This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sunday's NBA slate could be one to take advantage of, with most eyes focused on the NFL. There have been numerous developments throughout the opening week and there are definitely some changes we can capitalize on. With prices slow to adjust, there are some great values with some unexpected rotations and sporadic distribution of minutes throughout the league. With that in mind, keep an eye on box scores as much as possible to monitor how many minutes certain players are getting and how much they are being used. Doing that can help you spot a guy before anyone else.
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. LAL ($54): This is one of the easiest plays that I've ever recommended, but sometimes you just have to go with the chalk. Westbrook averaged 70 fantasy points per game in his first two starts and there's no reason to think he can't keep that going. What makes this even better is the matchup, as the Lakers were one of the three-worst defenses against point guards last season. The price isn't as outrageous as it should be, as he's playing at a $70 level right now.
Deron Williams, DAL at HOU ($18): Williams looks revived and he should continue to play well against a bad Houston defense. The former all-star has over 57 fantasy points over his first two games and has played big minutes. The worst of the two games actually came against Houston, but he should be able to rebound for a better game Sunday. The price is what's most enticing though, as $18 is essentially his floor in terms of fantasy production.
Guard to Avoid
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs. MIL ($23): While Caldwell-Pope is a solid player, he hasn't warranted this outlandish price. In his first two games, he's failed to surpass 12 fantasy points and has really struggled with his shot. What's more worrisome is the peripheral stats, as he is not producing in any facet of the game. Milwaukee can make it tough on struggling shooters as well, as they play one of the lengthiest rotations in the NBA. Players like Trevor Ariza and Rudy Gobert are in the same price range and are far superior fantasy options on this slate.
FORWARDS
JaMychal Green, MEM vs. WSH ($10):JaMychal Green's price is still not reflective of his new role, and we have to continue riding him as long as he's a minimum priced player. While he's yet to have a big game this season, Green's a double-double threat every time he starts. I love the matchup as well, as he'll square off against Markieff Morris, who has a similar style of play as Green. Washington also tends to play a bit up-tempo and that also plays into their traditionally poor defense. On Saturday, Green played 31 minutes, while Zach Randolph played just 22 in a loss to the Knicks. That shows us that he's the better fantasy option through volume, especially considering he's nearly a third of the price of Randolph.
T.J. Warren, PHX vs. GSW ($15): Warren is one of the breakout players of the opening week, and he's opening up some eyes with his ability to put the ball in the bucket. He dropped a career-high 30 points in his most recent game, also adding nine rebounds in a loss to the Thunder. The most encouraging thing is the minutes, as he is averaging over 38 per game in the first two games. This is the type of game for Warren to succeed in, with the extremely high pace and plenty of shots to go around for everyone. At just $15, Warren is a great bet to exceed value considering he could easily score 15 points with no peripheral stats.
Forward to Avoid
Zach Randolph, MEM vs. WSH ($28): This plays off the Green pick, with Randolph's price still reflecting last season. Some projections still have Randolph as the more valuable fantasy option, when in fact their values are almost identical in their current roles. Neither player is playing a full-time role, as they essentially split the 48 minutes at power forward. That makes Randolph off limits at $28 and makes Green an intriguing option at a minimum price.
CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET vs. MIL ($36): While Drummond put in a stinker in the opener, he bounced back with 20 rebounds in their most recent win. He also added 12 points and two steals in limited minutes, as the Pistons blew out the Magic. If he can grab 20 rebounds in 27 minutes against an Orlando team with a huge frontcourt, he should easily reach that level against the Bucks. Milwaukee was one of the five-worst rebounding teams in the league last year and it's no surprise when you look at their big men. With a spread below three, this should be a close game as well, locking Drummond in for 30-plus minutes. The price is extremely affordable as well, as he'll cost less than 20 percent of your budget and can provide at least 50 fantasy points.
Clint Capela, HOU vs. DAL ($11): Capela hasn't been getting the allotment of minutes fantasy owners hoped, but he's still producing. While he hasn't played more than 25 minutes in either of the first two games, he is still averaging 22 fantasy points per outing. The one concern is the upside, as he could get hacked and forced out of this game due to his poor free-throw shooting. With that said, he can still approach a double-double in 25 minutes and is still a great bargain at $11. If he does find some rhythm and play at least 30 minutes, he'll be the value of the day at a near minimum price.
Center to Avoid
Pau Gasol, SAN at MIA ($33): Gasol has really struggled in his first two games with the Spurs and it makes him tough to trust. He played fewer than 21 minutes in both games and some teams have rendered him useless with their small-ball style of play. This is yet another team who can play with just one big and that worries me, as LaMarcus Aldridge expected to play at least 30 minutes every night. What's also concerning is that this is the second game of a back-to-back set. It wouldn't be that surprising to see Gasol's minutes limited, or maybe held out altogether. Gasol simply costs too much the way he's playing and with all of these other factors against him, it just doesn't make sense to stick him in a lineup.
