This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA tips off the 16th week of the regular season with seven games on the schedule Monday. Injuries and players resting will have a significant impact on the DFS slate, so let's get right to it and highlight some players to target, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
De'Aaron Fox, SAC at MIN ($40): This has the potential to be a high-scoring affair between two teams who rank inside the bottom-four in the league in defensive rating. Fox is among the more appealing options on either side after having scored at least 42.6 Yahoo points in six of his last eight games. He even topped 55 Yahoo points two times during that stretch.
Malachi Flynn, TOR vs. WAS ($11): Flynn logged 31 minutes in the Raptors route of the Warriors on Friday, which helped propel him to score 33.5 Yahoo points. Kyle Lowry (foot) was out for that matchup and will remain out Monday. Also, Fred VanVleet (hip) is listed as questionable. If he is also unable to play, then Flynn could play around 30 minutes in this contest, as well.
Guard to Avoid
Derrick Rose, NY at BKN ($18): Surprisingly, the oft-injured Rose has started to play both games of back-to-back sets for the Knicks. However, he's still providing mostly limited production, scoring 23.7 Yahoo points or fewer in each of the last four games. If VanVleet sits, Flynn has arguably a similar upside as Rose does, but his salary is significantly cheaper.
FORWARDS
Gary Trent Jr., TOR vs. WAS ($17): Injuries have forced Trent into a prominent role for his new team, which has helped him score at least 32.3 Yahoo points in each of the last three games. He's no stranger to increasing his scoring output to help offset injuries considering he stepped up in the same manner for the Blazers earlier this season when CJ McCollum went down. Add in a favorable matchup against a Wizards team that has the fifth-worst defensive rating and he could end up providing excellent value.
Hamidou Diallo, DET at OKC ($16): The Pistons are about to embark on a five-game week that could include rest days for some players. Wayne Ellington will sit out for rest in this game, which should free up even more playing time for Diallo. He's shown plenty of potential with his new squad, scoring at least 35.9 Yahoo points in two of his last three contests.
Forward to Avoid
Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL vs. UTA ($18): Hardaway has been quiet lately, scoring 25.1 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last six games. He's a scoring-dependent player in DFS, which could be troublesome for this matchup against a Jazz team that has the third-best defensive rating. With Trent's salary a dollar cheaper, there's no need to take a chance on Hardaway here.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. SAC ($49): Going back to this potentially fantasy-friendly matchup, Towns stands out as one of the top center options for the slate. He's come on strong down the stretch, scoring at least 50.4 Yahoo points in seven of his last eight games. Look for him to dominate a Kings team that has allowed the ninth-most Yahoo points per game to opposing centers.
Isaiah Stewart, DET at OKC ($10): Mason Plumlee has been a rock for the Pistons at the five, but with a busy week upcoming, they have decided to give him the night off for rest Monday. That means Stewart should get the start up front. Across 20 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes this season, Stewart has averaged 8.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. Look for him to at least approach a double-double.
Center to Avoid
Deandre Ayton, PHO at HOU ($25): This game has blowout written all over it. The Rockets have a vastly inferior roster, to begin with, and will be hampered even more so with John Wall (knee) unlikely to play. This is also the second game of a back-to-back set for them, so there's a chance Christian Wood sits out for rest. With the potential for Ayton to spend a significant amount of time on the bench late in the game, he might be too risky of an option.
