After a matinee in Chicago, the NBA has four games on the main fantasy basketball slate on Saturday night. The Rockets and Jazz are playing for the second night in a row, while the other six teams had Friday off. The spotlight matchup is between the new-look Lakers and the Nuggets at 8:30 p.m. ET, but the contests lock before that when the Nets and Sixers get the slate started at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
The Rockets have been relying on Amen Thompson to help fill in for Fred VanVleet (ankle) for the last eight games. The second-year player was already having a breakout season and has taken it to another level with FVV out. Even if VanVleet is ready to play against the Jazz in the second game of the Rockets’ back-to-back set, Thompson brings a high enough ceiling target to make him a good play in this very favorable matchup, and his eligibility at both point guard and small forward gives him added versatility.
Thompson has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard and the third-highest at small forward. He has the second-highest ceiling projection at point guard behind only Luka Doncic, who is still acclimating to his new team in Los Angeles, and the second-highest ceiling projection at small forward behind only Luka’s new teammate LeBron James.
Over his last 18 games, Thompson has carried a huge workload, playing 38.3 minutes per game and producing an elite 43.9 DraftKings points on 16.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocked shots. When FVV is out, Thompson gets more play-making responsibilities, but he has proven he can go off for huge numbers with or without the veteran point guard available.
On Friday, Thompson had 48 DraftKings points in 40 minutes against the Timberwolves, and just before the break, he had 58 DraftKings points on an impressive triple-double against the Raptors. He is a little volatile from game to game, but his elite upside makes him an exciting option to fit into your lineup on Saturday night, especially in a smash spot against the Jazz.
Value
One of the exciting new features this season on FantasyLabs is our partnership with ShotQuality. In the ShotQuality projections, Killian Hayes has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard, while he has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position in the FantasyLabs projections, behind only Thompson.
Hayes and Keon Johnson will have to carry the load in the backcourt for the Nets, since D’Angelo Russell (ankle) sprained his ankle in Thursday’s loss to the Cavs and won’t play Saturday. The veteran just signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on Wednesday after the team waived Bojan Bogdanovic (knee) to clear a roster spot.
Hayes was the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft but never really caught on with the Pistons. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 0.9 steals in 24.0 minutes per game last season before being waived at the Trade Deadline. This past summer, he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Nets but was sidelined by a hip injury and landed with the team’s G League affiliate, where he averaged 21 points and 8.3 dimes in 13 games for the Long Island Nets.
He made his season debut for the parent squad on Thursday, finishing with 12.8 DraftKings points on five points and three assists in 21 minutes off the bench.
Hayes isn’t typically a high-volume, high-ceiling producer, but he chips in in multiple categories and should be in a very large role in a favorable matchup. For his salary under $4,000, he’s a great value to target at point guard so you can spend in other spots.
Fast Break
LaMelo Ball had 45.25 DraftKings points against the Lakers on Wednesday but sat out Thursday’s game for the Hornets in Denver. He’s not on the injury report and should return to the floor on Saturday in a favorable matchup against the Trail Blazers. He has the third-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections in both sets of projections and always has the potential to explode for a huge game.
With Collin Sexton (ankle) out, Keyonte George is set for a big role in the Jazz’s second unit. He has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard in the ShotQuality projections behind only Hayes and Johnson. George had 36.25 DraftKings points in 31 minutes against the Thunder on Friday night, giving him 30+ DraftKings points in three straight games and in seven of his last eight. In those eight games, he has averaged 36.1 DraftKings points in 32.7 minutes per game.
After missing the Blazers’ last game before the break, Scoot Henderson returned and played 30 minutes on Thursday against the Lakers. He had 12 points, five assists, and 25.5 DraftKings points. Despite a down game in which he sprained his ankle against the Nuggets before the break, he scored double-digit points in eight of his last 10 games while averaging 28.8 DraftKings points. He is a solid target under $6,000, while Hayes stands out as by far the best bargain play if you opt to go cheaper.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Nuggets have gotten red hot around the All-Star break and have won nine straight games to catch the Grizzlies for the second seed in the Western Conference. One huge contributor to their recent run has been Jamal Murray, who has the highest ceiling projection at shooting guard on Saturday in the ShotQuality projections.
Murray has been battling a knee injury but is listed as probable for Saturday’s matchup against the Lakers. He missed one game earlier this month with the issue but has come back from that absence to drop 30+ points in three of his last four games. He racked 34 points in 35 minutes against the Hornets on Thursday, finishing with 47.75 fantasy points. Over his last 11 games, he has produced 44.3 DraftKings points per game at the rate of 1.22 DraftKings points per minute.
