This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA starts off the week in busy fashion with 10 games on the schedule Monday. There are some underwhelming matchups on the slate, including the Pistons hosting the Thunder. However, there are also some stellar matchups, one of which is the Bulls taking on the Nuggets.
Another features the surprisingly tough Cavaliers traveling to Milwaukee to face the Bucks. The Cavaliers lost to the Jazz on Sunday, but they put up another valiant effort in the one-point defeat. Let's dive into some options to consider on Yahoo, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Bradley Beal, WAS at IND ($36): The Wizards just played Sunday, which means Spencer Dinwiddie should sit this game out for rest. He's coming off of a torn ACL last year and the Wizards haven't played him in both games of a back-to-back set yet this season. Across the four games that he has sat out so far this season, Beal has scored at least 41.7 Yahoo points each time.
Cody Martin, CHA vs. PHI ($10): An outbreak of COVID-19 on the Hornets has not just left the team shorthanded, but they are also without two of their best players in LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier. Martin logged 32 minutes off the bench in their absence Sunday and scored 37.2 Yahoo points. Playing time shouldn't be difficult for him to come by here, making him extremely appealing at the minimum salary.
Guard to Avoid
Eric Bledsoe, LAC at POR ($13): It's been a rough season for Bledsoe, who is only averaging 22.7 Yahoo points per game. He's been even worse lately, scoring 17.6 Yahoo points or fewer in three of the last four games. Note only is Martin a more appealing at an even cheaper salary, but Ish Smith ($14) and Dennis Smith Jr. ($13) are also better options in Bledsoe's same salary range because of injuries on their respective teams.
FORWARDS
Miles Bridges, CHA vs. PHI ($32): With Ball and Rozier out, Bridges is one of the top scorers left on the Hornets. He didn't disappoint Sunday, scoring 32 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the field, including 4-for-6 from behind the arc. He logged a whopping 40 minutes in that game and will likely be on the floor for as many minutes as he can handle again.
Kevin Huerter, ATL at MIN ($13): Despite a starting role, Huerter has provided inconsistent production. He looked good Sunday, though, scoring 33.9 Yahoo points against the Hornets. This will be the second game of a back-to-back set for a Hawks team that is dealing with several injuries, so Huerter should see plenty of minutes. While his consistency is an issue, he could be worth a look in tournament play.
Forward to Avoid
Keldon Johnson, SA at PHO ($22): Most of Johnson's contributions come in the form of points and rebounds. That's part of the season why he's only topped 30 Yahoo points one time over his last eight games. The Suns have the second-best defensive rating in the league, so with points possibly hard for him to come by in this matchup, he might be someone to stay away from.
CENTERS
Joel Embiid, PHI at CHA ($47): The Hornets already lack size up front, but are even worse in that department right now with Mason Plumlee also in the league's health and safety protocols. Enter Embiid, who is averaging 24.8 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 blocks across four games since returning from his own bout with COVID-19. A case can be made for building your entire lineup around him.
P.J. Washington, CHA vs. PHI ($16): With Plumlee out, the Hornets will have to play small with Washington at the five. Plumlee was dealing with an injury before his COVID issue, so Washington has actually averaged 33 minutes over the last five games. While his numbers don't jump off the page, he did score at least 29.0 Yahoo points three times during that stretch.
Center to Avoid
Kevin Love, CLE at MIL ($18): Give the Cavaliers credit. They aren't just starting Love because he's owed a lot of money. They have been starting rookie Evan Mobley ahead of him and it's been working out well. Love can still have the occasional strong performance off the bench, but with him only averaging 20 minutes per game, those instances don't exactly come frequently.
