This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sundays are always tricky with the way they're laid out, and we have another strange slate here. Eight games in total, with five making up the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET. The one nuisance could be the matchups, with three of the five looking like potential blowouts. Having that makes things challenging, but we'll do our best to break it down for you.
Guards
Ja Morant, MEM at HOU ($46)
We had Morant in this section on Saturday, and we're going right back to the well in an even tastier matchup. Not only does Houston play at the fastest pace in the NBA, but they also rank last in both defensive efficiency and points allowed. That's terrible against a hot performer with Ja scoring at least 38 Yahoo points in 19 straight games while maintaining a 51-point average over that stretch. His recent form is even more ridiculous averaging 55 Y! across his last five outings. A blowout is the only genuine concern here, but Morant still managed 43 fantasy points across 25 minutes in their one lopsided meeting earlier this season.
Reggie Jackson, LAC vs. NYK ($30)
Jackson has been asked to take over this Clippers' offense in the absence of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell. That has led to R-Jax posting a 29 percent usage rate with this current roster while attempting nearly 20 shots a night. It really shows in his recent production with at least 26 Y! in nine straight while generating a 40-point average. We also don't mind that the Knicks rank 18th in defensive efficiency ratings.
Guard to Avoid
Mike Conley, UTA at OKC ($22)
Conley is on the back-nine of his career, and it's really showing in his fantasy numbers averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists over his last eight games. More importantly, he's playing only 27 minutes while seeing a career-low usage rate. All of that is concerning because it looks like Conley's just a bit player in Donovan Mitchell's offense. Facing Oklahoma City is problematic with Utah entering as massive favorites, likely limiting Conley's workload.
UPDATE: Conley has been ruled out.
Forwards
Scottie Barnes, TOR at CLE ($31)
Barnes is probably the NBA's second-best rookie, and it's incredible just how good he's been averaging 27 Y! on the season. He's been doing even more of late with 42.3 fantasy points per game across his last four outings while stepping up in the absence of OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet. That's a crazy total from a $31 player, but Barnes has shown this ability all year. Facing Cleveland is concerning, but he bullied them to the tune of 37 Y! in their one meeting back in November.
Alec Burks, NYK at LAC ($16)
Burks has been all over the map in terms of consistency, but we love he's starting at point guard in the absence of Kemba Walker. In his 25 starts at PG this season, AB is averaging 28 Yahoo points across 35 minutes a night. That's brilliant from someone at $16, and it's easy to understand why with his monster role. Burks is also carrying some great form coming into this matchup by combining for 68 fantasy points across the last two games.
Forward to Avoid
Lauri Markkanen, CLE vs. TOR ($18)
Markkanen was exceptional in his first two games back from injury, but it's been a pedestrian season otherwise. In fact, he was averaging just 25 Y! before and is only providing an 18-point average from his last three outings. The simple fact is, there are too many cooks in the kitchen for Markkanen to succeed. Darius Garland dominates all of the ball-handling duties while Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love and Evan Mobley swallow all of the frontcourt usage. That means Lauri is relegated to a role player, making him tough to trust against a Top-10 Toronto defense.
Centers
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. NOP ($56)
The Joker is the best option in fantasy. With only five games on this slate, it's tough to fade the most reliable player out there. It's easy to say that about Jokic, with the 2021 MVP posting at least 40 Y! in all but one game this season. That has led to a league-leading 57-point average, making him worthy at any salary. Getting to face the Pelicans isn't too shabby either, with Nikola averaging 31 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 1.7 steals in their three matchups this season.
Mitchell Robinson, NYK at LAC ($22)
Robinson can be tough to trust with his volatility, but his upside is tremendous. He's scored at least 42 Y! in four of the last 11 games, providing a 32-point average in that span. That's all you can ask for from a player in this salary range, especially since he's being asked to do more in the absence of Nerlens Noel. The Clippers frontcourt is one spot you can dominate as they've surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this year.
Center to Avoid
Hassan Whiteside, UTA at OKC ($19)
This valuation is bizarre. Whiteside is stuck behind Rudy Gobert in Utah and regularly logs only 15 minutes a night. In fact, he's played 20 or fewer minutes in seven straight outings with an average of just 17 during that span. Whiteside's one of the best per-minute producers around, but it's impossible to trust someone at this salary who sees little court time. He produced one of his worst games of the season against OKC back in November by finishing with only 3.2 Y!.
