The NBA has a big 10-game schedule lined up for Saturday as it resumes the typical regular-season cadence after the NBA Cup. After a matinee warmup and before a three-game night slate from the West, DraftKings offers a nice six-game main DFS fantasy basketball slate on Saturday night, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET. This 12-team slate is stacked with strong options to build around, even though some key injuries will keep some big names on the bench. Be sure to check back for updates to our models as injury reports come out throughout the day, including for the Celtics and Sixers, who are each finishing back-to-backs on Saturday night.
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 Leverage 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
Of all the players on the entire 12-team slate, Cade Cunningham has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections as he and the Pistons host the Hornets. The Pistons have the highest implied team total of the night according to our Vegas Dashboard, and Cunningham is in a great spot to post a huge total.
In his last game, Cunningham fell just one assist short of a triple-double in the Pistons’ overtime loss to the Mavs, totaling 57.5 DraftKings points. He also had a big game to start the week against the Celtics, with 32 points, 10 assists, and 57 DraftKings points.
He’s in a great matchup against the Hornets and has produced three double-doubles, including a pair of triple-doubles in his last four matchups against Charlotte.
Cunningham brings an extremely high ceiling and has the potential to go off and break the slate. He is an expensive play to build around, but if you can find the salary savings in other spots, he’s a superstar who usually delivers plenty of production
Value
Brandon Williams has the highest Plus/Minus projection of Saturday night’s point guards and comes in with a very affordable salary of just $4,000. Williams was starting at point guard for a while, but Ryan Nembhard stepped in and had success while Williams was battling an Achilles injury.
The 26-year-old missed Monday’s game but returned on Thursday against Cade’s Pistons, playing 31 minutes and contributing 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks for 25.8 DraftKings points.
Williams has over 20 DraftKings points in four straight games and typically contributes in multiple categories from the Mavericks’ second unit. His salary of just $4,000 means he doesn’t have to do a ton to return value, and his multi-category potential makes him a good cheap option to use at guard if you’re spending up in other spots.
Fast Break
Stephen Curry and the Warriors finish a home-and-home set with the Suns on Saturday in the 8:30 p.m. ET slot. Curry had 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists for 38.75 DraftKings points on Thursday in Phoenix. He showed his upside with 54.75 and 67.25 DraftKings points in his first two games back after missing a few weeks with a quad injury. After the Suns won by one on Thursday, Curry could respond with a big game at home on Saturday.
The Pacers have been getting good production from Andrew Nembhard, who has exceeded salary-based expectations in six of his last seven games. He had 31 points and 41.2 DraftKings points against the Knicks in Thursday’s loss and has posted at least 32 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games, including a high point of 56 DraftKings points against the Kings. He’s a solid target with a mid-range salary this Saturday in a great spot against the Pelicans.
The second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on Saturday comes from Jaden Ivey, who has scored at least eight points in each of his last four games and is starting to work his way into more minutes in the second unit. He is still ramping up after a late start to the season, but he has enough potential to be a great bargain play at just $3,300 on Saturday.
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
Derrick White has the third-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections at shooting guard this Saturday, and he is coming off two monster games to start the week. He and the Celtics finish their back-to-back with a trip to Toronto for what should be a great matchup against the Raptors.
White has picked up the slack without Jayson Tatum this season and has at least 27 points in four of his last six games. On Monday, he had 31 points and 44.5 DraftKings points, and he was even better with 33 points, five rebounds, six assists, and four blocks on his way to 60.2 DraftKings points on Friday against the Heat.
When he’s on his game, DWhite can stuff the stat sheet and fill up your fantasy points. Even though he probably won’t hit that ceiling with 60 DraftKings points again, he has been consistent enough to be a good play at his salary under $8,000, especially if any of the rest of the Celtics’ contributors take the day off on Saturday on the second night of the back-to-back.
Value
In some situations, it helps to have a different perspective on the slate, and one awesome way to get that is by using the ShotQuality projections, which can be built right into your models. In that set of projections, V.J. Edgecombe has the top Plus/Minus projection at shooting guard.
