On Saturday night, the NBA has a four-game main slate on DraftKings, including several matchups that bring plenty of exciting storylines. The action starts at 7:00 p.m. ET with the Hawks taking on the Pelicans in New Orleans and finishes up with the banged-up Grizzlies visiting the Mavericks. Of the eight teams on the slate, the Pelicans, Wizards, Bulls, and Mavericks are playing for the second game in a row, while the other half of the teams had Friday night off. Be sure to check back for updates to our models as things change throughout the day, but coming into this Saturday, there are a few strong plays that stand out.
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
Josh Giddey has the top median, ceiling, and floor projections on the entire slate this Saturday, as the Bulls take on the Wizards at home on the second night of a back-to-back for both teams. Giddey fell just one assist short of a triple-double in the team’s big loss on Friday, posting 19 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists in 31 minutes.
Giddey has averaged 20.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 9.6 assists in his 13 games this season, producing 51 DraftKings points per game. He’s been held under 40 DraftKings points in three straight, which has caused his salary to dip to just $9,600, but he still has the upside to produce over 50 DraftKings points like he did last Sunday with 26 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists, and 72.2 DraftKings points against the Jazz.
He’ll be in the best matchup in the NBA for point guards this season, facing the Wizards. Washington has not only allowed the most fantasy points to point guards, but it is also allowing the most points per game and has the worst defensive rating of any team in the NBA by a wide margin.
The Bulls were run out of their own building on Friday, but they should be in an ideal bounce-back spot on Saturday. The Bulls have the highest implied team total on the board according to our Vegas Dashboard, and since Giddey is so central to their offense, he should lead the way with a big game.
Value
Rookie Jeremiah Fears has been putting together a solid rookie season for the Pelicans, who have called on the No. 7 overall pick to fill a starting role for his last 14 games. He has the highest Plus/Minus projection of all point guards on Saturday’s slate, and he brings a great ceiling to what should be a high-scoring matchup against Atlanta. It has the second-highest over/under on the board behind only the Wizards-Bulls matchup.
Fears and the Pelicans have dropped eight straight after a hard-fought loss in Dallas on Friday. Fears had 40.2 DraftKings points on 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and four steals in 32 minutes. He has at least 22 DraftKings points in nine straight games, exceeding salary-based expectations in seven of those contests, including two outbursts of over 40 DraftKings points.
His big game Friday came with Zion Williamson available, but Jordan Poole (quad) was still absent. When Poole returns, Fears’ usage could drop a little, but the rookie has shown enough upside to be a great value under $5,000 on Saturday’s slate. If Zion rests and Poole remains out, there will be even more usage available for him to help absorb in Saturday’s contest.
Fast Break
The Pistons visit the Bucks on Saturday in the NBA TV game of the night. They haven’t played since Tuesday, when Cade Cunningham returned and helped them win their 11th straight game. Cunningham had 25 points, 10 assists, and 52 DraftKings points in his return and has posted a double-double in five straight games with at least 49 DraftKings points in each contest. He has the second-highest projections at the position on Saturday, behind only Giddey.
On the other side of that matchup, Ryan Rollins has to help carry the load for the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo (groin) available. Rollins has exceeded salary-based expectations in six of his last seven games and had 63.5 DraftKings points on 32 points, 14 assists, and six rebounds in his first game since Giannis went down with his injury. He has the third-highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at point guard and has an extremely high ceiling against Cunningham and the Pistons.
Wizards guard CJ McCollum has the second-highest Plus/Minus projection at point guard and has shown a high ceiling if he carries the scoring load for Washington. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last six games, including Friday night when he had 20 points and 30.2 DraftKings points against the Raptors. He has gone off for over 43 and 58 DraftKings points in two of his last six games, so he has the chance to go off, making him worth considering as a play with a salary in the middle range.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
In both the FantasyLabs and the ShotQuality projections for Saturday, Trey Murphy III has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at shooting guard. Zion Williamson is not in the projections since he is expected to sit out the second night of the team’s back-to-back (although not confirmed yet).
Murphy has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of his last 10 games. He had 25 points on Friday in the team’s loss to the Mavs and has at least 20 points in seven of his last eight games, highlighted by a 41-point outburst against the Spurs.
