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Even though there are a decent number of games in this slate, it features three of the four stingiest teams in opponent’s points per game. For that reason, I’m leaning heavily on teams with strong matchups like the Nuggets, Rockets and Wizards. It may be best to look for guys you like outside of those games first, since you can always plug in a cheap shooting guard from the Denver/Houston game whenever you want.
Point Guard
In his only start with the Cavaliers, Deron Williams had 10 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes. Williams will be an extremely popular DFS play if Kyrie Irving is out, but I will probably play him anyway, especially in cash games.
No team on Saturday’s slate has allowed more fantasy points to point guards than the Nuggets, and you don’t have to pay a whole lot to take advantage. The Nuggets are second in the NBA in opponent’s assists, sixth in opponent’s steals and fourth in opponent’s points. Patrick Beverley is a solid option, especially in cash lineups.
Kemba Walker failed to scored double-digit points for just the second time this season Wednesday against the Pacers. I would like Walker’s chances to bounce back regardless, but he should have an easier time getting open looks with Nicolas Batum back in the lineup.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Patrick Beverley | HOU | A | DEN | 54 | 30.6 | 82% | 1.7 | 9.4 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 42% | 13.90% | 25.5 | 27.4 | 26.4 | $5,300 | $5,600 | $19 |
| Kemba Walker | CHA | H | WAS | 67 | 34.6 | 85% | 2.9 | 22.9 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 45% | 28.80% | 36.6 | 39.3 | 38 | $8,000 | $8,000 | $45 |
| Deron Williams | CLE | A | LAC | 40 | 29.3 | 82% | 1.6 | 13.1 | 2.6 | 6.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 43% | 22.20% | 25.3 | 27.4 | 26.1 | $4,000 | $4,400 | $11 |
Shooting Guard
J.R. Smith played 30 minutes Thursday for the first time since returning from a fractured thumb. Smith will likely see at least that many minutes if Iman Shumpert and Kyle Korver are out Saturday. Smith is usually better suited to GPPs than cash games, but he is cheap enough to be considered in any format if he gets the start, especially if Kyrie Irving is out as well.
Outside of J.R. Smith, the shooting guard position for me comes down to six guys in the same game. Will Barton, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray should all play at least 30 minutes with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari out. Harris has at least 20 points in three of his last five games and might be the best play, but Will Barton is almost certainly safer. Barton is averaging 22.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists with Chandler out.
Jamal Murray is the riskiest of the three, but he had 22 points Monday and has scored at least 10 in five straight games.
Among teams playing Saturday, only the Cavaliers have allowed more fantasy points to shooting guards than the Nuggets. James Harden may be difficult to afford, and I probably like LeBron James and Nikola Jokic slightly better, but Harden is definitely playable in this slate. Lou Williams and Eric Gordon are both potentially good values, and while Gordon is safer and probably a bit underpriced, Williams is the player most likely to go off in a GPP lineup.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Lou Williams | HOU | A | DEN | 58 | 24.2 | 88% | 2.1 | 18.6 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 44% | 30.40% | 26.6 | 28.8 | 27.7 | $5,800 | $5,800 | $21 |
| Eric Gordon | HOU | A | DEN | 62 | 30.5 | 83% | 3.4 | 16.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 41% | 22.80% | 24.5 | 27.1 | 26.2 | $4,900 | $5,000 | $16 |
| James Harden | HOU | A | DEN | 69 | 36.5 | 85% | 3.2 | 29.1 | 8 | 11.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 5.8 | 45% | 34.10% | 53.7 | 58.6 | 55.3 | $11,800 | $12,400 | $62 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | H | HOU | 44 | 30.1 | 77% | 1.9 | 14.4 | 3 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 49% | 18.70% | 23.4 | 25.1 | 24.3 | $6,000 | $5,900 | $21 |
| Will Barton | DEN | H | HOU | 54 | 28.6 | 75% | 1.5 | 13.6 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 45% | 20.90% | 25 | 26.8 | 25.7 | $6,600 | $6,900 | $18 |
| Jamal Murray | DEN | H | HOU | 68 | 20.4 | 88% | 1.4 | 9.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 40% | 21.70% | 15.5 | 17 | 16.2 | $4,400 | $4,900 | $10 |
| J.R. Smith | CLE | A | LAC | 26 | 27.7 | 73% | 2.3 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 34% | 14.90% | 15.2 | 16.8 | 16.4 | $3,700 | $4,200 | $11 |
Small Forward
With Rodney Hood out Saturday, I will probably play one or two Utah small forwards in just about every lineup. Joe Johnson is probably my favorite play of the three, because he really fits well as a small-ball power forward, and he should be just fine defensively in that role against the Bulls.
