This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday brings a matchup between the Wizards and the Pacers to decide the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. This game also presents an opportunity to play Yahoo's single-game contest, which comes with a bit of a twist.
In addition to selecting two flex players, there are three multiplier positions. A player slotted into the Megastar spot will earn double their fantasy points scored. The Superstar spot will earn 1.5X their fantasy points scored. Finally, the Star will earn 1.2X of their fantasy points scored. With that in mind, let's discuss some players to consider.
MULTIPLIERS
Russell Westbrook ($60): Westbrook failed to record a triple-double in the Wizards' loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, but it's difficult to complain about the performance of a player who scored 55.3 Yahoo points. That marked the 10th straight game in which he scored at least 54.9 Yahoo points. In a matchup between two teams ranked inside the top-four in the league in pace of play during the regular season, Westbrook is primed to thrive. If you don't choose him for the Megastar spot, he should at least be considered for the Superstar position.
Domantas Sabonis ($50): The Pacers dismantled the Hornets in the first round of the play-in tournament, with Sabonis playing a huge role in the victory. He narrowly missed another triple-double, posting 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists. That came on the heels of him averaging 23.0 points, 14.1 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 1.8 steals over his final nine games of the regular season. It's difficult to justify slotting in anyone other than Sabonis and Westbrook in the Megastar position, given their abilities to contribute in so many different areas.
Bradley Beal ($41): Beal had an off night from the field against the Celtics, shooting 10-for-25 on his way to 22 points. He also attempted just two free throws, which is noteworthy given that he averaged 7.7 attempts per game during the regular season. Now with the prospects of facing a lesser defensive team who plays at a fast pace, Beal could be in line for a monster scoring night. The last time he faced the Pacers, he scored 50 points on 31 shot attempts.
FLEX PLAYS
Daniel Gafford ($13): Gafford continues to see limited playing time for the Wizards, sharing the center spot with Alex Len and Robin Lopez. Still, he scored 24.5 Yahoo points across 21 minutes against the Celtics, marking the seventh time in the last 11 games that he has scored at least 23.4 Yahoo points. If you're looking to spend up on Westbrook's and Sabonis' salaries, then adding Gafford can go a long way to helping your budget while also providing some upside.
Doug McDermott ($11): The Pacers suffered a big blow before the play-in tournament even started with Caris LeVert being placed in the health and safety protocols. That leaves Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon to shoulder leading roles for them. McDermott stepped up in a supporting role against the Hornets, scoring 21 points across 26 minutes. He also ended the regular season on a scoring spree, averaging 16.3 points and 1.9 three-pointers over his final 14 games.
PLAYER TO AVOID
Rui Hachimura ($18): With the appeal that comes with putting two of the three of Westbrook, Sabonis and Beal in the multiplier positions, it's difficult to allocate too much of your budget to the flex positions. Hachimura's salary isn't overly cheap, and he hasn't been playing that well, anyways, scoring 26.2 Yahoo points or fewer in six straight games. With Westbrook and Beal leading the way, he might not receive an abundance of scoring opportunities.
