This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA returns Tuesday with two exciting matchups. The first game will feature the defending champion Bucks playing host to the Nets, who are without Kyrie Irving (personal). The second game will feature Russell Westbrook's debut with the Lakers, who take on the Warriors. The return of the regular season also means we have DFS back in our lives. Let's start things off on the right foot with the following players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARD
James Harden, BKN at MIL ($52): With Irving out, the big three has been reduced to the dynamic duo of Harden and Kevin Durant. After injuries soured his time with the Nets last season, Harden made it through the preseason unscathed. With his ability to stuff the stat sheet in so many areas, he should carry an extremely high floor into this matchup.
Patty Mills, BKN at MIL ($10): The Nets did an excellent job of building their depth during the offseason. One of their key acquisitions was Mills, who should be one of their primary scorers off the bench. He averaged at least 10.0 points and 1.9 three-pointers in three of the last four seasons for the Spurs and has averaged at least 1.8 three-pointers in each of the last five seasons. Add the potential for a little extra playing time with Irving out and Mills could provide value at the minimum salary.
Guard to Avoid
Russell Westbrook, LAL vs. GS ($47): The Lakers made a big splash by trading for Westbrook this offseason. However, his fit with the team might be less than ideal. He doesn't help stretch the floor, and while he fills the stat sheet in multiple areas, it's much of the same way that LeBron James does. The last time we saw him play with someone like that, he "only" averaged 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists with Harden and the Rockets two seasons ago. Add the fact that he had a rough preseason in which he averaged more turnovers than assists and avoiding Westbrook out of the gate could prove to be wise.
FORWARD
Khris Middleton, MIL vs. BKN ($35): The Bucks will return the vast majority of their roster from last season, which means they should continue to rely heavily on Middleton. He averaged a career-high 5.4 assists per game last season, which made him a deadly fantasy option when combined with his averages of 20.4 points. 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.2 three-pointers. The Nets played at the 10th-fastest pace in the league last season, which could afford Middleton with added opportunities to contribute in this matchup.
Otto Porter Jr., GS at LAL ($17): Porter just can't stay healthy. He hasn't appeared in more than 56 games in any of the last three seasons and he combined to appear in just 42 games the last two seasons. The good news is that he's healthy now and should take on a prominent role off the bench for a Warriors team that still isn't very deep. When healthy, he's shown that he can contribute in multiple areas, even in limited playing time. Last season, he averaged 9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.6 steals in only 22 minutes a game.
Forward to Avoid
Andrew Wiggins, GS at LAL ($26): On a night like this in which there are several top-tier players who have hefty salaries, a stars-and-scrubs approach might be warranted. If you do decide on a more well-balanced lineup, then you can't afford to miss with your mid-tier options. Therein lies the problem with Wiggins, who seems to provide a varying range of outcomes on a nightly basis. He also hasn't been great outside of the scoring column, averaging just 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season.
CENTER
Anthony Davis, LAL vs. GS ($43): The Lakers will deploy Davis primarily at center this season. With his ability to stretch the floor, playing him there can help make up for some of Westbrook's deficiencies. He certainly provides a difficult matchup for Kevon Looney, who should start at center for the Warriors. Draymond Green could also spend a lot of time defending him, which would make things a little more difficult. Still, on a night with just two games, Davis is head-and-shoulders better than any of the other center options.
Brook Lopez, MIL vs. BKN ($18): Lopez shot 50.3 percent from the field last season, which was significant considering he hadn't shot higher than 47.4 percent since the 2015-16 season. Back then, he was barely attempting three-pointers. Last season, he made an average of 1.4 per game. While his overall upside is limited, he could be asked to play more in this game with Bobby Portis (hamstring) out, making him a viable option if you want to fade Davis and load up at other positions.
Center to Avoid
LaMarcus Aldridge, BKN at MIL ($14): It's great to see Aldridge back in the league after he was forced to leave the Nets last season because of an irregular heartbeat. While it looked like that could have been the end of his career, his condition has improved to the point where he has rejoined the team. The problem for him in DFS is that he'll have to share playing time with Blake Griffin, Paul Millsap and Nicolas Claxton.
