This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday's six-game slate provides some solid value that will allow rostering several elite players, including Chris Paul, Paul George and Stephen Curry. We offer a solid mix of some of those superstars and some players who have been considerably outperforming their current prices. Here's a look at our selections for Tuesday Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball.
GUARD
Chris Paul, LAC at DEN ($43) - Paul doesn't necessarily jump off the screen when first glancing over point-guard selections Tuesday, given his elevated price and his team's recent struggles. However, both of those factors, along with his matchup, play heavily into rendering him a particularly intriguing contrarian tournament play. The Clippers are increasingly desperate, and Paul displayed his ability to answer the bell in his Nov. 19 matchup versus Stephen Curry, totaling 35 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals en route to 57.3 Yahoo fantasy points. Paul was also arguably the team's most productive player in the Clippers' latest loss Sunday, tallying a 13-point, 11-assist double-double that was good for 37 Yahoo fantasy points. With a matchup versus a Nuggets defense surrendering 25.7 points per game to point guards, Paul could be primed for another breakout night.
Avery Bradley BOS at ATL ($18) - Bradley's price continues to lag behind his production, but this likely won't be the case much longer, especially with the sixth-year pro set to receive several starts in place of the sidelined Marcus Smart (knee). Bradley averages 25 Yahoo fantasy points per game, and those numbers have been partly accumulated with the 24-year-old coming off the bench. In his first start in Smart's stead Sunday, Bradley exploded for 27 points (including seven three-pointers), four rebounds, an assist, a block and a pair of steals in 40 minutes. The performance totaled 40.8 Yahoo fantasy points, and Bradley has proven capable of similar production in the past. He's also posted five consecutive double-digit scoring nights and has shot particularly well over that span. With a strong likelihood of at least 30 minutes of playing time Tuesday, Bradley should have little trouble paying off a modest $18 price.
Guard to Avoid:
C.J. McCollum, POR vs. CHI ($30) - McCollum is having a fine sophomore season, but a rising price tag and a matchup with Jimmy Butler make him an avoid candidate Tuesday. The Bulls come in as the toughest defense against shooting guards in the NBA, yielding a miserly 15.6 points per game to the position. While McCollum has had a solid share of productive outings, he's also displayed a propensity to generate Yahoo fantasy points in the low 20s on several occasions this season. Given the tough matchup, Tuesday could certainly be one of those nights.
FORWARD
Harrison Barnes, GSW vs. LAL ($23) - Barnes is taking a more aggressive role in the prolific Warriors offense this season, much to the delight of fantasy owners. The fourth-year pro has averaged 25 Yahoo fantasy points this season, totaling 31.4, 34.8 and 31.6 over the last three games. He's also posted double-digit scoring nights in 11 of the last 12 games. Playing time has not been an issue, with the small forward tallying at least 30 minutes in 12 of Golden State's first 15 games. With a matchup against a Lakers defense ranked sixth worst in the NBA versus small forwards, Barnes offers considerable potential for a solid return on value.
Paul George, IND at WAS ($44) - George is the second-priciest option at either forward spot Tuesday, but could be well worth the cost. Besides the fact that he's averaging a whopping 43.6 Yahoo fantasy points per game, George also draws a tantalizing matchup against a Wizards defense that is last in average points allowed to small forwards. The 25-year-old has cleared 40 Yahoo fantasy points twice and 50 Yahoo fantasy points once in the last four games and stands a solid chance of a similarly spectacular performance Tuesday.
Forward to Avoid:
Amir Johnson, BOS at ATL ($18) - Even at a reasonable price tag of $18, Johnson does not warrant the investment Tuesday. Johnson's minutes have trended downward the last three games, and he has scored in the single digits in five consecutive contests. His Yahoo fantasy points hit a season-low 4.5 as a result of his two-point, one-assist performance versus the Nets on Sunday, a game in which he only received 18 minutes. Factoring in his recent performances and coach Brad Stevens' sometimes-erratic rotations, Johnson becomes an easy avoid.
CENTER
Mason Plumlee, POR vs. CHI ($19) - Plumlee is a case of a player whose performances are significantly trending upward, while his price is holding pleasantly steady. The third-year pro has posted consecutive double-doubles, totaling 30.8, 34.5 and 40.2 Yahoo fantasy points in the last three games. He's been especially strong on the glass over his last pair of games, hauling in 21 boards in that span. Meanwhile, he draws a matchup Tuesday against a Bulls defense that has allowed 14.8 rebounds per game to centers, fifth most in the league. With a price tag less than $20 and increasingly effective play, Plumlee makes for an appealing choice.
Center to Avoid:
Jared Sullinger, BOS at ATL ($26) - Sullinger has now scored in single digits in four of the last five games, and his minutes have been on a bit of a rollercoaster. He's also suffered a dip in fantasy production recently, coming in between 19.3 and 24 Yahoo fantasy points in three of his last four games. At a slightly elevated price tag of $26, and with several more appealing options such as Mason Plumlee at a lower cost, Sullinger becomes an avoid candidate.
