Saturday features a six-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate 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
Virtually every team has been hit hard by injuries and COVID recently, but some teams have been hit harder than others. The Magic have been decimated, leaving them with an extremely thin roster for Saturday’s matchup vs. the Nets.
One positive is that Cole Anthony could return to the lineup. He’s currently questionable with an ankle injury, and if he’s able to suit up, he deserves stud consideration. He would likely step into a massive workload given the team’s current absences, and he’s capable of averaging well over a fantasy point per minute.
Value
The Warriors are another team that should provide plenty of value on Saturday. Steph Curry, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green have all been ruled out, which opens up tons of minutes and shot attempts for the rest of the roster.
Gary Payton II stands out as one potential beneficiary. “The Mitten” is currently projected for 36 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute this season. That’s a lot of potential production at just $3,300 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
The Knicks are another team with plenty of minutes available. Derrick Rose is currently questionable, but he should be one of the key options on Saturday if he’s able to suit up. Rose was limited to just 12.2 minutes in their last game, but he has the potential to play well over 30 if he suits up. If he doesn’t, it’s possible that Kemba Walker emerges from the depths of the bench to draw the start at point guard. Walker has averaged 0.92 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he can still get it done from a fantasy perspective.
Patty Mills is going to have to channel some of his Team Australia mojo on Saturday. The Nets are going to be without Kevin Durant and James Harden, leaving Mills as their top offensive weapons. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute with Durant and Harden off the court this season.
Shooting Guard
Stud
The abundance of value options is going to make it tough to use the full salary cap on Saturday. There simply aren’t a ton of studs to consider paying up for.
Paul George is currently questionable, but he would fit the description of a stud if he’s active. His production has dropped off a bit recently, but he’s still averaged a stout 1.31 DraftKings points per minute this season. The Clippers are also in a solid spot vs. the Thunder, and their implied team total of 108.0 ranks fourth on the slate.
Value
The Warriors have a pair of value shooting guards worth consideration. Moses Moody entered the starting lineup in their last game, but he was limited to just 10.1 minutes. He will undoubtedly play more on Saturday, and Moody posted a 29.8% usage rate in that contest. That provides some optimism for his fantasy prospects vs. the Raptors, especially on a minimum salary.
Damion Lee should also see a ton of playing time, and he’s been slightly better than Moody over the course of the season. He’s averaged 0.72 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s currently projected for 36 minutes in our NBA Models.
Fast Break
Cameron Thomas has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, and he’s another candidate for a few additional minutes on Saturday. Even with all their absences, the Nets still rank second on the slate with an implied team total of 108.5 points. That makes them arguably the best short-handed squad to target.
Donovan Mitchell is definitely in play for the Jazz. They’re one of the few teams that have been largely unaffected by COVID recently – knock on wood – and they lead the slate in implied team total by more than eight points (116.75). Mitchell’s average of 1.23 FanDuel points per minute trails only George’s among today’s shooting guards and his $8,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 95%.
Small Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum stands out as arguably the player on today’s slate. He leads all players in our NBA Models in terms of median projection, and he’s averaged a stout 1.37 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He should also see plenty of minutes on Saturday with Al Horford, Grant Williams, and Jabari Parker all out of the lineup. Tatum might be a bit overpriced on a normal slate, but his salary is basically irrelevant on Saturday. If he’s the highest-scoring player, you’re going to want him in your lineups.
Value
Can I interest you in a few more Nets? Kessler Edwards and David Duke Jr. both have SF eligibility on DraftKings, and both players should be a big part of the rotation on Saturday. We currently have both players projected for 34 minutes, but Edwards has been slightly better on a per-minute basis this season.
Fast Break
Franz Wagner posted a 32.6% usage rate for the Magic on Friday, and he finished with 42.2 FanDuel points. He might not need to do quite as much if Anthony suits up on Saturday, but he still stands out as an excellent option. His 10 Pro Trends are tied for the most at the position on FanDuel, and he’s increased his production to 0.91 FanDuel points per minute over the past month. His $6,000 salary also comes with a Bargain Rating of 92%.
Alec Burks also stands out as an excellent option on FanDuel. He should draw the start at point guard even if Rose is active, and he’s played at least 36.5 minutes in three straight games. Burks is massively underpriced at $5,500, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 99%.
Power Forward
Stud
Julius Randle is also in contention for the title of top stud on the slate. He’s posted a usage rate of at least 34.3% in back-to-back games, but he was limited to just 39.5 DraftKings points in his last outing. However, he played just 31.5 minutes in a comfortable win, and he also shot just 6-18 from the field. He could improve both of those figures by considerable amounts on Saturday, giving him plenty of upside.
Value
Chuma Okeke racked up 53.5 DraftKings points for the Magic on Friday. That performance was a little fluky – he shot 7-12 from the field and had six steals – but he’s clearly in play for the short-handed Magic. He can survive plenty of regression at his current price tag and still be able to return value.
Fast Break
Juan Toscano-Anderson and Nemanja Bjelica should both see plenty of playing time for the Warriors. JTA is the better bet for big minutes – he’s currently projected for 36 in our NBA Models – but Bjelica is the better per-minute producer. Bjelica has averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he has a bit more upside for tournaments.
Chris Boucher could be sneaky on today’s slate. He’s coming off more than 32 minutes in his last outing, and Boucher has averaged 1.09 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That combination gives him plenty of upside at his current salary.
Center
Stud
Rudy Gobert is another potential stud option to consider. He’s averaged 1.33 DraftKings points per minute this season, and his matchup vs. the Wizards results in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +1.91. That’s the second-best mark at the center position. Gobert also leads the slate in ceiling projection in our NBA Models.
Value
Robert Williams racked up nearly 37 minutes in the Celtics’ last game, which gives him plenty of appeal for the Celtics. He hasn’t been quite as productive on a per-minute basis this season, but he’s historically been excellent in that department. Williams has played at least 32 minutes in eight career games, and he’s averaged an excellent 37.31 DraftKings points in those contests (per the Trends tool). He could also be a bit under-owned if DFS players are focused on Gobert and some of the punt plays at center.
Fast Break
Kevon Looney is underpriced at just $3,500 on DraftKings, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 94%. He’s currently projected for 26 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged a solid 0.96 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Robin Lopez played nearly 33 minutes for the Magic on Friday, and he should be looking at another expanded workload on Saturday. Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. are both out of the lineup, leaving Lopez as the team’s clear top center. He’s averaged 0.95 FanDuel points per minute over the past month, so he’s capable of taking advantage of his playing time.
