Yahoo DFS Basketball: Sunday Picks

Yahoo DFS Basketball: Sunday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.

While there are eight games in the NBA on Sunday, only six of them will make up the main evening slate on Yahoo. Also, things start 6 PM EST, so be sure to get those lineups in early. Let's break down each position and discuss some players to target, as well as a few to avoid.

GUARDS

Luka Doncic, DAL vs. SAC ($56): With the Mavericks blowing out the Pelicans on Saturday, Doncic was only needed to play 26 minutes. That extra rest could be key with the Mavericks playing again today. Even though he wasn't on the floor for his usual allotment of minutes, Doncic still finished with 47.7 Yahoo points. With his ability to contribute is so many different areas, he carries one of the highest floors at any position.

Ish Smith, WAS vs. LAC ($16): Injuries are starting to take their toll on the Wizards, which is really bad when you consider they already possessed limited depth. Isaiah Thomas (calf) is set to miss his third straight game, which will likely leave Smith with plenty of playing time. He logged at least 32 minutes in each of the first two games that Thomas was sidelined, scoring 32.2 and 31.4 Yahoo points, respectively. Despite this tough defensive matchup, Smith is still worth a look at this reasonable price.

Guard to Avoid

Norman Powell, TOR at PHI ($17): With Kyle Lowry back in the fold, Powell is no longer a member of the starting five for the Raptors. His playing time likely won't be as secure moving forward, evident by the fact he logged only 25 minutes against the Rockets on Thursday. This is a matchup between two of the better defensive teams in the league, so we have the potential for a low scoring affair, which makes Powell even less appealing in DFS.

FORWARDS

Anthony Davis, LAL vs. MIN ($50): The only concern with Davis in DFS is if he will make it through a game healthy. His talent has never been in question and he's certainly one of the focal points of the Lakers' offense, which has enabled him to average 52.4 Yahoo points per game. With the Timberwolves playing at the fourth-fastest pace in the league, the stars are aligning for another potentially massive stat line from Davis.

Davis Bertans, WAS vs. LAC ($19): The Wizards aren't just thin at point guards right now. Thomas Bryant (foot) is also out, leaving their frontcourt without its best option. Bertans has stepped up his production of late, averaging 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 three-pointers across his last 11 games. There should be no shortage of playing time for him moving forward, making him a great option despite his rising price tag.

Forward to Avoid

Lauri Markkanen, CHI at MIA ($19): Markkanen has started to show signs of coming out of his offensive funk, scoring at least 20 points in two of his last three games. However, he did play two bad teams in the Kings and Warriors during those standout performances. Now he has to face a Heat team that has allowed the seventh-fewest points per game. Markkanen is heavily reliant on his contributions in the scoring department to provide value, making him awfully risky in this matchup.

CENTERS

Montrezl Harrell, LAC at WAS ($30): Harrell doesn't always provide consistent production, but he's on a hot streak with at least 39.5 Yahoo points in three of his last five games. This is a great opportunity for him not only because of the Wizards' depleted frontcourt, but also because they have played at the third-fastest pace in the league. When these two teams met last weekend, Harrell finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds, one steal and one block in only 27 minutes.

Moritz Wagner, WAS vs. LAC ($15): Wagner has stepped in for Bryant in the starting lineup and impressively provided 19 points, nine rebounds and two steals against the Heat on Friday. The key is that he played 31 minutes in that contest, which is up from his season average of 20 minutes. If you want to fade the top-tier center options, Wagner represents a cost-effective player to target.

Center to Avoid

Serge Ibaka, TOR at PHI ($14): Ibaka hasn't played more than 22 minutes in any of his three games since returning from injury, which is partly why he scored 24.8 Yahoo points or fewer in each contest. With Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol ahead of him on the depth chart, he should continue to see limited playing time off the bench. Wagner should have a more significant role with the Wizards and is only a dollar more, so passing on Ibaka might be wise.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Mike Barner plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: mbarner, DraftKings: mbarner51.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Barner
Mike started covering fantasy sports in 2007, joining RotoWire in 2010. In 2018, he was a finalist for the FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Mike also won the 2022-23 FSGA NBA Experts Champions league. In addition to RotoWire, Mike has written for Sportsline, Sports Illustrated, DK Live, RealTime Fantasy Sports, Lineup Lab and KFFL.com.
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