We’ve got a massive 12-game main slate for FanDuel NBA Saturday with a whole bunch of star players on the second half of back-to-backs. There’s also plenty of shorthanded teams set to play which gives us some great opportunity to take advantage of some low-priced players looking at heavy minutes. Let’s take a look at the team.
Create FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool 
Point Guards
Russell Westbrook (OKC): $10,900 @ UTA
Westbrook has back-to-back immunity and is a bit discounted due to the matchup with the Jazz. The Jazz aren’t even close to being the defensive juggernaut they once were though, and rank 20th against PGs. Westbrook has been looking more like his 2016 version as of late as he’s averaging a remarkable 1.92 FanDuel points per minute over his last three games. He had 57 points in only 28 minutes against the Jazz just a couple of games ago.
Tyler Johnson (MIA): $6,000 v. NO
No team is more shorthanded than the Miami Heat which has thrust Tyler Johnson into heavy minutes as the team’s starting PG with Goran Dragic out. Johnson has responded by averaging about 32 points per game over his last three. The matchup with the Pelicans is a good one for point guards, and on top of Dragic, Justise Winslow, Hassan Whiteside, and James Johnson all being out, Dion Waiters was injured last night and was unable to return so expect him to be out tonight as well. Johnson should once again be looking at minutes in the upper-30s.
We’ve got a massive 12-game main slate for FanDuel NBA Saturday with a whole bunch of star players on the second half of back-to-backs. There’s also plenty of shorthanded teams set to play which gives us some great opportunity to take advantage of some low-priced players looking at heavy minutes. Let’s take a look at the team.
Create FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Point Guards
Russell Westbrook (OKC): $10,900 @ UTA
Westbrook has back-to-back immunity and is a bit discounted due to the matchup with the Jazz. The Jazz aren’t even close to being the defensive juggernaut they once were though, and rank 20th against PGs. Westbrook has been looking more like his 2016 version as of late as he’s averaging a remarkable 1.92 FanDuel points per minute over his last three games. He had 57 points in only 28 minutes against the Jazz just a couple of games ago.
Tyler Johnson (MIA): $6,000 v. NO
No team is more shorthanded than the Miami Heat which has thrust Tyler Johnson into heavy minutes as the team’s starting PG with Goran Dragic out. Johnson has responded by averaging about 32 points per game over his last three. The matchup with the Pelicans is a good one for point guards, and on top of Dragic, Justise Winslow, Hassan Whiteside, and James Johnson all being out, Dion Waiters was injured last night and was unable to return so expect him to be out tonight as well. Johnson should once again be looking at minutes in the upper-30s.
Shooting Guards
Wayne Ellington (MIA): $3,800 v. NO
Wayne Ellington is going to be a popular play for $3,800 as long as Waiters is out. Ellington went off for 31 points last night in Waiters’ absence and gets a strong matchup with the Pels who rank 27th against SGs. Rookie Derrick Walton Jr. is essentially the only other guard that can spell Ellington, so the minutes should be there.
CJ McCollum (POR): $7,400 @LAL
McCollum was a major disappointment without Damian Lillard in the lineup last night against the Nuggets. Disappointing has been a theme for C.J. for most of the season, but he has a great opportunity to bounce-back against the Lakers who rank dead last defending SGs.
Small Forwards
Jimmy Butler (MIN): $8,900 @ PHO
Butler only had 28 vs. Phoenix a couple of games ago, but look for him to fix that with his price back below $9,000. Despite a sub-40 point game last time out, Butler is still averaging about 40 points per game over his last three. Look for him to bounce back.
Josh Richardson (MIA): $6,000 v. NO
It’s almost impossible not to take Richardson the way he’s going right now. He’s averaging 41.8 points per game over his last three games, and is locked into heavy minutes with all the injuries the Heat are dealing with. The Pels represent a good match-up for opposing SGs. Ride Richardson until his price is too high or until the injured Heat players return.
Power Forwards
Derrick Favors (UTA): $5,700 v. OKC
Favors unfortunately suffered an injury in the same game Rudy Gobert was re-injured, but he’s back to playing a full complement of minutes. That’s good news as he gets the Thunder on Saturday who really struggle to defend PFs. Favors is a sub-par option with Gobert in the line-up but saw his price rise to the $7,000s when Gobert missed extended time earlier in the season.
Kyle Kuzma (LAL): $6,800 v. POR
The rookie is absolutely on fire, and he’s obviously enjoying life in the starting lineup with back-to-back 50-point games. Don’t expect Brook Lopez to reclaim his starting role when he returns from injury, but do expect Kuzma to continue filling up the stat sheet. Ride him until that price is too high.
Center
Tyson Chandler (PHX): $4,000 v. MIN
It seems like every time Tyson Chandler drops to the low $4,000s, he has a productive game. Chandler is averaging about 26 points per game when priced $4,300 or below, and was rested in the Suns last game. Head coach Jay Triano usually sends out two of Chandler, Alex Len, and Greg Monroe each game so expect Chandler to be one of them.
That’s going to do it. Best of luck!
Create FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Joey Korman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joey, check out his archive and follow him @leaveit2divac.