Without Zion on the floor, Murphy has produced 1.06 DraftKings points per minute and will take on a heavy workload on Saturday if Zion gets the night off.
Murphy’s salary is $7,000, and he has at least 37 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games, making him a good value play. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard on Saturday as a result. He also has a sky-high ceiling, which he showed by posting 60.75 DraftKings points against the Spurs and producing four games with at least 43 DraftKings points during that span.
Value
In both sets of projections, Kyshawn George has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position. He had huge ownership on Friday but posted a disappointing 16.75 DraftKings points in a loss to the Raptors. The projections indicate that he should be able to bounce back against the Bulls.
George has impressed so far in his second season, producing 16.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 34.4 DraftKings points per game. He had rolled off three straight games of over 43 DraftKings points against the Rockets, Nets, and Timberwolves before struggling on Friday.
The 21-year-old has been volatile, but his high ceiling and good upside make him worth considering as a value at shooting guard, with his salary only a little over $6,000 this Saturday.
Fast Break
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has stepped into a larger role than expected for the Hawks since Trae Young (knee) has missed so much time. Alexander-Walker is coming off a huge game on Thursday, when he had 38 points and 59.5 DraftKings points against the Spurs. He has over 31 DraftKings points in each of his five games since returning from his own injury, and he has the third-highest ceiling projection at shooting guard in Saturday’s matchup against the Pelicans, who have allowed more fantasy points per game to shooting guards than any other team in the NBA this season.
In the ShotQuality Projections, Max Christie has the fourth-highest ceiling projection of all shooting guards and the fifth-highest Plus/Minus projection. Christie has been very consistent for Dallas this season, exceeding salary-based expectations in eight of his last nine games, including Friday against the Pelicans, when he had 23 points and 32.75 DraftKings points. He and the Mavs will be looking to pick up back-to-back victories as they host the Grizzlies on Saturday.
Speaking of the Grizzlies, they’re still without Ja Morant (calf), Ty Jerome (calf) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) on Saturday. Jaylen Wells has a top-five Plus/Minus projection after scoring 13 points in a similar scenario on Thursday, while Cam Spencer and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could also step in to help fill the gaps.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg has the highest ceiling, median, and floor projections at small forward on Saturday’s slate after he dropped 29 points to help the Mavs storm back and beat the Pelicans on Friday. He’s had some growing pains as he steps into a very important role for Dallas, but he seems to be finding his footing for the most part.
He has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last six games, with at least 42 DraftKings points in each of those four games. His two down games were rough, with under 23 DraftKings points, but his upside outweighs the risk if you have the salary to spend up at small forward this Saturday.
Flagg’s Mavs should be in a favorable matchup at home against Memphis, which is missing so many key producers.
Value
Since the Grizzlies are so shorthanded at point guard, forward Vince Williams Jr. is getting a chance to show off his play-making abilities. He now has dual eligibility at point guard and small forward, which makes him easy to fit in just about any lineup build. Williams has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward in both sets of projections on Thursday. He also has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard in the ShotQuality projections.
Williams has exceeded salary-based expectations in each of his last four games on main slates. He has over 33 DraftKings points in three of those contests and was able to produce 35.2 DraftKings points against the Kings on Thursday with a career-high 15 assists to go with five rebounds and four points.
In Saturday’s matchup against the Mavs, he will again be on point, which gives him a high ceiling, especially if he can find more of his scoring touch than he managed on Thursday.
Fast Break
Without Giannis, Kyle Kuzma will have more of a chance to step up for the Bucks. He had 17 points, four assists, and 31.25 DraftKings on Thursday. Kuzma showed a very high ceiling with 29 points, a double-double, and 60 DraftKings points last Friday against the Hornets. He’s very volatile, though, so he’s a boom-or-bust option at his salary.
As a bargain play at forward, Cam Whitmore makes sense for the Wizards, especially if Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, or other wings are rested in the second game of the back-to-back. Whitmore has scored at least 11 points in five of his last six games and has hit 19+ DraftKings points in four of those contests. He’s a bargain with high-scoring potential depending on how the injury report shakes out.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
With so many value plays and players emerging as bargain plays, you may need to find some solid options at the top of the salary structure as well. At power forward, Jalen Johnson has been turning in elite numbers all season for the Hawks, so even though he’s expensive, he’s a solid option since he brings the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at the position Saturday.
