This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Wednesday has the potential to be a wild night in the NBA with 12 games on the schedule. So many contests also means that we have a ton of options to sift through in DFS. In an effort to try and help you narrow down the field, here are some players to consider for your entries, as well as some to possible avoid.
GUARDS
Chris Paul, PHO vs. OKC ($29): The big news for this game is that Devin Booker (hamstring) will be forced to miss his second straight contest for the Suns. Chris Paul stepped up in his absence Saturday against the Nuggets, recording 21 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists and two steals. He attempted 20 shots in that matchup and should once again receive added scoring opportunities.
Darius Garland, CLE vs. DET ($17): After missing eight straight games with a shoulder injury, the Cavaliers have taken a cautious approach with Garland's return. He's come off the bench in each of the last three games and topped out at 26 minutes Monday against the Lakers. However, there have been reports that he could return to the starting five for this game. With the potential for him to play 30 minutes, or more, his salary could end up being a bargain against a Pistons team that has the ninth-worst defensive rating in the league.
Guard to Avoid
LaMelo Ball, CHA vs. IND ($26): Ball had another quiet performance against the Magic on Monday, posting nine points, two rebounds and four assists. He's struggling from the field right now, shooting 35.1 percent across his last seven games. That's contributed to him scoring 28 Yahoo points or fewer in five of the last six games. On a night with so many other viable options, it might be best to wait to deploy Ball again until he shows signs of improvement.
FORWARDS
Aaron Gordon, ORL vs. SAC ($31): The Magic don't have a traditional point guard on their roster, which has resulted in Gordon taking on more of a facilitating role. To say he has adjusted well to the role would be an understatement considering that he's averaged 6.9 assists across his last eight games. On top of that, he's also averaged 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks during that stretch. The Kings have the worst defensive rating in the league, leaving Gordon with the potential for another juicy all-around stat line.
Jarred Vanderbilt, MIN at GS ($17): The Timberwolves may have found their starting power forward in Vanderbilt. He's filled the role in each of the last five games, scoring at least 29.8 Yahoo points in four of those contests. That included him scoring 31 Yahoo points against these same Warriors on Monday. His salary is climbing, but it's low enough that he could still provide significant value.
Forward to Avoid
Danilo Gallinari, ATL vs. BKN ($14): Since returning from injury, we haven't seen much of Gallinari. In fact, he's logged fewer than 20 minutes in all three games. With so little playing time, it's no surprise that he scored 23.6 Yahoo points or fewer in all three contests, including 0.2 Yahoo points versus the Clippers on Tuesday. Until he starts to play more, he's not worth considering for your lineups.
CENTERS
Clint Capela, ATL vs. BKN ($38): After missing Sunday's game versus the Bucks because of a hand injury, Capela picked back up where he left off, scoring 45.1 Yahoo points against the Clippers on Tuesday. He's now scored at least that many Yahoo points in five straight games, averaging a whopping 20.2 points, 18.6 rebounds and 4.8 blocks during that stretch. He could feast against a bad Nets defense that lost their best rim protector Jarrett Allen in the James Harden trade.
Naz Reid, MIN at GS ($15): Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19) will remain out Wednesday, setting up Reid to make another start. Across his last five games in that role, Reid has posted respectable averages of 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. He even recorded his first double-double of the season when these two teams met Monday. If you're looking to fade the top-tier centers for this slate, Reid is someone to consider so you can spend up at guard and forward.
Center to Avoid
James Wiseman, GS vs. MIN ($17): After starting the rookie Wiseman every game to begin his career, the Warriors decided to bring him off the bench Monday in favor of Kevon Looney. Wiseman only logged 16 minutes in a reserve role, scoring 21.8 Yahoo points along the way. With there being the potential that he plays limited minutes off the bench again in this game, he's too risky to consider is DFS.
