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

Playing huge minutes of late and gets an excellent matchup against the Nuggets. Denver is playing at a top 5 pace this season and ranks just 18th in DefRtg.  

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out. Huge boost for Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis in of the best possible matchups. 

The Mavs will again be without Luka Doncic, which is a big boost to the floor/ceiling of Kyrie Irving. The matchup is elite against the Blazers 27th ranked defense, and Kyrie has posted a usage rate above 30% with Luka off the court this season.  

Fox could enter Core play territory if Domantas Sabonis sits again. If Sabonis is able to go, Fox is a GPP option with tremendous ceiling. It has been a while since we have seen the 60 FP performance, but the coaching change and a matchup against the Lakers 21st ranked defense might help unlock it. 

Maxey is coming off back-to-back 65 FP performances and now gets an elite matchup. Joel Embiid is also listed questionable – his absence would vault Maxey to one of the top priorities on the slate. The Jazz rank dead last in DefRtg and play at a top 12 pace, so Maxey is squarely in play regardless of Embiid's status. 

Brunson is questionable to play and has seen his ceiling hindered by the arrival of Karl-Anthony Towns, but we cannot ignore the elite matchup and low-$8,000 range salary tag. The Wizards rank 4th in pace and 28th in DefRtg. 

The price tag is still below $8K and Murray gets a home matchup against a below average defense. Murray has scored at least 49 DK points in three of his last four games. 

Luka Doncic is out, and PJ Washington and Naji Marshall are facing suspensions. There should be a clear path for Dinwiddie to play mid-to-upper 20s minutes tonight. He gets a great matchup against the Blazers, who rank 27th in DefRtg. 

The Bulls could be thin in the backcourt with Ayo Dosunmu listed doubtful, and Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball listed questionable. LaVine should see mid-30s minutes regardless and could have a little extra usage depending on how the injury report shakes out. 

Beal gets an nice usage and assist rate bump with Devin Booker out of the lineup. It is a difficult matchup against a good Warriors defense, but the ceiling is elevated by the absence of Booker. 

Solid mid-range option who is coming off a massive 26-point triple-double in his last game. Anthony Davis' early departure last game allowed Reaves to post 31% usage. If either AD or LBJ sit this one out, Reaves has a great ceiling. Otherwise, he is a large-field GPP flyer. 

The Knicks wings seem to alternate ceiling performances quite often, but there is an excellent chance at least one of them goes off at a mid-range price in this elite matchup tonight. The Wizards rank 4th in pace and 28th in DefRtg, making them one of the best targets for fantasy scoring in the league. 

The Knicks wings seem to alternate ceiling performances quite often, but there is an excellent chance at least one of them goes off at a mid-range price in this elite matchup tonight. The Wizards rank 4th in pace and 28th in DefRtg, making them one of the best targets for fantasy scoring in the league. 

Luka Doncic is out, and PJ Washington and Naji Marshall are facing suspensions. Grimes has a chance to play 30+ minutes tonight, and he gets a great matchup against the Blazers, who rank 27th in DefRtg. 

With value lacking so far (but still lots of injury news pending) McBride's elite matchup and solidified bench role put him in play. If Brunson (questionable) misses, McBride becomes one of the top values on the slate. 

I have a lot more interest in Paul George if Joel Embiid (questionable) sits. If Embiid plays, George is just a large-field GPP flyer in an elite matchup. 

MPJ hasn't historically received a big boost from Aaron Gordon being out of the lineup, but I still have GPP interest given the matchup against a below average Pistons defense. 

The Knicks wings seem to alternate ceiling performances quite often, but there is an excellent chance at least one of them goes off at a mid-range price in this elite matchup tonight. The Wizards rank 4th in pace and 28th in DefRtg, making them one of the best targets for fantasy scoring in the league. 

Draymond Green is expected to return, but Steph Curry remains out. Wiggins can be a frustrating guy to roster, and Dennis Schroder's arrival complicates the usage projections, but the absence of Curry gives me GPP interest. The Suns rank just 22nd in DefRtg and will again be without Devin Booker. 

Luka Doncic is out, and PJ Washington and Naji Marshall are facing suspensions. Klay has a clear path to play 30+ minutes tonight, and he gets a great matchup against the Blazers, who rank 27th in DefRtg. 

The Suns are expected to be shorthanded tonight, with Devin Booker and Grayson Allen still out, and Jusuf Nurkic facing a suspension. Royce should have a path to 30 minutes again. 

LeBron is listed questionable with an illness, so his status may truly be up in the air. If he plays, he is an elite option with a matchup against a struggling Kings squad that has lost 5 straight games and just dismissed their head coach. 

In his time with the Suns, KD has posted some ridiculous usage rates with Devin Booker off the floor. In 4 games without Booker this season, Durant has a 35.6% usage rate and averages 32 points per game. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out. Huge boost for Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis in of the best possible matchups. 

Draymond Green is expected to return to the lineup tonight, but Steph Curry remains out and Kuminga is coming off a monster fantasy performance. In 6 games with Curry inactive this season, Kuminga leads the Warriors with a 32% usage rate. 

Better play if Sabonis sits again, but I have interest regardless due to the coaching change. Who knows what interim Head Coach Doug Christie's rotations will look like. I am willing to lean into the chance Murray plays upper-30s minutes tonight in a good matchup. 

Jokic is the top option on most slates in which he appears, and this one is no different. He gets a plus matchup against a below average defense, and (not that he needs it) receives a small boost to his rate stats with Aaron Gordon off the floor. 

AD played just 7 minutes last game before leaving with an ankle injury. Injury is an inherent risk with the Lakers big man, but the ceiling is outstanding when he is able to play his full compliment of minutes. AD is listed questionable himself, but he would rival Jokic for top play on the slate if he is able to play and LeBron (also questionable) is not. 

Like AD, another superstar who is listed questionable and has a habit of leaving games early with injury. The ceiling is undeniable against the worst defense in the league if Embiid is able to play full minutes. 

KAT has been a rebounding machine this season and gets a matchup against the worst rebounding team in the NBA. The Wizards also happen to be one of the worst defensive teams in the league. KAT is an amazing GPP pivot from some of his cheaper, chalkier teammates.

Sabonis missed last game with an illness and his head coach has since been fired. He has said he expects to play tonight and gets a good matchup against a below average Lakers defense. 

In addition to Luka Doncic, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively has now been ruled out as well. Gafford is now one of the top salary saving options on the entire slate. 

Draymond Green is expected to return to the lineup tonight, but TJD has had a solid role alongside Green in recent games. Jackson-Davis has started each of the last four games and performed well. He should play mid-20s minutes in a solid matchup. 

Assuming Plumlee draws the start for the suspended Nurkic, he is on of the top values on the slate. There is a chance Ighodaro draws the start instead. Ighodoro is at or near minimum price on both sites and also offers PF eligibility.