The NBA celebrates Halloween with a handful of matchups on the main DFS fantasy basketball slate on Saturday night. The main slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and includes the five games that fill the rest of the evening, including some exciting Western Conference matchups in Texas. Of the 10 teams on the main slate, the Rockets and Timberwolves are the only two teams playing the second game of a back-to-back set, and none of the teams play again on Sunday. Be sure to keep a close eye out for injury updates as the day goes on. Even though it’s early in the season, injuries will definitely impact the playing time and projections for Saturday’s slate.
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
Darius Acuff ($7,500)
Kings rookie Darius Acuff has had a very high usage rate in his time with the Kings and continues to get all the volume he needs to be a strong fantasy option despite some very inefficient shooting in some games. Acuff ranks 8th in the NBA in usage (of players with more than 10 minutes played), and he has shown a very high ceiling when at his best.
On Saturday’s slate, Acuff has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all point guards on the main slate, and he also has the highest Plus/Minus projection of all point guards. He is coming off his best game of the season on Thursday, when he had 34 points, 14 assists, six rebounds, two steals, and one block for 62.5 DraftKings points. He has over 38 DraftKings points in three of his last four games, and all his volume gives him both a high ceiling and a high floor in Saturday night’s matchup in Memphis.
Value
De’Aaron Fox ($6,600)
Fox has the fifth-highest Plus/Minus projection of the point guards on Saturday’s slate, and he and the Spurs will catch the Timberwolves on the second night of a back-to-back. Fox has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his five games this season and played a season-high 39 minutes on Wednesday against the Jazz.
In two of his five games this season, Fox has produced at least 40 DraftKings points with 19 points and nine assists in both of those games. He had 14 points, four assists, and three steals for 30.75 DraftKings points in Wednesday’s road win in Utah and will look to continue his solid production from his mid-range salary this Saturday.
Fast Break
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,400) – SGA has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all Saturday’s point guards, but he is extremely expensive. The Thunder will need their superstar to step up and carry a huge workload over the next few weeks with Chet Holmgren (knee), Jalen Williams (leg) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) all out with significant long-term injuries. Gilgeous-Alexander will get all the usage he can handle against the Rockets in Houston, which gives him the potential to go off with a huge game.
Jeremiah Fears ($5,600) – Fears and the Pelicans host the Hawks in the game with the highest point total on the slate. Fears had a breakthrough on Thursday, going off for 22 points and 13 assists in his first career double-double. He racked up 65 DraftKings points in 29 minutes and will look to build on that momentum on Saturday against the Hawks. His big game was without Dejounte Murray ($7,800; personal), who is back with the team on Saturday, but Jordan Poole (ankle) remains out, which could open time and opportunities for Fears.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Tyler Herro ($7,000)
Herro has shown a high ceiling in his new home with the Bucks, and on Saturday night, he’ll help host the Cavaliers in a big Eastern Conference matchup. Herro has averaged 39.6 DraftKings points in his five games this season and showed his high ceiling with a pair of games with over 50 DraftKings points.
He had a double-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 52 DraftKings points on Monday to help his team beat the Pacers for their only win of the season. He has the fourth-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at shooting guard this Saturday, but he also has the third-highest Plus/Minus projections since his salary is so much lower than the other elite options. He brings a ceiling that is similar to the top options on the board at the position but comes at significant salary savings.
Value
Cam Spencer ($3,700)
Ty Jerome ($8,400; back) and Scotty Pippen Jr. ($4,200, back) are both questionable for Memphis’ home matchup with the Kings on Saturday, and that could mean more chances for Cam Spencer. The Kings have been an outstanding matchup for point guards so far this season, and Spencer could end up in a much bigger role if either Jerome, Pippen, or both are out. He has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at point guard and the fifth-highest at shooting guard.
Spencer has been playing well with the second unit for the Grizzlies and is coming off 22.75 and 31.5 DraftKings points in his two most recent contests. He had eight points and eight assists in Thursday’s win over the Trail Blazers, and his solid non-scoring stats typically give him a high floor and high ceiling when he’s in an involved role.
Fast Break
Ty Jerome ($8,400) – If Jerome plays through his back injury, he’ll be in a smash spot against the Kings. He has been excellent this season, averaging 41 DraftKings points per game for the undefeated Grizzlies. He has played at an All-Star level and brings a high enough ceiling to be a good value even though his salary has skyrocketed.
Ajay Mitchell ($6,400) – Mitchell will be one of many Thunder players asked to step up to help fill in for all the injuries. He had 30 points on Monday against the Suns and 29 points on Wednesday against the Mavericks, finishing with 42 and 44.5 DraftKings points, respectively. The matchup against the Rockets isn’t expected to be high scoring, but Mitchell’s workload is big enough that he still has the potential to be an excellent play at his price.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Zach LaVine ($6,800)
At small forward, LaVine has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections this Saturday. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position as well, making him a great piece to build around from his mid-range salary.
LaVine has scored over 20 points in all five of his games this season and has produced over 35 DraftKings points in all but one of those contests. His best fantasy game of the season came against the Grizzlies last Sunday, when he had 37 points and 51 DraftKings points in 40 minutes. He’ll look to dominate once again in the rematch in Memphis, and his usage projection next to Acuff remains high enough to make him an excellent option to consider at his salary under $7,000.
