This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
With the baseball season kicking off and the college basketball national championship on Monday, we get rewarded with a full Sunday slate. In fact, we have 11 games and many of you will have your year-long fantasy championships decided during this slate. Be sure to not let that affect your decisions on DFS. Hoping a player does well because he's in your year-long league is a recipe for disaster in DFS. Also, since its the end of the year, be aware of players resting and avoid any potential questions.
GUARD
Toney Douglas, NOP at BRK ($16) - With all the injuries in New Orleans, Douglas has found himself in the most prominent role of his career. Not only has he scored 17 or more fanatsy points in 13 consecutive games, 11 of those have been at least 23 fanatasy points. He's also seeing a career-high usage rate as the starting point guard. This is a great matchup as well, with the Nets ranking 24th in fantasy points allowed to point guards.
J.J. Barea, DAL at MIN ($13) - Barea has also been a beneficiary of injuries, but he's been even better than Toney Douglas, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in his last three games. The $13 price is obviously not indicative of his recent form, and he's easily the value of the day. He also has a great matchup as the Timberwoves allow the third-most fanatsy points to point guards.
Guard to Avoid:
Zach LaVine, MIN vs. DAL ($24) - LaVine has scored 15 or fewer fantasy points in four consecutive games, and there's simply not enough ball to go round. Ricky Rubio dominates the ballhandling, Andrew Wiggins dominates the shots and Karl-Anthony Towns needs his post touches. That leaves little for LaVine to feast off, and it makes him hard to trust for DFS. This is a tough matchup too, with Dallas ranking 12th in fanatsy points allowed to shooting guards.
FORWARD
Zach Randolph, MEM at ORL ($23) - Perhaps no team is as injury riddled as the Grizzlies, and it's opened the door for Randolph to control the offense through the post. The power forward has scored at least 35 fanatsy points in seven of his last 11 games and is stuffing the stat sheet. He's performing like a $30 player. The matchup is solid as well, with the Magic ranking 23rd in fanatsy points allowed to power forwards.
Wesley Matthews, DAL at MIN ($17) - Let's continue banking on injuries with the resurgence of Matthews. Since Chandler Parsons and Deron Williams went down, Matthews is a different player. Not only has he scored at least 21 fanatsy points in seven straight games, five of those were 27 fanatsy points or more. It's clear his usage is up and it's also clear his minutes are a near guarantee. With Dallas fighting to stay in the playoff hunt, look for Matthews to be leaned on heavily at an affordbale price.
Forward to Avoid:
Blake Griffin, LAC vs. WSH ($42) - Many will want to pivot to Griffin in his first game back, but that's a bad idea. Usually a player's price takes a hit when he's injured, but that hasn't been the case with Griffin. In all liklehood, he'll be eased in and won't play full minutes in his first game back. For him to reach value at $42, he needs to scored about 50 fanatsy points, which will be difficult in just 30 minutes. The matchup isn't great either, as the Wizards have had success against big men all season.
CENTER
Rudy Gobert, UTA at PHX ($19) - Gobert has seen a huge price drop in recent weeks, but he's starting to become a value. He's also starting to get hot, as he has scored 32 or more fantasy points in three straigt games. He has 20-20 ceiling and the capability to block five-plus shots against a Suns team that ranks in the bottom three in total defense and top three in pace. Plus, Derrick Favors may miss this game, which makes Gobert the only true threat in the post.
Center to Avoid:
Dwight Howard, HOU vs. OKC ($28) - Howard has really struggled recently and his role in the offense is nearly invisible. He's averaged only five shots a game in his last 10 game and is shooting 38 percent from the free-throw line. His touches and shots are down, which could spell disatser in a matchup like this. The Thunder rank fifth in fantasy points allowed to centers and are the best rebounding team in the league. A double-double isn't impossible for Howard, but a low-end double-double is the ceiling.
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