This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Sunday's NBA slate begins at 1 p.m. EST and features five games. Despite the meager selection, there's still value to be found if you know where to look. Read on to see which players to target and which to avoid.
GUARD
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. DET ($22): Batum still isn't living up to his massive contract in real life, but he's performed tremendously relative to his $22 price in this format. The versatile veteran's topped 30.0 fantasy points in each of his last three games and seven of the last 10. Expect that success to continue against a Pistons team that allows the eighth-most rebounds (6.0) and seventh-most assists (4.5) to shooting guards.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS vs. PHI ($21): Satoransky came back down to earth in the second leg of a back-to-back Friday after three consecutive games with at least 38.3 fantasy points, but he's still averaged 33.8 fantasy points in 34 minutes in the last five games. John Wall's (knee) replacement at point guard should have no trouble getting back on track against a 76ers team that's leaked fantasy points to the position all season, allowing 40.5 per game. Only the Lakers (41.9 per game) give up more.
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Guard to Avoid:
Jordan Clarkson, CLE vs. SA ($18): Many of the guards in this slate have outplayed their respective valuations lately, bringing down Clarkson's value in comparison. The former Laker doesn't get enough playing time in Cleveland to significantly outperform his $18 price, playing less than 20 minutes in each of his last two games and topping 25 only twice in the last nine. Clarkson's averaged just 22.6 fantasy points in those nine games, and even getting to that mark should be a challenge against a Spurs team that surrenders the second-fewest fantasy points to point guards.
FORWARD
LeBron James, CLE vs. SA ($50): James has topped 50.0 fantasy points in each of his last six games, averaging 58.6 in that stretch. Expect him to once again put on a show for the Cleveland crowd at home, especially in a game that figures to stay competitive throughout, preventing James from losing value by spending more time on the bench. Even against a tough Spurs defense, LeBron's a strong value pick at $50 now that he's finally surrounded by a lineup of shooters that accentuates his skill set.
Wilson Chandler, DEN vs. HOU ($15): Chandler's flashed enormous fantasy upside the last four games, twice topping 40.0 fantasy points and averaging 36.7. That improvement in performance has coincided with a bump in playing time, as he's eclipsed 34 minutes in each of those games after falling short of that mark in seven of the previous eight. Chandler should maintain this increased role until Paul Millsap (wrist) returns, so keep trotting him out there at a measly $15 in the meantime.
Forward to Avoid:
Blake Griffin, DET at CHA ($35): Griffin's coming off his worst game in a Pistons uniform (17.3 fantasy points), and he continues to shoot himself in the foot with 17 turnovers in the last three games. He's tough to trust until the ball-control issues go away, and there are better matchups to use Griffin than against a Hornets defense that's slightly tougher than average on power forwards.
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CENTER
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. HOU ($45): While Houston still allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to centers, the Rockets have slipped in that regard lately, surrendering the 11th-most points to the position over the last 10 games. Besides, Jokic's unique skill set makes him a completely different beast from your average NBA big man, as he brings an unmatched ability to stretch the floor, clean the glass and distribute. That versatility has been on full display recently, as evidenced by Jokic's streak of three consecutive double-doubles entering Sunday. He's too locked in to pass up, as a fourth consecutive game with at least 54.7 fantasy points is certainly on the table.
Pau Gasol, SA at CLE ($20): Gasol has looked like the Lakers version of himself the last three games, contributing 12.3 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.0 APG and 2.0 blocks per game for an average of 37.3 fantasy points in 28 minutes per contest. He was moved into the starting lineup Friday, so the veteran center's minutes are primed to creep up even further with the Spurs looking to hold on to home court in the first-round playoffs despite a brutal late-season schedule in a highly competitive Western Conference. Gasol still has the talent to produce when given the opportunity, and his price hasn't caught up to his recent level of play yet.
Center to Avoid:
John Henson, MIL vs. NO ($16): Henson appears to be over his hamstring injury, though he wasn't exactly efficient in his return with just 18.6 fantasy points in a season-high 35 minutes of playing time Friday. That playing time should drop closer to his season average of 25:30, and the foul-prone center could find himself heading to the bench early in trying to match up with the red-hot Anthony Davis down low. Henson's picked up at least three personals in all but one of his last 12 games, and the possibility of foul trouble will make accruing points and rebounds against Davis that much tougher.
