This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sunday's NBA slate begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern and features seven games. There are strong value plays to be found across the price spectrum if you know where to look, so read on to find out which players offer the best bang for the buck and which offer the least.
GUARD
Jarrett Jack, NYK at CLE ($10): Jack's price doesn't reflect his recent increased role, as coach Jeff Hornacek reworked the point guard rotation prior to Friday's win against the Nets. Given the immediate positive impact of that move after an 0-3 start, expect Jack to start a second consecutive game at point guard with rookie Frank Ntilikina backing him up and ex-starter Ramon Sessions sitting. Jack provided 25.9 points in 25:30 of playing time Friday and should contribute a similar performance Sunday. His stock would actually see a slight boost if former Knicks point guard Derrick Rose (ankle) plays for Cleveland, as the oft-injured Rose is a turnstile on defense.
Evan Fournier, ORL at CHA ($23): Fournier's average of 37.8 fantasy points per game is tops among players priced at $30 or less. The sixth-year swingman has seen his scoring output rise every season, and that trend looks likely to continue with Fournier averaging 22.2 points per game after scoring 17.2 last year. Orlando's go-to scorer has also grown other parts of his game, averaging career highs in rebounds (4.8), assists (3.6), steals (1.6) and blocks (0.4) per game. While his 56.0 percent shooting from behind the arc likely won't last, Fournier's improvement looks sustainable, making him a steal at his price.
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Guard to Avoid:
John Wall, WAS at SAC ($51): Surprisingly, Sacramento has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to point guards of any team playing Sunday with an average of just 34.7. Wall is far more talented than your average point guard, but living up to his $51 price in this tough matchup will be a tall order even for him. He's yet to score more than 50.0 fantasy points in a game while being held below 46.0 in four of five appearances, so the bang for the buck simply isn't there.
FORWARD
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at IND ($38): This is the Aldridge that Spurs fans were hoping to see from the start. He's thriving as the top offensive option with Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker both sidelined by quad injuries, averaging 25.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Expect another top-notch effort against a Pacers team that allows the third-most points in the league (115.6) and the fifth-most fantasy points to power forwards (48.2) per game.
DeMarre Carroll, BKN vs. DEN ($17): Don't let Friday's poor effort stop you from using the rejuvenated Carroll in what should be a bounce-back performance. Carroll's battled some injury issues the last few seasons, but he looks like the player who averaged 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with efficient shooting for the Hawks in 2014-15. The Nets have fewer high-quality alternatives than that 60-win Atlanta team, so Carroll's early averages of 14.2 PPG and 6.3 PPG in more than 27 minutes per game should be sustainable. He likely won't stay this cheap for long, so pick up Carroll at this price against a Nuggets team that allows 105.3 PPG on the road.
Forward to Avoid:
Tim Hardaway Jr., NYK at CLE ($19): Hardaway seems to be pressing to live up to his new four-year, $71 million contract. He's shooting a mere 26.5 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from deep while being held to less than 10 points per game. Hardaway will find his shot eventually, but that return to form is unlikely to come against the heavily favored Cavaliers. Since he's never contributed more than three boards or two dimes per game, Hardaway's essentially dead weight from a fantasy standpoint when he's not putting the ball in the basket.
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CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET at GS ($32): Golden State's weakness has been on the interior, as the Warriors allow a league-high 25.2 points per game to centers. Drummond has the offensive capabilities to exploit that weakness while providing elite rebounding to boot. He averages more than 13 points and 13 rebounds per game while keeping himself useful in late-game situations by knocking down free throws at a 72.2 percent rate.
Mason Plumlee, DEN at BKN ($10): Plumlee has seen more than 20 minutes of playing time in consecutive games and that number is unlikely to drop any time soon considering he's posted 8-10-0 and 9-5-6 lines of points, rebounds and assists in those two contests. The former Nets center has averaged 31.0 fantasy points per game over that span, easily outplaying his minimum valuation. Plumlee's affordability and matchup against a defense that allows 117.3 points per game make him an ideal selection for owners looking to spend big at other positions.
CENTER TO AVOID
Greg Monroe, MIL at ATL ($15): Monroe's defensive deficiencies and plodding speed put him at odds with Milwaukee's team identity of using length to disrupt opposing offenses while spacing the floor around Giannis Antetokounmpo on offense. As a result of this disconnect, Monroe's been called upon for fewer than 16 minutes per game. That tiny role makes Monroe a nearly useless DFS commodity, so don't let his name recognition trick you into picking up the antiquated big man.
