This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
With 11 games on Wednesday's docket, there are many player options to choose from for your daily fantasy lineups. Ahead, we will look at players currently performing, or have the potential to perform, well above their current price tag. We'll also discuss struggling players to avoid, as well as those facing difficult matchups.
GUARD
J.J. Barea, DAL vs. MIA ($12) - Starting point guard Deron Williams suffered a hip contusion in Monday's game against the Hawks, and the Mavericks are not currently offering a timetable for his return. In the short term, Barea should see a rather large increase in usage while filling in. Given this will be Barea's first game replacing Williams, his salary has not yet caught up to his potential production in his new role. In the eight games Williams missed this season, Barea is averaging 30.7 fantasy points per game. That kind of production would require nearly triple his current salary if that were his season average. Unfortunately, facing off with the Heat is not the most favorable matchup for Barea, but he will be catching them on the second half of a road back-to-back. Also, he will be going up against Goran Dragic who has recently returned from a calf injury.
Jeff Teague, ATL at PHI ($24) - Teague is coming off one of his strongest performances of the season, putting up 32 points, five rebounds, eight assists, one steal and five triples in only 28 minutes Monday versus the Mavericks. That production was good enough for 52.5 fantasy points. Prior to that breakout game, Teague had been really struggling over the last month. Due to the tough run, his salary plummeted to a level not equivalent to the caliber of production you could expect. Teague could certainly fall back into his slump, but given his favorable matchup against the 76ers and his affordable salary, it appears to be a safe time to gamble on him.
Guard to Avoid
Wesley Matthews, DAL vs MIA ($19) - The All-Star break cannot come soon enough for Matthews, who has failed to score even 20 fantasy points in his last five outings, shooting an ugly 28 percent from the floor over that time. He also matches up against the Heat, who are allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game in the league to opposing shooting guards.
FORWARD
Myles Turner, IND at BKN ($16) - Turner was considered a project when the Pacers drafted him last June, but it appears he is already starting to put it together. He has been on a tear of late but is still very reasonably priced. He is averaging 32.9 fantasy points per game over his last eight, compared to 18.4 per game for the season. He is expected to start again Wednesday with Ian Mahinmi already ruled out. However, there is a good chance Turner has earned himself a spot in the starting rotation at either power forward or center due to his recent performances. Besides his recent production far surpassing his current value, Turner draws an advantageous matchup against the Nets, who are giving up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season.
Kevin Love, CLE at CHA ($35) - It appears that one of the main objectives head coach Tyronn Lue has had since taking over is reestablishing Love's confidence. As of late, Lue's guidance is seemingly having some effect, because Love has played some of his best basketball as a Cavalier over the past four games. During that span, Love is averaging 22.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 3.3 triples in 34.5 minutes per game.
Forward to Avoid
Kenneth Faried, DEN at UTA ($22) -Derrick Favors' return to the Jazz's frontcourt after a month-long absence has reunited their twin-towers, and the rest of the league's big men have certainly taken notice. Unfortunately, it is Faried's turn to go up against Favors and Rudy Gobert, and expecting him to outperform his current value may be asking too much. The Jazz allow the second-fewest fantasy points per game to power forwards, as well as give up the fourth-fewest points per game in the league overall.
CENTER
Brook Lopez, BKN vs IND ($35) - Lopez has been on a tear lately, and his price tag has yet to catch up. He is averaging 46.2 fantasy points per game over his last five, including three games with at least 50. Those kind of numbers are for top-tier players, and there is no reason to believe he cannot continue it Wednesday. There are a lot of good center options for Wednesday's slate, so Lopez's hot streak could be overlooked. Andre Drummond, Pau Gasol and Karl-Anthony Towns are all equally good bets to put up huge numbers, but their ownership will likely be higher. As for cheap options, Nikola Jokic has been on a tear lately for a very cheap price, but he does go up against the aforementioned Jazz twin-towers.
Center to Avoid
Al Horford, ATL at PHI ($29) - This was the most difficult category to determine due to all the good center plays. Horford has not been playing up to his standard recently, having only averaged 24.55 fantasy points per game since Jan. 13, including just 17.8 on Monday. Another factor making Horford a risky play is that the Hawks are facing Philadelphia, a matchup that always has blowout potential, which could mean fewer minutes than normal.
