This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday's abbreviated four-game slate doesn't have much elite star power with the exception of DeMarcus Cousins, LeBron James and James Harden. However, there are several appealing options in the mid-to-lower price tiers, including a quality bargain reserve who will draw a start. Here's our look at Tuesday's Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball.
GUARD
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL at LAL ($21) - As has been the case the last couple weeks, there are multiple guard options priced very reasonably that offer considerable potential. Carter-Williams checks in as a classic tournament play, considering his up-and-down offensive performances. However, his price is highly cost-effective, and he draws a Lakers' defense that gives up an average of 23.7 actual points to opposing point guards. He's sandwiched fantasy point totals of 37.7 and 37.1 around a 13.6 clunker over his last three games, but considering his opponent, stands a good chance of generating another productive outing.
Darren Collison, SAC vs. HOU ($17) - Collison is likely the top value play of the night, considering he will start in place of the suspended Rajon Rondo and checks in at a very modest price. The seven-year veteran has provided solid production in 28.0 minutes per game this season, and figures to see minutes in the mid-to-upper 30s Tuesday. He's amassed double-digit actual points in eight of his last nine, totaling at least 20.7 fantasy points in six of those games. He now gets a significant bump in playing time and draws a Rockets defense that
Tuesday's abbreviated four-game slate doesn't have much elite star power with the exception of DeMarcus Cousins, LeBron James and James Harden. However, there are several appealing options in the mid-to-lower price tiers, including a quality bargain reserve who will draw a start. Here's our look at Tuesday's Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball.
GUARD
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL at LAL ($21) - As has been the case the last couple weeks, there are multiple guard options priced very reasonably that offer considerable potential. Carter-Williams checks in as a classic tournament play, considering his up-and-down offensive performances. However, his price is highly cost-effective, and he draws a Lakers' defense that gives up an average of 23.7 actual points to opposing point guards. He's sandwiched fantasy point totals of 37.7 and 37.1 around a 13.6 clunker over his last three games, but considering his opponent, stands a good chance of generating another productive outing.
Darren Collison, SAC vs. HOU ($17) - Collison is likely the top value play of the night, considering he will start in place of the suspended Rajon Rondo and checks in at a very modest price. The seven-year veteran has provided solid production in 28.0 minutes per game this season, and figures to see minutes in the mid-to-upper 30s Tuesday. He's amassed double-digit actual points in eight of his last nine, totaling at least 20.7 fantasy points in six of those games. He now gets a significant bump in playing time and draws a Rockets defense that is only middle-of-the-pack against opposing point guards despite the presence of Patrick Beverley (21.1 actual points per game yielded).
Zach LaVine, MIN vs. DEN ($19) - LaVine continues to provide solid production with minutes in the mid-20s while still priced in the teens, an ideal recipe in Yahoo DFS. He's coming off an outstanding 34.9-fantasy point performance Sunday versus the Suns in which he scored a season-high 28 actual points and has scored at least 24.0 fantasy points in six of his preceding eight games, as well. That includes a three-game stretch of 32.0, 33.1 and 32.6 fantasy points, demonstrating what LaVine is capable of when his shot is falling.
Guard to Avoid:
D'Angelo Russell, LAL vs. MIL ($21) - Russell has undeniably had an up-and-down rookie season so far. The first-round pick managed his first pair of 20-point-plus performances in consecutive fashion last Wednesday and Friday, only to come back to earth with just 12 points over a robust 37 minutes on Saturday versus the Rockets. Tuesday, he draws the fifth-stingiest defense against point guards in terms of points allowed to the position (19.3 average), further dimming his prospects.
FORWARD
Rudy Gay, SAC vs. HOU ($34) - Gay is typically one of the most dependable fantasy options on any slate he is part of, and has also shown an ability to take his game up several notches when a key teammate is out of the lineup. Such will be the case Tuesday when Rajon Rondo will serve his one-game suspension for berating a referee. As such, Gay figures to seen an uptick in offensive responsibility, and he draws an ideal matchup to boot. The Rockets rank behind only the Wizards in most points surrendered to small forwards, as they yield a healthy 21.0 actual points per game to the position. While Gay endured an off shooting night (4-for-16) in his last game on Dec. 10 versus the Knicks, he typically bounces back in strong fashion from outlier performances such as those. He's also averaging a robust 30.4 fantasy points per game and has double-digit actual points in seven straight and nine out of his last 10.
Kenneth Faried, DEN at MIN ($24) - Faried is riding an impressive four-game streak in which he's tallied fantasy point totals of 27.3, 26.8, 28.7 and 31.4, respectively. He's also posted double-digit rebounds in his last two, including 12 boards against this same Timberwolves squad in a win on Friday night. He's averaging 26.1 fantasy points to date this season, and comes with a significant discount over the top power forward option on the night, Kevin Love ($41).
Forward to Avoid:
Julius Randle, LAL vs. MIL ($25) - Randle is the second Lakers avoid candidate of the night, as the second-year pro appears to be stuck in a considerable funk prompted by his recent move to the bench. He's managed just seven and four actual points, respectively, over his last two, draining only five of his 20 attempts from the field over that span. He's also received minutes in the low 20s in both contests, as the Lakers appear intent on using Larry Nance Jr. as the starting four.
CENTER
Greg Monroe, MIL at LAL ($32) - There are numerous attractive options at center Tuesday, including the high-priced DeMarcus Cousins and Dwight Howard in a game where they figure to see a lot of each other down low. However, the man who spearheaded the Bucks' improbable tarnishing of the Warriors' perfect record looms just below Howard in an outstanding matchup. Monroe generated a stellar 44.7 fantasy points in the victory against Golden State on Saturday, but it's notable that he'd also been between 32.0 and 38.1 fantasy points in four of the five games prior. Meanwhile, opposing centers have had their way with the Lakers regularly this season, as they've yielded 20.8 points and 14.8 rebounds per game to the position.
Center to Avoid:
Jared Sullinger, BOS vs. CLE ($26) - Tuesday, Sullinger runs up against the fifth-stingiest defense versus centers in the league in terms of actual points allowed (18.2 average). Perhaps more important, the Cavs are also the toughest unit for opposing big men to rebound against (only 10.5 allowed per game), and boards are often a significant source of Sullinger's fantasy points production. Like Julius Randle, Sullinger is also coming off a pair of games with respective scoring totals of seven and four actual points, and he's only shot 30.8 percent from the field in six December contests. He also saw a significant dip in playing time in his most recent game versus Charlotte, as coach Brad Stevens has been electing to give Kelly Olynyk extended run lately.
