This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Easter Sunday is teeming with NBA action, as 13 games are on tap beginning at 1 p.m. EDT. Read on to see which players stand out from the pack as options to target and which ones should be avoided in this massive holiday slate.
GUARD
Quinn Cook, GS vs. PHO ($23): Cook's proven surprisingly adept at carrying an increased load for the beat-up Warriors, averaging 35.4 fantasy points the last seven games while pouring in at least 25 points three times in that stretch. Pulling down at least four boards and dishing at least three dimes in every game over that span has also helped Cook establish a high floor besides his scoring. Don't expect him to slow down against a Suns team that allows 37.7 fantasy points per game to point guards – sixth-most in the league. In Phoenix's last 10 games, that number has jumped to 49.9 per contest.
Eric Bledsoe, MIL at DEN ($32): Bledsoe's enjoying success against some familiar foes on his team's current Western road trip, as the one-time member of the Clippers and Suns has totaled 140.0 fantasy points in three games against the Clippers, Warriors and Lakers. Denver's worse at defending point guards than any of the three teams Bledsoe just lit up, as the Nuggets' 37.2 fantasy points per game allowed to the position are ninth most in the league. Expect Bledsoe's all-around game to translate well in this favorable matchup given his recent form.
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Guard to Avoid:
C.J. McCollum, POR vs. MEM ($31): Many will be tempted to roll with McCollum considering he just lit up Memphis for 42 points March 28, but it's important to remember that performance came with Damian Lillard out of the lineup. When Lillard got back in there in the team's next game after McCollum's stellar performance, the shooting guard went back to a robin role and delivered just 19.1 fantasy points. Given Lillard's tendency to monopolize offensive touches and the distinct possibility that heavily-favored Portland pulls away and uses its starters sparingly in the second half, McCollum's floor is much too low to feel comfortable sinking $31 into him.
FORWARD
Julius Randle, LAL vs. SAC ($34): Randle's playing some terrific basketball down the stretch, and the pending restricted free agent has all the incentive in the world to keep driving up his value against an overmatched Kings team. In his last 10 games, Randle has nine double-doubles and came up just one rebound short in the other contest. He's also averaging 23.4 PPG over that stretch and has been held to fewer than 35.0 fantasy points only once, when he still scored a respectable 31.7. You won't find a safer play in this price range.
Ersan Ilyasova, PHI at CHA ($14): Ilyasova was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary of Joel Embiid's (face) absence Friday, as the stretch-four went off for a whopping 21 points and 16 rebounds in the first game since his fellow big man went down. While a repeat performance is unlikely, Ilyasova still presents a terrific value at just $14 given the influx of opportunities and minutes he should continue to see without Embiid. A Hornets team that allows the 11th-most fantasy points to power forwards is nothing to worry about from a matchup perspective.
Forward to Avoid:
Tobias Harris, LAC vs. IND ($28): Harris simply doesn't possess the all-around game necessary to provide consistent fantasy appeal. In the last eight games, he has just six steals and four blocks total to go with averages of 4.1 RPG and 2.5 APG. Most of his value comes from scoring, but even that hasn't consistently been there for Harris, as evidenced by his three performances with 12 or fewer points compared to just one with 21 or more. Playing a Pacers team that allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points (31.7) and eighth-fewest PPG (18.0) to small forwards is unlikely to help Harris post strong numbers.
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CENTER
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. UTA ($46): Towns has become the clear focal point of Minnesota's offense sans Jimmy Butler (knee), totaling 133.5 fantasy points in the last two games while scoring at least 52.5 in four of the last six. Some owners will choose to avoid the red-hot big man due to Utah's strong defensive reputation, but the Jazz's 51.1 fantasy points per game allowed to centers the last five games are sixth-most in the league.
Marcin Gortat, WAS at CHI ($11): Given his season average of 23.0 fantasy points per game, Gortat makes for a terrific lineup filler at just $11. He's demonstrated a high floor with at least 21.9 fantasy points in each of his past four appearances, and the Polish center should have no trouble exceeding that mark once again in a favorable situation against a Bulls team that's allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to centers (39.6).
Center to Avoid:
Pau Gasol, SA vs. HOU ($19): Houston allows the third-fewest fantasy points to centers (32.4) thanks to a combination of Clint Capela's defensive prowess inside and the team's excellent spacing. The latter point has made it extremely difficult for coach Gregg Popovich to trot out the lumbering Gasol alongside offensive focal point LaMarcus Aldridge, as neither is adept at covering on the perimeter. As a result, Gasol's averaged just 14.8 fantasy points in his first three meetings with the Rockets this season. Don't expect things to change this time around.
