This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Friday has a full slate of 10 games, offering plenty options for Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball owners. We're more than a week into the NBA season now, so we are starting to get a real feel for who players actually are, and there is a lot of really good value out there for us to explore.
GUARD
Jarrett Jack, BKN vs. LAL ($23) - The worst defense against point guards this season has been the New Orleans Pelicans, but that is a bit deceiving because it was Stephen Curry who went nuts on them. The second worst defense against point guards has been the Los Angeles Lakers, and they don't have the Curry excuse. The Lakers have questionable perimeter defenders and no rim protection, which really lets the point guards score. Jack isn't spectacular, but at a relatively low price he could be one of the better point guard values for the night.
Bradley Beal, WAS at BOS ($30) - Beal and DeMar DeRozan are tied for third in fantasy points per game among shooting guards, and both are solid value for their price. Their opponents are also similar caliber, with the Celtics ranking 25th in production allowed to opposing shooting guards while DeRozan's opponent, the Magic, ranks 23rd. Everything is similar, but Beal is a couple of dollars cheaper than DeRozan and thus gets this favored slot.
Guards to Avoid:
Isaiah Canaan, PHI at CLE ($19) - Canaan was a popular sleeper pick during the first couple games of the season, but his starting job has been taken by T.J. McConnell. In addition, the Cavaliers have been the No. 1 defense this season as far as least production allowed to opposing point guards. In fact, that's the only reason McConnell isn't starting for us, because his production as a starter thus far has been good and his price tag is cheap, but his opponent is difficult.
Kyle Korver, ATL at NO ($19) - Korver is battling an ankle injury, but he is expected to start Friday. Even so, the Pelicans are first in the NBA in defense against shooting guards. The Pelicans have faced other shooting guards with great shooting range such as Klay Thompson (twice) and C.J. McCollum, and still rank really well, which suggests that they will make life hard on Korver.
FORWARD
Evan Fournier, ORL, vs. TOR ($19) - Fournier has gone nuts lately, which has driven his average up to 33.3 fantasy points per game (fourth among small forwards). He is $10 to $20 cheaper than every other small forward averaging at least 30 FPts/G. He has become the primary floor spacer for the Magic, and his role appears to be safe and, if anything, getting bigger.
Julius Randle, LAL at BKN ($23) - Randle has been outstanding outside of one game against the Kings, when he got in early foul trouble, averaging almost 18 points and slightly more than 10 boards in the other three games. His Friday opponent, the Nets, has no interior defense and is ranked 29th in the NBA in production to opposing power forwards.
Forwards to Avoid:
Joe Johnson, BKN vs. LAL ($23) - Johnson is flat-out struggling from the field this year, making only 11 of 38 field-goal attempts. He faces a Lakers defense that is poor on paper but which has been reasonable against opposing small forwards, ranking 13th in the league against the position.
Paul Millsap, ATL at NO ($34) - Millsap is one of the better power-forward producers in the NBA this season, so he won't often be in this "Player to Avoid" slot. But Friday he plays Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, who not surprisingly are one of the toughest defenses on opposing power forwards (third in the NBA).
CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET at PHO ($39) - It almost doesn't matter who Drummond's opponent is these days, he has been a monster. In his last two games he is averaging 22.5 points and 24.5 rebounds with 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. He's producing as much as any player in the game, but he's $10 to $15 cheaper than the other top options Friday.
Center to Avoid:
Jahlil Okafor, PHI at CLE ($24) - Okafor is off to a good start as a rookie center, but this is not a good matchup for him. The Cavaliers are fourth in the NBA against centers. Plus, there is a good probability that this game could end up a blowout, which would limit Okafor's minutes.
