This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Wednesday boasts a large 10-game slate that is likely to deliver some high scoring daily contests. Eight teams -- the 76ers, Bucks, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Pacers, Warriors and Wizards -- are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, so make sure to watch who is active.
Amongst active teams, the Kings, Wizards and Magic have been the worst defense over the past 10 games, and all three are worth targeting. The toughest matchups are Warriors, Raptors and Spurs – and the Warriors and Spurs play each other; all three teams are worth avoiding.
GUARDS
Chris Paul, LAC vs. WAS ($44): Paul has not been kind to daily gamers recently, but this is a very good matchup and situation. The Wizards' defense is the second worst per-possession over the last 10 games out of the 20 teams in action Thursday, and they play at one of the fastest clips in the league. Additionally, the Wizards are on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Clippers are coming off three days of rest. Finally, there is a bit of a redemption storyline in play: the Clippers lost their last game in an embarrassing fashion, blowing an 18-point lead with just over five minutes to play. They've waited three days to get a chance to show that loss was a fluke, and I expect the whole team – but especially their leaders – to come out hungry.
Joe Ingles, UTA at SAC ($11): Ingles has become an important piece of the rotation this month, averaging 29.4 minutes per game. He has scored at least 20 fantasy points in nine of the last 14 games, never scoring fewer than 11. The possible absence of Gordon Hayward (quad) increases the likelihood of Ingles playing extra minutes in a larger offensive role. Alec Burks (personal) also missed Monday's game for an unspecified reason, though he is expected to be available Wednesday.
Other suggestions: Rodney Hood*, UTA at SAC ($10); Yogi Ferrell, DAL at NO ($10); Dennis Schroder, ATL at PHI ($27)
* If Gordon Hayward (quad) is out
Guard to Avoid
Stephen Curry, GS at SA ($51): Curry had 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists Tuesday, an excellent game by almost any standard. However, it only counted for 54.0 fantasy points, which will not be enough on Wednesday's busy slate. Additionally, that performance came against the Rockets after two days of rest. On Wednesday, he faces the Spurs, a much tougher, much slower defense, on the second night of a back-to-back. Curry has only three games with at least 50 fantasy points this month.
FORWARDS
Paul George, IND at MEM ($42): George is the only expensive forward who has consistently returned value on his salary lately, scoring at least 50 fantasy points in three of the last four games. In the game before that stretch, he put up 42.1 against a strong Jazz defense. The Grizzlies are a tough opponent, the only "but" to soften that downside is that, over their last five games, the Grizzlies have allowed the ninth-most points to small forwards.
P.J. Tucker, TOR vs. CHA ($11): Tucker has scored at least 20 fantasy points in six straight games. He's done it with consistent production in several categories, recording between seven to nine points, one to three threes, one to three assists and one to four steals in each game. The Raptors are in the thick of a playoff seeding battle, only one game out of third, and 2.5 out of second. Tucker is averaging 31.0 minutes per game during their six-game winning streak, so it seems unlikely that his role will see much change.
Other suggestions: Joe Johnson, UTA at SAC ($10); Terrance Ross, ORL vs. OKC ($16); LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. GS ($29)
Forward to Avoid
Blake Griffin, LAC vs. WAS ($43): Griffin has reached 40 fantasy points just twice this month, and both were still below 45. While the situational advantages that applied to Paul also apply here, Griffin has no recent history of being an asset in daily games. Since Chris Paul returned from his thumb injury after the All-Star break, Griffin has only one game where he earned a fantasy profit.
CENTERS
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. WAS ($29): Jordan has been one of the most consistent fantasy performers this season, and his recent stretch is no exception. His worst performance over the past seven games was 28.5 fantasy points, a "do no harm" mark for this salary, and it came against the stingy Jazz. He has six double-doubles in that stretch, including 20 points and 11 rebounds against the Kings. Jordan is one of few costly options who is averaging a profit this season.
Steven Adams, OKC at ORL ($17): Adams should spend most of Wednesday matching up against Nikola Vucevic, who is a good player overall, but he struggles defensively. As mentioned earlier, the Magic are one of the worst defenses in the league, and they play at a pace that ranks in the top third of the league. Adams profits less frequently than some of the available options, but the matchup gives him the edge.
Other suggestions: Willy Hernangomez, NY vs. MIA ($16); Myles Turner, IND at MEM ($22); Rudy Gobert, UTA at SAC ($32)
Center to Avoid
Greg Monroe, MIL at BOS ($18): This is less of an "avoid completely" and more of a "be wary of" pick. Monroe has actually produced a few small profits recently, including just his second double-double in the past two months. The problem with Monroe is that, for most of the season, he was playing in a more limited role. In his last seven games, he played fewer than 20 minute twice, and fewer that 25 two other times. The Celtics' defense has improved significantly as the season has worn on, making them no longer a desirable opponent.