Joe Ingles is slightly less exciting, but he is averaging 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a starter this season, which is just fine for his price.
Gordon Hayward has been a bit up-and-down this month, but he has scored at least 23 points in five of his last seven games. Hayward scored just 13 points Thursday, and I expect him to get back up into the 20s Saturday.
Regardless of what Steve Balmer says, the Clippers do not have anyone to match up with LeBron James defensively. LeBron is far from a sure thing but he should have an excellent chance at a triple-double, especially if Kyrie Irving is out.
Only three teams on Saturday’s slate have allowed more points than the Wizards this season, and I am willing to use a couple of guys with relatively low ceilings to take advantage of the matchup. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists over the last week, and he is a fine play if you look outside Utah for a cheaper small forward.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| LeBron James | CLE | A | LAC | 62 | 37.5 | 68% | 1.8 | 26 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 54% | 29.90% | 48.9 | 52.4 | 49.8 | $11,100 | $11,000 | $56 |
| Gordon Hayward | UTA | A | CHI | 62 | 34.5 | 86% | 2 | 21.9 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 47% | 27.60% | 34.3 | 36.6 | 35.4 | $7,700 | $7,100 | $35 |
| Joe Johnson | UTA | A | CHI | 65 | 23 | 84% | 1.2 | 8.7 | 3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 44% | 18.10% | 15.2 | 16.4 | 15.8 | $3,900 | $4,000 | $10 |
| Joe Ingles | UTA | A | CHI | 69 | 22.9 | 81% | 1.5 | 6.9 | 3 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 46% | 13.70% | 15.5 | 16.9 | 16.2 | $4,100 | $4,400 | $10 |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | CHA | H | WAS | 67 | 29.4 | 78% | 0 | 9.1 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 1 | 1 | 0.7 | 47% | 14.40% | 23.2 | 23.9 | 23.2 | $5,100 | $5,200 | $17 |
Power Forward
Jason Smith had 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes against the Bulls Friday. If Markieff Morris is out again Saturday, Smith would be an excellent punt play.
Juan Hernangomez had nine points and five rebounds in 26 minutes with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari out Thursday. Hernangomez should start again Saturday, and Thursday’s line probably represents his floor for Saturday’s game.
I keep waiting for the vintage Draymond Green performance we saw so often last season, and it has been elusive to this point. There are probably better places to spend your money, but at the very least Green has GPP potential.
Marvin Williams has four consecutive double-doubles before laying an egg at Indianapolis Wednesday. Like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Williams is reasonably priced and is a pretty safe bet to take advantage of his matchup.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Jason Smith | WAS | A | CHA | 60 | 13.2 | 68% | 0.2 | 5 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 56% | 16.40% | 10.7 | 11.4 | 10.8 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Juan Hernangomez | DEN | H | HOU | 51 | 12.9 | 74% | 0.7 | 4.7 | 3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 48% | 13.90% | 9.9 | 10.6 | 10.3 | $4,000 | $4,400 | $10 |
| Draymond Green | GSW | H | MIL | 64 | 32.9 | 70% | 1.1 | 10.4 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 42% | 15.80% | 35.8 | 37.9 | 36.3 | $8,200 | $8,000 | $38 |
| Marvin Williams | CHA | H | WAS | 62 | 30 | 85% | 1.7 | 11.5 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 42% | 16.80% | 23.1 | 24.6 | 23.9 | $6,600 | $6,500 | $24 |
Center
Only four teams have allowed more rebounds than the Hornets this season, and Marcin Gortat is averaging 12.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games against the Hornets this season. Gortat will be a solid value if he gets a double-double, and I like his chances.
I will probably play Jason Smith at center on DraftKings, since he is eligible there, but outside of him and Gortat, I’m paying up at center. Rudy Gobert has been knocking on the door of a 20/20 game, and the Bulls are certainly capable of surrendering such a performance. Nikola Jokic had a triple-double Thursday, and he should have a huge usage rate again with Chandler and Gallinari out Saturday.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Marcin Gortat | WAS | A | CHA | 67 | 33 | 67% | 0 | 11.3 | 11 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 58% | 14.70% | 27.9 | 29.2 | 27.9 | $5,400 | $5,000 | $19 |
| Nikola Jokic | DEN | H | HOU | 59 | 27.1 | 81% | 0.6 | 16.1 | 9.4 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 59% | 23% | 35.4 | 37.3 | 35.7 | $10,700 | $10,700 | $50 |
| Rudy Gobert | UTA | A | CHI | 68 | 33.7 | 66% | 0 | 13.2 | 12.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 66% | 16.10% | 34.7 | 36.3 | 34.7 | $7,900 | $7,200 | $30 |