This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There will be no shortage of action Friday in the NBA with 10 games on the schedule. Let's get right down to business and highlight some players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Fred VanVleet, TOR vs. GS ($39): The Raptors will be missing one of their stars for this game with Kyle Lowry (foot) out. The last two games he missed, VanVleet scored 40 and 58.3 Yahoo points, respectively. This is a tough spot for the Warriors, having to play the second game of a back-to-back road set, so they may not be able to offer much resistance for VanVleet. Add in a reasonable salary and that makes him one of the more appealing guard options tonight.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL at NO ($16): It took two overtimes, but the Hawks eventually earned a win over the Spurs on Thursday. Bogdanovic played a key role in the win by scoring 50.5 Yahoo points. That came on the heels of him scoring 46.8 Yahoo points against a tough Suns' team Tuesday. Bogdanovic is healthy and playing more minutes, which means he could exploit this matchup against a Pelicans' club with the league's third-worst defensive rating.
Guard to Avoid
Malik Beasley, MIN at MEM ($23): Beasley posted his first 20-point performance since returning from his suspension in a win over the Knicks on Wednesday. However, he didn't do much else finishing with one rebound and no assists. That's pretty much on par with Beasley's season considering he's averaged 20 points per game, but only 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Rolling with a scoring-dependent player against a team with the seventh-best defensive rating might not be ideal.
FORWARDS
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at POR ($55): Giannis has been quiet by his standards by scoring 44.7 Yahoo points or fewer in each of his last four contests. It wasn't exactly an easy stretch as he had to face the Lakers, Clippers and Celtics (twice). Tonight represents a much more favorable matchup against the Blazers, who come in with the second-worst defensive rating. Portland's improved health situation could make this a close contest where Giannis plays a lot of minutes and produces a potentially juicy stat line.
Danilo Gallinari, ATL at NO ($14): Gallinari stepped up with John Collins (ankle) out Thursday, nailing a three-pointer that clinched the Hawks' win while logging 36 minutes and scoring 33.9 Yahoo points. With Collins out again, Gallinari could approach the 30-minute threshold for a second straight contest. That's been a key number for him considering he's averaged 22.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists across six games where he's seen at least 30 minutes.
Forward to Avoid
Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL at NY ($18): Hardaway has provided a couple of big stat lines of late, including 40.5 Yahoo points against the Pelicans on Saturday. However, he's generally been an uninspiring fantasy option with 23.1 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last eight outings. Facing a Knicks team with the fourth-best defensive rating makes Hardaway risky.
CENTERS
Clint Capela, ATL at NO ($33): The Spurs had no answer for Capela as he demolished them for 28 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks. He's by far the Hawks' best rebounding option with Collins out, so expect him to be busy on the boards again in this contest. Add in the Pelicans' aforementioned defensive deficiencies and Capela stands out at the center spot.
Jonas Valanciunas, MEM vs. MIN ($28): The Timberwolves have had trouble on the glass this season allowing the third-most rebounds per game. Enter Valanciunas, who is averaging career-highs in both points (16.1) and rebounds (12.6) per game. The last time he faced them, he recorded 24 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks in an 11-point Grizzlies win.
Center to Avoid
Enes Kanter, POR vs. MIL ($22): Bringing back Kanter turned out to be a wise move by the Blazers considering Jusuf Nurkic has missed most of the season with a wrist injury. Kanter has stepped up to average 12.2 points and 11.6 rebounds across 27 minutes per game. But now that Nurkic has returned, Kanter has moved to the second unit. After scoring 21.1 Yahoo points or fewer in consecutive games, Kanter's new role might not warrant considering him at this salary.
