NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Saturday Playbook

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are out. SGA has posted a 39.4% usage rate and averaged 1.8 FPPM with those two off the floor this season. The price tag may feel like a lot, but it is deserved given the context today. 

Cade has a difficult matchup against OKC tonight, but that should keep his ownership next to nothing. He has displayed 65 FP upside multiple times this season. The Thunder play fast and will also be down two starters, so perhaps the matchup isn't as difficult as it seems. 

Zion Williamson and Yves Missi have been ruled out, and CJ McCollum has posted a 33.3% usage rate (+6.3%) with those two, plus Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram, off the floor this season. Both the raw usage and the boost in this scenario lead the team. He also gets an elite matchup against a Spurs team that just allowed 145 points last night and ranks dead last in DRtg since the Wembanyama injury. 

Jones played 36 minutes and dropped 40 fantasy points last time out in his first game as the starting PG without Josh Giddey in the lineup. He gets a a difficult matchup against Houston, but Jones is still too cheap for his new role. 

The Pelicans seem to want to keep Alvarado around the mid-20s minutes mark, but that should be just fine given the context today. Zion Williamson is out and the Pels get an elite matchup against the Spurs, who have ranked dead last in DRtg over the last 13 games without Victor Wembanyama. 

Herro gets a huge pace-up spot against the league's fastest team. He has posted multiple 50+ FP performances and even some 60+ FP performances. The increased tempo gives Herro and excellent chance to access his considerable upside. 

White has posted 47+ fantasy points in three of his last five games. The matchup is not ideal, but maybe not as difficult as perceived with Amen Thompson and Tari Eason out for the Rockets. The context (Josh Giddey out) and recent form for White are outstanding. 

Castle started and was on pace to play 36 minutes last game, but he did not play the final 6+ minutes of the game due to a blowout. He gets another good matchup today, as the Pelicans rank dead last in DRtg for the season and will be without Zion Williamson and Yves Missi. 

Wallace started and played 30 minutes last game with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren out. He gets the same situation today with a better matchup against Detroit. 

With Zion Williamson out, Hawkins has a path to more usage and possibly more minutes. He has not been in great form recently, but he does get an elite matchup against the Spurs. 

Jalen Brunson will miss his 4th straight game. Hart gets a minimal boost across the board with Brunson off the floor, with a 4.4% assist rate bump being the most substantial. He has averaged 1.09 FPPM without Brunson and is always live to play 40+ minutes. 

Zion Williamson and Yves Missi have been ruled out, and Trey Murphy has posted a 29.5% usage rate (+5.5%) with those two, plus Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram, off the floor this season. Both the raw usage and the boost in this scenario rank 2nd on the the team. He also gets an elite matchup against a Spurs team that just allowed 145 points last night and ranks dead last in DRtg since the Wembanyama injury. 

The injury to Fox opens up a ton of usage and Vassell seems like a prime candidate to soak up some of it. Vassell is locked into 30+ minutes in a starting role, so a bump in usage would be highly beneficial to his fantasy impact. 

Huerter started and played 33 minutes last game with Josh Giddey, Ayo Dosunmu and Lonzo Ball out. He gets the same situation today and is too cheap for his role. 

Jaquez started and played 30 minutes last game, which represented a massive shift in role. He is underpriced if he draws the start again. I do have upside concerns, so I wouldn't go wild in GPPs, but he doesn't have to do much at this salary.  

Giannis has not topped 60 fantasy points in any of his last five games and he is fully priced. He does get a great matchup, as Indiana plays at a top-10 pace and is just average defensively. But with Jokic and SGA also in great spots, I would have Giannis 3rd among the top-tier options. 

Olynyk started and played 31 minutes in his last game without Zion Williamson. And now, Yves Missi has also been ruled out for the game. Kelly O should play somewhere around 30 minutes again and gets an elite matchup against a Spurs team that ranks dead last in DRtg since Wembanyama was ruled out for the season. 

Amen Thompson and Tari Eason have been ruled out, so Jabari Smith should be locked into a 30+ minutes starting role. Smith and the Rockets get an elite matchup against the Bulls. 

Matkovic is likely to draw the start and play close to 30 minutes with Zion Williamson and Yves Missi ruled out for this game. He gets an elite matchup against a Spurs team that ranks dead last in DRtg since Wembanyama was ruled out for the season. 

Keldon lost some playing time last night as the Spurs waived the white flag and emptied the bench with nearly 7 minutes to go in the game. I think he is live to play upper-20s minutes in a more competitive game, and the De'Aaron Fox injury means there are shots available. 

Jokic gets an elite matchup against the Wizards, who play at the 4th-fastest pace and rank 28th defensively. Washington also allows the most opponent rebounds in the league. The asking price for Jokic is nearly $13k and the spread is 12 points, but he is totally worth spending up for in this spot. 

KAT has not had a ceiling performance in this most recent three-game stretch with Jalen Brunson sidelined, but his season-long numbers suggest it could happen at any moment. The big man has seen a 6.1% bump in usage up to 33.2% with Brunson off the floor this season. 

Sengun has struggled to find a ceiling performance recently, but he gets an elite matchup today to try and put an end to that. The Bulls play at the 3rd-fastest pace and have allowed the most points in the paint this season. 

The OKC defense is most vulnerable inside, especially with Chet Holmgren out tonight. The Thunder have also allowed the 4th-most rebounds in the league. 

We have seen Hartenstein play around 30 minutes and post ceiling games when Chet Holmgren is out of the lineup. Jalen Williams is also out for the Thunder tonight, which impacts the chances OKC goes smaller. 

With Zion Williamson and Yves Missi out tonight, Bamba has a chance to play 20ish minutes again. He got some garbage time run last game (about 4 minutes) and Kelly Olynyk is back, so I wouldn't expect mid-20s minutes again. But Bamba is a viable punt who should see the backup Center minutes.