Stephen Curry is a stud, but who are some under-the-radar DFS plays?

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) have become a huge hit recently, and we decided that it was time to give you advice on your FanDuel lineups for the NBA. Remember, it is always smart to check injuries as tip-off approaches. Daily fantasy basketball is extremely impacted by injuries, perhaps more so than any other sport, especially because so many players are tagged as game-time decisions. Checking injuries is one of the most important strategies if you want to win. Check this weekly installment in the future for more strategic tips.

You can play head-to-head matchups, enter huge tournaments, or play in a small ten-person league. There are many different league formats when it comes to fantasy sports just as there are many different opinions.

For the purposes of this column, a stud will usually be a superstar player who costs at least $7,500, a mid-salary player will be within the range of $5,000-$7,400, and best bargains will be within the $3,500-$4,900 price range. The following are some suggested players you might want to acquire in order to have a winning lineup tonight.

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Point Guard

Stud: Stephen Curry – $10,100 – Steph Curry has had a monster season this year for the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors. The All-Star point guard and MVP candidate is averaging 42.6 fantasy points per game this season, and has shown no signs of slowing down. In what should be a high-scoring and fast-paced game against the Dallas Mavericks, Curry could explode Friday night. He is coming off of a 19-point and 11-assist performance against the Milwaukee Bucks, and should fare similarly well against Dallas. If you are looking to stack up at point guard, Curry could be your guy.

Mid-Salary: Mo Williams – $7,400 – Mo Williams has been on an absolute tear since joining the Charlotte Hornets just before the trade deadline. In his last five games, the veteran point guard is averaging 21.0 points, 9.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 33.8 minutes per game. There aren’t too many players matching his production these days and at his reasonable price, he is an absolute steal. Add that to the fact that the Hornets will be hosting a Raptors squad that could be without starting point guard Kyle Lowry. Back-up Greivis Vasquez will be assigned with the tough task of guarding Williams. Almost doesn’t sound fair. You can’t go wrong with Mo tonight.

Best Bargain: Isaiah Canaan – $4,700 – Although Canaan has struggled since joining the 76ers, he is coming off his best game of the year against the Thunder on Wednesday. Canaan dropped a career-high 31 points, hauled in seven boards, and dished out six assists on his way to 47.4 fantasy points. If he can come remotely close to replicating those numbers against the Utah Jazz, fantasy owners will be extremely happy.

Other Options: Tyreke Evans, Reggie Jackson, Greivis Vasquez

Shooting Guard

Stud: Eric Bledsoe – $8,900 – Eric Bledsoe is having a spectacular year, but now that the Suns have cleared out their backcourt by getting rid of Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic, he actually has room for improvement. In his last five outings, the shooting guard is averaging 18.2 points, 7.2 boards, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 36.4 minutes per game. Bledsoe is seeing plenty of court time, and is contributing in literally every single statistical category. In what could very well be a high-scoring affair against the Brooklyn Nets, look for Bledsoe to blow past the likes of Deron Williams, Markel Brown and Joe Johnson.

Mid-Salary: Evan Turner – $5,800 – Despite the fact that Evan Turner has struggled in his past two contests, he should be able to deliver the goods against the New Orleans Pelicans with Avery Bradley sidelined due to an elbow injury. (Remember what I said about injuries?) Turner is the type of guard that can do it all. He secured a triple-double against the Knicks last Wednesday, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts up similar numbers against the Pelicans.

Best Bargain: Jason Richardson – $4,600 – J-Rich has returned from injury to be an immediate go-to option for the Philadelphia 76ers. Richardson has played in just six games this season but is averaging a solid 23.3 fantasy points per game, a high number considering his price-tag. The Sixers are hosting a Jazz backcourt that isn’t the best defensively. If Richardson could score 29 points against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, there is little reason to think that he can’t produce a respectable stat-line against Utah.