The No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft has shown a high ceiling in his first 23 NBA games, averaging 32.3 DraftKings points in 35 minutes per game. He was in a reduced role for a while while battling an injury, but he has returned to his full workload and played 38 or 39 minutes in his last four games.
He has over 39 DraftKings points in each of his last four games and dropped 23 points against the Knicks on Friday, coming up huge down the stretch.
He could get a little extra juice from hosting the top overall pick from his draft as Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks come to town, and with how effective and productive he has been lately, he’s a great value at $6,500. Edgecombe could get extra run depending on who is available for the Sixers, so double-check the injury report as the team plays for the second night in a row.
Fast Break
Devin Booker has the highest ceiling, median, and floor projections in both sets of projections at shooting guard, and he has a positive Plus/Minus projection in the ShotQuality projections. Booker had 25 points and 32 DraftKings points against the Warriors on Thursday, and he had over 40 DraftKings points in three of his previous four games.
With Ja Morant (ankle) and Vince Williams (knee) ruled out for the Grizzlies, Cedric Coward has the highest Plus/Minus projection of all shooting guards in the FantasyLabs projections. Cam Spencer is also worth a look. Spencer has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games and 11 of his last 12. The Wizards are a great matchup for point guards, so Spencer could be a great play in that matchup on Saturday, while Coward also has a high ceiling if he helps carry the scoring load.
Quenton Jackson has a top-five Plus/Minus projection from the Pacers’ backcourt and has been boom-or-bust while battling multiple injuries this season. He played 27 minutes on Thursday against the Knicks and contributed a solid 20.5 DraftKings points. If he’s gets that much playing time against the Pelicans, he’ll be a great value play at this price.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
In addition to Derrick White, the Celtics have also been getting great play from Jaylen Brown all season long, and the superstar forward has the top median, ceiling, and floor projections at small forward on this slate.
Brown is coming off a huge game on Friday against the Heat, producing 52.25 DraftKings points on 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. He has scored at least 30 points in six straight games dating back to a 42-point performance against the Knicks, and he has at least 51 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight.
He had 51.5 DraftKings points against the Raptors when the Celtics beat them two weeks ago, and he’ll look to keep piling up points as the team travels north of the Border again on Saturday. The injury report for the C’s will be key, but if he’s lined up for his usual role or any extra work, Brown is a great pay-up play to build around.
Value
Pelicans forward Herbert Jones has the highest Plus/Minus Projection at small forward in the FantasyLabs projections and the second-highest in the ShotQuality projections.
Jones missed eight games with a calf injury but has been working his way back into an important role for the Pelicans. He played 26 minutes in his return and caught fire with 40.5 DraftKings points against the Spurs. He struggled in his next two games (one of which included an ejection), but he showed his ceiling again on Thursday against the Rockets.
In that game, he played 38 minutes and had 44.75 DraftKings points on 18 points, three rebounds, three assists, and an impressive total of eight steals before fouling out. He provides huge upside at both ends of the court and is a bargain at only $4,200 in this matchup with the Pacers.
Fast Break
P.J. Washington has the top Plus/Minus projection at the position in the ShotQuality projections and has the fourth-highest ceiling projection at the position as well. Washington has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of his last nine games and has a favorable matchup against the Sixers on Saturday.
The Suns have gotten the best and the worst of Dillon Brooks, but for the most part, he’s been a positive fantasy producer this season. Dillon the Villain will be center-stage in the rematch between the Suns and Warriors on Saturday after he had 24 points, seven rebounds, 38.25 DraftKings points, and a hard foul on Stephen Curry on Thursday.
Grizzlies wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at small forward in the FantasyLabs projections. He should help carry the load with Morant out, and he has a great matchup against one of his former teams, the Wizards.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis has the top median, ceiling, and floor projections at power forward in both sets of projections, and he also has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position in the ShotQuality projections.
Davis is probable due to illness, but he played through the illness on Thursday and had 15 points, 14 boards, and 42.5 DraftKings points in 37 minutes. He has at least 48 DraftKings points in four of his last six games and went off for 62.75 DraftKings points on Dec. 1 against the Nuggets.
