This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
With Tuesday being New Years Eve, we have a few early games on the docket in the NBA. As a result, only four games will make up the main evening slate on Yahoo. Here are some players to target based on their respective matchups, as well as a few who might be better off left alone.
GUARDS
Kyle Lowry, TOR vs. CLE ($38): With all of the injuries that the Raptors are dealing with, they have relied even more heavily on Lowry for production. The result has been him scoring at least 31.3 Yahoo points in nine straight games. In fact, he scored at least 40.3 Yahoo points six times during that stretch. With the Cavaliers allowing the most Yahoo points per game to opposing point guards, expect Lowry to once again have a high floor.
Damion Lee, GS at SA ($20): The Warriors are going to be in rough shape for this game. D'Angelo Russell (illness) and Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) have already been ruled out while Ky Bowman's (illness) status is still up in the air. Lee has already stepped up his production since entering the starting five, averaging 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals across eight games. There should be no shortage of playing time for him here, making him an excellent option at such a reasonable price.
Guard to Avoid
Gary Harris, DEN at HOU ($16): Harris (leg) was forced to sit out Sunday against the Kings, which marked the first game that he has missed all season. He's expected to make a quick recovery, though, with him listed as probable for this matchup. Despite his improved health, he still doesn't carry a ton of upside since he has scored 25.5 Yahoo points or fewer in seven of his last nine contests.
FORWARDS
DeMar DeRozan, SA vs. GS ($30): DeRozan is once again having an excellent all-around campaign with his averages of 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and five assists a night. He's shooting a career-high 52 percent from the field and his 26.4 percent usage rate is the highest mark on the team. With at least 30.1 Yahoo points in four straight games, he has the makings of being one of the safest options at the forward spot.
Will Barton, DEN at HOU ($25): Barton has been as good as DeRozan has lately, scoring at least 30.7 Yahoo points in four of his last five contests. While his scoring numbers might not be off the charts, he averaged 7.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals during that five-game stretch. The last time we saw him take the floor against the Rockets, he scored 30.9 Yahoo points over just 26 minutes. With the Rockets playing at the second-fastest pace in the league, Barton could once again be primed for a productive evening.
Forward to Avoid
OG Anunoby, TOR vs. CLE ($16): While his 49.3 percent shooting from the field this season is impressive, Anunoby is slumping right now after shooting 39.5 percent across his last five contests. Granted, he did play the Celtics (twice) and the Pacers during that stretch, so he wasn't exactly facing easy defenses. Still, his season averages of 11 points and 5.7 rebounds per game don't make him a very appealing option.
CENTERS
Serge Ibaka, TOR vs. CLE ($27): Imagine where the Raptors would be without Ibaka. Relegated to coming off the bench due to the addition of Marc Gasol (hamstring) and the emergence of Pascal Siakam (groin), Ibaka is now the last man standing with both starters sidelined. He's stepped up in their places, averaging 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds across his last seven games. While his averages of 0.4 steals and 0.7 blocks during that stretch leave a lot to be desired, he's still a viable option at this reasonable price.
Marquese Chriss, GS at SA ($10): Not only will the Warriors be missing their starting center in Cauley-Stein, but Kevon Looney (abdomen) is slated to miss his fourth straight contest. Chriss will likely start, but even if he doesn't, he's slated for a significant boost in playing time. That makes him a great tournament option at the minimum price when you consider that he has averaged 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocks across 11 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes.
Center to Avoid
Larry Nance Jr., CLE at TOR ($12): After sitting out Saturday's game against the Timberwolves, Kevin Love (hip) is not listed on the injury report for this matchup against the Raptors. With Tristan Thompson also healthy, that means Nance will return to his limited role off the bench. Add in this matchup against a good defensive team and Nance might not be worth taking a chance on, despite his cheap price.
