Saturday features a nine-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 Mavericks have quietly played some excellent basketball recently, winning seven of their past eight games. Unsurprisingly, that coincides with Luka Doncic’s return to the lineup. The Mavericks have been a much better team with Doncic this season, and he’s provided some solid fantasy value recently. He’s coming off 58.5 DraftKings points in just 31.8 minutes Friday vs. the Grizzlies, and he’s posted a usage rate of at least 40.5% in back-to-back games. Doncic also owns a solid matchup vs. the Magic, who rank merely 25th in defensive efficiency.
Value
Tyrese Maxey recently missed four games due to health and safety protocols, but he returned to the lineup two games ago. The 76ers have wasted little time throwing him back into the fire, with Maxey logging at least 38 minutes in both contests. Maxey is projected for another 38 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute this season. That makes him underpriced across the industry.
Fast Break
Bradley Beal remains in health and safety protocols, and Spencer Dinwiddie can continue to be rostered in his absence. Dinwiddie was slightly disappointing in his last game, finishing with 30.0 DraftKings points over 32.4 minutes, but he’s crushed in general with Beal out of the lineup. He’s averaged 43.47 DraftKings points in eight games without his star teammate this season.
Reggie Jackson stands out as a strong option on FanDuel, where his $5,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 91%. He’s struggled a bit recently, posting a negative Plus/Minus in three of his past four games, but his fantasy outlook remains promising without Paul George. He has a strong matchup vs. the Spurs, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +1.86, so this is a nice bounce-back spot.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Anfernee Simons has been priced up to $7,200 on DraftKings, but that’s still way too cheap given the Blazers’ absences. Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Norman Powell remain out of the lineup, and Simons has increased his usage rate by +9.5% with all three players off the court this season. He’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute in that situation, and he’s scored at least 45.25 DraftKings points in four of his past five games. Simons also has a solid matchup vs. the Wizards, who rank 23rd in defensive efficiency.
Value
Will Barton has served as the Nuggets’ No. 2 offensive option this season, and he has fared well in that role. He racked up 32.5 DraftKings points Thursday vs. the Blazers, and he did it in just 25.5 minutes. He should see a few additional minutes if Saturday’s game is more competitive – he’s currently projected for 33 minutes in our NBA Models – and he’s averaged 0.93 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Fast Break
The Celtics had a brutal showing Friday vs. the 76ers, and virtually the entire team failed to live up to expectations. That includes Dennis Schroder, who finished with a brutal 5.5 DraftKings points over 25.5 minutes. However, Schroder should continue to benefit from the absence of Marcus Smart, who remains sidelined due to health and safety protocols. He’s increased his usage rate by +1.7% with Smart off the court, and he’s averaged 34 minutes in games where Smart has been sidelined.
Jalen Brunson has taken a bit of a backseat to Doncic recently, but that hasn’t stopped him from delivering solid fantasy value. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he’s coming off 48.5 FanDuel points in the Mavericks’ last contest. Brunson remains priced at a discount on FanDuel, where his $6,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 97%.
Small Forward
Stud
The Bulls are reeling at the moment. They’ve dropped two straight games in colossal fashion, losing by 26 points to the Nets and 48 points to the Warriors. This is also their fourth game in five nights, and they just lost Zach LaVine to an injury.
With that in mind, Jayson Tatum could be catching them at the perfect time. He’s been a bit boom or bust recently, scoring at least 55.75 DraftKings points in two of his past five games and 40.75 or less in the other three. That’s caused his salary to dip to just $9,300 on DraftKings, which makes him a solid buy-low option. Tatum has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.06 with a comparable salary (per the Trends tool).
Value
De’Andre Hunter is priced at the absolute minimum on DraftKings, and he’s tough to ignore at that price tag. He returned to the lineup for the Hawks two games ago, and he’s played limited minutes in his return. However, that hasn’t stopped him from scoring at least 21.75 DraftKings points in both contests. As long as he’s in the lineup – which isn’t a lock on the second leg of a back-to-back – he’s an elite value option vs. the Knicks.
Fast Break
On the other side of that matchup, Alec Burks stands out for the Knicks. He isn’t playing the same extreme number of minutes that he was earlier in the year, but he’s still projected for 34 minutes on Saturday. Burks has averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s underpriced at just $5,800.
Nassir Little is another member of the Blazers who should benefit from their current absences. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games on FanDuel, despite the fact that he was limited to just 27.4 minutes in his last outing. Little played 38.5 minutes in his previous contest, so he should be looking at a sizable increase in playing time if Saturday’s game is more competitive.
Power Forward
Stud
DeMar DeRozan has struggled recently, posting an average Plus/Minus of -5.95 over his past 10 games on DraftKings, but he’s going to have to do some heavy lifting on Saturday. LaVine’s absence is going to open up a bunch of usage, and DeRozan figures to be the primary beneficiary. He’s increased his usage rate by a team-high +6.6% with LaVine off the court, resulting in an average of 1.27 DraftKings points per minute. His price tag has also decreased by -$900 over the past month on DraftKings, so this is an excellent time to load up on DeRozan.
Value
If you’re looking to go cheaper with the Bulls, Troy Brown Jr. could be a nice source of savings. He’s priced at the minimum on DraftKings, and he’s one of the leading candidates to absorb some of LaVine’s minutes. Brown has averaged a respectable 0.74 DraftKings points per minute, so he can take advantage of a few additional minutes.
Fast Break
Julius Randle has finally been priced down to a level where he can be rostered again on DraftKings. He’s spent most of the season priced above $10,000, but he simply hasn’t been the same player that he was last season. His current $8,600 salary is much more reasonable, and Randle has averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.60 with a comparable salary as a member of the Knicks. His nine Pro Trends are tied with DeRozan for tops at the position.
The Mavericks could provide a bit of value at power forward on Saturday. Kristaps Porzingis is doubtful, which means Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith should continue to play all the minutes they can handle in the frontcourt. Neither player is elite on a per-minute basis, but both players remain reasonably priced.
Center
Stud
There is more than enough value on Saturday to spend up for Nikola Jokic if you’d like to. That’s been a good decision for most of the year. Jokic has averaged a stout 1.8 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s been the clear No. 1 player in DFS.
However, Jokic has hit a bit of a skid recently. He’s failed to return value in three straight games, which is a bit concerning. That includes just 43.5 DraftKings points in his last outing, albeit in just 28.5 minutes.
Still, the Lakers could be the perfect spot for Jokic to get right. They rank third in pace and allow the second-most points in the paint per game, and the Nuggets’ implied team total of 114.75 ranks second on the slate. Jokic could also carry slightly lower ownership than usual, which makes him very appealing.
Value
Ivica Zubac has struggled recently, scoring at 13.75 DraftKings points or fewer in back-to-back games. However, his playing time was limited in both games, once by foul trouble and once by a blowout. He’s expected to return to his usual workload on Saturday, and Zubac has averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Fast Break
Jusuf Nurkic is another center coming off back-to-back poor games, but he has major upside for the shorthanded Blazers. He had scored at least 38.75 DraftKings points in each of his four previous contests, and he remains one of the best centers in fantasy on a per-minute basis.
Jonas Valanciunas continues to stand out as one of the best pure values on FanDuel. His $7,600 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 92%, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +3.02 over his past 10 games.
