This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
It's a typically modest six-game slate Sunday, but one that has a fast-paced matchup on tap to close out the night in Nets-Clippers, as well as what should be some tightly-contested affairs in Sixers-Bucks and Pacers-Wizards. There's quite a bit of appealing individual matchups at forward/center also, and a lot to pick from in the mid-tier at guard. With so much to analyze, let's sort out some pieces at each price tier that are in favorable positions:
GUARDS
Ben Simmons, PHI at MIL ($16,000): Simmons has drained an impressive 65.2 percent of his shots against the Bucks in two prior games this season on his way to averages of 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.0 steals across 30.0 minutes. Milwaukee comes in having allowed a robust 54.2 fantasy points per contest over the last five to point guards as well, a notable bump over their 39.5 seasonal figure. They're also yielding the second-most steals (3.4) to the position over the latter span, a particularly relevant number when considering Simmons has logged multiple steals in seven of his last 13 and is averaging almost two swipes per game (1.8) on the campaign. Moreover, Milwaukee's propensity for giving up points in the paint (46.3 at home, fifth most in the NBA) bodes well for Simmons' fantasy fortunes as well, considering he tallies 78.9 percent of his scoring in that area of the floor. Philadelphia also continues playing at the fifth-highest pace (103.0 possessions per game), furthering Simmons' case in what should be an evenly matched, four-quarter battle that should keep him heavily involved.
Dennis Smith, Jr., DAL vs. NO ($12,500): There's plenty to like all over the mid-tier at guard despite the modestly-sized slate, beginning with DeMar DeRozan ($14,700), Jrue Holiday ($14,300) and Lou Williams ($14,100) at the top end and the likes of Tim Hardaway, Jr. ($11,800), J.J. Barea ($11,300) and Austin Rivers ($10,400) below Smith. However, the dynamic Mavs rookie has plenty going for him also, considering the Pelicans' league-high pace of play (105.1 possessions per game) and the 49.7 fantasy points they've allowed to point guards over the last 10 games. Smith has had his share of success against New Orleans as well in two prior meetings, averaging 18.5 points (on 46.9 percent shooting), 7.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds across 30.0 minutes. He's provided strong and steady returns on his current price recently -- scoring 27.25 to 40.25 fantasy points in seven of his last eight contests – a span during which he's eclipsed 30 fantasy points on four occasions and the 40-threshold in one other instance.
Joe Harris, BKN at LAC ($7,500): Courtney Lee ($7,000) checks in as a tournament-only option as well if you need to save a few hundred, but his production has been hard to trust recently. Meanwhile, Harris also has his share of ups and downs off the second unit, but he's got plenty of upside relative to playing time and has scored 22.50 to 39.00 fantasy points in five of his last seven contests. Those are solid-to-excellent returns on his bargain price, and the matchup lines up well for him Sunday in more ways than one. The Nets (102.8 possessions per game) and the Clippers (102.1 possessions per game) rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in pace, and Los Angeles has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (42.3) to shooting guards, including the third most (64.8) over the last five. They're also surrendering a whopping 6.4 made threes to the position over the latter span, while Harris is draining an impressive 50.0 percent of his 4.4 attempts from distance over his most recent five-game sample while averaging a solid 25.8 minutes over that stretch.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Anthony Davis, NO at DAL ($20,500): As customary when he's on the slate, Davis is the premium option at forward/center, especially factoring in that even at over $20K, it still feels like he's underpriced. The Brow has been in rarified air lately, eclipsing the 90-fantasy-point milestone twice and the 80-mark once in the last seven contests. His fantasy-point-per-minute average is a whopping 1.79 over that span, and the matchup Sunday looks ripe for another one of his explosive outings. The Mavericks come in having allowed the eighth-most fantasy points (48.2) to power forwards over the last 10, while Davis has averaged 31.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals across 41.5 minutes against Dallas in two prior meetings this season. New Orleans' aforementioned league-high pace also continues to afford Davis plenty of extra opportunities to rack up fantasy production, making him worth the investment.
Otto Porter, Jr., WAS vs. IND ($14,400): For those that need to save a few hundred, Tobias Harris ($13,800) is a very appealing pivot from Porter in a plum matchup against the Nets. Meanwhile, Porter has begun stepping it up across the stat sheet during the extended absence of John Wall (knee), as he's scored 30.50 to 51.50 fantasy points in the last 10 contests, a stretch during which shooting a red-hot 54.4 percent, including 46.7 percent from distance. Porter is also taking a robust 15.0 shot attempts over the last five, a notable increase over his 11.8 season figure. Furthermore, Indiana has been more susceptible to small forwards of late, allowing 42.9 fantasy points – including the second-most made threes (4.0) – to the position over the last five.
Jarrett Allen, BKN at LAC ($10,600): For those that need some serious savings, the Pelicans' Emeka Okafor ($7,000) checks in as a viable tournament-only option in a good matchup. Meanwhile, Allen has seen a bump in price, but he's earned it by scoring 26.25 to 37.75 fantasy points in three of his past four, and a solid 23.75 over 27 minutes in the other contest during that sample. Perhaps equally encouraging is the fact the emerging big man finally broke the 30-minute barrier in his last contest against the Kings, potentially a sign of the usage he'll enjoy going forward. He'll be in a favorable spot against the Clippers on Sunday, considering they're allowing the eighth-most fantasy points (34.9) to centers on the season, including 44.2 over the last five. The latter sample includes a 44.50 fantasy-point haul by the Knicks' Enes Kanter on Friday, which also crystallized the team's overall struggles in the paint recently -- Los Angeles has allowed 48.7 points per game in that area of the floor over the last three (as compared to 43.4 on the season), while Allen is notably logging 77.2 percent of his scoring near the basket.
UTILITY
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. BKN ($13,700): Jordan is in a top-notch spot on the other side of the Clippers-Nets matchup as well, considering Brooklyn has been the most generous team to centers over the course of the season. They come in allowing the most fantasy points (39.8) over that span, including the most over the last 10 (52.5). Those numbers are partly comprised of a league-high amount of rebounds surrendered over the former (12.5) and latter spans (18.0), numbers that forebode disaster against Jordan's eye-popping work on the glass. The veteran has ripped down between 13 and 21 rebounds in 12 of the last 13 games, which have helped him eclipse 30 fantasy points on five occasions, the 40-mark thrice and 50-milestone twice during that stretch. Brooklyn is also allowing the seventh-most points in the paint (50.0) over the last three games, while Jordan is scoring 81.8 percent of his points in that area of the floor this season.
Enes Kanter, NY at SAC ($13,100): As mentioned earlier, Kanter decimated the Clippers for 44.50 fantasy points in his last contest, and outside of an 18.25 fantasy-point outlier against the Warriors in which he played only 17 minutes, he's been outpacing his current price on a consistent basis. Kanter had scored 29.75 to 56.00 fantasy points in 15 of the prior 16 games, a stretch during which he racked up 12 double-doubles. The Kings could well be facilitators of more of the same, as they've allowed the seventh-most fantasy points (44.1) to centers over the last five – along with the second-highest shooting percentage (72.0) to the position over that span – and the second-highest offensive efficiency rating (33.5) to fives on the season.
