This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Tuesday brings a solid five-game slate that features some of the biggest and most expensive names in NBA DFS, including Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Any time there are that many elite starts on the slate, discerning which are worth the investment and where the value plays are becomes particularly important.
GUARD
Damian Lillard, POR at NO ($44): I certainly won't dissuade taking Russell Westbrook ($64) if you can swing the price, but also want to suggest an alternative for those who can't/aren't willing to go that high. Enter Lillard, who's scored 43.1 and 49.2 fantasy points in his last two games, respectively, and has cleared the 40-mark four other times and the 60-mark once in the last 10. He'll do battle with a Pelicans defense that's surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points per game (51.4) this season to point guards, and that ranks in the bottom 10 in assists, steals and three-pointers allowed to the position as well. Lillard himself has thrived in the matchup this season, averaging 27.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in two prior starts versus New Orleans.
Reggie Jackson, DET at CLE ($18):Jeremy Lin ($15) is also a good value play for those who need the extra savings, but Jackson seems to have recovered from an extended stretch of lackluster play, as he's now scored between 29.3 and 38.6 fantasy points in four of the last five games. He'll now face a Cavs team that has has surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points per game (50.8) to point guards, and the second-most (58.0) over the last five. They also rank in the bottom 10 against the position in nearly every other category, and Jackson has averaged a solid 17.0 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game in two appearances against the Cavs this season.
Guard to Avoid
Alex Abrines, OKC at BKN ($10): Abrines was a serviceable and affordable commodity when Victor Oladipo missed time with back spasms, but since the latter's return, the former's playing time and production have taken a dive. The young guard has seen no more than 15 minutes in each of the last four games, generating single-digit fantasy points in three of those contests. With Oladipo back to a full allotment of minutes, there's little reason to give Abrines consideration for the time being.
FORWARDS
Anthony Davis, NO vs. POR ($54):LeBron James ($56) is always a consideration but I like Davis just a bit more Tuesday considering his matchup against a Blazers defense that's surrendered 47.3 fantasy points per game to centers, along with bottom-10 figures in points (21.2) and rebounds (15.0). Davis has averaged 34.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 4.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game in two starts versus Portland this season, while shooting 61.5 percent from the field. He exploded for a massive 79.7 fantasy points against the Hornets on Saturday (although DeMarcus Cousins spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench), and had scored over 50 fantasy points three times and over 60 once in the prior seven games as well. For those looking for something more in the mid-tier, Paul George ($35) and Dario Saric ($32) present as solid options.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at NO ($18): On the other side of what should be a high-scoring affair is Aminu, who has scored between 26.4 and 32.2 fantasy points in five of the last six games. His bench role seems to suit him, and he's still playing no fewer than 29 minutes most nights, and often over 30. He'll draw a good matchup against a Pelicans defense that's yielded the 10-most fantasy points per game (45.2) to power forwards on the season, along with the most rebounds (12.7).
Forward to Avoid
Doug McDermott, OKC at BKN ($10): McDermott has flashed some nice upside in the past but has yet to really hit any type of stride in Oklahoma City despite playing robust minutes. He tallied zero fantasy points over a brief five-minute stint on the court against the Jazz on Saturday, and has scored between 3.5 and 15.8 fantasy points in seven of his other eight games in a Thunder uniform. He's posted that meager production despite seeing well over 30 minutes in three contests and over 20 in three others over that span.
CENTERS
Andre Drummond, DET at CLE ($30): While DeMarcus Cousins ($54) makes for a very appealing play for those with the cash to spend, Drummond comes at a significant discount and in a matchup he dominated just last Thursday night. The Pistons' big man had a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double that helped lead to 42.2 fantasy points, and he followed that up with 48.0 fantasy points against the Knicks on Saturday. Cleveland has given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game (52.3) to centers over the last five games, a number that Drummond helped bring about, and they have also yielded the fourth-most rebounds per game (15.5) to the position this season.
Zaza Pachulia, GS vs. PHI ($10): Guillermo Hernangomez ($17) is a solid "higher-end" value play for those with the extra cash, but Pachulia makes for an excellent minimum-priced dart throw given his matchup. He was solid Saturday against the Spurs, scoring 30.4 fantasy points, though the other four opening day starters didn't play. However, he had 26.5 the game before against the T-Wolves with everyone except Kevin Durant healthy, and scored between 21.3 and 30.0 fantasy points in a four-game stretch within the 10 contests prior. He now draws a Sixers defense that's surrendered the most fantasy points per game to the position this season (53.5), over the last five games (66.1) and over the last 10 (61.0). Philadelphia also gives up the most points (23.5) and second-most rebounds per game (16.1) to fives, and ranks in the bottom five in assists, steals, blocks and field-goal percentage allowed.
Center to Avoid
Tristan Thompson, CLE vs. DET ($16): As much as Drummond thrived in this matchup last Thursday, Thompson struggled with just 16.8 fantasy points on four points, four rebounds and four assists over nearly 26 minutes. That isn't exactly surprising considering the Pistons are the fifth-stingiest defense in terms of fantasy points surrendered to centers this season, and have allowed the second-fewest per game (40.9) to the position over the last 10. With more appealing options like Guillermo Hernangomez ($17) and Steven Adams ($17) just a dollar higher and Zaza Pachulia at minimum price, Thompson can be avoided.
