Fantasy basketball advice: NBA FanDuel sleepers/busts for Thurs., Feb. 11

First off, a quick introduction. If you don't know what FanDuel is, well, you're missing out. FanDuel is a site that offers daily fantasy sports games. Participants get a chance every day to select new players, fill out a lineup and, most importantly, win some cash. If you choose poorly Monday, you can come back Tuesday and try again. Easy as that. Click here to enter a free league for new users today.

As for what we're doing in this space: The goal here will be to direct your attention toward some players whom you might not otherwise consider. If you're here and reading this, then you already know that LeBron James is really good. But when filling out a roster you can't just pick out stars. You'll blow your cap and get stuck praying to the basketball gods that a guy like Kosta Koufos gets into the game. No, if you want to win, you have to take advantage of certain matchups -- and in order to do that you have to know where to look. That's what we're here for. Also, this space is going to be used to give you advice for the games on Thurs., Feb. 10. So, with that, let's get started.

Three players to target

Jrue Holiday, PG, Pelicans ($7,400): The Thunder, who New Orleans plays on Thursday, are surrendering just over 43 FanDuel points per night to opposing point guards (via RotoWire), the fourth-highest total in the league. Holiday has also been playing well of late. He's scored 20-plus points and registered nine assists in each of his last two games and he remains one of the few New Orleans players who is still healthy.

Bradley Beal, SG, Wizards ($6,300): He's still working his way back from injury, but Beal has now scored 20 or more points in three straight games. His minutes are climbing and his shots are starting to fall. On a night like Tuesday, where there are only four teams in action, you need to take some chances on players others might not be looking at. Beal, at this price, is a perfect one to gamble on.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Bucks ($6,300): Ignore the fact that Jason Kidd now has MCW coming off the bench. Carter-Williams is still going to see nearly 30 minutes a game, and that he gets to face a Wizards team surrendering a ridiculous 50 FanDuel points per night to opposing point guards over their last five games, makes him one of the better stealth plays of the evening.

Three players to avoid

Russell Westbrook, PG, Thunder ($11,000): For one, he's going to be a popular play on Thursday, which means if you have him in your lineup it will be difficult to separate yourself. The bigger issue, though, is his matchup. Jrue Holiday is a good defensive point guard and the Pelicans as a team are holding opposing point guards to 40 FanDuel points per night, the fourth-lowest number in the league. Westbrook could still put up solid numbers against him. But not enough to warrant that high price tag.

Serge Ibaka, PF, Thunder ($5,500): It could be tempting to fall for Ibaka, who is a big name at a low price. Don't. He's failed to score double figures in each of his last three games and faces a Pelicans team that, despite being poor defensively, has contained opposing power forwards (from a FanDuel perspective) all season.

Jabari Parker, SF, Bucks ($4,700): The minutes are there, but the numbers still aren't. The second-year forward is averaging just 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds despite playing more than 33 minutes per night. Don't be tempted by the low price. You'd be throwing away a slot.

Other Notables

No team surrenders more FanDuel points per night than the Wizards, which makes Giannis Antetokounmpo a strong play for Thursday night. ... If you want to spend big on one player, do so on Kevin Durant. He's red hot of late and New Orleans has no one to make life difficult for him. ... John Wall has faced the Bucks three times this season: he's averaging 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds in those games.