This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday brings us a larger than usual six-game slate with both the Thunder and Warriors in action, which means two of the highest-priced players in DFS, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, are available. Are they worth the investment, or is there better value to be had at a savings? Let's dive in to how the dollars might best be allocated:
GUARDS
Damian Lillard, POR at DET ($41): The trio of Russell Westbrook ($63), John Wall ($51) and Stephen Curry ($50) are all significantly costlier, but Lillard shapes up as a potentially terrific fantasy-point-per-dollar bargain. He's been hot in the two games following the All-Star break, scoring 42.0 and 49.2 fantasy points, respectively. He'd also eclipsed 40 fantasy points in three of the five games prior to the extended layoff, and is sporting a 30.4 percent usage rate in eight February contests. Meanwhile, the Pistons have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (45.79), seventh-most points (23.4), fifth-most rebounds (6.1) and eight-highest field-goal percentage (44.1) to the position this season.
Reggie Jackson, DET vs. POR ($18):Gary Harris ($19) is also a strong play at just $1 more, but Jackson is appealing in his own right after scoring between 26.4 and 31.1 fantasy points in three of the last four games. He's certainly had his inconsistencies, so he doesn't come without risk, but Ish Smith's improved play off the bench may have lit a fire under Jackson recently. Jackson also draws a solid matchup, as the Blazers give up the second-most points (24.6) and third-most three-pointers (2.6) to point guards on the season.
Guard to Avoid
Victor Oladipo, OKC vs. UTA ($24): Oladipo is questionable with a back injury, and even if he does take the court, he'll draw what is essentially the toughest matchup in the league for two-guards. The Jazz give up the fewest fantasy points (33.66) to shooting guards, along with the second-fewest points (19.2) and fewest assists (2.9). D'Angelo Russell ($24), George Hill ($23), Jameer Nelson ($20), Gary Harris ($19), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($19) and Nick Young ($12) are all less expensive and with better matchups.
FORWARDS
Kevin Durant, GS at WAS ($52): Durant shook off the hand contusion that had kept him out of Saturday's game against the Nets to tally 43.1 fantasy points against the Sixers on Monday. He also scored 58.5 fantasy points in his only other game after the All-Star break last Thursday versus the Clippers, and the Wizards give up the fifth-most points (20.9), most assists (3.9) and fifth-most three-pointers (2.1) to small forwards this season.
Nikola Mirotic, CHI vs. DEN ($10):Brandon Ingram ($11) is also a very intriguing and low-risk option in his matchup against the Hornets, but Mirotic is even cheaper and is receiving extended run in the wake of Taj Gibson's departure. He's scored 31.6 and 32.5 fantasy points in the first two contests without Gibson, respectively, while averaging 33 minutes per game. Mirotic has a 20.1 percent usage rate overall without Gibson on the floor this season, and the Nuggets yield the 10-most fantasy points (45.17), ninth-most points (20.3), third-most assists (3.4) and third-highest field-goal percentage (48.6) to power forwards.
Forward to Avoid
Bobby Portis, CHI vs. DEN ($13): Portis has been the starter at the four since the Gibson trade, but he's been notably outpaced in playing time by the more productive Mirotic. Portis has scored between 11.1 and 19.4 fantasy points in three of the last four games, and with Mirotic at minimum price, the former becomes a pretty clear avoid candidate.
CENTERS
Andre Drummond, DET vs. POR ($34):Nikola Jokic ($48) is a risky play based on recent performance, price and tough matchup against the Bulls, making Drummond an even better play than he typically is. He is considerably cheaper than Jokic and draws a matchup against a Blazers squad that's surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points (49.28) to centers on the season. While almost all of those numbers were compiled when the departed Mason Plumlee was patrolling the paint in Portland, the Blazers have given up a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double to Rudy Gobert, a 25-point outing to Nikola Vucevic and a 15-point effort to Jonas Valanciunas in the three games Jusuf Nurkic has started at the five. Drummond has also scored between 34.6 and 55.4 fantasy points in six of the last eight games, and has double-doubles in seven of those contests.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR at DET ($11): With a price that's just $1 away from minimum, Nurkic represents an appealing value in his own right. He turned in 26.9 and 40.9 fantasy points in his first two games in a Blazers uniform before dropping to 16.8 against the Raptors on Sunday. The Pistons have given up 45.74 fantasy points per game to centers, and Nurkic is sporting a healthy 22.2 percent usage rate since joining Portland, furthering his case as a low-cost alternative.
Center to Avoid
Steven Adams, OKC vs. UTA ($21): As mentioned earlier, Jokic could also be considered a borderline avoid candidate due to his elevated cost, but Adams draws one of the worst matchups for centers in the league versus Rudy Gobert and the Jazz. Utah has yielded the third-fewesst fantasy points to centers, along with the second-fewest rebounds (12.9) and lowest field-goal percentage (47.4) to the position. Adams has averaged only 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists across 32.5 minutes in two games against the Jazz this season, rendering him a stay-away.
