Squad Up Daily NBA Fantasy Dose: Payton, Vucevic look for magic against Pelicans

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NBA fantasy picture for Wednesday, Jan. 18:

Dynamic Duos

• C Nikola Vucevic (70K) & PG Elfrid Payton (53K), Magic (at Pelicans): Payton has posted the best three-game stretch of his career, averaging 22.3 points, 9.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds. Vucevic has been a major factor, shooting 69.6% on attempts from Payton's passes, leading to 4.3 assists per outing. Even more magical than their production? Their average cap hit comes in at just 61.5K.

• C DeMarcus Cousins (107K) & PG Darren Collison (46K), Kings (vs. Pacers): Cousins' passing is the x-factor of his fantasy profile. Over the last 11 games, Cousins has averaged 6.5 dimes, including 1.7 per game to Collison, who has returned the favor with 1.4 assists per game to Cousins. Together, the Kings' bookends set each other up without cannibalizing the other's areas of expertise.

• PG Damian Lillard (77K) & Mason Plumlee (61K), Trail Blazers (at Hornets): This is a fine tournament pairing. Lillard's scoring ceiling is as high as anyone's in the league, while Plumlee has a realistic shot at a double-double every night. The two average just under 30 passes between each other per game. When they're clicking, they make each other's jobs on offense a lot easier.

Bargain Plays

• PG Matthew Dellavedova (26K), Bucks (at Rockets): Dellavedova has come off the bench since returning from injury, but his production hasn't taken a major hit. Over his last five games, the Aussie is averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 assists and two rebounds per game. It's not flashy, but at a near-minimum price and against a fast-paced Rockets team, his style of play should allow him to return cash game value.

• C Boban Marjanovic (25K), Pistons (vs. Hawks): Though he was a DNP last game, Marjanovic has averaged 9.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in just 14.6 MPG over the five previous outings. He's not a defensive stopper despite his hulking 7-foot-3 frame, but the Pistons could deploy him in spurts to throw opposing C Dwight Howard off his game.

• SG Malcolm Delaney (25K), Hawks (at Pistons): Delaney is a tournament option Wednesday. In the wake of trading Kyle Korver to Cleveland, the Hawks' wing has seen his ceiling rise. He has hit double-digit scoring in three of his last seven games and five-plus assists in four of those outings. If he put's it all together, he'll provide a cheap 12-2-6.

Top Fades

• PG John Wall (88K), Wizards (vs. Grizzlies): Wall's value is tied to his stellar assist totals, but he's only dropped seven assists in each of his last two games. The Grizzlies have the third-best defensive efficiency in the NBA this season, allowing just 101.8 points per 100 possessions. Not only will Wall find it difficult to score but his teammates will too, restricting his potential to get back to his typical 10-plus assist total.

• SG Victor Oladipo (56K), Thunder (at Warriors): Oladipo, shooting 36.8% on nearly six 3-pointers per game, is arguably the team's best perimeter shooter. The Warriors' elite defense holds opponents to a league-low of 32.1% from the arc. Stay clear of 'Dipo; this is the sort of game where Russell Westbrook ends up stealing the limelight.

• C Clint Capela (39K), Rockets (vs. Bucks): Capela returned from injury last night after missing 15 games - that's why he's so affordable in spite of his proven double-double potential. On the other hand, he logged just nine minutes on Tuesday in a very winnable game against the Heat. Either the team was saving him for tonight or easing him back into action. The smart money is on the latter.

Contrarian Options

• SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (94K), Bucks (at Rockets): Kevin Durant is roughly the same price and typically performs well against former star teammates (Westbrook, James Harden). Antetokounmpo's ceiling against a fast-paced Rockets team gives him immediate triple-double potential, and unlike Durant, he doesn't have nearly as many high-usage teammates that he needs to share the ball with.

• C Joel Embiid (77K), 76ers (vs. Raptors): Embiid is listed as questionable, but that's more a result of the team's insistence on giving him games off opposed to an actual injury. As the top-priced center, that designation will still scare owners away. He's averaging 22.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over his past 10 games - all under 30 minutes a night.

• C Montrezl Harrell (35K), Rockets (vs. Bucks): Harrell's outlook takes a hit with the return of Capela, but the athletic big still filled the basket with 13 points in just under 16 minutes of floor time on Tuesday. If Capela isn't ready for a full workload, expect Harrell to see extended run on Wednesday; he has the athleticism to hang with Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker in space.