Saturday features an eight-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET. Let’s dive into some of the top plays using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Point Guard
Stud
LaMelo Ball has been an outstanding source of value recently on FanDuel, posting an average Plus/Minus of +9.66 over his past 10 games. He’s coming off 55.2 FanDuel points last night vs. the Pacers thanks to 32 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, and his average of 1.34 FanDuel points per minute ranks second at the position.
Ball remains priced at a discount on FanDuel, where his $8,700 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 98%. He also draws an excellent matchup Saturday vs. the Hawks, who rank 27th in defensive efficiency. This game stands out as one of the best of the day from a fantasy perspective, leading the slate with a total of 226.5 points.
Value
Patrick Beverley’s price tag continues to increase, but he remains one of the best sources of value on Saturday’s slate. He’s seen a solid workload recently – he’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models – and he’s averaged 0.91 DraftKings points per minute this season. Beverley has posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven games on DraftKings, and he’s in an excellent spot vs. the Grizzlies. They rank dead last in defensive efficiency this season.
Fast Break
Jalen Suggs is coming off a big performance Friday vs. the Nets. He scored 17 points in the first quarter, and he ultimately finished with 37.5 DraftKings points over 32.1 minutes. Suggs has been solid on a per-minute basis to start the year, so he’s massively underpriced at $3,800 on DraftKings.
De’Aaron Fox has been priced down to just $7,600 on FanDuel, and he leads the position with 10 Pro Trends. He has a tough matchup vs. the Jazz, but Fox has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.49 with a comparable salary (per the Trends tool). That mark increases to +5.24 since the start of the 2019 season.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Donovan Mitchell has posted a negative Plus/Minus in back-to-back games, but the Jazz haven’t really needed him in either contest. They won both games by comfortable margins, so Mitchell played reduced minutes in both.
That makes him a nice buy-low option on Saturday. He’s a particularly strong option at $8,300 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 87%, but he has appeal across the industry. The Jazz have an excellent matchup vs. the Kings, and their implied team total of 114.5 ranks second on the slate.
Value
The top implied team total on the slate belongs to the Hawks, and they have a pair of strong values at the shooting guard position. Kevin Huerter is priced at $3,800 on DraftKings, and he’s played at least 30.5 minutes in four of his past five games. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of them, and he’s scored at least 32.75 DraftKings points in two.
Cam Reddish is even cheaper at $3,200 on DraftKings, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 96%. He won’t see as many minutes as Huerter – he’s currently projected for 23 in our NBA Models – but he makes up for it with an average of 0.84 DraftKings points per minute. He has nice upside for his salary on nights where his shot is falling, evidenced by his 31.0 DraftKings points in his last game.
Fast Break
The Celtics are coming off a blowout of the Lakers on Friday, and we’re still waiting on their injury report. They could be without Jaylen Brown once again, which would make Marcus Smart an appealing option on DraftKings. His $5,100 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 94%, and he’s scored at least 28.0 DraftKings points in six straight games.
D’Angelo Russell has been a steady producer recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games on FanDuel. His price has barely budged over that time frame, so he’s in play once again vs. the Grizzlies. Russell also hasn’t shot the ball particularly well of late – he’s shot 35.2% from the field and 25.7% from 3-point range over his past four games – so he has upside for even bigger performances moving forward.
Small Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum is priced up across the industry, but he’s put together back-to-back games with at least 55.25 DraftKings points. He’d be a bit overpriced if Brown returns to the lineup, but he would still be worth considering if his star teammate is ruled out. Tatum has increased his usage rate to 33.9% with Brown off the court this season, and he’s averaged 1.27 DraftKings points per minute in that situation.
Value
As long as Josh Hart continues to play big minutes for the Pelicans, you can feel comfortable plugging him into your lineups. Hart is one of the best rebounders in the league for a guard, and he’s pulled down at least seven boards in four of his past five games. Guys who can contribute in the peripheral categories are typically excellent in DFS, and Hart has averaged 0.90 FanDuel points per minute this season. He’s an elite value option on Saturday’s slate.
Fast Break
The 76ers continue to play without Joel Embiid, so Tobias Harris will serve as their top option once again on Saturday. He’s been priced down to $7,500 on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 91%, and he has an excellent matchup vs. the Blazers. They rank just 26th in defensive efficiency.
The Grizzlies are expected to be without Dillon Brooks on Saturday, which means Kyle Anderson should get a bit of extra run. Anderson is excellent on a per-minute basis, averaging 0.99 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s currently projected for 29 minutes in our NBA Models. Historically, Anderson has averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.70 with a comparable salary and minute projection.
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains priced up near $12,000 on DraftKings, but at least his price tag has crept back down a bit. Even with an inflated price tag, Antetokounmpo has still managed to post a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games. He’s scored 66.25 DraftKings points in both contests, and he’s done it in vastly different ways. He scored 47 points in one of those contests, and he had 19 rebounds and seven assists in the other. Giannis’ ability to score fantasy points in a variety of ways is what makes him such a dominant option in DFS.
He draws a solid matchup Saturday vs. the Magic, who rank just 28th in defensive efficiency this season. He’s tough to fit into your lineups, but he’s always worth considering if there’s enough value on the slate.
Value
Chimezie Metu has posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games on DraftKings, and he’s averaged a strong 0.98 DraftKings points per minute this season. He remains affordable across the industry, and he should see around 25 minutes Saturday vs. the Jazz.
Fast Break
Bobby Portis will remain fantasy-relevant for as long as Brook Lopez is sidelined. He’s averaged 1.04 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he’s playing around 30 minutes per game. He’s an excellent option at $6,000 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 92%.
Al Horford would have some appeal if Robert Williams is ruled out again for the Celtics. He’s missed the past two games, and Horford has posted a positive Plus/Minus in both contests. Horford also gets an outstanding matchup on Saturday, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +5.44.
Center
Stud
Rudy Gobert has put together an excellent season for the Jazz. He’s been a beast on the board, averaging a league-leading 15.1 rebounds per game, and he also leads the league with a 72.5% field goal percentage. Gobert is also providing his usual averages of around three blocks + steals, and he’s done all this in just 30.8 minutes per game. Overall, it’s been his best year in terms of fantasy points per minute.
He should be able to have his way on the interior vs. the Kings. They rank just 23rd in team rebound rate, and Gobert owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.53 on DraftKings. He’s also one of the few superstars who doesn’t feel massively overpriced on DraftKings, so he’s a potential cornerstone of cash game lineups.
Value
Steven Adams’ playing time has fluctuated recently, but he should see a solid workload on Saturday. The Grizzlies are taking on the Timberwolves, so they will need Adams’ size against Karl-Anthony Towns. Adams has averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s capable of taking advantage of a few additional minutes. Adams is also underpriced at $4,700 on DraftKings, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 83%.
Fast Break
Speaking of Towns, he’s a viable option at $9,900 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 83%. Towns has had a quiet start to the year, averaging just 1.24 FanDuel points per minute, but he’s played all the minutes he can handle recently. He’s logged at least 36.6 minutes in each of his past three games, and he’s played at least 38.1 in two of them.
Mo Bamba is a strong option at $6,500 on DraftKings given his Bargain Rating of 86%, and he’s averaged 1.09 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s scored at least 34.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games, and he’s coming off 34.5 minutes in his last outing.
