This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
We all know how important elite options are in daily fantasy basketball contests. Hitting it huge in a tournament or cash game is usually dependant on your studs going off, and there are a handful of such players to target/avoid Monday. Stephen Curry goes without saying, but John Wall ($49) comes in $10 cheaper and has recorded dour double-doubles and a triple-double over his last five games. LeBron James ($52) hasn't reach a point per dollar in seven games, while "The Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo has shown his potential as a tournament breaker. Choose your elite players wisely, folks.
GUARD
Stephen Curry, GSW at MIN ($59) - The Warriors and Curry are coming off their worst loss of the season after scoring a season-low 79 points Saturday at San Antonio. Curry finished with just 14 points and registered his lowest fantasy point total in seven games. The last time Curry stepped onto a court in Minnesota, he dropped 46 points (eight three-pointers) with five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals or 63.0 FPts. The Warriors can't afford a slip up Monday against the T-Wolves if they plan on breaking the Bulls' record of 72-10. Curry will be worth paying up for.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET vs. MIL ($23) - KCP battled through injuries in February, but has come back strong in March. He's scored at least 20 points in four of his last six games and has hit seven of his last 18 attempts from beyond the arc. The Bucks are allowing the sixth most points to opposing shooting guards over the last 10 games. Unless you want to pay up for someone like Jimmy Butler ($43), then KCP is a solid choice if you're looking to save some salary.
Guard to Avoid:
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. SA ($45) - Kemba usually burns me when I advise not to use him, but a matchup against the Spurs is no joke. San Antonio held the best player in the league to just 14 points on 4-of-18 shooting Saturday, and we'll likely see a similar result Monday for Walker. The Hornets' leading scorer has been a bit off lately, failing to reach 20 points in three of his last six and only reach a point per dollar in one of those contests. Walker is an obvious fade.
FORWARD
Kawhi Leonard, SA at CHA ($43) - While you should avoid the Spurs defense, don't shy away from their options on offense. San Antonio is on a six-game winning streak mostly on the back of Leonard, who has played like the MVP for most of the season. He's scored 20 or more points in 10 of his last 12 games, and you know Leonard is going to fill up the box score. Whether it's cash games or GPPs, Leonard should be a popular play Monday.
Myles Turner, IND vs. PHI ($20) - Usually when you're going through a bit of a dryspell, you mark down the 76ers on your calendar and count the days until you get that chance at redemption. That time is now for Turner, who has hit the proverbial "rookie wall" as they say. Philadelphia is allowing the third most fantasy points per game (46.94) to power forwards this season and Turner seems like a sleeping giant for use in contests Monday.
Forward to Avoid:
Aaron Gordon, ORL at BOS ($29) - Despite a solid matchup against the Celtics, Gordon is trending downward and his salary has become inflated. You're essentially paying nearly 15 percent of your cap on a young player who gets inconsistent minutes regardless of the fact that Nikola Vucevic is dealing with a groin injury. There are plenty of power forwards below Gordon's price range that are way more appealing options in all daily formats.
CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET vs. MIL ($40) - Drummond has killed the Bucks this season. In three games against Milwaukee, Drummond has averaged 15.7 points, 18.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks. He's almost guaranteed to score over a point per dollar and should be used in all your cash-game lineups. If the averages weren't convincing enough, the Bucks are allowing the most fantasy points (57.13) to opposing centers the last three weeks.
Center to Avoid:
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. GSW ($42) - My thinking in this game is that the Warriors are going to come out hot and bury the Timberwolves early, which doesn't bode well for Towns' fantasy prospects considering he's the second-highest price center for Monday's contests behind DeMarcus Cousins ($57). Golden State has been second best over the last three weeks at stifling opposing centers, holding them to just 41.98 fantasy points per game. Towns' streak of four double-doubles could end against the Warriors.
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