This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
GUARD
Shelvin Mack, UTA at SAC ($12) - Since going to the Jazz at the trade deadline, Mack has been a good value option, and he is still a near minimum-priced player. Aside from two dud performances, Mack has scored at least 17 fantasy points in each of his 11 games with the Jazz. His upside is great too, as he has scored at least 22 fantasy points in more than half of those games. On Sunday, Mack and the Jazz face a Kings team that is easily the worst defense in the NBA.
Donald Sloan, BRK vs. MIL ($11) - Sloan has quietly been a good cheap option and continues to be undervalued. In his most recent game, Sloan fell one assist and one rebound shy of a triple-double for the second time this season. While his inconsistency can be frustrating, that sort of upside is hard to pass up for a minimum-priced player. To reach value at $11, Sloan doesn't have to do much, and triple-double potential is impossible to find at that price. The matchup is good as well, with the Bucks allowing the second-most assists to point guards this season.
Guard to Avoid:
Rajon Rondo, SAC vs. UTA ($39) - Rondo is usually a great fantasy option, but there are some red flags in this matchup. First, DeMarcus Cousins will return for this game, taking usage away from Rondo. More worrisome, though, is the matchup, as Utah ranks in the top three in defense. The Jazz allow only 6.9 assists to point guards, the second-best rate in the NBA. Rondo thrives off stuffing the stat sheet, which will become much more difficult against a Jazz team that also ranks as the slowest-paced team in the league.
FORWARD
Gordon Hayward, UTA at SAC ($32) - Hayward hasn't played his best ball recently, but this is the perfect matchup to get him going. In his two games against Sacramento this season, Hayward is averaging 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. That's the benefit of playing the Kings, as they rank as the worst defense based on points allowed and also play at the fastest pace in the league. In addition, the Kings have allowed the most fantasy points in the NBA to small forwards over their last 10 games.
Jabari Parker, MIL at BRK ($26) - Something has clicked with the second-year player since the All-Star break, and he's established himself as an elite fantasy option. Over his last 12 games, Parker is averaging 21.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Parker is averaging nearly 40 minutes a game and appears to finally be over his devastating knee injury. This is far from a scary matchup as well, with the Nets ranking in the bottom half of the league in numerous defensive statistics.
Forward to Avoid:
Omri Casspi, SAC vs. UTA ($18) - Casspi has really struggled recently, and now's the time to steer clear. Casspi has surpassed 22 fantasy points only once in his last nine games and has regularly scored in the teens in that stretch. In that nine-game span, Casspi is averaging less than three fantasy points combined from assists, steals and blocks. That's simply not good enough from a role player. What ultimately makes him off-limits, though, is the matchup, with the Jazz ranking second in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to small forwards.
CENTER
Rudy Gobert, UTA at SAC ($27) - Gobert is in his best stretch of the season, and he's hard to pass up in this sort of matchup. Over his last eight games, Gobert is averaging 9.1 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.9 blocks a game. In that span, Gobert has scored at least 25 fantasy points in all nine games, so having a floor that nearly matches your price is a can't miss. The matchup is the icing on the cake, as the Kings offer plenty of value through rebounds and blocks with their blistering pace. The Jazz will need Gobert to cover the talented DeMarcus Cousins, who should have the ball in his hands on nearly every possession, giving Gobert even more opportunities at fantasy points on the defensive end.
Center to Avoid:
Tristan Thompson, CLE at LAC ($18) - Some may look at Thompson's recent form and pivot to him, but there's some things that make him a bad option in this game. The first being the Clippers play small ball at the power forward position. That should limit Thompson's minutes, as they can't match him up with Jeff Green or Wesley Johnson. So when Thompson is in the game, that means he'll be matched up against DeAndre Jordan. That's a nightmare matchup for an undersized Thompson, as Jordan thrives off defense and rebounding. And with Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov expected to play after missing recent games, Thompson's minutes will be limited.
