Yahoo DFS Basketball: Sunday Picks

Yahoo DFS Basketball: Sunday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.

Sunday slates tend to be lighter, but we're treated with a beautiful nine-game ledger. That means the options are infinite and we're finally getting a hang of these rotations after watching teams play a couple of games. That does mean there's a ton of value out there, so let's go ahead and get into it! 

Guards 

Stephen Curry, GS at CHI ($43)

Curry's minutes have been limited the first two games, but it's no fault of his own. The Warriors have been blown out in both fixtures, but that's not expected to be the case here. Not only does the spread sit within four points, Curry also gets to face a lackluster Bulls' defense. That's all we can ask for with his early-season form, as he's averaging 40 fantasy points per game despite playing fewer than 30 minutes per outing. A big reason why Curry's production has still been solid is because of his gargantuan role and is averaging 19 shots per game while leading the club with a 30 percent usage rate. As long as he continues to do those two things, 40 Yahoo points will be his floor going forward.  

Darius Garland, CLE vs. PHI ($14)

Many slept on Garland in season-long formats, but the first two games would indicate this sophomore has really elevated his game. In the early-going, Garland is averaging 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. That equates to 45.6 Yahoo points per outing, which is obviously a fantastic number from someone who's only $14. What we also love is Garland's usage, as he's taking at least 13 shots in each of the first two contests while seeing 38 minutes a night.

Guard to Avoid 

Ricky Rubio, MIN at LAL ($22)

It appears Rubio is losing his coach's trust and has been relegated to the bench. In fact, he's played 26 minutes or fewer in each of the first two games and averaging just 19 fantasy points. That's one of the worst marks from a player north of $20 and it's hard to imagine it getting much better. The reason it won't improve is due to all the other usage hounds on this club, with Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell taking most of the shots and youngsters like Anthony Edwards and Jarrett Culver also needing their touches off the bench. To put it simply, Rubio is impossible to use until his value goes below $20 or finds himself in a better situation.  

Forwards 

Anthony Davis, LAL vs. MIN ($49)

It's a dangerous proposition to play on past results, but AD absolutely owned the Timberwolves last season with 50 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in one game. That may look fluky on the surface, but AD produced at least 49 fantasy points in five straight against Minnesota before that ridiculous performance. That's really no surprise when you consider his individual matchup, with Karl-Anthony Towns one of the worst defensive bigs in the NBA.  

Keldon Johnson, SAN at NOP ($14)

The Spurs appear to be in rebuild mode right now and this youngster is a major part of it. He surprisingly got the start on Opening Night and has been stellar in this expanded role. KJ has played at least 29 minutes in each of the first two games, averaging 30.2 fantasy points per game over that span. The fact he got 14 shots in the most recent outing further vindicates how much trust the Spurs have in him and it's clear he's the de facto third scorer in this offense. We absolutely love the matchup facing a Pelicans' team who ranked bottom-5 in defense and top-5 in pace last season.  

Forward to Avoid 

T.J. Warren, IND vs. BOS ($31)

Warren actually compiled a nice game on Saturday, but this valuation is ridiculous. The reason it's so lofty is because of his bubble blow-up, but that was an anomaly. Warren is typically a $20-$25 player and it's hard to see him living up to this price tag much longer. What makes it even tougher is the fact he's dealing with a plantar fascia issue, which was on full display when he dropped 7.7 Yahoo points in the opener. All of those issues make T.J. hard to trust, but facing a bludgeoning Boston defense makes him a must-fade at this salary.  

Centers 

James Wiseman, GS at CHI ($20)

While the Warriors have been walloped in the first two games, this rookie has proven to be an absolute steal. Not only has Wiseman scored at least 31 fantasy points in both contests, he's also averaging 34 Yahoo points per outing. What makes that even crazier is the fact he's yet to play more than 25 minutes, and the floor time should be on the rise sooner rather than later. That per-minute production makes Wiseman a fantastic value at $20 and we obviously love that he faces a Bulls' squad surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.  

Steven Adams, NOP vs. SAN ($19)

Adams rarely manages stat lines that jump off the page, but he always produces for fantasy purposes. Over his first two games, he's averaging 7.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. While none of those necessarily pop, it equates to 33 Yahoo points per outing. That's really all you can ask for from a player south of $20 and it's scary to think he's doing that without much scoring. San Antonio's weakest position happens to be at center, with LaMarcus Aldridge being way undersized at the position.  

Center to Avoid 

Tristan Thompson, BOS at IND ($19)

It's strange that Adams and Wiseman are essentially the same price as Thompson. In his first two games of the year, Thompson is averaging 21.4 Yahoo points per game across 22 minutes of action. That playing time is the thing that is most concerning, especially with the Celtics loving to play small-ball. That limited workload scares me even more in this matchup, with the Pacers ranked top-5 in total defense last year. That doesn't even take into consideration Myles Turner is considered one of the NBA's best defensive centers.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Joel Bartilotta plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: Joelbartilotta Yahoo: Joelbartilotta.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joel Bartilotta
Joel has 20 years of Fantasy experience, and can recall riding a young Daunte Culpepper to a championship in the 2003-04 season in his inaugural fantasy year. He covers NBA, NFL, daily fantasy, EPL, and MLB for RotoWire.
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