NBA

3 NBA FanDuel Studs to Target on 3/22/18

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James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets

Price: $11,800

James Harden is coming off a trio of strong fantasy performances as he's averaging 59.6 FanDuel points in 35.8 minutes per game over his last three. That puts him third in fantasy scoring since the break, and his 36.8% usage rate in that stretch is good for tops in the NBA.

He brings that hefty workload and strong production into a bit of a middling matchup tonight, taking on a Detroit Pistons team that ranks 12th in defensive rating since the break while allowing below-average fantasy production to guards this season. But your only alternative at the top end of the pricing spectrum is Anthony Davis, and he will be playing on the third leg of an unusual back-to-back-to-back, making it a lot easier to forgive Harden's shaky matchup.

The Beard becomes an especially strong play if Chris Paul (hamstring, questionable) can't go tonight. Harden is averaging 57.6 FanDuel points in 37.4 minutes per game over the 18 contests that Paul has missed this season -- compared to 52.2 FanDuel points in 34.8 minutes per game when Paul plays -- and that bump in production and workload would make Harden a tough fade if CP3 is out.