This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
After a wild, 11-game slate Wednesday, we have a more muted schedule consisting of just three contests Thursday. There will be no shortage of star power, though, with the Rockets, Bucks, Warriors and Clippers all in action. Let's discuss some of the better players to target, as well as a few to avoid, while crafting your Yahoo lineup.
GUARDS
Trae Young, ATL at DET ($42): Young struggled out of the gate during his rookie campaign, but he came on strong in the second half of the season, averaging 21.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 2.4 three-pointers across his final 45 games. His usage rate finished at 28.4 percent, which is even more enticing when you consider that the Hawks played at the fastest pace (104.5 possessions per game) in the league. There's no reasons to believe that they will slow down this season, so look for Young to remain extremely productive.
Derrick Rose, DET vs. ATL ($19): The Pistons badly needed to add some scoring punch to their second unit this season, which is an area in which Rose should excel. He started things off on the right foot against the Pacers on Wednesday, scoring 18 points to go along with two rebounds and nine assists. In what should be a high-scoring affair, he has an excellent opportunity to build on his strong start.
Guard to Avoid
Russell Westbrook, HOU vs. MIL ($48): The Rockets return many of the same players from last season's squad, but they made a big splash by acquiring Westbrook in a deal that sent Chris Paul to the Thunder. The move creates a dynamic pairing with James Harden, one that could suppress Westbrook's stats more than Harden's. With Young priced six dollars cheaper and also carrying a tremendously high upside, this might not be the night to deploy Westbrook.
FORWARDS
Draymond Green, GS vs. LAC ($34): The Warriors are going to look very different this season. Gone is Kevin Durant, who is now a member of the Nets. Franchise stalwart Klay Thompson (knee) could also be sidelined for the entire season. They did bring in D'Angelo Russell, but this team has serious depth issues. One of the players who they will count on to step up is Green, who took on a more muted role when they originally acquired Durant. With his ability to stuff the stat sheet in multiple categories, he's extremely appealing at this reasonable price.
Markieff Morris, DET vs. ATL ($10): Blake Griffin (hamstring, knee) is going to be out until at least the first week of November, leaving the Pistons with a gaping hole at power forward. Morris drew the start in their opener and his overall stat line wasn't great with eight points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. However, he did attempt 11 shots, which was tied for the third-most on the team. If you're looking to load up on stars, adding Morris to your entry at the minimum price could go a long way toward helping your budget.
Forward to Avoid
Jabari Parker, ATL at DET ($26): It might seem like Parker has been around for a while, but he's still only 24 years old. Injuries have put a damper on his career, although he still was productive last season by averaging 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists combined with the Bulls and Wizards. He'll be a part of the Hawks' second unit, which could put a limit on his upside. Since he doesn't come at much of a discount, it's difficult to justify adding him to your entry.
CENTERS
Andre Drummond, DET vs. ATL ($47): With Griffin out, Drummond is going to need to put forth some monster stat lines if the Pistons are going to be successful. He did just that against the Pacers, scoring 32 points to go along with 23 rebounds, three steals and four blocks. With Alex Len starting at center for the Hawks, this is a huge mismatch to take advantage of.
Kevon Looney, GS vs. LAC ($12): The Warriors brought in Willie Cauley-Stein to play a prominent role for them at center, but he's currently sidelined with a foot injury. That opens up the door for Looney to not only start, but see significant playing time. He never topped more than 30 minutes in a game last season, but he showed promise by averaging 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and one block across 32 games in which he logged at least 20 minutes. At this cheap price, he's at least worth a look in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
Ivica Zubac, LAC at GS ($11): Don't be fooled by Zubac being the starter at center for the Clippers. He only played 10 minutes in their first game of the season against the Lakers while Montrezl Harrell logged 38 minutes off the bench. Looney should have a much more significant role for the Warriors, so spend the extra dollar on him if you're looking for a cost-effective option up front.
