This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Almost everyone in the league plays before the NBA takes a quick Thanksgiving break. With 13 games, options are plentiful and scores will probably be very high. With so many games, there are a ton of players to scroll through, especially when you get towards the minimum-salary options. Scrolling through all those dregs may feel tedious, but it is worth it – more than a dozen minimum-salary players in action Wednesday have averaged at least 18 fantasy points per game over their last four.
Over the last five games, the most favorable fantasy opponents have been the Nets, Suns and Blazers, who face off against the Celtics, Magic and Cavaliers, respectively.
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. POR ($37): Irving is thankful for four days off compared to the Blazers, who are playing the second game of a back-to-back. Rested or not, the Blazers are one of the worst defenses in the league, and specifically against point guards, as they rank in the top-10 in most points, steals and three-pointers allowed to the position. Irving has totaled at least 36 fantasy points in five of his last six, including 40-plus fantasy point outings against the Hawks and the Pistons, both top-seven defenses.
Nik Stauskas, PHI vs. MEM ($10): You can make cranberry the second-most important sauce this holiday weekend when you include Sauce Castillo in your Wednesday lineups. Stauskas has scored a three in 11 straight appearances, including 3.0 per game over his last four outings. He is shooting better than 60 percent from the field over the last two weeks.
Other suggestions: Tony Parker, SA at CHA ($12); Jrue Holiday, NO vs. MIN ($24); Goran Dragic, MIA at DET ($28); Josh Richardson, MIA at DET ($14); Tony Allen, MEM at PHI ($10)
Guard to Avoid
Dennis Schroder, ATL at IND ($25): Schroder looked like he had already eaten a bit too much tryptophan Sunday, when he went 0-8 from the field. In the past two games, Schroder is averaging 6.0 points, 4.0 assists, 1.5 rebounds, 0.0 threes and 2.5 turnovers for 12.3 fantasy points per outing. Before you get excited about a bounce-back contrarian pick, consider that Schroder will be playing the second night of a back-to-back, and that the Pacers have been a top-five defense over their past five games.
FORWARDS
Blake Griffin, LAC at DAL ($41): Griffin looks ready to stuff the stat sheet like a Thanksgiving turkey against an undermanned – and, frankly, overmatched – Mavericks squad. Even if Dirk Nowitzki (Achilles) and/or Andrew Bogut (calf) return, they'll face a fresh-out-the-oven-hot Griffin, who has scored at least 20 points in seven straight games, and at least 25 in each of the last four. During the last four games, he has reached at least 11 combined rebounds and assists every night, while scoring at least 45 fantasy points.
Frank Kaminsky, CHA vs SA ($10): If a family member starts talking about the Electoral College, casually pivot to Wisconsin's favorite alumnus, Frank Kaminsky. After leading the Badgers to back-to-back Final Fours, Kaminsky mostly held a low profile, until recently. He has scored at least 15 points in three of his last four games and is averaging 29.3 fantasy points per game during that stretch.
Other suggestions: Kevin Love, CLE vs. POR ($37); Andre Iguodala, GS vs. LAL ($10); Andre Roberson, OKC at SAC ($11); Channing Frye, CLE vs. POR ($13)
Forward to Avoid
Draymond Green, GS vs LAL ($39): Like Thanksgiving leftovers 10-days later, Green is a risky proposition. The Lakers defense is porous, increasing Green's value. On the other hand, he's in a bit of a slump, averaging only 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game over his last four, all below his season averages. Additionally, this game has the potential to become a blowout, as the Lakers' defense ranks second-worst over the last five games, while the Warriors' offense ranks second-best. That might lead to Green spending extra time on the bench.
CENTERS
Al Horford, BOS at BKN ($31): Like a basketball turduckin, Horford is a triple-threat. In addition to averaging 19.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game since returning from a concussion, he also leads all centers in assists per game this season. He is averaging 46.2 fantasy points per game over the last two, while the Nets have both the worst per-possession defense while also playing the fastest pace in the league over the last five games.
Alan Williams, PHO at ORL ($10): Williams cleans the glass as though it were his first plate of mashed potatoes – ok, that one might be a stretch, I'm running out of Thanksgiving jokes. But Williams has been efficient on the boards, averaging more than one rebound for every two minutes during his last three games. If Tyson Chandler (personal) remains out, Williams is a strong option at a deep discount.
Other suggestions: Bismack Biyombo, ORL vs. PHO ($12); Dwight Howard, ATL at IND ($35); Clint Capela, HOU vs. TOR ($18)
Center to Avoid
Andre Drummond, DET vs. MIA ($34): It's that old adage, "don't try to buy your turkey the night before Thanksgiving, and don't overpay for centers in daily fantasy." Drummond faces off against one of the best centers in the league, Hassan Whiteside, and he is averaging 32.3 fantasy points per game over his last four, too few for his price. Finally, the upside just isn't there, as Drummond has only broken 40 fantasy points twice in his last 11 games. Even when he has a good night, it's only mildly good.
