This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
While we only have four games on this slate, there's a ridiculous amount of value. That's why I've chosen to offer up all my plays under $30 so that you can squeeze in studs like Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmp, and Stephen Curry. We believe you can fit two of them into your lineup with all the value and it's easy to understand why when you look at injury reports. With that in mind, let's get into it this slate!
Guards
Darius Garland, CLE at WAS ($26)
Collin Sexton has been ruled out for this game because of a concussion, and that should allow Garland to gobble up stats. With the former Alabama star off the floor, Garland leads the team with a 27 percent usage rate while averaging 1.1 Y! points per minute. That's crystal clear when you see DG has at least 35 fantasy points in two of the three games Sexton has missed. All of that looks even better when you consider this matchup, with the Wizards ranked 27th in points allowed while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA.
Tyrese Haliburton, SAC at GS ($19)
It's unclear exactly what this Kings team will look like without De'Aaron Fox, but we have to believe Haliburton will be the starting point guard in his absence. With Fox off the floor, Hali is providing nearly 1.2 Y! points per minute. That's big news from one of the most impressive rookies in the NBA, with TB averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game for the year. That alone would be plenty at this salary and we anticipate that being his floor in this increased role. Not to mention, Golden State plays at the second-fastest pace in the NBA while ranked 21st in total defense.
(NOTE: We also like Delon Wright in this situation at just $11.)
Guard to Avoid
Bradley Beal, WAS vs. CLE ($42)
This is undoubtedly our riskiest fade of the bunch, but we don't trust Beal in this salary range. Since returning from injury nine games ago, BB is averaging 42 Yahoo points per game. While that's definitely a solid total, it's quite the dropoff from a ridiculous start, and it's honestly not enough from a $42 player. Many of that has to do with Russell Westbrook taking up so many of the statistics, leaving Beal with scoring and not much else. Just save your $42 and use it on guys like Westbrook, Curry, and Giannis.
Forwards
Oshae Brissett, IND at ORL ($16)
Every player in the NBA can be productive when given the opportunity and Brissett has proven that with his fantastic week. The Pacers are currently missing Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Goga Bitadze, leaving OB as one of the only ones left in the frontcourt. That has allowed Oshae to start the last three games and average 35 Yahoo! points per game in this significant role. That's obviously a stupendous total from a $16 player and he's going to be needed to play 35-40 minutes with so many frontcourt players sidelined. We're certainly not worried about him facing an Orlando team that resembles a G-League roster.
Davis Bertans, WAS vs. CLE ($10)
Bertans is about as inconsistent as it gets, but seeing him at the minimum on Yahoo! seems silly. He can knock down five three-pointers in a five-minute span and become the best value on the board. He's been showing flashes of that recently by scoring at least 27 fantasy points in five of his last eight contests. An injury to Deni Avdija has opened up even more minutes for Bertans going forward, and that's big news for a sharpshooter like him. We really like all of that with Cleveland also surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing PFs.
Forward to Avoid
Chuma Okeke, ORL at IND ($17)
Okeke was a revelation when Orlando sent off Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, and Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline, but he's not the same with this roster finally developing into form. Players like Wendell Carter Jr, Cole Anthony, and Mo Bamba have stepped into much bigger roles over the last two weeks and it's really hurt Okeke's numbers. In fact, he's averaging fewer than 23 Yahoo points per game across his last eight outings despite playing 30 minutes a night during that span. We believe those minutes will continue to fall with this roster getting healthier and that's bad news against a stingy Pacers' defense.
Centers
Mo Bamba, ORL vs. IND ($13)
Bamba has been a much better player since Vooch was traded. While he's still playing behind Carter, it's still pushed him into a 20-minute role. That's all you can hope for from someone this talented, with Mo averaging 16.2 Y! points per game in just 13 minutes a night for the year. That rate has been even better recently with Bamba averaging 23.2 fantasy points per game across 17 minutes a night over his last 12. He actually started for WCJ on Friday and dropped 36 Y! points. And if Carter is out again here, Bamba is a lock. Facing the Pacers is the icing on the cake as they give up the most fantasy points to opposing centers while missing their whole frontcourt to the training room.
Kevon Looney, GS vs. SAC ($10)
It's strange Looney is the minimum on Yahoo. He's been the starting center for a few weeks now, stepping up with James Wiseman injured. He's actually scored at least 18 Y! points in all seven starts he's made since taking over this role while playing 28 minutes a night. Those are amazing numbers from a $10 player and we absolutely love that with Sacramento sporting the NBA's worst defensive rating.
Center to Avoid
Larry Nance Jr, CLE at WAS ($19)
Nance was a great player before he went down with an injury, but it just hasn't been clicking since his return. A big reason for that is the fact this frontcourt is healthy battling players like Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Dean Wade for minutes. That has killed Nance's role, scoring fewer than 23 fantasy points in all five games since coming back. That's not good from a $19 player, especially when you see Nance is the fifth-highest center on the slate.
