This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Wednesday's eight-game slate has an interesting mix of playoff-relevant contests and a pair between non-contending teams that could nevertheless result in high-scoring battles. There's only one player priced over $20K as well, so balanced lineup construction is very feasible. With a host of appealing individual matchups to explore, let's get down to identifying where some of the best investments are across the board:
GUARDS:
Premium
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. CLE ($16,500): Walker has eclipsed 40.00 fantasy points in four of the last five contests -- a stretch during which he's draining 47.0 percent of his 20 shot attempts per game and averaging 1.33 fantasy points per minute. He should be in for another night of elevated usage Wednesday against a Cavaliers squad that's struggled to contain the point guard position all season. Cleveland comes in allowing the fourth-most fantasy points (43.3) to ones on the campaign, including 49.3 over the last five games. They also continue to yield plenty of scoring from three-pointers overall (32.0 percent of total scoring allowed, third most in the NBA), while Walker is shooting 48.7 percent on his whopping 9.8 three-point attempts over the last four contests.
Mid-Tier
D'Angelo Russell, BKN at ORL ($12,700): Russell's price is down after a clunker of a performance against the Cavaliers on Sunday, but he'd scored 33.50 to 55.25 fantasy points in six of the previous seven games. He's back starting at point guard, which has helped him boost his assist totals and rounded out his fantasy production. The Magic make for a tantalizing target for him to get back on track Wednesday, as the 52.9 fantasy points they've allowed to point guards over the last five is a drastic increase over their 41.5 season figure. They're also yielding the third-highest shooting percentage (50.0) to the position over that stretch, along with the highest offensive efficiency rating (27.3) to ones on the season.
Affordable
Tyler Ulis, PHO vs. LAC ($8,200): There are a few different tournament-only plays in the affordable tier at guard Wednesday, but Ulis could be one of the safer sub-$9K plays on the slate. While he's still coming off the bench, he's been outpacing starter Elfrid Payton in playing time for multiple contests, averaging an impressive 14.7 points, 6.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal across 26.7 minutes over the last three games while draining 51.4 percent of his 12.3 shot attempts. He's posted 31.00 and 40.25 fantasy points in two of those contests, and he could be primed for similar returns against a Clippers team that's allowed 56.7 fantasy points per game to point guards over the last five, along with the second-most assists (12.2) and fourth-highest shooting percentage (49.0).
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. ATL ($18,700): Towns is poised to feast against a Hawks squad that's allowed the seventh-most fantasy points (45.2) to centers over the last five. Towns has racked up 46.00 to 54.75 fantasy points in four of the last five, hitting the double-double bonus in each of those contests. He's sporting a robust 24.7 percent usage rate and averaging 1.29 fantasy points per minute during that stretch, and the 15.2 shot attempts he's putting up is a nice uptick over his 13.9 season figure. With the Timberwolves fighting to hold on to the eighth seed in the Western Conference, Towns should be in for another night of elevated usage against a team he should be able to dominate.
Mid-Tier
Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs. BKN ($14,100): Vucevic has already walloped the Nets for averages of 26.5 points (on 59.0 percent shooting), 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks across 33.5 minutes in two games this season, and Brooklyn comes in allowing the most fantasy points (41.0) and highest offensive efficiency rating (34.0) to centers on the season. They're also yielding the fifth-most points in the paint (47.0) on the campaign, while Vucevic is logging more than half his scoring (50.6 percent) in that area of the floor. He's also scored 36.75 to 46.75 fantasy points in three of the last five, and the fast pace Brooklyn brings (102.6 possessions per game, including 103.4 over the last three) only serves to strengthen his case.
Affordable
Montrezl Harrell, LAC at PHO ($9,300): Harrell had a quiet game against the Bucks on Tuesday, but he'd scored 19.25 to 42.75 fantasy points in prior five games. He continues to typically put up plenty of shot attempts during his time on the court, and a matchup against a Suns squad that's been inept against power forwards all season will give him a solid opportunity to pay off his modest price. Phoenix has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (41.2) to the position on the campaign, including the second most (66.3) over the last five. As those numbers imply, they've been highly vulnerable in the paint -- allowing the fourth most points in that area of the floor (47.3) – while Harrell has logged 80.7 percent of his scoring near the basket.
UTILITY
Lonzo Ball, LAL vs. DAL ($14,700): Ball comes in riding high, having scored 36.00 to 46.50 fantasy points in six of the last seven games. The Mavericks have also allowed the fifth-highest offensive efficiency rating (26.8) to point guards on the season, along with 50.8 fantasy points to the position over the last five. With his ability to fill out the stat sheet and the Lakers' second-highest pace of play (104.8 possessions per game), he should be in for another explosive night.
Tobias Harris, LAC at PHO ($13,300): Jeff Teague ($13,500) is also a viable option in this price tie against his old Hawks teammates, but Harris is poised to exploit the Suns' extensive frontcourt vulnerability described earlier. He's already averaged 25.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 block across 31.5 minutes in two prior games against the Suns this season, and he's scored 32.25 to 37.25 fantasy points in three of the past four contests overall. Those are solid-to-excellent returns on his current price. Plus, given his opposition Wednesday, he'll be poised to repeat the feat in what should be a particularly fast-paced affair that the Clippers need to win in order to remain alive in the Western Conference playoff race.