Value
Terrence Shannon Jr. ($4,500)
The Timberwolves won their NBA Cup Group Play opener on Friday and are 4-2 this season despite losing Anthony Edwards (knee) for multiple weeks. Shannon is one of many players with a chance to step into a larger role while Edwards is sidelined, and he has already proven he can provide quick offense off the bench.
Shannon has scored at least 10 points in each of his six games this season, and he had three straight games with over 25 DraftKings points before cooling off a little on Friday with just 18.8 DraftKings points. He has shown the ability to deliver great value at this affordable salary and has the fourth-highest Plus/Minus projection at small forward on Saturday.
Fast Break
Dyson Daniels ($6,700) – Daniels returns to New Orleans, where he played the first two seasons of his NBA career. He has been a boom-or-bust play, with 30+ DraftKings points in four of his six games this season but only had 21 DraftKings points on Thursday. He should be in a good bounce-back spot, especially if taking on the team that traded him gives him some extra motivation. His Hawks have the second-highest implied team total on the slate this Saturday, and he has the third-highest ceiling projection at small forward.
Kenrich Williams ($4,200) – Williams is another player in the Thunder’s rotation with more work likely coming his way. He has the sixth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward and the third-highest of the options under $5,000. He’s a solid bargain option with good upside since he’ll have to take on a much larger role without Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Jalen Johnson ($9,700)
Johnson has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at power forward this Saturday, and he has the second-highest projections on the entire slate behind only Victor Wembanyama. Johnson has averaged 19.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 46.8 DraftKings points per game this season. He fell just one rebound shy of a triple-double last Saturday against the Rockets, producing 66.75 DraftKings points on 26 points, nine rebounds, and 16 assists in 38 minutes.
He has that kind of upside against the Pelicans on Saturday night even though he was held in check by the Cavaliers on Thursday. He continues to produce across multiple categories in the box score again this season, which gives him an extremely high ceiling and a high floor as the focal point of Atlanta’s offense.
Value
Precious Achiuwa ($5,700)
Achiuwa has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position, and he can be a nice mid-range building block either at power forward or at center. The 27-year-old big man has started three of his five games this season with the Kings, averaging 29.6 minutes per game. He only played 13 minutes against the Spurs on Tuesday, but he bounced back with 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and four steals in 41 minutes against the Pelicans for a season-high 45.8 DraftKings points.
His role and production seem to be matchup-dependent, but last Sunday against the Grizzlies, he had 12 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and 36 DraftKings points. In the rematch on Saturday, he should continue to carry a large workload with Keegan Murray (ankle) still out.
Fast Break
Cameron Boozer ($7,400) – Boozer has been a big part of the Grizzlies’ early-season success. He has three double-doubles in his last four games and has exceeded salary-based expectations in each of those three contests, tallying over 40 DraftKings points. On Thursday against the Blazers, he had a season-high 56.5 DraftKings points on 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in just 28 minutes. He had a double-double and 39.8 DraftKings points against the Kings on Sunday.
Kyle Kuzma ($5,000) – Kuzma has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection of all power forwards on Saturday. He had a bad shooting game on Wednesday and only had four points, but he had at least 14 points in three straight games before that with over 30 DraftKings points in each contest. He is in a tough matchup against the Cavs, but he still has the potential for a bounce-back game according to the projections.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama ($10,900)
Wemby has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections on the entire slate, and if you have the salary to spend on him, he is always worth considering based on his raw upside. He is coming off his best showing of the season, producing 36 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and three steals for 74.5 DraftKings points in 39 minutes against the Jazz. He started the week with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 60 DraftKings points against the Kings on Tuesday.
His salary is much higher than the rest of the centers in the contest, but his potential production on both ends of the floor gives him that extremely high ceiling. He provides elite fantasy numbers in just about every category, and his ceiling is high enough to make him a pay-up play in any matchup, including this fun one at home against Minnesota.
Value
Onyeka Okongwu ($5,900)
Behind only Achiuwa, Okongwu has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at center this Saturday. He is coming off a monster game against the Cavaliers on Thursday and has a favorable matchup against the Pelicans, who have allowed the most DraftKings points per game to opposing centers this season.
Okongwu had 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 54 DraftKings points in 33 minutes on Thursday for his best showing of the season. He has scored double-digit points in four of his last five games, but this was his first game of the season with more than nine rebounds. With a favorable matchup and that positive momentum, he’s a solid mid-range center target on Saturday.
Fast Break
Alperen Sengun ($8,600) – Sengun’s availability will be key to monitor after Houston’s big man missed the last two games with a back injury. He was excellent when healthy earlier this season, averaging over 50 DraftKings points per game, but if he sits out the second night of the back-to-back, Clint Capela and Tari Eason will both be strong value plays as a result.
Aday Mara ($3,900) – Mara has played more minutes in the last two games for the Thunder and has shown some interesting upside. The first-round pick from Michigan had a double-double with 30 DraftKings points in 20 minutes on Monday and followed that with 13.75 DraftKings points in 21 minutes on Wednesday. If he continues to play around 20 minutes a game, he could be a solid punt play at center while the Thunder figure out their new-look rotation after all their significant injuries.
