There is a four-game NBA slate on tap for this Tuesday and it is one that fans will need to pay close attention to up until lock. The likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zach LaVine and Bogdan Bogdanovic are all questionable for today, and their absences could have massive implications on this Yahoo fantasy basketball slate. The biggest game total comes in 233 with Milwaukee and Chicago, but that game could be turned on its head if both stars miss. There is also a large point spread between Orlando and Golden State (-7.5), but the Warriors will also be without superstar point guard Stephen Curry.
This column will use the Awesemo NBA player projections, fantasy basketball rankings and NBA DFS tools to build lineups and help wade through the day’s data and news. Make sure to read to the end for a couple of extreme value plays for Yahoo fantasy basketball lineups today.
Yahoo Fantasy Basketball & NBA DFS Value Picks Today
Guard — Jrue Holiday $33
The Milwaukee Bucks are without Kris Middleton today and that is great news for Jrue Holiday‘s fantasy outlook. Holiday has benefited the most of any Bucks offensive star when Middleton has been out of the lineup, averaging over 1.2 fantasy points per minute without him on the floor this year. Solid usage from Holiday is expected today in what should be an up-tempo game against the Bulls, who allow the second-most points per game to the point guard position in the league. Holiday comes in as the second-ranked point guard today in Awesemo NBA DFS projections, but comes in $12 cheaper than the top option, making him an excellent value selection from the top tier.
Guard — Zach Lavine $30
As mentioned above, there is a chance that LaVine sits today, so make sure you are watching news up until lock. Still, shooting guard is ultra-thin and LaVine ranks out extremely well in the Awesemo NBA Projections, coming in with the highest projection at his position by a full 6.0 points. This one is worth waiting out, as the Bulls and Bucks have the largest game total on the slate and LaVine could even be playing against an Antetokounmpo-less Bucks squad, as their stud is currently a game-time decision as well. If LaVine does not play, DeMar DeRozan would become the solid pivot. LaVine will certainly come with less rostership today, just given his game-time status. Look to build around him at shooting guard if he gets the green light later today.
LaVine was showing up well in Awesemo’s fantasy basketball rankings today. He is popping as one of the best Yahoo Fantasy Basketball plays on the entire DFS slate. Check out who else is one of the best NBA picks today in the Yahoo NBA DFS Cheat Sheet.
Forward — Klay Thompson $27
With Stephen Curry out of the lineup today, you almost have to target some of the Warriors’ remaining players for value on this smaller slate. Jordan Poole will certainly be a popular target and also rates out well today, but Klay Thompson may be the better option given the availability, or lack of options, at small forward. Thompson has played well of late, landing over 30 Yahoo fantasy points in four of his last six games. He rates out a strong second in the small forward NBA projections on Awesemo, just a couple of points behind what is sure to be a popular RJ Barrett going up against Atlanta. Thompson should see a big increase in usage against a weaker defensive team in Orlando and makes for a great upper-tier value target.
Forward — Wendall Carter Jr. $31
The Magic may be able to make a game of it tonight, as the Warriors come in a little wounded and without their best player. Regardless of the game flow though, expect to see decent minutes again for Wendall Carter Jr., who has been on a tear of late. Carter Jr. grabbed a career-high 30 points in his last game and has averaged over 40 Yahoo points over his last four starts. The tendency for a lot of daily fantasy basketball enthusiasts may be to get off him today against a better defensive team in Golden State, but Carter Jr. has been going off against all types of opponents and Golden State will be down a man in their rotation. Look to him for value at power forward, especially if the main stud on this slate in Antetokounmpo ends up sitting out.
Center — Bobby Portis $23
The center position is obviously a place where a lot of people will be looking to pay up for Nikola Jokic tonight, as there are few other studs to look to on this slate. Still, if you are looking to be a little contrarian, or just want a value option for your flex, Bobby Portis should be squarely on your radar. He has been shooting the ball poorly of late but is still getting plenty of run in the rotation for Milwaukee every night and takes on a Bulls team who is bottom-10 in opposing FG and 3-point FG percentage allowed on the season. Portis should be up for a game against his former team as well and if Antetokounmpo does end up sitting, he should easily push for 30-plus minutes in what will certainly be a closer, higher-scoring game. Do not be scared away by his recent performance, as the game environment today looks ripe for players like Holiday and Portis to take center stage.
Yahoo NBA DFS Value Play — Alec Burks $18
The New York Knicks take on the Atlanta Hawks today, a team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league and does not defend the perimeter well. That means at least one New York Knick should be targeted and Alec Burks stands out as perhaps the most intriguing value option on the team. Julius Randle is out today so the usage for all the remaining Knicks will also go up in this spot, and Burks has been locked into a 30-plus-minute-per-night role already. Burks already put up over 40.0 Yahoo points in an earlier game against Atlanta this year and looks set to play an even bigger role tonight given the injury situation. He rates out as a top-five point guard play in the NBA projections on Awesemo today and has the best value score among that group as well.
Thanks for reading to the end of this article! If you appreciate this free content and want to see more of it every day, you can help us out by sharing this article on social media!
[NBAPAGE]
