This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday's five-game slate has some star power, but exactly who will sit and who will suit up is still uncertain. With two days left in the regular season, watching the news all the way to tip-off is even more paramount than usual. As usual, we'll focus on some solid mid-tier and bargain basement plays that will allow you the flexibility to roster any of the elite players.
GUARD
Ish Smith, PHI at TOR ($25) - Smith has heated up again, scoring 42.4 and 49.8 fantasy points in his last two games. He's been excellent across the stat sheet and could well catch a break in his matchup Tuesday. The Raptors could rest Kyle Lowry after their chances of capturing the top seed in the East evaporated Monday night, meaning Smith could see a lot of Cory Joseph's defense instead. Smith's ceiling is such that he could potentially provide a handsome return on his reasonable price.
Sasha Vujacic, NY at IND ($10) - All Vujacic has done in his recent starting opportunities is score 23.8 to 33.0 fantasy points, while still checking in at a bare minimum price. He's been excellent from beyond the arc in his last four games, draining 14 treys. He draws a nice matchup against a Pacers defense that's proven vulnerable to sharpshooting two-guards on multiple occasions this season.
Guard to Avoid:
Russell Westbrook, OKC at SA ($54) - Westbrook sports his typical sky-high price but faces one of the toughest units in the league on the road. It's also possible he could rest. Even if he plays, he will be hard pressed to pay off his massive price against a defense that remains the stingiest in the league in points allowed per game (92.9).
FORWARD
Robert Covington, PHI at TOR ($22) – Covington is perpetually underpriced, partly due to being part of the worst team in the league. He's scored 36.8, 50.7 and 36.6 fantasy points in his last three games and more than 30 four other times over his last 10, as well. While the Raptors are certainly a tough defense overall, they likely will rest some players and have been exploited by threes at times this season.
Derrick Williams, NY at IND ($11) - Williams has been a bit up and down even in starting opportunities, but he remains priced so low that he's a worthy consideration every time he's set for big minutes. That should be the case again Tuesday, as Kristaps Porzingis is not expected to play with a shoulder injury. Williams scored 20.7 to 29.0 fantasy points in the five games before Sunday's 11.8-point clunker against a tough Raptors defense. He should find a little easier sledding against a Pacers frontcourt that's proven vulnerable this season with minimal risk at his price.
Forward to Avoid:
Paul George, NY at IND ($46) – Coach Frank Vogel said George likely will rest the last two games of the season, automatically red-flagging him Tuesday. Even if he does play, he's been battling a sore ankle and has only posted modest totals of 27.3 and 27.5 fantasy points in the last two games.
CENTER
Jonas Valanciunas ($18) or Bismack Biyombo ($10), TOR vs. PHI - Whichever of the Raptors' centers starts Tuesday against the Sixers' notoriously weak frontcourt shapes up as a nice value play. Philadelphia has been a boon for opposing centers this season, allowing the most fantasy points (52.38), second-most points (22.4), most rebounds (16.3) and second-most blocks (2.7) per game to the position. Meanwhile, Valanciunas has scored 22.0 to 47.8 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games, while the minimum-priced Biyombo scored 50.0 and 37.7 fantasy points in two recent starts.
CENTER TO AVOID:
Steven Adams, OKC at SA ($10) - There aren't any true avoid candidates based on price at the top of the center pool Tuesday, so we'll go with Adams, who typically provides only modest fantasy output. While his price certainly isn't an issue, several other options are available (Ian Mahinmi, Jonas Valanciunas, Robin Lopez) for only a few dollars more who have a higher ceiling.
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