This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Only three games will make up the main Yahoo contest on Sunday, leaving fewer options to choose from than normal. The slate isn't short on stars, though, with the Warriors, Nuggets and Blazers among the teams in action. Let's highlight some players across the price scale to target and avoid while creating your lineup.
GUARDS
Stephen Curry, GS at DAL ($43): Curry enters this game with a 31.2 percent usage rate, which is a deadly mark when you consider he's shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from behind the arc. His shooting prowess is well documented, but don't overlook the fact that he's averaging at least five rebounds, five assists and 1.3 steals for the third time in the last four years. With at least 42 Yahoo points in seven straight games, Curry has one of the highest floors of any player in action Sunday.
Jalen Brunson, DAL vs. GS ($10): The Mavericks have lost a key part of their guard rotation after J.J. Barea (Achilles) was lost for the season. Believe it or not, his 27.8 percent usage rate is actually second-highest on the team behind only Luka Doncic (27.9 percent). Brunson doesn't carry the same offensive upside that Barea does, but he should see an uptick in playing time moving forward. Across 14 games in which Brunson has logged at least 20 minutes this season, he's averaged 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play at the minimum price.
Guard to Avoid
Will Barton, DEN vs. POR ($17): After not playing in a game since October due to a groin injury, Barton made his return Saturday against the Suns. He understandably was on a minute's restriction and scored just 15.5 Yahoo points over 16 minutes. There's a chance he doesn't play at all in the second game of their back-to-back set, and even if he does, don't expect him to spend a ton of time on the court.
FORWARDS
Luka Doncic, DAL vs. GS ($37): Doncic fell two rebounds shy of a triple-double in his last game Friday against the Timberwolves and finished with 61.6 Yahoo points. He's wasted no time making his mark on the league and has been a valuable DFS commodity with at least 34 Yahoo points in 13 of his last 15 games. The Warriors and Mavericks play at the 10th and 11th fastest paces, respectively, in the league, likely leaving Doncic with plenty of opportunities to thrive again Sunday.
Cedi Osman, CLE at LAL ($11): The Cavaliers are one of the teams that has been hit the hardest by injuries this year. One of their latest was suffered by Larry Nance Jr. (knee), which has left their frontcourt extremely thin. Despite suffering some embarrassing blowout losses lately, Osman has still logged at least 29 minutes in nine of his last 10 games. His production hasn't been off the charts, but he did score at least 20.9 Yahoo points six times during that stretch. The Lakers play at the third-fastest pace (104.2 possessions per game) in the league, leaving Osman with some appeal in tournament play based on his playing time.
Forward to Avoid
Mason Plumlee, DEN vs. POR ($18): It's taken a long time, but the Nuggets are finally starting to get healthy. Gary Harris (hamstring) has missed their last three games, but the return of Barton is big along with the improved health of Paul Millsap. Millsap has returned to his starting role, pushing Plumlee back to the bench. As a result, Plumlee has logged 20 minutes or fewer in four straight games. The Blazers allow the fifth-fewest Yahoo points per game (42.8) to opposing centers, making Plumlee an even less attractive option.
CENTERS
Jusuf Nurkic, POR at DEN ($35): Nurkic scored 56.2 Yahoo points in the Blazers' dismantling of the Hornets Friday. He only scored 11 points, but he provided excellent all-around production with 11 rebounds, eight assists and six blocks. This has been the best season of his career so far with averages of 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He scored 42.7 Yahoo points against the Nuggets earlier this season and should have a high floor in their rematch.
Kevon Looney, GS at DAL ($11): Looney's days in the starting five are numbered with DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) set to return Friday. Looney has actually provided a nice complement to the Warriors star quartet of Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, scoring at least 20 Yahoo points in nine of his last 10 games. Even though he can't be counted on to score much, his production across the board makes him a viable candidate to deploy in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
JaVale McGee, LAL vs. CLE ($17): With the Lakers missing LeBron James (groin) and Rajon Rondo (hand), they are without two of their best playmakers. That hurts McGee, who isn't exactly an offensive savant. He's scored 25 Yahoo points or fewer in four straight contests and doesn't have a favorable matchup here against the Cavaliers, who have allowed the second-fewest Yahoo points per game (41.2) to opposing centers. Since he's not overly cheap, it might be best to pass on him when crafting your entry.
