This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA's five-game Thursday slate tips off at 8 p.m. EST, but it should be worth staying up late for with the streaking Spurs, Clippers and Cavaliers in action. San Antonio's matchup against an inferior Suns squad should offer significant fantasy upside, but don't discount Atlanta's balanced attack against Sacramento's 30th-ranked defense. Members of those two rosters aren't the only strong fantasy value plays around -- every player listed below has a strong chance of outperforming his valuation.
GUARD
Jamal Crawford, LAC at CLE ($14) - Crawford has thrived in an increased role during Blake Griffin's (quad) absence, topping 20.0 fantasy points in eight of his last 10 games. Griffin is doubtful for Thursday's matchup with the Cavs, so this could be your last opportunity to snag Crawford before he goes back to playing a smaller role. The veteran guard isn't going to shoot a high percentage, but his volume scoring makes the affordable Crawford an excellent option in DFS formats where misses from the floor don't hurt you.
Jrue Holiday, NO vs. DET ($23) - The oft-injured guard is finally starting to come into his own lately, posting more than 30.0 fantasy points in each of his last three games. Holiday's recent surge and Eric Gordon's finger injury have combined to earn the former 76er a promotion into the starting lineup Thursday, which figures to mean more minutes. Considering his 39.1 fantasy-point per game average when playing at least 30 minutes this season, Holiday becomes a can't-miss value in his new role.
Guard to Avoid:
Mario Chalmers, MEM at DEN ($16) - Mike Conley's return has relegated Chalmers back to fantasy irrelevance. Chalmers posted just 8.7 fantasy points in Conley's first game back as owners watched the momentum of his seven-game string with at least 20.0 fantasy points come to a screeching hault. Even those who find Denver's young backcourt exploitable should look for alternative options, because Chalmers belongs nowhere near lineups as long as Conley is healthy.
Others to Avoid: Brandon Knight ($39), Tyreke Evans ($31), Brandon Jennings ($19), Kyle Korver ($14)
FORWARD
P.J. Tucker, PHO vs. SA ($12) - With Mirza Teletovic (ankle), Markieff Morris (Shoulder), Jon Leuer (back) and T.J. Warren (knee) all unable to practice Wednesday, Tucker looks to be in line for big minutes against the Spurs. He recorded a double-double in 45 minutes against the Pacers his last time out, and has pulled down double-digit rebounds three times in the last five games. San Antonio's defense will probably prevent Tucker from doing much offensively, but his all-around ability and high playing time should allow him to easily exceed his $12 price tag nonetheless.
Ersan Ilyasova, DET at NO ($20) - Ilyasova has been fabulous over the last five games, averaging north of 14 points and nine rebounds per game while eclipsing 28 fantasy points four times. A date with the NBA's 25th-ranked defense offers an outstanding opportunity for the stretch-four to keep up that strong pace, and his reasonable price means that owners won't have to pay a premium to see if he can do so.
Forward to Avoid:
Kevin Love, CLE vs. LAC ($37) - Tuesday's three-point, six-rebound debacle against the Warriors was the tip of the iceberg, as Love has underperformed for quite a while. The former double-double machine has exceeded 40.0 fantasy points just once in his last 12 games, averaging less than 30.0 fantasy points per game in that span. Those numbers are simply way too low for someone priced at $37, and Love should be avoided until he can consistently produce in Cleveland's offense.
Others to Avoid: Will Barton ($31), Kent Bazemore ($27), Omri Casspi ($26), Marcus Morris ($23), Zach Randolph ($20)
CENTER
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC vs. ATL ($52) - Some may balk at Cousins' high asking price, but the mercurial center has been worth every penny in 2016. He is averaging a robust 53.0 fantasy points per game in eight January contests, fueled by astronomical 31.1 PPG and 13.4 RPG averages. Whatever Cousins' New Year's resolution was, it's certainly paying off, so take advantage before his price jumps even higher.
Center to Avoid:
Andre Drummond, DET at NO ($46) - Unlike Cousins, Drummond has been trending downward in January. His inability to hit free-throws has earned him some late-game benchings, and Drummond's 35.4 fantasy point per game average in eight appearances this month is only 4.3 higher than Cousins' PPG over that same span. If you're going to spend big on a center, the slightly more expensive option is far and away the better choice.
Others to Avoid: Tristan Thompson ($20), Tim Duncan ($20), Jusuf Nurkic ($14)
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