It’s Saturday. I needed to write that so I can help keep the days straight with the holiday on Thursday forcing me out of my routine. Anyway, Saturday features a full 10-game slate of NBA action to dissect before filling out those DraftKings lineups. With some injuries opening up a lot of cheap value options on the slate it feels like a night for an unbalanced “Studs and Duds” lineup construction. I never liked the “duds” part of that saying but have yet to come up with a new saying that I like. If anyone has any suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @Rotopilot. So, with that onto Saturday’s lineup recommendations.

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar position production together.

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One Stud

DeMarcus Cousins (PF/C – NO): $11,000 @ GS
Both the Pelicans and Warriors are playing the second game of a back-to-back but they both cruised to easy victories on Friday which allowed them to rest their superstars for the Saturday night clash. Cousins’ minutes have only hovered around 30 for the last five games for a variety of reasons but should spike back into the high 30s for a matchup with the Warriors in the game with the highest Vegas total on the slate. Meanwhile, the Warriors have allowed a high volume of shots and points to opposing big men this season. I prefer Cousins over Anthony Davis.

Core Plays

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $9,800 vs ORL
Embiid starts the parade of Sixers in my recommendations for Saturday. With Ben Simmons out, numerous Sixers, including Embiid, will see an increase in usage (+3.1%). Embiid has topped 30 minutes in four of his last five games where he has averaged 28.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.6 blocks. He will have even more of the offense flow through him and has a favorable matchup against the Magic who have allowed the 10th most DraftKings points to opposing centers.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GS): $9,600 vs NO
Without Kevin Durant and Draymond Green in the lineup on Friday, Curry lit up the Bulls for 33 points in just 27 minutes. He has shot over 50% from the field in four straight games and should play more minutes with a high usage rate with Durant likely out again against the Pelicans on Saturday. Curry has seen an increased usage of 9.2% with Durant off the court this season. He also gets a favorable matchup against the Pelicans who have allowed the eighth most DraftKings points to opposing PGs this season.

Chris Paul (PG/SG – HOU): $7,800 vs NY
Paul’s minutes are on the rise, playing 28 in his last game. His minutes should continue to rise to around 30 against the Knicks on Saturday and now is a great time to buy Paul while his salary remains low for his eventual production. He scored 23 points with 12 assists on his way to 52.5 DK points in his last outing and should continue to build on that with more minutes. Buy, buy, buy!

Robert Covington (SF/PF – PHI): $6,200 vs ORL
Covington has taken a step forward in his game this season. He provides a solid floor nearly every night and has the upside for a breakout game every so often. Covington could have one of those breakout nights on Saturday. With Simmons out, Covington gets a small usage bump (+1.7%) and gets a very favorable matchup against the Magic who have allowed increased production in points (+14.7%), rebounds (+10.4%) and assists (+9.7%) to opposing SFs.

Value Plays

TJ McConnell (PG – PHI): $4,000 vs ORL
McConnell rounds out the Sixers parade throughout the recommendations for Saturday’s slate. With Simmons out McConnell will have the ball in his hands more often increasing his usage rate (+1.9%) and likely also bumping up his minutes into the mid-30s. He can stuff a stat sheet when given the minutes and has a plus matchup against the Magic who have allowed increased production to opposing PGs in points (+5.1%), rebounds (+6.5%), assists (+5.4%) and steals (+25.1%).

Wesley Johnson (SF/PF – LAC): $4,000 @ SAC
Johnson has found his groove on the Clippers current road trip averaging 32.2 DK points per game in four outings. With Danilo Gallinari still out, Johnson should continue to see minutes in the 30s for a matchup with the Kings who have allowed increase production in rebounds (+11.5%) and assists (+14.1%) while presenting a neutral matchup in points to opposing SFs.

Omri Casspi (SF/PF – GS): $3,600 vs NO
With Durant out on Friday, Casspi drew the start and played 25 minutes while stuffing the stat sheet with six points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block on his way to 23 DK points. Assuming Durant (doubtful) is out again on Saturday, Casspi should get another start and around 25 minutes the Pelicans. He doesn’t need much to reach value for his cheap salary and he should get plenty against a Pelicans’ team that allows increased production in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks to opposing SFs.

Aron Baynes (C – BOS): $3,500 @ IND
Baynes is coming off a strong game with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds against the Magic on Friday. He should see a repeat of 20-plus minutes on Saturday with Marcus Morris out. Baynes will face a Pacers’ team that has allowed the fifth most rebounds to opposing centers which should allow Baynes to post a second straight double-double at a very cheap salary.

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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.