Other Options: James Harden, Monta Ellis, Tony Snell

Small Forward

Stud: LeBron James – $11,200 – No matter how well Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and James Harden continue to play, you can’t talk MVP without mentioning King James. LeBron has been remarkable this season, and has turned it up to an unprecedented level recently. In his past four contests, The Chosen One is averaging 33.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. If those aren’t MVP numbers, I’m not quite sure what is. Not to mention, the Cavs will be facing the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Hawks in what should be a game that will come down to the wire. James will likely be out on the court for 35+ minutes and should provide fantasy owners with another dominating performance.

Mid-Salary: Danilo Gallinari – $5,300 – Gallinari has stepped into the spotlight for the Denver Nuggets and has been performing at an incredibly high level since moving into the starting lineup. He has been extremely consistent and is one of the more trustworthy options at the small forward position, especially given his price. Over his last six contests, the Italian is averaging 28.1 fantasy points per game. Gallinari should see plenty of minutes against the Spurs and be relied upon heavily in the scoring department.

Best Bargain: Jae Crowder – $4,900 – Boston’s Jae Crowder has stepped up significantly since the All-Star break. Crowder has generated at least 23 fantasy points in six of his last seven outings, and is getting consistent minutes at small forward. With Avery Bradley sidelined for a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, Crowder will likely see extended minutes and be asked to take on more responsibility.

Other Options: Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gay, Jeff Green

Power Forward

Stud: Greg Monroe – $8,000 – With Dwight Howard out and Terrance Jones questionable for the Houston Rockets, Detroit’s Greg Monroe may have his way in the paint on Friday night. Monroe is having a tremendous season with the Pistons, and has produced five double-doubles in a row. Considering his favorable matchup, his reasonable price, and the high likelihood of a high-scoring game, Monroe could end up being the leading scorer of the night.

Mid-Salary: Kenneth Faried – $6,100 – Since Jusuf Nurkic went down with an injury, Kenneth Faried has stepped into the starting center role for the Denver Nuggets. The “Manimal” has totaled 32 points and 28 rebounds in his past two games. He has proven his beastly nature, and should be able to do it again when Denver visits Tim Duncan and the Spurs on Friday night. Expect another strong outing from the “Manimal.”

Best Bargain: Nikola Mirotic – $4,500 – The rookie from Serbia has been absolutely on fire for the injury-plagued Chicago Bulls. Mirotic has scored at least 20 points in each of his previous three contests. He is averaging 26.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over that span. With Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson hurt, Mirotic has played like a man among boys. He is seeing plenty of minutes and taking full advantage of them. Although many fantasy players will own Mirotic, it would be a mistake to fill the position with anyone else.

Other Options: Anthony Davis, Josh Smith, Nene Hilario

Center

Stud: Hassan Whiteside – $8,700 – Whiteside is coming off an impressive performance in which he scored 18 points and grabbed an unfathomable 25 rebounds. (Sounds almost selfish, doesn’t it?) He also contributed five blocks! Whiteside has produced six double-doubles in his last seven contests and is emerging as one of the top centers in the NBA. With Chris Bosh out for the season, Whiteside will continue to grab as many rebounds as possible. Look for Whiteside to completely dominate Marcin Gortat and the Washington Wizards in the paint.

Mid-Salary: Joakim Noah – $7,200 – The former Florida Gator has been playing extremely well for the Chicago Bulls despite the plethora of injuries the team is dealing with. In his last five games, the big man is averaging 9.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. He is probably the only center in the league that can produce a triple-double on any given night. Despite tonight’s tough matchup against Roy Hibbert and the Indiana Pacers, Noah has proven time and time again that he does not need to score in order to be worth the investment.

Best Bargain: Andrew Bogut – $4,900 – It is very difficult to find a cheap center with upside, but Andrew Bogut may be your best bet if you are trying to save money in order to get LeBron, James Harden or any other superstar into your lineup. Bogut is a decent option at the center position as he has produced at least 20 fantasy points in five of eight contests since the All-Star break. Although Bogut has the ability to have a solid night, his upside is very limited. Don’t expect any more than 30 fantasy points out of Golden State’s big man.

Other Options: Marc Gasol, Rudy Gobert, Dewayne Dedmon

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Matt Brandon is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Matt, check out his archive.