This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Yahoo's featured slate Saturday consists of 10 games, so for the purposes of this article we will exclude the Hawks-Bucks game that tips off at 6 p.m. EDT.
On such a big slate, I prefer to target one game and completely fade another so my decision making is easier. The game I am fading is the one with the biggest blowout potential. The Bulls are without Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen, leaving a bare-bones Chicago team to play the victim against the Cavaliers. For starters, it's really anyone's guess who will reap the most minutes for the Bulls, so finding a target there is a dart throw. The Cavs seem primed to make this a blowout, and that will keep me away from LeBron James tonight.
The game you absolutely have to get a piece of is the Rockets-Pelicans matchup, which has an over/under of 227. I would be happy with a complete stack of this game if I could afford it, but Yahoo limits our ability to take the top four spots. Any combination of Anthony Davis ($58), James Harden ($51), Jrue Holiday ($36) and Chris Paul ($32) are desirable, but I can probably only afford two. That said, the Davis/Harden combo is the most appealing to me but arguments can be made to do a team stack with whichever two you think have the upper hand on Saturday.
How do we afford these guys? Look no further than the Warriors, who seem to be fully prepared to roll out the scrubs for the remainder of the season. Draymond Green ($30) is the sole player standing from the first unit, and while Friday's game was a bit of a mish-mash regarding the replacements, they get an easier test against the Suns on Saturday. Green is a great target, and from there I would go for value with Nick Young ($10), Kevon Looney ($10) and Quinn Cook ($10) all of whom should beat value at $10.
If I placed a salary designation on any player above, they are favorable selections in my predictions. I'll now highlight two more players at each position, with an aim toward making one of the picks a low-cost option at each spot. We'll also select one player to avoid at each position.
GUARD
Damian Lillard, POR vs. DET ($45): At the top it's between Lillard or Beal for me, and while I like them both, Lillard tipped the scales his way due to his string of recent games and a good history against the Pistons. Also, Beal faces a slightly more difficult backcourt in Indiana, while Detroit doesn't have much resistance to offer defensively. I can't fade either player, but I'd spend a little more for Lillard.
Darren Collison, IND at WAS ($18): Collison is expected to start his first game since returning from injury, displacing Cory Joesph. He's had a steady progression in three games from the bench, so I see no reason why Indiana wouldn't put him up for a full complement of minutes after a rest day.
Other guards to consider: Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. SAC ($30), D'Angelo Russell, BKN vs. DAL ($24)
Guard to Avoid:
Dejounte Murray, SA vs, MIN ($21): Murray's price is a little too high for the value you'll expect to get in this slow-paced matchup, and I think the tandem of Jeff Teague and Andrew Wiggins will limit Murray and Patty Mills defensively. Due to pace, this whole game isn't very attractive.
FORWARD
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. GS ($25): If Devin Booker doesn't go, I really like Warren in this spot at Durant's position. Warren has enjoyed a bump whenever Booker is absent, and although Elfrid Payton should also produce, I like Warren as the team's highest scorer without Devin on the court.
Michael Beasley, NY vs. CHA ($20): After a few shoddy games, Beasley has come back around and has a great matchup against the Hornets. The Knicks have nothing to play for but Beasley certainly does – his remaining games will be one long audition as his one-year deal with the Knicks will expire, and the unrestricted free agent will definitely be looking for a bigger payday.
Other forwards to consider: Otto Porter Jr., WAS vs. IND ($25), JaMychal Green, MEM vs. DEN ($21),
Forward to Avoid:
Zach Randolph, SAC at UTA ($19): Randolph has had no luck against Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. I expect the carnage to continue as the Jazz are killing it on both ends of the floor and I doubt the Kings will have any answer for them inside.
CENTER
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. SAC ($38): I think the Kings will do just enough to keep the first unit playing, and as a result I see Gobert having a field day at home. He put up almost 60 YFP against Sacramento in their last meeting, and while that's a bit too much to ask for, I think somewhere in the 45-50 YFP range is certainly possible.
Kyle O'Quinn, NY vs. CHA ($13): O'Quinn always seems to find enough minutes to get somewhere in the neighborhood of a double-double at a cheap price, so it's no surprise that if you look at past perfect lineups, O'Quinn has shown up in many of them. If he gets his usual 20 minutes he will easily beat value Saturday.
Other centers to consider: Andre Drummond, DET at POR ($39), Marc Gasol, MEM vs. DEN ($31)
Centers to Avoid:
Alex Len ($10) and Tyson Chandler ($10), PHO vs. GS: While it's usually OK to pit your centers against the Warriors' the center situation in Phoenix is too uncertain and messy to warrant playing them against Golden State's weak spot. They seem intent on pushing Tyson Chandler out with a neck injury, and Alex Len is about as volatile as they come. The situation may begin to gel when Alan Williams gets back on the court, but his season debut is still a couple weeks away.
