This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has 14 games on tap Friday night, as close to a packed slate as you can get in the first big night after the All-Star break. It's the day after the trade deadline, some names have changed locations while some that expected to go have stayed put. Everyone should be fresh after a week off, and there should be some big numbers put on the board.
GUARDS
Reggie Jackson, DET at WAS ($32): With almost the entire league playing, there are no end of good matchups at point guard. Jackson just got a huge vote of confidence from the Pistons, trading his primary backup and last year's starter, Brandon Jennings, and leaving the job in Jackson's hands. Jackson also has a good matchup against a Wizards defense that has struggled guarding perimeter players all season.
Devin Booker, PHO vs HOU ($22): Booker hit the break strong, averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 assists, 3.2 boards and 0.7 steals per game over his last 12. His last game before the break was a near triple-double against the Warriors, and he has shown the ability to score in bunches. On Friday, he has a great matchup against a Rockets defense that is 25th in the NBA against shooting guards.
Guards to Avoid
Jeff Teague, ATL vs MIA ($26): Neither Teague nor Dennis Schroder was moved before the trade deadline, which means they will continue to split the point guard responsibilities. Teague had taken back the lead role prior to break, but Schroder still looms in the background. Plus, the Heat are the No. 1 defense in the NBA against point guards, further diminishing Teague's upside.
Avery Bradley, BOS at UTA ($24): Bradley runs hot and cold, but he entered the All-Star break on a streak of five straight double-digit scoring efforts. Even with that, he only scored more than 24 fantasy points twice in the six games leading up to break, and on Friday he has a terrible matchup against a Jazz defense that allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to shooting guards this season.
FORWARDS
Evan Fournier, ORL vs DAL ($18): Fournier has been starting and playing well with Tobias Harris out of the lineup, and now that Harris has been traded to Detroit, Fournier is the short-term incumbent for the position. Ersan Ilyasova's presence could eventually push into his minutes, but for now, Fournier is still starting. Fournier has averaged almost 34 fantasy points in those starts.
Aaron Gordon, ORL vs DAL ($19): Gordon, like Fournier, had a hot stretch going into the break with Tobias Harris out. In the last three games, Gordon has averaged 35.3 fantasy points per game. Gordon may eventually have to fight off Ersan Ilyasova for minutes but Gordon is hot now. And, right or wrong, his electrifying performance in the Slam Dunk contest also seems to portend good things coming out of the break.
Forwards to Avoid
Otto Porter, WAS vs DET ($22): Porter is a solid but unspectacular option most nights. On Friday, he will be on the second half of a back-to-back, and facing a fired up Pistons team that just made a couple trades with their eyes on the postseason. The Pistons are also strong defensively, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to small forwards this season.
Paul Millsap, ATL vs MIA ($42): Millsap was up-and-down leading into break, with three games over 36 fantasy points and five games under 27. The All-Star break presumably gave him a chance to rest and get fresh, but he is facing a Heat defense that allows the fewest fantasy points per game to power forwards this season.
CENTER
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at MEM ($36): Towns was electric going into the break, averaging 22.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 blocks and 0.6 steals per game over his last 12. His walk-off game was a 35-point, 11-rebound effort, his ninth consecutive double-double. On Friday he faces a Grizzlies defense that is without defensive anchor Marc Gasol.
Center to Avoid
Dwight Howard, HOU at PHO ($29): Howard is explosive, but he can be boom-or-bust at times, letting his emotions affect his play. He had to hear his name mentioned in trade rumors all week, and though he's still in Houston, he may not be his happiest. Plus, no team allows fewer fantasy points per game to centers.
