This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
We're back to a super-sized slate Wednesday, as 11 games are on tap. There are many choices to be made at each tier, and plenty of appealing individual matchups to sort through. With lots to break down, let's dive right into one of the largest dockets of the season thus far:
GUARDS:
Premium Option
John Wall, WAS at MIA ($16,900): Hard as it might be to fathom, Russell Westbrook ($20,900) is simply a bit overpriced at this point -- considering his numbers are down across the board with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony now picking up so much slack – and Damian Lillard ($16,400) has been mired in a significant shooting slump over the last three games. Meanwhile, Wall has had the hot hand, shooting 50.0 percent overall in his last contests. Even while playing a modest 24 and 27 minutes, respectively, in his last two games, he's still scored 31.75 and 39.50 fantasy points, and he'd managed between 42.75 and 51.25 in a more typical allotment of playing time over the prior four. The Heat have been tough on point guards all season, but Wall has played well versus Goran Dragic and company in the past, averaging 26.7 points (on 43.3 percent shooting, including 50.0 percent from three-point range), 8.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in three games versus Miami last season.
Mid-Tier
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. CLE ($13,500): Walker should be particularly refreshed after last having taken the court on Friday, and a matchup against the porous Cavaliers defense only furthers his case. Cleveland has allowed the second most fantasy points per game to point guards (54.0) on the season, along with the most assists and second most made three-pointers (2.9). Walker bounced back from a couple of down games earlier in November to score 39.25 and 44.75 fantasy points over his two most recent contests and has already eclipsed 60 fantasy points on one occasion this season, providing a glimpse at his considerable upside.
Affordable
Donovan Mitchell, UTA at NY ($10,900): Mitchell has been one of the league's top performing rookies in the early going. He's scored 35.25 and 45.50 fantasy points, respectively, in the last two games and is seeing just under 27 minutes per contest while alternating between the starting five and the bench. He could be in a prime spot for more spectacular returns Wednesday, considering the Knicks have allowed the second most fantasy points (63.2) over the last 10 games to shooting guards, including 66.4 fantasy points per contest over the last five, along with the second most made three-pointers (4.8) on the season. Mitchell has been heavily involved when on the court, as evidenced by a 28.3 percent usage rate.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Premium
Anthony Davis, NO vs. TOR ($18,700): You could have your pick of several appealing top-tier options at forward/center Wednesday, but Davis might ultimately provide the best fantasy-point-per-dollar return, considering his relatively discounted price. He's scored 54.00 and 47.00 fantasy points in his last two games and has been a virtual double-double machine, accomplishing the feat in eight of his last nine contests. He's also scored over 50 fantasy points in all but two contests in which he's played a normal allotment of minutes. Despite Serge Ibaka's presence down low, the Raptors have been vulnerable to power forwards all season, allowing the fourth most fantasy points (50.1) per game to the position over the last 10, along with the fifth most points (22.1) per game on the season.
Mid-Tier
Joel Embiid, PHI at LAL ($15,200): You'd be hard-pressed to find a more consistent cash game or tournament option relative to price than Embiid, who's scored at least 38.00 fantasy points in all but one of his 10 games, with the lone exception coming when he still compiled 24.25 over 25 minutes against the Warriors. The Lakers have improved their frontcourt defense with Brook Lopez down low, checking in middle-of-the-pack against centers with 37.4 fantasy points per game allowed to the position. However, Embiid has regularly exceeded value on his price, and with him still slotted at a reasonable cost Wednesday, he makes for an excellent mid-tier forward/center option.
Affordable
Thaddeus Young, IND at MEM ($11,700): For those who need a deep discount at the position Wednesday, the Blazers' Noah Vonleh ($6,800 makes for an intriguing tournament option versus the Magic. However, Young is also reasonably priced for a battle with a Grizzlies squad that has been vulnerable to fours all season despite their well-earned defensive reputation. Memphis has allowed the most fantasy points per contest to power forwards (50.7), along with the most rebounds (14.8), third most steals (1.6) and second most blocks (1.9). Young had a clunker against the Rockets his last time out, but he'd scored between 27.25 and 42.00 fantasy points in his prior seven games.
UTILITY:
Paul George, OKC vs. CHI ($14,600): Carmelo Anthony is considered questionable at best for Wednesday's contest, making George an especially appealing play at his price. He's exploded for 70.25 and 60.50 fantasy points, respectively, over his last two contests, the second with Anthony out of the lineup. The Bulls have been stingier against small forwards in recent games, but they're allowing a robust 42.7 fantasy points per game to the position on the season, along with 25.2 points and the most made three-pointers (4.6). The latter number is particularly significant, considering that George was especially aggressive in his most recent game and drained a season-high seven treys.
Robert Covington, PHI at LAL ($12,800): Covington is coming off a season-best 54.00 fantasy points versus the Clippers on Monday night, a game in which he went off for 31 points and drained five of eight three-pointers. He's been offering superior production throughout the season overall, as he currently boasts career highs in points (16.8), shooting percentage (49.7), made three-pointers (3.7) and three-point shooting percentage (50.0). Those numbers have led to Covington scoring between 27.00 and the aforementioned 54.00 fantasy points in six of his last seven, and a matchup Wednesday against a Lakers squad allowing 40.4 fantasy points per contest to small forwards over the last 10 could well yield more of the same.
