This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
We have a small four-game NBA slate Sunday. It was supposed to be three games, but the Sixers-Celtics matchup was moved from Saturday to Sunday because of inclement weather on the East Coast. There aren't too many injury questions, which should make for a chalky DFS day. The only notable injured players are Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki.
GUARD
Deron Williams, DAL at HOU ($24) - Williams isn't looked at favorably in fantasy circles because of his propensity to miss games, but he's had a sneakily productive season in Dallas. He is averaging 27.4 fantasy points a game this season and has scored at least 27 fantasy points in five of his last six games. The minutes are encouraging as well, as Williams has scored at least 27 fantasy points when playing at least 35 minutes. The price already makes this a good play, but Williams has a good matchup, as well. The Rockets allow the second-most assists to point guards and play at an extremely fast pace.
Donald Sloan, BRK vs. OKC ($13) - Sloan took over starting point-guard duty recently for the Nets and is playing well. Sloan is averaging more than 26 fantasy points a game over his last six games. That includes matchups against the Cavaliers, Raptors and Jazz, three of the best defenses in the NBA. The only worry is the game's blowout potential, as the Thunder enter as double-digit favorites. But even if that happens, Sloan should still have no problem scoring 20-plus fantasy points with the way he can stuff the stat sheet in limited minutes.
Guards to Avoid:
Chris Paul, LAC at TOR ($47) - This might seem borderline insane at first glance, but stay with me. I had Russell Westbrook in my Guards to Avoid last Sunday, and while he triple-doubled, he still didn't justify his price. He didn't even surpass 50 fantasy points as a $59 player. That's not good enough of a return on investment for Yahoo DFS. Paul is in a similar circumstance, as his price is just too high, especially against the Raptors, one of the five best defenses against point guards. Paul likely will score 30-plus fantasy points, but that's not good value for a $47 player.
FORWARD
Chandler Parsons, DAL at HOU ($21) - Parsons had a horrific start to the season, but he's turned it on lately. He finally seems to be getting his legs underneath him, and it's clear through his recent production in the stat sheet. Parsons has 115 fantasy points over his last three games, which is just shy of 40 fantasy points per game. That's an unbelievable value for a $21 player, and it gets even better with this matchup. Not only do the Rockets rank 28th in fantasy points allowed to small forwards, this is also a revenge game for Parsons against his former team. Parsons' streakiness is a bit of a concern, but his floor is too high with his recent form and the matchup to pass up on him for Sunday's short slate.
Clint Capela, HOU vs. DAL ($16) - With an injury to Dwight Howard, Capela has become a much more intriguing fantasy option. In Howard's absence, Capela has been asked to play center and provide much more usage at a shallow position. In his last four games, Capela has scored at least 25 fantasy points three times, even while battling foul trouble. It's the rebounding opportunities that Capela benefits most with Howard out, as he is averaging nine rebounds a game over his last four. While Capela will play center and power forward, Dallas ranks in the bottom three in fantasy points allowed to power forwards in its last 10 games. Look for Capela to get 25-plus minutes and easily provide value on his cheap price.
Forwards to Avoid:
Thaddeus Young, BRK vs. OKC ($32) - Young is an unfortunate victim of this terrible circumstance in Brooklyn. This team is downright bad, and it's ruining Young's value. Young has surpassed 31 fantasy points only once is his last 10 games and has hovered in the low-20s throughout that span. It's the blowouts that are killing him, as he's only played 30-plus minutes three times in that 10-game stretch. This game has blowout written all over it in a tough matchup against a hot Oklahoma City team. The Thunder allow the fifth fewest fantasy points to power forwards, as well, and should have no problem slowing Young.
CENTER
Jared Sullinger, BOS at PHI ($20) - Sullinger has been one of the streakiest players in the NBA this season, but let's hop on his back in the midst of one of his hot streaks in a good matchup. Sullinger has scored at least 26 fantasy points four times in his last five games and has even reached a ceiling of 47 fantasy points once in that span. He's been productive in limited minutes as well, as he's done that damage while never playing more than 30 minutes in any of those games. Sullinger should be able to put up a big fantasy line, even in limited minutes considering the matchup. He faces a Sixers team that ranks in the bottom three in fantasy points allowed to both power forwards and centers this season.
Center Avoid:
Brook Lopez, BRK vs OKC ($35) - Lopez is tied as the highest-priced center Sunday but is just not reliable enough to earn that price. He has scored 13 or fewer fantasy points twice in his last four games, and that sort of dud potential makes him off limits. Those both came in blowouts, and that seems like another strong possibility Sunday. The matchup makes this an avoidable play, as well, as the Thunder are one of the three best defenses against centers this season. Lopez thrives off jumpers and a mid-range game but that won't fly against a potent Thunder defense that allows the league's lowest field-goal percentage to centers.
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