This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sunday's seven-game NBA slate begins at 1 p.m. EDT. With the regular season drawing to a close, this is one of your final opportunities to put together a winning DFS lineup before you lose access to almost half the league for the postseason. Read on to see which players are primed to perform in this slate and which should be left on the bench.
GUARD
Dante Exum, UTA at LAL ($10): A fellow young Australian (Ben Simmons) is getting much more attention, but Exum has quietly morphed into a force off Utah's bench. While he played only 14:35 the last time these two teams met, Exum's averaged 28.8 fantasy points in 23 minutes over his other three games since March 30. Between his recent productivity and the possibility of getting even more playing time should the red-hot Jazz pull away, Exum makes for a low-risk, high-reward option at the minimum price.
Quinn Cook, GS at PHO ($22): The guards in this slate have been ravaged by injuries, but Cook stands out as a healthy and effective option, especially in this favorable matchup. Stephen Curry's (knee) replacement at point guards burned this same opponent for 39.8 fantasy points on April 1, which isn't surprising considering Phoenix allows the seventh-most fantasy points per game to his position (38.8). With at least 38.8 fantasy points in five of his last 11 appearances, Cook brings tremendous upside at his price.
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Guard to Avoid:
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. IND ($20): A Charlotte team that's out of the playoff picture has opted to give more run to some alternatives recently, holding Batum to just 25 minutes per game in the last seven. That drop in playing time from his season average of 31:15 has tanked the veteran's fantasy value, as he's averaging a mere 19.5 fantasy points per game during that stretch. Bouncing back will be difficult against a Pacers team that holds shooting guards to the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game (34.1).
FORWARD
Josh Jackson, PHO vs. GS ($33): Jackson has taken a leap late in his rookie season, scoring at least 35.9 fantasy points in each of his last seven games while averaging 39.0 over the last 10. That stretch includes a 54.2 fantasy point performance against mentor Draymond Green and these same Warriors on March 17, so Jackson offers both a high floor and a high ceiling in this rematch.
Ersan Ilyasova, PHI vs. DAL ($23): Ilyasova continues to thrive in an increased role with fellow sharpshooting big man Joel Embiid (face) sidelined. The Turkish veteran's averaging a cool 33.8 fantasy points in just a shade less than 30 minutes per contest since Embiid went down, and Ilyasova has four double-doubles in that five-game span. It wouldn't be surprising to see his price keep climbing based on those recent results, so grab Ilyasova against a lowly Mavericks team that's allowing 48.1 fantasy points per game to power forwards over the last 10 – that's sixth-most in the league.
Forward to Avoid:
Draymond Green, GS at PHO ($32): Green always has the potential to fill up the box score, but his offensive game has been lacking lately. He's been held to single-digit points in four of his past six games while scoring 23.8 or fewer fantasy points in the last two. With Kevin Durant excelling as the focal point of the offense and plenty of low-cost Warriors providing tremendous value, Green's better off left out of lineups despite this favorable matchup.
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CENTER
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. ORL ($20): No team in this slate allows more fantasy points to centers than Orlando, which gives up the fourth-most in the league overall at 40.0. Valanciunas has scored at least 29.2 fantasy points six times in his last eight appearances, and the Magic's use of a traditional center in Nikola Vucevic should guarantee the Lithuanian big man a hefty dose of playing time that's sometimes hard to find against teams that go small.
Willy Hernangomez, CHA vs. IND ($10): Just like he did as a rookie with the Knicks last season, Hernangomez is showing off some nice scoring and rebounding ability in largely meaningless games down the stretch. He's topped 24.0 fantasy points in six of his last eight games while averaging a double-double of 12.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG over the last four, so Hernangomez is another one of those sneaky value picks perfect for rounding out lineups that spend bigger on other positions.
Center to Avoid:
Marc Gasol, MEM vs. DET ($25): The Grizzlies have significantly limited Gasol's playing time recently to maximize their lottery odds, which is why he's averaging just 21.8 fantasy points and 21 minutes over the team's last four games. With plenty of strong alternatives at center, there's little reason to turn to Gasol at the moment regardless of opponent.
