Saturday features a six-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
The Heat will continue to play without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, which opens up plenty of value for Saturday’s matchup vs. the Bulls. Kyle Lowry stands out as one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s logged at least 38.5 minutes in three of his past four games, and he’s responded with at least 44.25 DraftKings points in two of them. Lowry has averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute with Butler and Adebayo off the court this season, so he should continue to excel with that much playing time.
Value
The Grizzlies are another shorthanded squad at the moment. They’re playing without Ja Morant, who has been the team’s two highest-usage player this season.
D’Anthony Melton has shined in his absence. He’s coming off 29.1 minutes in his last game, and he’s racked up at least 29.25 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. Melton has increased his usage rate to 24.7% with Morant off the court this season – the third-highest mark on the team – and he’s averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute in that situation. He’s currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and his $5,100 salary on DraftKings comes with a Bargain Rating of 83%.
Fast Break
Tyus Jones is also in play for the Grizzlies, especially at just $5,800 on FanDuel. It results in a Bargain Rating of 91%, and Jones has posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven games.
The Kings have a pair of interesting point guard options on DraftKings in Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell. Both players own Bargain Ratings of 97%, and both players have provided excellent value of late. Haliburton has posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his past three games, while Mitchell has done it in three of his past four. The Kings are in a tough matchup Saturday vs. the Cavaliers, but both players are simply too cheap.
Shooting Guard
Stud
The Bulls are still dealing with some key absences due to health and safety protocols. Alex Caruso is questionable to return to the lineup, but DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, Javonte Green, and Derrick Jones Jr. all remain sidelined.
Zach LaVine should continue to carry some additional value in their absence. He’s scored at least 45.9 FanDuel points in three of his past four games, and he’s played at least 37.4 minutes in two of them. LaVine is a strong option at $9,200 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 91%.
Value
Terence Davis has put together some monster performances for the Kings recently. He’s scored at least 37.0 DraftKings points in three of his past four games, despite the fact that he’s been priced at $4,000 or lower in each of them. That’s a ton of production for such a minimal price tag.
With that in mind, it doesn’t make a lot of sense that he’s still priced at just $3,700 for Saturday’s matchup vs. the Cavs. It results in a Bargain Rating of 99%, and he’s tough to fade at that price tag.
Fast Break
Armoni Brooks has played at least 29.4 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s responded with at least 30.25 DraftKings points in each of those contests. He would be a very appealing target at his current price tag across the industry if the Rockets are shorthanded once again. We’re still waiting on the Rockets’ injury report, but as long as Kevin Porter Jr. remains out of the lineup, feel free to fire up Brooks with confidence.
Tyler Herro is another member of the Heat who should benefit from their current injury situation. He hasn’t provided much fantasy value recently, posting a negative Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, but that’s caused his price tag to drop to just $6,600 on FanDuel. That results in a Bargain Rating of 94%, making him a nice buy-low option.
Small Forward
Stud
Will Barton has served as the Nuggets No. 2 option recently, and he’s provided plenty of value in that role. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his past four games, and he’s scored at least 31.6 FanDuel points in his past two. He’s an excellent value at $6,000 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 95%.
Value
Cody Martin has gotten plenty of shine for the Hornets recently, and now it’s Caleb Martin’s turn. He’s coming off a career-best performance in his last outing, finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds, and three assists over 33.8 minutes, resulting in 49.0 DraftKings points. That’s definitely an outlier, but he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games on DraftKings. He’s also played at least 31.1 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s averaged 0.92 DraftKings points per minute with Butler and Adebayo off the court. He’s underpriced across the industry, but he’s a steal at just $3,500 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Harrison Barnes leads the position with 10 Pro Trends on DraftKings, and he’s an interesting option at $5,500. He’s still playing reduced minutes following an injury, but that didn’t stop him from scoring 29.75 DraftKings points in his first game back. He should earn more minutes as he gets further removed from his injury, so he’s an interesting buy-low option.
Tobias Harris leads the position with 10 Pro Trends on FanDuel, and his $7,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 89%. He’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in each of his past two games, but he’s capable of paying off this salary. His matchup vs. the Warriors also results in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +1.13.
Power Forward
Stud
Jaren Jackson Jr. has provided stud-like production recently without a stud-like price tag. He’s scored at least 37.0 FanDuel points in four of his past six games, and he has the potential for another big game on Saturday. Not only will the team be shorthanded, but the Grizzlies own an outstanding matchup vs. the Rockets. They’ve played at the fastest pace in the league this season, and the Grizzlies’ implied team total of 114.25 ranks second on the slate. Jackson also owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +1.96, giving him one of the better individual matchups at the position.
Editor’s note: Jaren Jackson (knee) was listed as doubtful after this article was submitted.
Value
I’m going to continue riding Marvin Bagley for the Kings. He’s coming off his best game of the season in his last outing, finishing with 34.5 DraftKings points over 27.4 minutes, and he should continue to see a few additional minutes with Richaun Holmes out of the lineup. Bagley has averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s underpriced at just $3,700 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
P.J. Tucker isn’t a great per-minute producer, but he’s hard to ignore at just $3,100 on DraftKings. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, and that’s a ton of playing time for someone priced so cheaply. Players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.80 (per the Trends tool). Tucker may not provide the same ceiling as someone like Bagley, but he has a safer floor.
The top implied team total on the slate belongs to the Cavaliers, but they don’t stand out as a team with a clear top fantasy option. However, Kevin Love is interesting at just $4,400 on DraftKings. He has a wide range of outcomes, but he has a legit ceiling at his price tag. He put that on display in his last outing, finishing with 46.25 DraftKings points over 22.8 minutes. That was his second game with at least 42.5 DraftKings points in his past six outings.
Center
Stud
Center is one of the strongest positions on Saturday’s slate, especially at the top. However, it’s hard to look past Nikola Jokic. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew for the Nuggets this season, and he’s been at the top of his game recently. He’s posted a triple-double in three straight games, and he’s finished with at least 56.9 FanDuel points in each contest. Jokic is underpriced on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 92%, and he should be able to do some damage against the Spurs.
Value
If you’re not paying up for Jokic, going down to someone like Hassan Whiteside is an interesting pivot. He’s dirt cheap at just $3,200 on DraftKings, but he’s averaged 1.23 DraftKings points per minute this season. He played 15.3 minutes in his last outing and racked up 33.0 DraftKings points, so he can pay off his current salary with minimal playing time.
Fast Break
Joel Embiid has started to get rolling, increasing his production to 1.57 FanDuel points per minute over the past month. That puts him just slightly behind Jokic (1.65), but Jokic figures to garner much higher ownership. Both players have 10 Pro Trends on FanDuel, so Embiid is an interesting way to diversify your lineups in tournaments.
Steven Adams has logged at least 30.1 minutes in three straight games, and he’s averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season. That makes him underpriced at just $5,400, especially in a strong matchup vs. the Rockets.
