This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Wednesday is going to be a wild night in the NBA with 11 games on the schedule. There's a bevy of options to choose from across the price scale on Yahoo, so let's dig right in and highlight some players to target and avoid while you create what will hopefully be a winning entry.
GUARDS
D'Angelo Russell, BKN at CLE ($35): The Nets fell short of pulling off an upset on the road against the Raptors on Monday, but Russell was phenomenal with 56.4 Yahoo points. He even dished out 14 assists as he continues to prove that he's much more than just a scorer. This is another opportunity for him to shine considering the Cavaliers allow the ninth-most points per game (112.9) in the league. The last time he faced them, Russell exploded for 53.6 Yahoo points.
Landry Shamet, LAC vs. PHO ($10): The Clippers have wasted no time throwing Shamet into the fire, playing him 27 and 33 minutes, respectively, in his first two games with the team. He was able to cash in those minutes for at least 26.6 Yahoo points in both contests. If he can continue to spend that much time on the floor, he certainly has upside since the Clippers play at the ninth-fastest pace (102.2 possessions per game) in the league. Add in the fact that the Suns allow the third-most points per game (115.8) and Shamet might be worth the risk in tournament play at the minimum price.
Guard to Avoid
Jerryd Bayless, MIN vs. HOU ($14): Things are finally looking up for the Timberwolves on the injury front. Jeff Teague has played in both of their last two games and Derrick Rose (ankle) is listed as probable for Wednesday. Bayless was stellar filling in at point guard when the team was so thin at the position, but don't expect him to play much with both Teague and Rose back in the fold.
FORWARDS
Lauri Markkanen, CHI vs. MEM ($37): Markkanen is on a crazy run right now in which he is averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds across his last eight games. With the Bulls thin up front after trading away Bobby Portis, Markkanen has logged 38 minutes in two of three games since the trade deadline. This isn't exactly a stellar matchup against a good Grizzlies' defense, but Markkanen has a high enough floor to make him worth considering for your entry.
Dario Saric, MIN vs. HOU ($13): Saric moved into the starting five Monday against the Clippers and scored 36.6 Yahoo points across 33 minutes. Coach Ryan Saunders has indicated that Saric is going to remain the starter at power forward over Taj Gibson, which presents a rare opportunity to take advantage of him at this cheap price. Across 13 games in which Saric has averaged at least 30 minutes this season, he's averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Forward to Avoid
Harrison Barnes, SAC at DEN ($19): Early returns have indicated the move to the Kings is not going to be beneficial for Barnes' fantasy value. He is still playing a lot of minutes, but he only scored 22.4 and 21.3 Yahoo points, respectively, in his first two games with the team. The Kings have a lot of offensive weapons around him, so don't be surprised if Barnes continues to see fewer scoring opportunities. Things won't be any easier for him in this matchup since the Nuggets allow the sixth-fewest points per game (106.9).
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. SAC ($49): Jokic hasn't exactly struggled on the road this season with averages of 19.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. However, he's played even better at home with averages of 21.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists. This is a great matchup for him against a Kings team that plays at the second-fastest pace (104). The last time they squared off, Jokic cashed in with 51.6 Yahoo points.
Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. PHI ($14): The addition of DeAndre Jordan has not been a detriment to Robinson's upside. In fact, Robinson has scored at least 28.7 Yahoo points in each of his last three games. He's a tremendous shot blocker, which helps him provide a relatively high floor considering his price. This game certainly has the potential to be a blowout, which could lead to even more playing time for Robinson.
Center to Avoid
Thomas Bryant, WAS at TOR ($14): The early returns on the Wizards adding Bobby Portis have been excellent so far. While that might be good news for the team, it's bad news for Bryant, who has logged exactly 17 minutes in back-to-back games. This is a tough matchup against a Raptors' frontcourt that boasts the duo of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, so it's hard to get too excited about Bryant.
