There are six games on tap for Thursday, a bit above average for this night of the week. Few enough options that there will be lots of overlap, but enough that there will be multiple avenues to success. There are several potential injuries that could shift the landscape a bit, and we will explore them for potential extra value.
Point Guard
Jrue Holiday, NO vs SAC ($6800): The Pelicans are already down Eric Gordon, they seem likely to be without Anthony Davis due to a concussion, and Tyreke Evans is battling a knee injury that has forced him to miss time and/or play limited minutes. As such, Holiday is shifting into a larger role on the team almost by default. On Monday he scored 32 points with nine assists, six boards and three steals and on Thursday he has a plus match-up against a Kings defense that is friendly to opposing guards.
D'Angelo Russell, LAL vs CHI ($5100): The Lakers may be without Kobe Bryant and/or Lou Williams on Thursday night, as both are listed as questionable due to injury or illnes. If both sit out, Russell would likely move into the starting line-up and have more offensive responsibility than usual.
Shooting Guard
Gary Harris, DEN at WAS ($4700): Harris has quietly been playing well of late, averaging 14.3 points, 3.7 boards and a whopping 3.7 steals over his last three games which translates to a bit more than 26 fantasy points per game. On Thursday, Harris has a great match-up against a Wizards defense that is 29th in the NBA at limiting production to opposing shooting guards.
Small Forward
Alonzo Gee, NO vs SAC ($4000): Gee is another near-minimum priced player that has put together a few straight games in the mid-20s of fantasy points scored without a lot of fan fare. He has averaged 8.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 combined steals and blocks with zero turnovers over his three games for an average of almost 24 fantasy points over his last three games. As mentioned above, the Pelicans will be short-handed on Thursday due to injury which should allow Gee to maintain his larger role and responsibilities.
Power Forward
Ryan Anderson, NO vs SAC ($5700): Anderson is a borderline starting candidate regularly, but when Anthony Davis is out he is almost a must-start. Anderson has averaged 22.5 points and 7.5 boards over his last two games, and if Davis misses the game as expected then Anderson will be the primary frontcourt scorer once again on Thursday.
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC at NO ($4500): Cauley-Stein has burst onto the scene over his past five games, getting a boost up to 32.2 minutes per game and taking advantage to the tune of 10.2 points, 9.8 boards, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. He is a nightly 30-fantasy-point threat these days, and should be too tall and athletic to be slowed by a Pelicans frontline that will likely be without Anthony Davis on Thursday.
Center
Pau Gasol, CHI at LAL ($8700): First, the disclaimer: DeMarcus Cousins is almost impossible not to start for as long as he's averaging 60+ fantasy points per game, fatigue-related clunker against Portland aside. But outside of Cousins, Gasol looks most capable of putting a big number on the board from the center slot. The Bulls are now missing Nikola Mirotic until the Al-Star Break due to appendicitis, and they were already down Joakim Noah, so Gasol (along with Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis and/or Doug McDermitt) should be in for a larger role. The Lakers are particularly bad at defending opposing centers, last in the NBA in fact, so Gasol is a great play against his former team.
