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 in your DFS NBA lineups, but what about 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. After all, it only takes one player to sink a lineup. Searching for the landmines could mean the difference from winning or losing your contests.
Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks
FanDuel Price: $7500
The New York Knicks are going through it right now. They have lost five straight, Kristaps Porzingis is banged up and apparently Carmelo Anthony is turning back to his peak ball hog and coach ignoring ways.
Even though that can be good for Anthony's fantasy value, especially if Porzingis is out tonight, it likely won't culminate into Anthony being a strong play against the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Leave out that Anthony will probably have to guard Antetokounmpo, and you still have a poor matchup for the Knicks' swingman. Antetokounmpo is holding players he defends to just 40.9% shooting from the floor and 43.3% shooting from within 10 feet. With the Greek Freak's defense improving, Anthony should be avoided, although if Porzingis sits, sheer volume alone could make 'Melo a good option.
Bismack Biyombo, C, Orlando Magic
FanDuel Price: $4500
Bismack Biyombo is firmly in landmine status tonight. He has scored fewer than 17 FanDuel points in four straight games, and now he will have to deal with Dwight Howard, assuming Howard's back allows him to play.
After posting some insane fantasy per-minute stats last season, Biyombo has hit the brick wall of fantasy slumps with the Orlando Magic. He is averaging just 0.75 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he is going to have one of his tougher matchups of the year against Howard.
Howard's defense has been resurgent this year. He has helped the Atlanta Hawks hold opposing centers to just 0.88 FanDuel points per minute while Howard is holding players he defends to just 44.4% shooting, including 49.1% shooting from within six feet of the hoop. With Biyombo's recent struggles, lay off him tonight.
J.J. Redick, SG, Los Angeles Clippers
FanDuel Price:$4100
J.J. Redick has been asked to do a lot more on offense with all of the Los Angeles Clippers' injuries, but he is running up against the Memphis Grizzlies tonight.
The Grizzlies are holding opposing shooting guards to 0.76 FanDuel points per minute, and while they are coming off a back to back, they played last night in Los Angeles last night too, so they didn't have to travel after their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Tony Allen holding players he defends to 41.0% shooting and 31.3% shooting from deep, Redick might have a tough time making value tonight.