This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There are just two games on the NBA's Thursday ledger, with the rest of the league already geared up for the All-Star break. Much of the difference between failure and success will come down to picking between Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis and John Wall, as at least one of the four superstars figures to grace the majority of fantasy lineups with their presence due to the lack of alternatives. Find out which of the three is the strongest option, as well as other value plays from the Wizards-Bucks and Pelicans-Thunder games below.
GUARD
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. NO ($60) - Westbrook is the most expensive player on the docket, but he has a better chance of returning immense value than any of the other three comparably priced players. He delivered an incredible line of 43 points, nine rebounds and eight assists the first time he faced the Pelicans' 24th-ranked defense, and this time they won't even have regular starting guards Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon to throw at him. The athletic point guard would have been an enticing option regardless of the number of teams in action, but he's a no-brainer with so few alternatives to choose from.
Jerryd Bayless, MIL vs.NO ($14) - New Orleans' recent incremental improvement on defense has left the Wizards as the worst defensive team playing Thursday, meaning Milwaukee's players have the best matchup available. Bayless is in excellent position to exploit Washington's weaknesses after averaging 21.8 fantasy points per game through four appearance this month. The veteran guard's 15.0 PPG over his last three games outpaces his $14 price tag by itself, so he's quite the bargain when you also factor in his passing ability and weak opposition.
Guard to Avoid:
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL vs. WAS ($29) - Carter-Williams has been moved to a bench role now that O.J. Mayo is back from injury, and he played just 26 minutes against the Celtics on Tuesday. The Syracuse product's most productive stretches both with Philadelphia and Milwaukee have always come when he sees major minutes and high usage, but he simply won't be afforded those luxuries with the Bucks roster back to a reasonably healthy state. Considering Carter-Williams had also been struggling prior to this recent demotion, even Thursday's limited slate offers plenty of smarter options.
Others to Avoid: Garrett Temple ($12), Bryce Dejean-Jones ($11)
FORWARD
Ryan Anderson, NO at OKC ($25) - Anderson's a streaky shooter, so it was a welcome sight to see him knock down three 3-pointers while dropping 26 points on the Timberwolves on Monday. The last time he followed a subpar game with a 20-plus point performance, Anderson went on a late-January four-game run in which he accrued at least 22 points and 35.0 fantasy points every time out. While his 34.1 fantasy points Monday were just short of the former mark, a repeat of that performance would make him well worth a $25 investment.
Jared Dudley, WAS at MIL ($14) - Dudley has been trending in the right direction since Jan. 28, as his 23.8 fantasy point per game average in that span has coincided with a downswing in the production of fellow forward Otto Porter. His 12 steals over those seven games have certainly helped Dudley's value, but the veteran's real key to success is his ability to contribute simultaneously in points, assists and rebounds. With five double-digit scoring games, five games of at least four assists and four with at least four rebounds, Dudley offers a lot of consistent skills for a player priced at a mere $14.
Forward to Avoid:
Otto Porter, WAS at MIL ($22) - Outside of a solid effort against Charlotte on Saturday, Porter has underwhelmed lately. After scoring just 19.5 fantasy points in his last two January games combined, he's carried his struggles over into February with four games below 23.0 points in five tries. Considering the Milwaukee defense he faces is one of two units ranked outside the bottom 10, Porter carries an unappealing DFS profile in his final game before the All-Star break.
Others to Avoid: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($34), Serge Ibaka ($25)
CENTER
Enes Kanter, OKC vs. NO ($16) - Kanter is rolling offensively, having scored in double-digits for a season-high six consecutive games. The Turkish center's inability to contribute in hustle stats caps his ceiling, but his 16.2 PPG and 8.8 RPG over the last six games are all you could ask for from a $16 player. Kanter demolished the New Orleans defense for 24 points and 14 rebounds the last time he faced the Pelicans, so chances are he'll go into the All-Star break with a seventh straight strong effort.
Center to Avoid:
Greg Monroe, MIL vs. WAS ($30) - Monroe's move to the bench didn't seem to hurt him against the Celtics, but there are reasons to be skeptical of his ability to repeat Tuesday's 29-point performance. The big man saw less than 30 minutes in his new role, and it's going to be tough for him to keep up a high scoring rate while seeing less playing time than he has been all season. Of the three centers worth above the minimum, the expensive Milwaukeean offers the least bang for the buck.
Others to Avoid: Kendrick Perkins ($10)
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