This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
We've had some tough slates to break down, but this one is up there in terms of the most difficult all year. A one-game slate can be a tough cookie to crack on its own, but it becomes cumbersome when we have the two best players injured. It's unclear exactly if either of these superstars will suit up, and that makes things extremely unfavorable for us. We're going to assume that Giannis Antetokounmpo is out and that Trae Young will suit up, but that's speculation at this point. With that in mind, you need to get these guys' status updates before tip, so check into RotoWire and see what our guys say before you set your lineups!
Guards
Jrue Holiday, MIL at ATL ($33)
Holiday has been one of the most underrated players over the last decade, and he showed why in Game 5. The defensive stud compiled 25 points, six rebounds and 13 assists in that gem, stepping up in the absence of Antetokounmpo. He's actually been doing that all season, averaging 40.6 Yahoo points per game in the nine outings that Giannis has missed. That's a testament to how good Holiday can be with increased usage, evident by a 29.5 percent usage rate with Antetokounmpo off the floor. That makes it hard to believe Jrue is still just $33, one of the best values on the board.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL vs. MIL ($21)
While we don't know the status of Young, we like Bogey whether he plays or not. The former Sacramento standout had a rough six-game slide when he was dealing with a knee issue but has been unstoppable aside from that. In fact, Bogdanovic has at least 40 Yahoo points in back-to-back games and posted a 36-point average across his previous 32 games before that injury. That tells us that the six-game sample size is the outlier, with BB playing at a $30 level. We like Bogdan no matter what, but he'd be a lock in every lineup if Trae ends up sitting.
Guard to Avoid
Lou Williams, ATL vs. MIL ($13)
This is a risky fade because of how good Sweet Lou has been in the absence of Trae Young, but with the superstar point guard possibly returning, we can't trust Williams. We say that because he was a non-factor when Trae was healthy, with Lou scoring18 or fewer fantasy points in 19 of his last 20 games before Trae went down. He's also got an ugly 11-point average in that span, playing just 13 minutes a night. That makes him impossible to use if Trae plays, but he'd still be one of the best values on the board if Young sits again.
Forwards
Khris Middleton, MIL at ATL ($37)
This might be a bold statement, but Middleton is a superstar talent whenever Giannis is out. He's definitely shown that in his numbers, averaging 25 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.2 steals in the nine games that he's played without him this year. Those are some absurd averages, and it means he's about $10 too cheap. More importantly, he's got a team-leading 33 percent usage rate with Giannis off the floor, averaging 1.4 Y! points per minute. Just lock him in and build from there!
Cam Reddish, ATL vs. MIL ($11)
Reddish has actually been sidelined for the last four months and made his return to action in this series. He's been excellent in his limited time, though, averaging 22.1 Y! points per game in just 17 minutes a night. That's the top pick Atlanta fans have been waiting to see, and we anticipate his minutes to rise because he's got to be getting in better shape as the series progresses. An injury to De'Andre Hunter also helps Reddish's value, guaranteeing him for 20-plus minutes. All of that is hard to overlook from an $11 player, and using Reddish allows you to get whoever else you want into your lineup.
Forward to Avoid
John Collins, ATL vs. MIL ($21)
Collins had a golden opportunity the last two games to run the show without Young, but he continues to disappoint. He's surpassed just 23 fantasy points once in his last four games, generating a 24-point average in that span. That's not terrible, but it won't get it done from a $21 player, especially when he's one of the most expensive guys on the slate. Just save those $21 and use it on the higher-priced guys like Middleton and Holiday.
Center
Brook Lopez, MIL at ATL ($21)
Lopez just had one of the best games of his career on Thursday. The big man tallied 33 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and four blocks in that majestic performance, carrying Milwaukee to a 3-2 series lead. A game like that is a bit outlandish, but it's backed by a 29-point average over his last 13 outings. That's all you can hope for from a $21 player, and we have to believe his minutes, shot attempts and rebounds will continue to climb, with Giannis expected to miss another game.
Bobby Portis, MIL at ATL ($17)
Portis is becoming a hero in Milwaukee, and it's clear that he's the main guy filling the Giannis void. He's actually started in all but one game that Giannis has missed this year, scoring at least 32 fantasy points in seven of those eight games. Getting 32 Yahoo points from a $17 player is absolutely ridiculous, and it's even crazier that it's just his floor. It's really no surprise when you look at his per-minute numbers, though, with Bobby averaging 23.4 Y! points per game across 21 minutes a night in the regular season. All of that makes this far from flukey, with Portis seeing a massive increase in usage and rebounding with Antetokounmpo out as well.
Center to Avoid
Clint Capela, ATL vs. MIL ($25)
Capela was an absolute monster in the regular season, but this matchup with Milwaukee is killing him. The big man has failed to crack 28 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games, averaging just 22 Y! points per game across his last four fixtures. Those are disastrous numbers from a $25 player, and it's clear that this Milwaukee defense is killing him. That's really no surprise when you see that the Bucks surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers in the regular season, rendering Cap useless.
