This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
This is one of the first full Sunday slates of the season, as the NBA finally doesn't have to compete with the NFL. While there are eight games on the schedule, the big tournaments include the six games starting at 6:00 p.m. EST. That doesn't mean there's a lack of star power, as there are 10 players priced at least $40. The goal is to get at least two of those upper-tier players into a fantasy lineup, so finding the right value plays will be key.
GUARDS
Jrue Holiday, NOP vs. WSH ($26): Holiday is on a tear, averaging 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per game over his last five, but his price hasn't caught up. He's providing incredible value for a $27 player and it appears the Pelicans are more comfortable running their offense through him than they were earlier in the year. Sunday's matchup is solid as well, as he and John Wall will surely go at it all game long in what should be a fast-paced matchup.
T.J. McConnell, PHI at CHI ($16): Since taking over starting point guard duties on Dec. 30, McConnell is averaging 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Those aren't numbers that pop off the page, but it's great value at the price. This is a matchup McConnell can exploit too, as the Bulls allow the ninth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season. In addition, McConnell should take on more usage in the absence of Joel Embiid (rest).
Guard to Avoid
C.J. McCollum, POR vs. GS ($37): With Damian Lillard going off recently, McCollum has taken a bit of a backseat, scoring 29 of fewer fantasy points in four of the last six games. The blowout potential could hurt McCollum as well, with Golden State likely being a double-digit favorite. Finally, McCollum has scored 23 or fewer fantasy points in two of the three games against Golden State this season.
FORWARD
Draymond Green, GS at POR ($38): Green has been underpriced all season and has potential to go off in this sort of matchup. With an average of 37 fantasy points per game for the season, Green is one of the best bets at power forward to finish as the top-scorer. The matchup is the tastiest part, with Portland allowing the most fantasy points per game to power forwards this season. Green has shown that he can exploit this matchup too, as he has scored at least 38 fantasy points in all three meetings against Portland this season.
Norman Powell, TOR vs. ORL ($10): Using minimum priced players who are injury fill-ins is a great way to profit, and that's just the case for Powell, who is starting for DeMar DeRozan (ankle). Powell's been great in his stead as well, averaging 30 fantasy points and 34 minutes per game over the last three.
Forward to Avoid
Harrison Barnes, DAL at SAN ($28): Using players against San Antonio is always dangerous and this game is just one to stay away from. The Spurs' defense is the first reason to avoid Barnes, as he'll be matched up Kawhi Leonard. Next, these are two of the four slowest-paced teams in the league, so fantasy points and shots will be lower than usual. Finally, San Antonio comes in as a 15-point favorite, so Barnes may not even play the fourth quarter.
CENTER
Nerlens Noel, PHI at CHI ($16): With Joel Emiid (rest) sitting this game out, Noel becomes one of the best values of the day. It's his per-minute numbers that make him so good, as he averages 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes. While he's more likely to play 30 minutes than 36, that just shows how effective he is in the minutes he plays. It's the fact that Embiid is out that makes Noel so valuable though, as Noel picks up nearly all of Embiid's minutes, in addition to gaining much of his sky-high usage.
Lucas Nogueira, TOR vs. ORL ($10): Nogueira has played at least 24 minutes in four straight games, averaging 24 fantasy points per contest over that span, which is a great return for a minimum-priced player. The matchup is what makes him especially enticing, considering the Magic have one of the biggest frontcourts in the league, which means Toronto will have to lean on Nogueria even more.
Center to Avoid
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at TOR ($26): Vucevic is the fourth-highest priced center on the slate, but he's played fewer than 24 minutes in three of his last four games. He hasn't been productive in that stretch either, scoring 27 or fewer fantasy points in five of his last six games. Finally, the matchup is tough too, with Toronto allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to centers this season.