Just before the All-Star break, Murray went off for 55 points and 74 fantasy points in a win over the Trail Blazers, and he should be able to take advantage of the Lakers’ backcourt defense in this Mile High matchup on Saturday.
Value
With D’Angelo Russell out, the Nets backcourt brings more value at shooting guard. The two main options to consider in addition to Hayes as a bargain point guard are Keon Johnson and Ziaire Williams. Williams is a little cheaper just under $5,000, but Johnson has been a little more consistent and shown a high ceiling.
Johnson went 0-for-6 on three-point attempts against the Cavs but still finished with 16 points and 25 DraftKings points. He is an ugly 2-for-21 (9.5%) from long range over his last four games combined, but he is a 28.7% on three-point attempts this season and seems due for some positive regression.
In the 13 games he played without Russell, Cam Thomas (hamstring), and Dennis Schroder (traded), Johnson has a 23.9% usage rage and has averaged 23.6 DraftKings points per game. He should get enough usage to compensate for his inefficiencies on Saturday against the Sixers.
Williams is also worth a look since he has over 24 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and should get more usage as well.
Fast Break
Without VanVleet, Jalen Green has taken off for the Rockets as well. He had 35 points and 51.75 DraftKings points in Friday’s win and has over 35 DraftKings points in five of his last six contests dating back to before the break. He can be boom or bust, but against the Jazz, he definitely has the potential to fill up the box score.
It’s tricky to know what to expect from Austin Reaves with Luka and LeBron available. Reaves has shown an extremely high ceiling and posted over 38 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games, with the only exception being the game he was ejected from on Wednesday.
Even with Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey all expected to play, Quentin Grimes should still get good work since Eric Gordon (wrist) is out indefinitely. Grimes has scored double-digit points in each of his five games with the Sixers, averaging 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 30.6 DraftKings points.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Even at 40, LeBron James is posting amazing numbers right now for the Lakers. He has picked up even more work since the trade that changed his supporting cast, and he will likely have to keep carrying the load until Luka ramps back up to full speed.
James sat out the All-Star game but played on both Wednesday and Thursday coming out of the break. On Wednesday, he had a double-double of 26 points and 11 assists alongside Luka in a loss to the Hornets. He added seven rebounds and two blocks to finish with 59.75 DraftKings points. The next night without Doncic, James had 40 points and 58.5 DraftKings points against the Trail Blazers.
He’s officially probable for this matchup with the Nuggets, but he brings a high enough ceiling to overlook that tag and build around him on Saturday night if you’re paying up at either forward spot.
Value
Deni Avdija has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards in both sets of projections. He has started 23 straight games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 17.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 31.7 minutes per game.
Against LeBron’s Lakers on Thursday, Avdija had 28 points, five assists, and 44.5 DraftKings points. It was an especially encouraging performance since Jerami Grant was available, and Avdija still managed to put together a big game.
The Hornets have been a great matchup for forwards all season, and at just over $6,000 Avdija is a very solid mid-range target at either forward position. He brings a high ceiling and offers savings from the top pay-up plays.
Fast Break
Michael Porter Jr. went into the All-Star break with three straight games of 30+ points before missing three games with a hamstring injury. He had 52.75 and 68.5 DraftKings points in two games against the Pelicans and then had 42.25 DraftKings points against the Magic. In his return on Thursday, MPJ went just 2-for-11 from the field and had just six points, but he did have double-digit rebounds to still finish with 23.75 DraftKings points.
Along with Avdija, Toumani Camara had a big game on Thursday. He finished with 42.75 DraftKings points on 19 points, seven rebounds, and five steals. Camara has scored at least 13 points in five of his last eight games, with 25+ DraftKings points in at least six of those matchups.
Nets forward Jalen Wilson had 10 points, five boards, and 21.75 DraftKings points on Thursday. With more usage available with Russell out, it makes sense to give Wilson a look at only $4,000.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Behind only LeBron, Miles Bridges has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections in both the FantasyLabs and ShotQuality projections. Bridges has been the one steady producer in the Hornets’ rotation lately, with other players like Ball, Mark Williams, Elfrid Payton, and Jusuf Nurkic in and out of the rotation.
In just about every configuration though, Bridges has posted massive numbers. He had 50 DraftKings points on Wednesday against the Lakers on 29 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Without Ball and Williams on Thursday, Bridges carried even more of the load against the Nuggets, posting a huge 36-point, 13-rebound double-double that earned him 74.75 DraftKings points.
