This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA kicks off Week 17 with nine games on the schedule Monday. Injuries will once again play a significant role in the DFS slate, so let's discuss which players could see added production. Also, let's highlight a few players to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. WAS ($42): Mitchell is having another fantastic season, which has propelled him to an average of 40.8 Yahoo points per game. He's averaged 5.3 assists per game, but the Jazz will likely ask him to help facilitate their offense even more for this game with Mike Conley Jr. (hamstring) out and Jordan Clarkson (ankle) listed as doubtful. Add that to a matchup against a Wizards team that has played at the fastest pace in the league and Mitchell could provide a monster stat line.
Bruce Brown, BKN at MIN ($12): The Nets are going to be without two of their three superstars for this game with James Harden (hamstring) and Kyrie Irving (personal) out. They do have Kevin Durant back, and he should be busy in this contest. However, with both Harden and Irving out, they will be extremely thin at guard. That should mean more playing time for Brown, who has averaged 12.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals across seven games in which he has played at least 30 minutes.
Guard to Avoid
Derrick Rose, NY vs. LAL ($17): Rose had another quiet showing Sunday, scoring 12.2 Yahoo points against the Raptors. He only plated 23 minutes in the contest, scoring 11 points with few contributions elsewhere. After having scored 24.7 Yahoo points or fewer in seven of his last eight games, it's difficult to make a case for deploying Rose in DFS.
FORWARDS
Zion Williamson, NO vs. SAC ($46): Williamson has been on a scoring tear, averaging 31.3 points over his last 10 games. During that stretch, he's also averaged 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals. With his 29.6 percent usage rate and excellent passing ability, he could continue to thrive against the Kings, who have the worst defensive rating in the league.
Joe Ingles, UTA vs. WAS ($16): Clarkson has missed both of the last two games for the Jazz, which enabled Ingles to log at least 31 minutes in both contests. The result was him scoring 34 and 32.6 Yahoo points, respectively. Now with both Clarkson and Conley expected to be out, Ingles should receive enough playing time to be able to provide value at this cheap salary.
Forward to Avoid
Aaron Gordon, DEN at GS ($21): Adding Gordon at the trade deadline has been a positive move for the Nuggets, but Gordon's production has taken a significant hit. He's scored fewer than 10 points in four of his eight games with the team, averaging just 11.6 points 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists, in total. He's on a much deeper roster than he was on with the Magic, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him continue to provide muted production.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. BKN ($50): Simply put, Towns is dominating the opposition right now. He's scored at least 50.4 Yahoo points in 10 straight games, averaging 28.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 blocks during that stretch. He has the potential to steamroll a Nets team that has allowed the fourth-most Yahoo points per game to opposing centers.
Mo Bamba, ORL vs. SA ($13): If there has been a positive to the Magic gutting their roster at the trade deadline, it's that they have freed up more playing time for Bamba. He's still coming off the bench behind Wendell Carter Jr., but that hasn't prevented him from averaging 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks across the last nine games. At near the minimum salary, he's someone to at least consider in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
Brandon Clarke, MEM vs. CHI ($17): Clarke has seen his playing time dwindle, averaging just 22 minutes over his last nine games. During that stretch, he's produced pedestrian averages of 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He recently battled a calf injury, and this will be the second game of a back-to-back set for the Grizzlies, so there's a good chance that he plays limited minutes again.
