This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
With a big 11-game slate Monday, finding contrarian plays will be key to differentiate your roster in tournaments. The Nuggets are an interesting team to stack against the Sixers' poor road defense. They offer affordable guards and forwards to choose from with none costing you more than $26. If you're looking for another high-scoring affair, look no further than Wizards-Nets, a matchup that could get ugly, but not necessarily in your lineup. Washington has the more appealing options in John Wall ($44), Bradley Beal ($28) and Otto Porter ($28), but don't sleep on Brooklyn's cheap guards Sean Kilpatrick ($21) and Bojan Bogdanovic ($13).
GUARDS
John Wall, WAS at BKN ($44): The Nets have been putrid on defense, allowing 119 points per game in their past five at Barclays Center. Wall is on a tear of late with three straight double-doubles and is conveniently priced fifth among point guards. You can argue Russell Westbrook ($58) should be employed in all lineups when he's playing, but Wall has a better matchup and is much cheaper, giving you cap flexibility to spend on a more balanced lineup.
Dwyane Wade, CHI vs. POR ($28): Wade sat out Saturday's blowout loss to the Mavericks and will return against the Trail Blazers. He had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists against Portland earlier in the season, scoring 37.5 fantasy points. The veteran has at least 22 points in four of his past five games and Wade presents a mismatch for Portland's undersized backcourt tandem of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Guard to Avoid
DeMar DeRozan, TOR vs. CLE ($42): Once the NBA's leading scorer, DeRozan has fallen to fifth with 27.9 points per game after going eight straight games without reaching 30. Despite Toronto's six-game win streak, DeRozan has scored more than his salary just once in that span. Going up against a hungry Cavaliers team in need of a win doesn't bode well for anyone on the Raptors, and DeRozan could see LeBron James guarding him in key situations.
FORWARDS
Draymond Green, GS vs. IND ($36): Green has been dealing with an ankle injury that has hampered his production, so his minutes are a bit erratic. That said, he is beginning to look more like the catalyst of the Warriors' offense lately, posting 22 assists and 20 rebounds in his past two games. Green had 20 points in a high-scoring game against the Rockets recently and the Pacers will be playing the second of a back-to-back. It's rare to find Green this cheap, making him an appealing play in both tournaments and cash games.
Wilson Chandler, DEN at PHI ($26): The Nuggets head into Philadelphia to face the Sixers, who have allowed 109.2 points per game during their six-game losing streak. Chandler's price remains low despite an average of 31.2 fantasy points per game in an easy matchup. He has at least 20 points in four of five games with three 3-pointers in three of those contests. Chandler chips in enough secondary categories and is an excellent cash game play considering his ownership percentage should be higher than normal.
Forward to Avoid
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at MIL ($28): Aldridge hasn't been terrible but isn't setting the world on fire either. He's gone six straight games without eclipsing 40 fantasy points and has gone nine straight without a double-double. The Bucks aren't a pushover anymore and have won five of their past six games, plus the Spurs are lacking solid guard play to initiate offense in the post. He isn't an absolute fade option, but there are more appealing plays at his price in Jabari Parker, Otto Porter and Harrison Barnes.
CENTERS
Al Horford, BOS at HOU ($31): The options at center for Monday's 11-game slate are surprisingly thin, with Dwight Howard and Horford as the highest priced at the position, followed by Joel Embiid and Marc Gasol at $29. Horford has the most breakout potential, having scored 26 points with eight rebounds and six blocks (57.1 fantasy points) in a win Friday against the Kings. The Rockets, it seems, haven't played in a game that wasn't high scoring this season, so expect plenty of points from both teams.
Marcin Gortat, WAS at BKN ($23): Gortat has a double-double in five of his past seven games and the Nets' defensive woes are well documented. Like Chandler, Gortat is averaging 30.6 fantasy points per game despite being priced very nicely. He's coming off a season-high 51.6 fantasy points against the Spurs, posting 21 points and 18 rebounds with two assists, steals and blocks each.
Center to Avoid
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. CLE ($24): It's hard to find a center worth fading, but Valanciunas has struggled the most of the players priced in the $20-$30 range. His drop in minutes is discouraging, as he hasn't played more than 24:13 in his past four games. He has a combined 14 points and 16 rebounds in his past three games and more than 30 fantasy points in just one over a four-game stretch. The Cavaliers have done a nice job limiting centers lately and this game could get ugly if Cleveland comes out with a full head of steam.
