This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Wednesday provides a slate of 10 games, offering a variety of players from which to choose. We'll look at unappreciated players who have been playing well above their prices recently, and who also have favorable matchups. Also, we will tackle a few players to avoid due to either popularity or bad matchups.
GUARD
Isaiah Thomas, BOS vs LAL ($40) - No team has been worse defending point guards this season than the Lakers, who are giving up more FPPG to the position than any team. In general, no team has been worse defensively than the Lakers period, as they allow a league-high 107.3 points per game. Besides being a favorable matchup for Thomas, he has also been playing very well recently. Thomas has posted 21.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.2 dimes, 1.2 steals and 1.7 threes in 34.3 minutes over his last six games. The Celtics are not necessarily an offensive savvy team, relying heavily on Thomas for offensive productions. Given his hot play and advantageous matchup, Thomas looks poised for big night.
Ricky Rubio, MIN vs UTA ($31) - Speaking of hot point-guard play, Ricky Rubio is heating up. Rubio has put together a solid season in Minnesota, outside of a rough stretch due to an ankle injury. Rubio has posted an unconventional statline recently of 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 9.7 dimes, 0.7 threes and a remarkable 3.9 steals over his last seven contests. At $31, Rubio is producing well above his value. He has scored more than
Wednesday provides a slate of 10 games, offering a variety of players from which to choose. We'll look at unappreciated players who have been playing well above their prices recently, and who also have favorable matchups. Also, we will tackle a few players to avoid due to either popularity or bad matchups.
GUARD
Isaiah Thomas, BOS vs LAL ($40) - No team has been worse defending point guards this season than the Lakers, who are giving up more FPPG to the position than any team. In general, no team has been worse defensively than the Lakers period, as they allow a league-high 107.3 points per game. Besides being a favorable matchup for Thomas, he has also been playing very well recently. Thomas has posted 21.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.2 dimes, 1.2 steals and 1.7 threes in 34.3 minutes over his last six games. The Celtics are not necessarily an offensive savvy team, relying heavily on Thomas for offensive productions. Given his hot play and advantageous matchup, Thomas looks poised for big night.
Ricky Rubio, MIN vs UTA ($31) - Speaking of hot point-guard play, Ricky Rubio is heating up. Rubio has put together a solid season in Minnesota, outside of a rough stretch due to an ankle injury. Rubio has posted an unconventional statline recently of 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 9.7 dimes, 0.7 threes and a remarkable 3.9 steals over his last seven contests. At $31, Rubio is producing well above his value. He has scored more than 30 fantasy points in six of his last eight outings, including a 54-point performance.
Guard to Avoid:
Brandon Knight, PHO at SA ($37) - With Eric Bledsoe officially out for the season, Knight is expected to carry more of an offensive load. Unfortunately, he might not see the fruits of his expanded labor Wednesday due to an unfavorable matchup. Phoenix heads to San Antonio to play easily the best defense in the league. The Spurs allow just 88.8 points per game, 6.5 points less then the next best defensive team, and they're giving up the fifth fewest FPPG to opposing point guards. The main reason to avoid Knight, as well as rookie Devin Booker, is to fade the public, who will likely try to strike while the iron is hot on their values.
FORWARD
Tobias Harris, ORL vs BRO ($28) - Harris is another unappreciated forward who has been playing well above his slated price recently. Since Dec. 14, he has averaged an efficient 15.4 points, 7.3 boards, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 triples in 33.2 in eight games. He has even scored 30 plus fantasy points in five of those eight contests. On Wednesday, he will match up with a Brooklyn team giving up 103.5 points per game. Given his recent success and the chance for a high-scoring game, Harris is a safe play in his price range.
Forward to Avoid:
Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs UTA ($29) - There are not a lot of obvious bad plays at forward Wednesday, but Wiggins does draw a disadvantageous matchup with the Jazz. Utah holds opposing small forwards to the third-fewest fantasy points per game and gives up the fifth-most points overall. Wiggins has played subpar recently. He averaged only 17.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks and 0.2 threes in 34.3 minutes over his last five games. During those five games he failed to reach 30 fantasy points, including a 14-point fantasy game. Given his matchup, Wednesday may not be the best time to bet on Wiggins to break out of his sump.
CENTER
Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs BRO ($34) - When healthy, Vucevic is one of the more undervalued Centers in the league. He has been relatively healthy this year, and putting up solid numbers. Specifically, in the last eight games for the Magic, Vucevic has showed all he is capable of. He posted 21.8 points, 8.6 boards, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game during that span. That line has resulted in 30-plus fantasy points in each of those eight games, including five 40-plus fantasy point outings. His consist play recently is one reason to go with the Magic big man Wednesday night, another is his matchup. Brooklyn allows the most fantasy points per game to centers. Vucevic should continue to produce numbers above his price with this matchup.
Pau Gasol, CHI vs IND ($39) - Gasol has turned back time over the last month, producing like a top-tier talent, while still being priced like a second-tier one. Over his last 14 games, Gasol averaged 19.4 points, 11.4 boards, 3.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.6 blocks in 32.9 minutes. Those numbers are not stemming from one or two massive games either, he has scored 30-plus fantasy points in all of those 14 games, as well as 40-plus in eight of the 14. With Joakim Noah injured, the team has become more reliant on their veteran big man. Expect Gasol to finish off one of the better months of his career with another vintage like state line.
Center to Avoid:
Alex Len, PHO at SA ($16) - Len has been a nice surprise this year, but Wednesday is not night to go with the Suns' big man. San Antonio gives up the fewest points per game, as well as the fewest fantasy points per game to big men. This game has the potential to get out of hand early, and could feature an extended look at both teams' reserves.
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