This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has seven games Sunday with a few good matchups for fantasy purposes, and some ones to avoid.
GUARD
D'Angelo Russell, LAL vs. GS ($21) - Despite putting up a stinker in his most recent game, Russell has played some majestic ball lately. Russell averaged 27 points in his previous four games before shooting 3 of 17 against the Hawks on Friday. Perhaps it's encouraging that despite an off night, he still had the confidence to keep chucking up shots. His minutes should continue to be high with Jordan Clarkson, Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams dealing with injuries. This is also a great matchup, as the Warriors play at a high pace and rank in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to point guards this season.
Emmanuel Mudiay, DEN vs. DAL ($19) - Mudiay is now the focal point of the offense in Denver with Danilo Gallinari expected to miss the rest of the season. He's been especially good his last two games, averaging 23.5 points, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Just as impressive, he is averaging less than three turnovers and taking nearly 20 shots a game. Dallas is a solid defense, but Mudiay should play 35 minutes and handle the ball all game, making 20-plus fantasy points his floor.
Guard to Avoid:
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs. POR ($23) - Detroit made some big splashes at the trade deadline and it's really hurt KCP's value. Caldwell-Pope has surpassed 28 fantasy points only once in his last 15 games and has put in some serious duds, posting five games with 12 fantasy points or less in that span. This is a decent matchup against the Blazers, but there's simply too much downside and not enough upside to use a struggling Caldwell-Pope against a scorching-hot Portland team.
FORWARD
Jabari Parker, MIL vs. OKC ($24) - Parker has been one of the best small forwards in the league over recent weeks and his comeback from a devastating knee injury is being overlooked. Parker has scored at least 21 fantasy points in nine consecutive games and has scored at least 31 fantasy points in seven of those games. This is a great matchup as well, with the Thunder allowing at least 100 points in eight consecutive games. There's little downside with using Parker at $24, because it's only 12 percent of your budget and he could finish as one of your top-three fantasy producers.
Alex Len, PHX at MEM ($15) - This is the most surprising price of the day, as Len's valuation has clearly not kept up with his recent form. Over Len's last seven games, he is averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds a game. That's the value of a $35 player. This is a great matchup as well, with Memphis thin in the frontcourt without Marc Gasol. Len does present some downside with a few dud performances this season, but he has the highest upside of any player who costs $15 or less on this slate.
Forward to Avoid:
Harrison Barnes, GS at LAL ($19) - Barnes is a talented player, but his role is simply not there in this Golden State offense. It's all centered around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, leaving little for Barnes. Despite scoring 32 fantasy points in his last game, Barnes had not surpassed 22 fantasy points in the eight previous. While Barnes can accumulate stats, it's just too difficult to trust a $19 player who averages less than 10 shots a game and provides little in terms of assists and defensive numbers. In addition, while this looks like a good matchup on paper, it could end up being a blowout, which would ultimately limit Barnes' minutes and fantasy value.
CENTER
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. PHI ($35) - Whiteside is just ridiculous, and it's amazing his price hasn't skyrocketed above $40. Whiteside has surpassed 37 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games and has regularly approached 50 fantasy points in that span. He is averaging 46 fantasy points a game his last eight. Whiteside just faced these Sixers and put up a 19-point, 19-rebound line. He had just two blocks in that game but could very well double that total in a great matchup against the worst offense in the NBA.
Center to Avoid:
Greg Monroe, MIL vs. OKC ($30) - It's sad what's happening with Monroe, as he is way too good of a player to be playing behind Miles Plumlee. It's taken away from his fantasy value, though, and he's becoming a hard player to trust. Over his last nine games, Monroe is averaging 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocks a game. That's fine, but it's just not enough for a $30 player. Most concerning, he has played 30 minutes or less in five of those nine games. This is an incredibly tough matchup as well, with Oklahoma City ranking first in rebounding and allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to centers this season.
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