This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday's abbreviated four-game slate doesn't offer many truly elite options, but it does boast several instances of value across the price spectrum. We'll look at some nice mid-tier selections and two particularly appealing near-minimum value plays that can provide the flexibility to roster a couple of the few elite plays in action.
GUARDS
Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. MIL ($11): Johnson is too inexpensive not to be given serious consideration regardless of the tough matchup versus the Bucks' sixth-best defense against point guards. Goran Dragic (calf) and Beno Udrih (neck) are both out, likely leaving Johnson with a chance at 30-35 minutes. He's scored between 21.3 and 26.8 fantasy points over his last four, a stretch that includes three double-digit scoring games. At his near-minimum price, he'll very likely return great value.
Jrue Holiday, NOP vs. MIN ($23):Tyreke Evans could miss a second consecutive game after being held out of Monday tilt against Memphis with knee soreness. Holiday would obviously get a bit of extra run if that was the case, though if Monday was any indication, Norris Cole would likely still get the starting call. Regardless of who opens the game, Holiday should receive his typical upper-20s minutes allotment at a minimum. He's scored 33.7 and 36.4 fantasy points over his last two, respectively, and as a reminder of his potential ceiling, take note of his 51.7 fantasy points five games ago against the Clippers when Evans started and played 41 minutes. The matchup against Minnesota's bottom-10 ranked defense against point guards (23.0 points per game allowed) certainly doesn't hurt either.
Monta Ellis, IND at PHO ($25): If George Hill (personal) misses a second consecutive game, it makes Ellis an even better play, but he's under consideration regardless at his modest price and in a solid matchup. He's scored 29.1 and 34.9 fantasy points over his last two, respectively, shooting a solid 55 percent (17-for-31) over that span. Phoenix has also been generous to opposing two-guards, allowing 22.0 points and 2.7 made three-pointers per game to the position this season.
Guard to Avoid:
Brandon Knight PHO vs. IND ($39): Knight's recent production and tendency to go in the tank from time to time simply does not warrant his elevated price. He's been in a slump, scoring 25.8 and 18.9 fantasy points in his last two games while playing 39 and 40 minutes, respectively. He may also get some tough George Hill defense if the latter plays, but he will have a hard time paying off his price regardless of who's in front of him.
FORWARDS
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at MIA ($32): The Greek Freak comes in hot and the Heat defense has had their recent struggles against small forwards, a combustible combination ripe for producing fantasy fireworks. Kevin Durant, who is in a class of his own, just lit them up Sunday for 45 fantasy points in 31 minutes. While he's not quite Durant, Antetokounmpo has scored over 50 fantasy points in two of the last four, and over 40 in another game during that span. He's managed four straight double-doubles as well, and has five consecutive games with at least 10 rebounds.
Markieff Morris, PHO vs. IND ($11): If you'd like to go the more conventional, mid-tier route, look no further than Serge Ibaka ($27), who's been playing very well offensively over his last three and draws an appealing matchup against the Nuggets front court. However, if you're looking for some roster flexibility to fit in Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis, for example, Morris might be your man. He's scored 27.3, 26.8 and 31.5 fantasy points, in his last three, respectively, and he is very likely being put on prominent display for trade purposes. He's received between 22 and 34 minutes in those games, taking double-digit shots in each. If he comes close to matching his recent production, he'll provide an outstanding return and likely put you ahead of a lot of the field at that position in GPPs.
Forward to Avoid:
Paul George, IND at PHO ($47): George is another example of a talented player who nevertheless is not playing up to his elevated price. He's struggled with his shot for over a month and a half and has shot below 40 percent from the field in two of the last three. George will almost certainly put up a relatively solid stat line every time out, but he would be hard-pressed to provide adequate return at his cost.
CENTER
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. MIL ($31): Whiteside is trending in the right direction health-wise, as he aptly demonstrated two games ago by scoring 62.4 fantasy points against the Nuggets. His very productive encore performance Sunday against the Thunder could likely have been bigger had the game not turned into a blowout, and yet he still tallied 34.2 fantasy points in 33 minutes. He has a triple-double (versus Denver) and three double-doubles in his last four games and is likely to find some success down low against Greg Monroe and a Milwaukee defense against centers ranked in the bottom half of the league in points and rebounds allowed per game.
Center to Avoid:
Nikola Pekovic, MIN at NO ($14): Pekovic is still being brought along very slowly after missing the first 35 games of the season following Achilles surgery. He's played no more than 18 minutes in any game and only received seven in his last outing versus the Suns. He's scored fewer than 10 fantasy points in three of his last five and doesn't figure to see much action Tuesday night either.
