In daily fantasy basketball, finding players you want to roster is a lot easier than finding players to avoid.
You can find a ton of great information and research on guys you might want to include tonight in your DFS NBA lineups, but what about some guys you may want to lessen your exposure to, or even fade altogether?
Avoiding players whose matchups or situations aren't as great as they seem can often be just as important as finding the best targets each night. After all, it takes only one player to sink a lineup. Searching for the landmines could mean the difference from winning or losing your contests.
LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
FanDuel Price: $9,700
LeBron James's inclusion on the landmines article isn't so much about his matchup, because James is somewhat matchup proof. However, it's more about his price and the matchups of the three players who are priced just ahead of him.
If you're considering rostering the studs on tonight's slate, you're probably right to think about Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden or Kevin Durant. James is only a few hundred dollars less than Antetokounmpo and Durant, and he's only $1600 less than Harden. Considering all three of those guys have much better matchups, there is really no need to take a chance on James.
There is also the fact that the Clippers own the league's second-best defensive rating and are holding teams to a 48.3% effective field goal percentage. James is probably still safe for cash games, but his matchup hinders his upside compared to the other studs on the slate, making him less attractive in tournaments.
Bismack Biyombo, C, Orlando Magic
FanDuel Price: $4,200
Bismack Biyombo has been starting for the Orlando Magic over the last few games, but despite playing more than 30 minutes in three straight contests, he has yet to show the upside that made him a DFS dream, at times, last season for the Toronto Raptors.
On top of that, Biyombo has a difficult matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies are allowing only 0.82 FanDuel points per minute to opposing centers this season, which is the best mark of any team. Gasol is still a very good defender. He is holding players he defends to just 54.5% shooting from within six feet of the basket, which is nearly five percentage points lower than those player's averages from that distance. Biyombo's time is coming, but tonight's probably not the night.
J.R. Smith, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
FanDuel Price: $3,700
Sometimes a player gets into such a horrendous slump that no matter his price, he is avoidable. J.R. Smith fits that category perfectly right now.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' two guard is only 3 for 29 in his last three games ,and with Iman Shumpert back, Shump could start eating into Smith's minutes if the sharpshooter continues to struggle.
There is also the not-so-small fact that the Clippers have been pretty good against shooting guards this season. The Clips are holding them to only 0.68 FanDuel points per minute, and they are limiting opposing teams to only 43.2% shooting from the floor. It's probably best to stay off Smith until he proves he is over his slump.