olynyk's production has admittedly seen some fluctuations, but he continues to be largely efficient with his minutes off the bench and has posted five consecutive double-digit scoring efforts. That span includes one game over 20 fantasy points and two over 30, along with a 29.6 percent usage rate and an average of 1.13 fantasy points per minute. The Kings come in allowing the second-most fantasy points (47.4) to power forwards on the campaign, along with league-worst or bottom-five figures in most other categories to the position. Those include the most made three-pointers (2.5), while Olynyk' 40.5 percent success rate from behind the arc equals a career high.
UTILITY:
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. SAC ($15,400): Whiteside has been a consistent force for either cash games or tournaments since he fully got back into the swing of things following an extended layoff due to a knee injury. He's scored 33.00 to 57.00 fantasy points in eight of his last nine contests, with all of those serving as double-double efforts. The Kings shape up as facilitators for more of the same, considering they've allowed the third-most fantasy points (38.7) to centers on the season and bottom-five figures in multiple other categories. That includes allowing the second-most blocks (1.8), a particularly relevant stat in the case of a player like Whiteside, who's recorded multiple stuffs in eight of the last 10 contests.
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC at MIA ($12,500): The Knicks' Michael Beasley ($12,200) is also certainly worthy of consideration at this price level if he draws another start for Kristaps Porzingis (knee), while Taj Gibson ($11,400) is an interesting option as well for those who need the savings. However, Cauley-Stein is a viable play himself on the other side of the Heat-Kings matchup, considering he's underpriced for a player who's scored 30.50 to 50.25 fantasy points in five of the last six games. He's encouragingly logged 32 to 39 minutes in all five of those contests, and with Whiteside roaming down low for the Heat, Cauley-Stein should be in for a similarly robust workload Thursday as the Kings look to counter. Factoring in his 26.7 percent usage rate, average of 1.10 fantasy points per minute and 15.8 shot attempts over the last five games (compared to his seasonal figure of 10.3), he projects as solid value despite the fact he may have more of a battle for rebounds than usual while frequently dealing with Whiteside.