Johnson has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games and eight of his last 10. He has at least 24 points in each of his last six games, averaging 58.3 DraftKings points over those last six contests.
He went off for a massive 92 DraftKings points with 31 points, 18 rebounds, and 14 assists against the Jazz last week, and he has a similar ceiling in a smash spot against the Pelicans on Saturday.
Value
In both sets of projections, Saddiq Bey has the highest Plus/Minus projection at power forward since he’s in line for more work with Zion likely getting Saturday off.
Bey’s production has dropped in the past two games with Williamson back in the mix, but he had exceeded salary-based expectations in six of his seven games before that. He had a 25-point game that earned him over 40 DraftKings points against Portland, and he produced at least 25 DraftKings points in each of the last four games he played without Williamson.
The Hawks have given up the sixth-most fantasy points to power forwards, so Bey should be able to deliver elite value at $4,500.
Fast Break
Against Memphis, P.J. Washington has the second-highest ceiling projection on the slate at power forward, and he also brings a better Plus/Minus Projection than Johnson since he’s $2,500 cheaper. Washington had 24 points, nine boards, and 43.25 DraftKings points on Friday and will look to post another strong showing in the second game of the back-to-back.
On the other side of the matchup, Santi Aldama will likely get another start for the Grizzlies with Jaren Jackson Jr. (ankle) likely to miss a second straight game. In his start on Thursday, Aldama had 29 points and 45.75 DrfatKings points against the Kings. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in five of his last six games, with 30+ DraftKings points in each of those five matchups.
If you decide to go ultra-cheap at the position, Whitmore can work in this spot, or you can consider Micah Peavy of the Pelicans or Patrick Williams of the Bulls. They’ve both had solid roles lately from under $4,000, giving them value potential on Saturday.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Vucevic has the highest ceiling, median, and floor projections of all the centers on Saturday in the ShotQuality projections, while Jalen Duren edges him out in the FantasyLabs projections. Both are in great matchups, but I’ll go with Vucevic, who is cheaper and had a few big games before a dud on Friday.
In the team’s bad loss to the Heat, Vucevic had just 15 DraftKings points, but he had 45 and 48 DraftKings points in two of his previous three games. He hit the game-winner on Wednesday in Portland, finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds, and 45 DraftKings points.
Vucevic has a great matchup against the Wizards, who have given up the most fantasy points to centers this season. Pairing Vucevic with Giddey is an expensive but strong stack to take advantage of the great home matchup against the Wizards. You’ll just have to find value in other places on your roster.
Value
In the FantasyLabs projections, rookie Derik Queen has the highest Plus/Minus projection on the entire slate. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate and the highest at center in the ShotQuality projections as well.
Queen has joined his fellow first-rounder Fears in the starting lineup for the last four games, and he has averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.4 steals over his last 10 contests, producing 35.0 DraftKings points per contest.
In his last two games, he went off for 53.75 DraftKings points against the Nuggets and 46.75 DraftKings points against the Mavericks. He’s stuffing the stat sheet and putting up big numbers in multiple categories, so getting him at just over $5,000 makes him an outstanding value.
Fast Break
Alexandre Sarr (toe) has missed the last two games, and if he returns, he could be a great GPP option since he has a high ceiling. If he is out again, Tristan Vukcevic will step into a larger role, although he disappointed with only 10.2 DraftKings points on Friday when Sarr was out.
Myles Turner will have a chance to step up with Giannis, and he had a double-double on Thursday with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He fell short of salary-based expectations with 31 DraftKings points, but he should be a steady producer while Giannis is out since he’ll get more usage. Bobby Portis is another Bucks big man who should get more opportunities.
Bulls backup Jalen Smith has been very productive as a bargain play, exceeding salary-based expectations in nine of his last 11 contests. If you want to avoid the Wizards’ frontcourt mess, he’s a solid alternative as a bargain and always seems to chip in solid numbers regardless of game scenario.
