This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA nears the regular-season finish line with a solid five-game slate Tuesday. While all the teams in action with exception of the Hawks have either their playoff position set or are eliminated from the postseason, there is the potential for a couple of shootouts that could generate plenty of fantasy production.
GUARD
Jrue Holiday, NO at LAL ($30): Holiday is sporting a 28 percent usage rate with DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis off the floor this season, and both players will miss Tuesday's game. Meanwhile, the Lakers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (53.2) to point guards this season, including the fourth-most (55.6) over the last five. They've also yielded the most assists (10.3) and highest field-goal percentage (46.4) to the position, while Holiday has averaged 21.0 points, 8.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in two appearances against the Lakers this season.
Yogi Ferrell, DAL vs. DEN ($12): The Pelicans' reserve guard duo of Jordan Crawford ($14) and Quinn Cook ($10) also make for appealing value plays, but Ferrell should draw another start and will once again take the floor without backcourt mate Seth Curry (shoulder) and potentially Harrison Barnes (rest). Ferrell scored 31.3 fantasy points against the Suns on Sunday without that pair of teammates on the court, and he also scored 31.1 three games ago against the Clippers. The Nuggets have given up the most fantasy points per game (54.5) to point guards this season, including the most (60.9) over the last 10 games.
Guard to Avoid
Ricky Rubio, MIN vs. OKC ($37): Rubio's price is the issue here, as he can have trouble meeting value when his shot is off. That was certainly the case Sunday against the Lakers, when a 10 percent shooting night helped lead to an underwhelming (for his price) tally of 24.1 fantasy points. At his price, Rubio would typically need to generate 35-40 fantasy points to justify the investment, and the Thunder could make that difficult, considering they've surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points per game (37.4) over the last five to point guards and are a top 10 team in fewest assists allowed to the position (8.4) this season.
FORWARD
Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs. OKC ($32): On the other hand, Rubio's teammate Wiggins is very nicely priced relative to production, as he's scored no fewer than 30 fantasy points and as many as 51.6 in the last seven games. He catches the Thunder at a good time as well, as they've yielded the fifth-most fantasy points per game (53.1) to small forwards over the last five, along with the second-highest field-goal percentage (47.5) to the position this season.
Skal Labissiere, SAC vs. PHO ($11): If you have a few extra dollars, Larry Nance, Jr. ($15) is an appealing option at this price tier. However, Labissiere could return the best bang for the buck, considering he's scored between 20.6 and 40.7 fantasy points in five of the last six games. He'll face a Suns defense that's surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game (47.9) to power forwards this season, including the second-most (52.6) over the last 10 games. They've also yielded the most points (21.9) to the position and check in ranked in the bottom five or 10 in several other categories against fours as well.
Forward to Avoid
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL vs. DEN ($20): Nowitzki sat out the second half against the Suns on Sunday, and he could see a similar scenario Tuesday, if he doesn't miss the game altogether. The Mavs have nothing left to play for and Nowitzki is certainly the last player that needs to log minutes in meaningless games. Even if he does receive a modest amount of playing time, he hasn't hit value lately on his current price, as he's scored fewer than 20 fantasy points in three straight contests. Marquese Chriss ($19), Brandon Ingram ($16), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($15) and Larry Nance, Jr. ($15) are all in better positions.
CENTER
Nikola Jokic, DEN at DAL ($46):Karl-Anthony Towns ($47) is certainly viable despite a tough matchup against Steven Adams, but Jokic makes for a nice pivot in a game between two teams that have nothing to lose. Jokic has averaged 22.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.7 minutes per game in three appearance against the Mavs this season, while Dallas has allowed 48.4 fantasy points per game to centers over the last five, as well as the third-most rebounds (15.7) to the position this season. Additionally, Jokic has also scored over 40 fantasy points on four occasions and over 50 on another two in the last seven games.
Alexis Ajinca, NO at LAL ($12): Ajinca projects to once again draw the start with both DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) and Anthony Davis (knee) sitting out, and he'll be matched up against a Lakers defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (52.6) to centers this season, including the fourth-most (55.2) over the last 10 games. They're also either in the bottom five or 10 in every other category against the position, and Ajinca has scored 26.4 and 25.7 fantasy points in extended playing time over the last two games, respectively.
Center to Avoid
Julius Randle, LAL vs. NO ($28): Much like Rubio, Randle's designation as an avoid candidate is about his price. He's been underwhelming recently, scoring between 24.1 and 28.6 fantasy points in four of the last eight games, and under 20 in two others over that span. Those aren't terrible numbers, but they are relative to his cost and don't represent a very favorable return. Cheaper options like Willie Cauley-Stein ($22), Enes Kanter ($15) and Alex Len ($11) are all capable of the types of returns Randle has been providing while requiring notably less investment.
