This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday night brings a five-game slate that doesn't have any elite options outside of James Harden. It's therefore possible to put together some very balanced lineups that still offer high upside, particularly with a number of appealing value plays available.
GUARDS
Kyle Lowry, TOR at BRO ($42):James Harden ($62) is always intriguing but checks in a bit overpriced based on his production over the last three games. Lowry, on the other hand, is priced right where he should be for a matchup against a Nets defense that's allowed the most fantasy points (52.35) to point guards, along with the third-most points (24.7), most rebounds (7.2), second-most assists (9.7), second-most threes (2.7) and most steals (2.9) per game. The blowout risk is about the only concern, but Lowry could easily come close or exceed the 42.7 fantasy points he scored against this same squad in 35 minutes last Friday.
Tony Parker, SA vs. MIN ($13): Parker has scored between 19.1 and 37.6 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have allowed 43.91 fantasy points per game to point guards this season, including 22.3 points and 9.0 assists per game (sixth-most in the league) to the position. Given Parker's proficiency as a distributor and his near-minimum price, he should be poised for a solid return.
Guard to Avoid
Rajon Rondo, CHI vs. DAL ($17): Rondo is back in the rotation but continues to underwhelm, having scored between 15.1 and 17.4 fantasy points in his last three while coming off the bench behind Michael Carter-Williams. His fantasy production has gone down in each of those contests and he'll now draw a Mavs defense that allows the fewest fantasy points (39.04) per game to point guards.
FORWARDS
Kawhi Leonard, SA vs. MIN ($42): Leonard ran over the Timberwolves for 42.2 fantasy points on Dec. 6 on the strength of 31 points, and he'll be in prime position for another strong return Tuesday. He has been on fire, scoring between 41.2 and 53.4 fantasy points in five of his last six games, including at least 30 actual points in three straight. With a pair of losses in their last three contests, the Spurs figure to be particularly aggressive Tuesday, which should equal a healthy dose of minutes and plenty of production for Leonard.
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL at CHI ($18): Nowitzki's offense has finally come around, as he's scored between 17 and 26 points in his last three, which has helped lead to tallies of 30.2 to 40.5 fantasy points over that span. He's shot 48.8 percent from the field and a red-hot 57.9 percent from three-point range during that stretch, and he should be primed to produce against a Bulls defense that's allowed 44.0 fantasy points per game to power forwards this season, including 57.21 over their last five games.
Forward to Avoid
Luol Deng, LAL vs. DEN ($18): Deng has scored between 8.7 and 15.6 fantasy points in three of his last four games, including just 13.9 in 36 minutes Sunday against the Pistons' tough defense versus small forwards. Things don't get any easier Tuesday, as the Nuggets allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points (36.39) per game to the position. With Nowitzki at the same price, and the likes of Kenneth Faried ($15), DeMarre Carroll ($14) and Doug McDermott ($12) all cheaper and in potentially better situations, Deng can be avoided.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN at LAL ($28): Jokic exploded for a career-high 30 points against the Magic on Monday, which helped lead to a whopping 55.2 fantasy points. The performance was the apex of a scalding-hot stretch for Jokic, who had scored between 37.4 and 47.0 fantasy points in the seven games prior as well. He could hardly ask for a better matchup Tuesday, as the Lakers have surrendered the most fantasy points per game (70.75) to centers over the last four, and the second-most (50.74) on the season. Los Angeles also gives up a robust 56.4 field-goal percentage to the position, while Jokic is shooting 68.6 percent over the last four games.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at BRO ($18): Valanciunas has scored between 30.7 and 46.6 fantasy points over the last three, including 31.5 against this same Nets squad on Jan. 13. Those are excellent returns on his modest price tag, and there's little reason to think that the Raptors big man can't provide similar returns Tuesday. The Nets continue to rank as the worst defense in the league against centers in terms of fantasy points allowed per game (54.01), while also giving up the second-most points (22.0), third-most assists (3.3), most blocks (2.8) and second-most steals (1.4) to the position.
Center to Avoid
Jusuf Nurkic, DEN at LAL ($12): Nurkic is priced low enough, but has also played a combined 14 minutes over the last two games, leading to single-digit fantasy point totals in each contest. There's no telling what degree of opportunity he'll see Tuesday, making him an avoid candidate despite a very good matchup against the Lakers.
