This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA brings a busy start to the week with nine games on the schedule Monday. The highlights of the night consist of the Nuggets facing the Bucks and the Spurs taking on the Pelicans. There are a lot of great options available across the price scale, so let's examine some players to target and avoid while creating your Yahoo entry.
GUARDS
De'Aaron Fox, SAC vs. OKC ($29): The improvement that Fox has shown so far is extremely impressive. After shooting 41.2 percent from the field last year, he's shooting 50.9 percent this season. Add in his 24.5 percent usage rate and increased playing time and Fox is averaging 19 points, 4.2 rebounds, seven assists and 1.3 steals per contest. Fox scored 43.8 Yahoo points when these two teams met earlier in the season and he has significant upside again Monday since both the Kings and the Thunder are in the top-10 in the league in pace of play.
Jeremy Lin, ATL vs. LAC ($10): Just as the Hawks got John Collins back from injury, they lost Taurean Prince (Achilles). Prince has sat out the last two games and is listed as doubtful for Monday. In those contests that Prince missed, Lin scored 25.5 and 31.8 Yahoo points, respectively. Lin has the third-highest usage rate (24 percent) on the team, making him a great option in tournament play with even more shots likely coming his way in this contest. Also, both the Hawks and the Clippers are in the top-nine in the league in pace of play.
Guard to Avoid
Dennis Smith Jr., DAL at MEM ($20): Smith was one of the offensive leaders for the Mavericks last year with a 28.9 percent usage rate. However, after improving their roster over the summer, Smith has seen his usage rate drop to 25.6 percent. He's also accumulating fewer assists playing alongside Luka Doncic, which has resulted in Smith scoring 21.5 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last eight contests. The Grizzlies allow the fewest points per game (100.8), leaving this as a less than ideal matchup for Smith.
FORWARDS
T.J. Warren, PHO at PHI ($30): Warren began the season as a member of the bench for the Suns, but has thrived since being moved into the starting five. Across seven games with the starting unit, Warren is averaging 22.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals and one block. The big difference is that he's logged an average of 37 minutes a game in that role compared to 22 minutes a night when he was coming off of the bench. The Sixers are thin at power forward after dealing away Dario Saric and play at the seventh-fastest pace (103.4 possessions per game), potentially setting up Warren with an opportunity to thrive.
Montrezl Harrell, LAC at ATL ($25): Ignore the fact that Harrell hasn't started a single game this year. He's the center with the most upside for the Clippers. Marcin Gortat has found his way back into the starting lineup, but he hasn't logged more than 21 minutes in a game since joining the Clippers. Harrell has logged at least 25 minutes in seven straight contests, scoring at least 29.4 Yahoo points each time. Getting Collins back is a big boost up front for the Hawks, but Harrell is still a great option to consider at this reasonable price.
Forward to Avoid
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. BOS ($19): Batum had his worst game of the season Saturday against the Sixers, scoring 12.2 Yahoo points across 19 minutes. Playing time is normally not an issue for him, but his averages of 9.1 points and 3.8 assists per game don't leave him with significant upside. A matchup against a Celtics team that allows the third-fewest points per game (102.6) doesn't exactly lead to a lot of confidence in Batum turning things around Monday.
CENTERS
Steven Adams, OKC at SAC ($29): Adams has been one of the anchors of the Thunder, averaging 15.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals and one block per contest. Even though they added a competent backup in Nerlens Noel, Adams is still logging an average of 34 minutes a night. Not only did Adams score 38.8 Yahoo points against the Kings earlier this season, but he has a high floor, overall, after scoring at least 33.1 Yahoo points in each of his last seven contests.
Cody Zeller, CHA vs. BOS ($10): The Hornets like to deploy a lot of small lineups, but the injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrest (ankle) has made that strategy more difficult of late. He won't play again Monday, which could open up a few extra minutes for Zeller. He's certainly not a flashy option, but Zeller has scored at least 23.4 Yahoo points in each of his last four games. It's no coincidence that he logged at least 25 minutes in three games during that stretch. If you want to go really cheap at center, consider rolling with Zeller in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
DeAndre Jordan, DAL at MEM ($26): Jordan was hot out of the gate for his new team, but has scored 28 Yahoo points or fewer in seven of his last eight games. He's still gobbling up rebounds, but he scored at least 10 points in a game only three times over that time span. This doesn't shape up to be one of his best performances of the year since the Grizzlies allow by far the fewest Yahoo points per game (36.5) to opposing centers.
