This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
It's the last night with a full slate of games prior to All Star weekend, and there are plenty of options to choose from Wednesday. Ahead, we will look at some of the mid-range to cheaper values to plug into your lineups. We will use matchups, recent performance and other unique factors in determining who will outperform their price tag, as well as those who may not perform up to their standard.
GUARD
Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. LAL ($32) - After making his season debut in late December, Irving has been understandably up-and-down in his production. However, he has looked noticeably more comfortable on the court recently, and his numbers have backed it up. He may only be averaging 29.3 fantasy points per game for the season, but he is averaging 34.3 per game over his last 11. He is also coming off his best game of the season, posting 32 points, 12 assists, three rebounds, one block, and five three-pointers in 35 minutes against the Kings. If you are hesitant to give his production full credit due to the subpar opponent, keep in mind that he will match up against the Lakers on Wednesday, who are giving up the most fantasy points to point guards this season.
Ish Smith, PHI vs. SAC ($32) - Speaking of the subpar opponent that Irving just went off on in his previous outing, Smith will have his shot to go against the Kings' reeling defense Wednesday. The Sacramento organization is quite dysfunctional, and the effects are showing up on the court. They are giving up 109.1 points per game this season, 2.4 more than the next worst team, and also allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to point guards. Philadelphia is far from elite on the defensive end as well, so this game has the potential to be a shootout. Smith will run the show for the 76ers, and have an opportunity to pile up the stats. Overall, he is one of the more inconsistent point guards in terms of his highs and lows, but Wednesday would seem like a safe bet for him to experience one of his better games.
Guard to Avoid
Stephen Curry, GSW at PHO ($60) - On the surface, I understand it is crazy to ever suggest avoiding Curry, but there is a method to the madness. Since both Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight have gone down to injury, Phoenix has lost nine of their last ten games. A majority of those games have not even been competitive. The Warriors have made it a habit of blowing out even the best teams in the NBA this season, and that is a very likely scenario Wednesday. Curry will still get his numbers early, but not the kind of numbers he has put up the last two games versus the Thunder and Wizards, both of which were competitive games. Avoiding both Curry and Draymond Green on Wednesday may be the right play simply due to lack of time on the court, while somebody like Shaun Livingston could be a sneaky play.
FORWARD
Markieff Morris, PHO vs. GSW ($15) - Even though this game is likely to be a blowout, the Suns' players should still get their minutes. It is no secret that Morris was in former head coach Jeff Hornacek's dog house, even to the point that there were plenty of trade rumors. However, since his firing, Morris has averaged 36.66 fantasy points per game over his last five. There appears to be a direct correlation between Hornacek's firing and Morris' increased level of performance. Since the improvement in production has been so recent, his price has not risen to the level he is playing at yet. It is rare when you have the option of a $15 player who could produce the highest fantasy output on his team.
Paul Pierce, LAC at BOS ($10) - This is a risky play given Pierce's lack of production, even though he has been a starter this season, however it is a unique situation. Pierce is a big-game player, and there are few games as big to him as traveling back to Boston, where he spent the first 15 seasons of his career. The Clippers even opted to rest Pierce on Monday in Philadelphia, likely with an eye at this game. In his two-and-a-half seasons since leaving Boston, Pierce has played them seven times and is averaging 13.6 points, 4.3 boards and 1.7 assists per game. If you are filling your roster up with higher priced players, Pierce may be the perfect fit, at the cheapest price, with the potential for a solid game. There is a good chance it is his last game ever in Boston, and he will want to finish on a high note. If you were looking for safer plays in good situations, Taj Gibson, Jeff Green and Nerlens Noel each have favorable situations and matchups.
Forward to Avoid
Evan Fournier, ORL vs. SAS ($18) - Fournier came out of the gates hot this year, before gradually coming back to earth. However, he has put up good numbers the last two games while Tobias Harris has been out, and he could be a popular play if Harris, who is a game-time decision, is out again. Fournier would match up against a Spurs defense giving up the 91.5 points per game, the fewest in the league. Also, thanks to the brilliant defense of Kawhi Leonard, they are giving up the fewest points to opposing small forwards in the league. There is a good chance the Magic rest Harris again to give him time to heal over the All-Star break, making Fournier an intriguing play to many, but the odds will be stacked against him.
CENTER
Gorgui Dieng, MIN vs. TOR ($20) -Kevin Garnett has missed the last eight games, resulting in Dieng getting seven starts. He has fully taken advantage of the opportunity, and he and Karl-Anthony Towns have developed quite the rapport. During the eight games Garnett has been out, Dieng is averaging 34 fantasy points per game, well above his season average of 22.2. He has actually averaged a double-double during that time, posting 16.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Garnett has not officially been ruled out of Wednesday's game yet, but it is likely Minnesota opts to rest both he and Nikola Pekovic through All-Star weekend. Dieng should see something around the 33.8 minutes per game he has played over the last eight, and he'll have another opportunity to perform well above his $20 value.
Center to Avoid
Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs SAS ($34) - There are not many disadvantageous matchups for centers on Wednesday, so due to a tough matchup Vucevic may be the smartest to avoid. We have already discussed how good San Antonio's defense is against small forwards, but they also give up the second-fewest fantasy points per game to centers. Vucevic should have a tough time posting statistics above his $34 value, and there are simply too many other good options out there to roll the dice on him.