Davis and the Mavs are in Philly for Saturday night’s matchup, and the Sixers will be playing for the second night in a row, which could leave them vulnerable in the frontcourt depending on who is available. Davis always has the potential to go off for a monster game, making him a top ceiling play that stands out from the rest of this player pool
Value
The only power forward with a higher Plus/Minus projection than Davis in the ShotQuality projections is Brandon Clarke of the Grizzlies. Clarke also has the top Plus/Minus projection in the FantasyLabs projections at the position.
Clarke missed the first several months of the season recovering from offseason knee surgery but was able to make his debut on Wednesday against the Timberwolves. Clarke played 17 minutes and had 13.2 DraftKings points on six points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
He should ramp up over the next few weeks, and with playing time available while Morant and Zach Edey (ankle) are out, he could be a valuable fantasy asset consistently over the next few weeks. The Wizards have been a great matchup for power forwards and centers, so it should be a good spot for Clarke, who doesn’t have to do much to return value with his salary at only $3,300.
Fast Break
Pascal Siakam is in a good spot against the Pelicans, but with Jones and Zion Williamson back in the mix, the matchup isn’t quite as favorable as it used to be. Siakam can still go off, but with Nembhard helping to shoulder the load, it isn’t all on him to carry the Pacers every game.
In the middle range, Tobias Harris has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at the position in the FantasyLabs projections and should be in a good spot at home against the Hornets, who have been a good matchup for power forwards. Harris had a down game against the Mavs on Thursday, finishing without a point, but he had over 20 DraftKings points in four straight before that and in seven of his previous eight. Harris should be in a bounce-back spot Saturday.
If you go ultra-cheap at the position, Clarke is the best option, but Jabari Walker for the Sixers and Jarace Walker for the Pacers also have strong Plus/Minus projections from their salaries under $4,000. Jabari Walker’s role will be determined by the injury report, so keep an eye on his projections once the Sixers announce who is in and who is out.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Jaren Jackson Jr. is one of my favorite plays on this slate since the Grizzlies will be without Morant, Edey, and Williams, leaving him all the usage he can handle in what should be a smash spot against the Wizards. He has the second-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections at the position, and he has the potential to dominate if he can continue his recent momentum.
Jackson went off in his last two games to lead the Grizzlies to road wins over the Clippers and Timberwolves. He posted 31 points, five blocks, four rebounds, and 57 DraftKings points against the Clippers, and he followed that up with 28 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and 56 DraftKings points on Wednesday against the Wolves.
JJJ has been boom-or-bust this season while trying to meld into the rotation around him, but without Edey and Morant, he’ll be the key piece of the offense again on Saturday, making him a great play to build around.
Value
While Clarke has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position, Jock Landale isn’t far behind in the FatnasyLabs projections, and the Aussie has shown that he can work very well in the second unit. He came off the bench behind Clarke on Thursday and had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 46.5 DraftKings points against Minnesota.
He has over 21 DraftKings points in four straight and should stay involved for as long as Edey is out. When Edey returns, the group of Clarke, JJJ, and Landale will be overcrowded, but for now, there should be enough minutes to make each option a good value, especially in a smash spot like this one at home against Washington.
Fast Break
Joel Embiid has the highest projections across the board at the position, but his availability is uncertain after he had to sit out Friday night with an illness and right knee injury management. If he’s able to play, he could be a great option if he’s near his full workload, but it’s hard to know exactly how ready he’ll be. If available, his upside makes him a GPP option worth a look, though, especially since his ownership could be low.
Derik Queen is another GPP play due to his extremely high ceiling. He has proven he has the ability to go off for huge numbers and has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last six games. He’s not a bargain anymore, but he can still bring value.
If you want a cheap play not from the Grizzlies, Isaiah Jackson is a solid alternative. He has played well lately for the Pacers, pulling in at least nine rebounds in his last three games and posting over 19 DraftKings points in each of those contests to exceed salary-based expectations. He’s only $3,700, so he can quickly exceed value with good minutes off the bench.
