This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Ten games are scheduled Saturday, giving daily fantasy owners plenty of options. Two games stand out in particular for DFS consideration -- Mavericks vs. 76ers and Bulls vs. Lakers.
GUARD
Derrick Rose, CHI vs. LAL ($27) - Few point guards have been as good as Rose lately, and he gets the matchup of all matchups Sunday against the vulnerable Lakers. In his last nine games, Rose is averaging 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Jimmy Butler was out of the lineup in six of those games, and Roser has one of the highest usage rates in the league when Butler's out. If that's not enough incentive, he faces a Lakers team that ranks last in fantasy points allowed to point guards this season.
George Hill, IND at ORL ($20) - Hill has quietly played his best ball of the season in recent weeks. Not only did he fall one point and one assist shy of a triple-double in his most recent game, he averaged 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals over his last nine games. That's close to 30 fantasy points a game, which is a great value for a $20 player. Hill also gets to face a Magic team that ranks in the bottom-10 in fantasy points allowed to point guards this season.
Guard to Avoid:
Devin Booker, PHX vs. SAN ($22) - Booker has been a great breakout player this season, but this is a scary situation. On Sunday, he faces the NBA's best defense in the Spurs. Booker has also failed to reach 15 fantasy points twice in his last three games and perhaps is hitting a rookie wall. Booker thrives off hitting jumpers, but the Spurs hold opponents to less than 33 percent shooting from three-point range. There's also plenty of blowout potential in this game, with the Suns playing some of the worst ball in the league, while the Spurs are playing some of the best.
FORWARD
Doug McDermott, CHI vs. LAL ($10) - McDermott is coming off a career-high 30 points in his most recent game, and now may be the time to hop on the bandwagon. With all of Chicago's injuries, someone needs to step up the scoring and it may have to be McDermott. In fact, McDermott has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games and should have no problem doing that again against a Lakers defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards this season.
JaMychal Green, MEM at TOR ($10) - Green is also a beneficiary of injuries, playing extremely well in his starts. Since Marc Gasol got injured, Green has started both games and put up solid numbers in consistent minutes. Green averaged 29 fantasy points in those two starts, which is absurd value for a minimum priced player. He also gets a great matchup here, with the Raptors weakest position being at power forward. Look for Green to get 25 minutes or so and provide at least twice the value on his cheap price.
Forward to Avoid:
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL vs. PHI ($27) - Nowitzki has hit a bit of a wall in recent weeks and while this looks like a good matchup, it could end up being bad for fantasy. Over his last 12 games, Nowitzki is averaging 16 points and six rebounds with almost no other production. That's just too hard to trust, especially in a game where he could sit periodically. This game has blowout potential written all over it, which will ultimately lead to limited minutes for Nowitzki. It wouldn't be a shock to see Nowitzki match his price, but his upside is simply too limited.
CENTER
Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs. PHI ($20) - While this game could be a blowout, it really shouldn't affect a player like Pachulia. A strong rebounder, Zaza averages a double-double. He also thrives off defensive stats, and those should be easy to come by against an offense like the Sixers. Philadelphia ranks in the bottom five in points scored, field-goal percentage and turnovers per game, all of which benefit Pachulia. Not to mention, Pachulia is coming off a 19-rebound game in his most recent outing.
Center to Avoid:
Jordan Hill, IND at ORL ($16) - Hill has seen his minutes decrease recently with the emerging big men in Indiana. Myles Turner and Ian Mahinmi have secured roles as the starting four and five, and it's really hurting Hill. Hill is averaging less than nine fantasy points in his last two games and played just 20 minutes total in those games as well. This $16 price reflects his early season form and is just way too high for his current role. Also, Orlando is one of the 10 best teams in the NBA in defending centers this season.
