This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Wednesday nights often mean robust ledgers in the NBA, and tonight certainly fits the bill. A total of nine games populate the schedule, and a pair of the fastest-paced teams in the NBA are notably in action (Pelicans and Warriors). There could also be some fatigue at play, as teams such as the Wizards and Pelicans have been burning the proverbial candle at both ends recently with respect to how many games they've already played coming out of the All-Star break.
Additionally, if a trio of potential absences at center in the form of Dwight Howard (ribs), Clint Capela (illness) and Pau Gasol (knee) come to pass, it would certainly bump up the value of their respective teammates, so their statuses will be something to monitor heading into lineup lock.
Without further ado, let's take a look at two options at each position at opposite ends of the salary spectrum (as well as other options to consider), along with one player to avoid.
GUARD
James Harden, HOU at LAC ($51): Harden has scored 47.7 to 62.8 fantasy points over his last nine games, and he lambasted the Clippers for 68.8 fantasy points in his one prior meeting against them on Dec. 22 on the strength of a 51-point performance. Los Angeles continues to be as susceptible as ever to two-guards, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points (37.8) to the position on the season. They're also ranked in the bottom 10 in backcourt efficiency rating allowed (46.8) and are playing at the third-fastest pace over the last three games (110.4 possessions per game), a notable uptick from the 102.0 they average per contest on the season.
Danny Green, SA vs. NO ($11): Green has quietly been lending a hand to the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge on the offensive end in the absence of Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps), scoring 23.2 to 28.6 fantasy points in his last three contests, while also clearing the 20-mark on three occasions and the 40-milestone once in four of the prior five games. He's boasting an impressive 64.6 effective shooting percentage and averaging 1.42 points per possession during that span, and he's priced to move again Wednesday against a Pelicans squad that's playing at the second-fastest pace in the NBA on the season (105.1 possessions per game), including the fastest (117.2 possessions) over the last three contests. New Orleans is also highly vulnerable to two-guards, allowing the second-most fantasy points (38.8) to the position, along with the third-most made three-pointers (2.9). Meanwhile, Green has been exceedingly sharp over the last five, draining 51.3 percent of his shots, including 56.0 percent of his 5.0 attempts per game from behind the arc.
Other guards to consider: Victor Oladipo, IND at ATL ($43); Bradley Beal, WAS vs. GS ($37); Kemba Walker, CHA at BOS ($35); Devin Booker, PHO at MEM ($33); Dejounte Murray, SA vs. NO ($22); J.J. Barea, DAL vs. OKC ($16)
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Guard to Avoid
Klay Thompson, GS at WAS ($24): Thompson got hot against the Knicks in the Warriors' last game, but he'd scored between 21 and 24 fantasy points in the three games prior, as well as under 20 twice in the four contests preceding that stretch. He doesn't exactly draw an inviting matchup Wednesday, as the Wizards allow the fifth-lowest efficiency rating (19.6) to shooting guards, along with the sixth-fewest fantasy points (33.0) per contest to the position on the season. Given Thompson's typically scoring-dependent stat lines and the fact more well-rounded options like Dennis Schroder ($23), Nicolas Batum ($23), Dejounte Murray ($22) and Dennis Smith, Jr. ($20) check in cheaper, Thompson is a stay-away candidate.
FORWARD
Kevin Durant, GS at WAS ($44): Durant comes at a discount for those looking to pivot down from Giannis Antetokounmpo ($49) and has scored 41.0 to 69.4 fantasy points in his last four contests. He had no trouble against the Wizards in his one prior meeting against them, either, compiling 58.2 fantasy points on the strength of a 31-point, 11-rebound double-double back on Oct. 27, and he'll catch them at a particularly opportune time Wednesday. Washington will be on its fifth game in seven nights and has been increasingly vulnerable to small forwards of late, as the 42.1 fantasy points they're allowing the position over the last five in a notable increase over the 31.5 they're yielding on the season. Golden State also continues to play at an especially frenetic pace on the road, as they come into Wednesday generating the second-most possessions (105.2 per game) away from their home floor.
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. ATL ($15): Like Green, Bogdanovic has been providing some impressive under-the-radar production and often outpacing his current price. Most recently, he's scored 25.3 to 41.8 fantasy points in six of his last nine contests, and he eclipsed the 20-mark in two of the other three during that span as well. As the numbers imply, he's been locked in during that stretch, posting a 50.5 percent success rate, including 44.0 percent from distance. The matchup could hardly line up for him better Wednesday, considering the Hawks have allowed the most fantasy points on the season (38.1) to small forwards, including 41.2 over the last 10. They're also yielding the most made-threes (2.5) and highest shooting percentage (50.0) to the position on the campaign -- along with the fifth-highest percentage of scoring from three-pointers (31.5) overall – all numbers that could lead to the sharpshooting Bogdanovic providing a handsome return on a very modest price.
Other forwards to consider:Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at DET ($49); Al Horford, BOS vs. CHA ($24); Mario Hezonja, ORL vs. TOR ($22); Taurean Prince, ATL vs. IND ($14)
Forward to Avoid
Blake Griffin, DET vs. MIL ($33): Griffin has been underperforming in the three games coming out of the All-Star break after a solid start in Motown, as he's scored just 17.3 to 24.8 fantasy points in those contests. That sample includes two games overall under 20 fantasy points, a return nowhere near worthy of his current price. The Bucks also rank tops in offensive efficiency rating allowed to power forward (22.2) and in the top half of the league in fantasy points surrendered to the position (33.6) as well, dampening Griffin's prospects further at his current cost.
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CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET vs. MIL ($43): Drummond continues to churn out double-doubles with eye-popping regularity, now having accomplished the feat in 15 straight games. The dominant big man has eclipsed 40 fantasy points on five occasions, the 50-mark twice, the 60-threshold thrice, and, for good measure, the 70-milestone once during that span, providing a glimpse at his massive ceiling. He's already punished the Bucks to the tune of 21.3 points, 17.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 31.3 minutes in three prior games this season, while Milwaukee comes in allowing nearly 11 more fantasy points per game over their last five to centers than their season average (45.3, up from 34.6). Moreover, they're allowing the ninth-most points in the paint on the season (45.8) – including the fourth most over the last three (53.3) – while Drummond is scoring a robust 79.0 percent of his points in that area of the floor this season.
Marcin Gortat, WAS vs. GS ($13): Gortat is priced right for a player who's scored 23.1 to 35.3 fantasy points in five of the last seven, and who'll be involved in a matchup against a Warriors squad playing at the second-highest pace in the NBA on the road (105.2 possessions per game). The Polish Hammer tallied an impressive 33.8 fantasy points over 32-plus minutes in his one prior meeting against Golden State, while the 46.0 fantasy points the defending champs have allowed to centers over the last five is a sizable bump over their 34.9 seasonal figure. They've been porous in the paint all season as well, allowing the fifth-most points in that area of the floor (47.4), which is where 73.8 percent of Gortat's scoring emanates.
Other centers to consider: Anthony Davis, NO at SA ($58); LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. NO ($37); Steven Adams, OKC at DAL ($27)
Center to Avoid
Bismack Biyombo, ORL vs. TOR ($13):Nikola Vucevic has finally returned from an extended layoff due to a broken hand and has upped his minutes from 24 to 33 in the three games he's played thus far. That's equated to a rapid return to a modest role for Biyombo, who's played just 14 and 15 minutes, respectively, in the last two contests. The reduced opportunity has already resulted in a pair of single-digit fantasy-point tallies, and there's little reason to think anything will change Wednesday barring another injury to Vucevic.