He has over 45 DraftKings points in eight of his last 12 contests, averaging an impressive 1.34 DraftKings points per minute. Even with Ball at the controls, Bridges should get enough work to bring good upside if you have the salary to target him.
Value
In both sets of projections, Cameron Johnson has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate, but he also has the second-highest at both forward positions behind Avdija, who seems especially underpriced. Without Russell, Johnson will be the clear focus of the Nets’ offense, which gives him both a high floor and a high ceiling.
Johnson had 18 points and 26.25 DraftKings points in 30 minutes against the Cavs. In his five games since returning from an extended absence from an ankle injury, Johnson has averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute and 29.5 DraftKings points per game.
He has the potential to go off for a huge game with the extra work, but he has also been consistent, scoring 14 to 18 points in each of his five games since returning.
Fast Break
John Collins had 26 points and 33.25 DraftKings points in 31 minutes on Friday night, giving him 30+ DraftKings points in each of his eight games this month. Collins has been good when available this season, producing 35.5 DraftKings points in 30.3 minutes per game in his 37 contests this season. The Jazz have lots of options in the frontcourt, but Collins has been one of the most productive.
Behind only Avdija and Johnson, Jabari Smith Jr. has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward on Saturday. He had an encouraging 30.75 DraftKings points in 38 minutes on Friday night in his return from a six-week absence due to a fractured left hand. He missed 22 games, but he had success even though he was coming off the bench on Friday. If he’s available for the second night of the back-to-back, he could be a great value at $5,000.
For the Nets, Trendon Watford has exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight games, with at least 23 DraftKings points in each contest. He had a high point of 29.75 DraftKings points against the Sixers just before the break, and he’ll look for a similar big game in the rematch on Saturday night.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
As is almost always the case when the Nuggets are on the slate, Nikola Jokic is at the top of all the projections. The Joker has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections on the entire slate by a wide margin in both sets of projections. His salary has actually dropped a little bit to $12,200 after getting almost all the way to $13,000.
Jokic picked up where he left off in his first game after the All-Star break, producing 71.25 DraftKings points against the Hornets on 29 points, 17 rebounds, and nine assists. He has over 66 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games and each of his last three.
The Lakers tried to address the void they created by trading away Anthony Davis, but the Mark Williams trade fell through, leaving them very thin in the middle. While Jaxson Hayes, Alex Len, and Trey Jemison have been holding down the fort, they should provide little resistance to whatever the Joker wants to do to light them up on national TV on Saturday night.
He’s hard to build around because he’s expensive, but if you can find enough value, Jokic almost always delivers strong per-dollar production even at his high salary.
Value
Both Day’Ron Sharpe and Nic Claxton have been regularly exceeding salary-based expectations lately for the Nets. Sharpe is almost $1,000 cheaper and has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at center in the FantasyLabs projections for Saturday.
Sharpe has come off the bench with at least seven points in seven straight games, averaging 10.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 blocked shots, and 25.4 DraftKings points per game.
On Thursday, Sharpe had a well-balanced stat line with 10 boards and 33 DraftKings points in 20 minutes against the Cavs. He is a very cheap play with a high ceiling at center, so if you pass up the big names, Sharpe is a solid bargain option.
Fast Break
Joel Embiid has been very productive in the few games he has played this season, averaging 44.5 DraftKings points in 18 games. He played 27 minutes on Thursday against Boston but only had 15 points and 23.75 DraftKings points. Before that letdown, he had at least 52 DraftKings points in five of his last six contests going all the way back to the first of the year. Embiid has shown he still has a very high ceiling, and he gets a good matchup against the Nets on Saturday. He has the potential to go off and be an elite play if he’s really 100%.
Walker Kessler has a top-five ceiling projection at center in the ShotQuality projections, which makes him a great value consideration under $7,000. Kessler’s offense has fluctuated, but his work on defense and on the glass gives him a high ceiling. For example, he only scored four points against the Thunder but had 19 rebounds to still produce 32.25 DraftKings points. He has at least 30 DraftKings points in seven straight, with a ceiling game of 19 points, 22 rebounds, and 61.5 DraftKings points against the Suns earlier this month.
The Trail Blazers don’t have Deandre Ayton (calf) for a few more weeks, so rookie Donovan Clingan will continue to patrol the middle. Clingan had a huge game with 17 points, 20 rebounds, and 52 DraftKings points against the Nuggets just before the break, but he only had six points, six boards, three blocks, and 20 DraftKings points in 17 minutes against the Lakers on Thursday. Robert Williams III has been in and out of the rotation, which has made Clingan inconsistent, but both players have good upside against the Hornets on Saturday.
