While the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs will garner a lot of the attention from the sports world on Saturday, there is a six-game NBA main slate on DraftKings that includes a lot of games that should be close and potentially high-scoring. If you are playing the NBA Saturday DFS slate then beware of teams in the second game of a back-to-back which include the Bulls, Pistons, Bucks, Wizards, Timberwolves and Nuggets. While I am not completely avoiding those teams, you do need to watch closely for any late scratches especially for any minor injuries or rest from those clubs.
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 positions production allowed together.
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One Stud
Anthony Davis (PF/C – NO): $9,900 @ MIN
Anthony Davis has been on a tear recently scoring at least 29 points in each of his last four games while averaging 10 boards and three blocked shots during that stretch. Unlike some of the other high-priced studs on the slate, Davis should be well rested (last played on Wednesday). His teammate DeMarcus Cousins is also a solid option but Davis has been outplaying him recently, has a lower salary and should see plenty of minutes in a close, high-scoring matchup with the Timberwolves.
While the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs will garner a lot of the attention from the sports world on Saturday, there is a six-game NBA main slate on DraftKings that includes a lot of games that should be close and potentially high-scoring. If you are playing the NBA Saturday DFS slate then beware of teams in the second game of a back-to-back which include the Bulls, Pistons, Bucks, Wizards, Timberwolves and Nuggets. While I am not completely avoiding those teams, you do need to watch closely for any late scratches especially for any minor injuries or rest from those clubs.
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 positions production allowed together.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
One Stud
Anthony Davis (PF/C – NO): $9,900 @ MIN
Anthony Davis has been on a tear recently scoring at least 29 points in each of his last four games while averaging 10 boards and three blocked shots during that stretch. Unlike some of the other high-priced studs on the slate, Davis should be well rested (last played on Wednesday). His teammate DeMarcus Cousins is also a solid option but Davis has been outplaying him recently, has a lower salary and should see plenty of minutes in a close, high-scoring matchup with the Timberwolves.
Core Plays
Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $7,800 vs MIL
I want exposure to the Wizards’ backcourt against the Bucks. Bradley Beal offers a little more salary savings with a similar floor and upside to his running mate John Wall ($8,700). The Bucks have been lit up by guards recently including DeMar DeRozan dropping 52 points on them on New Years’ Day. Beal has been hot shooting over 50% from the field and three-point range in each of his last four games while averaging over 49 DraftKings points during that stretch.
Kris Dunn (PG/SG – CHI): $7,100 @ IND
The $7,000 range on the Saturday’s slate is a little bit of a black hole and I don’t love Kris Dunn’s matchup against the Pacers or the fact that he is on the second game of a back-to-back, however, he has been playing great basketball including putting up a career-high 32 points on Friday against the Mavericks. Dunn has been solid in two matchups with the Pacers this season averaging 34.8 DK points which come close to 5x his current salary. If more value opens up consider paying up for either Wall or Jimmy Butler ($8,200) if you can.
Lauri Markkanen (PF – CHI): $6,300 @ IND
You can consider both Markkanen and his teammate Nikola Mirotic ($6,500) in this spot. I prefer Marrkanen in Cash games but might pivot to Mirotic in GPPs. Markkanen has been averaging 31 minutes in his last five games while putting up 20 points and nine rebounds during that stretch. The Pacers have struggled giving up points to opposing PFs allowing an increase of 18.8% to the position giving both Bulls’ PFs an opportunity to exceed value.
Trey Lyles (SF/PF – DEN): $5,600 @ SAC
Trey Lyles has graduated into the “Core Plays” section of the write-up with his consistently strong play and increasing salary. While his salary is on the rise it is still just moving up at a turtle’s pace compared to his production. Lyles has produced at least 30 DK points in four straight games including two games over 40 DK points. He gets another plus matchup on Saturday against the Kings who have allowed the fifth most DK points to opposing PFs this season.
Value Plays
Avery Bradley (PG/SG – DET): $5,200 vs HOU
Many of you who rostered Avery Bradley on Friday night, and there were a lot of you, were severely disappointed by his four-point effort in 22 minutes during a blowout loss to the Sixers. That is exactly why Saturday is the perfect time to jump right back on in a favorable, up-tempo matchup against the Rockets. The Rockets have allowed the ninth most DK points to opposing SGs this season including increased production in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. Ignore Bradley’s game log and jump back on, are you with me?
Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – IND): $5,200 vs CHI
Domantas Sabonis has stepped up his minutes and production over the last three games averaging 30 minutes with 15.3 points and 7.3 board per game. One of those three games was against Saturday’s opponent, the Bulls, where he posted 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks on his way to a 34.25 DK point effort. Similar production on Saturday would give him more than 6x his salary.
De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $4,500 vs DEN
De’Aaron Fox returned from injury to play 33 minutes while putting up 17 points, three rebounds and four assists against the Hornets. George Hill did not play in that game and is questionable for Saturday as well. Backup PG Frank Mason is also out, so if Hill is out again on Saturday, then Fox should see similar 30-plus minutes and has a sensational matchup against the Nuggets who have allowed the third most DK points to opposing PGs this season.
Skal Labissiere (PF/C – SAC): $3,500 vs DEN
Skal Labissiere drew the start in the Kings last game and put up huge numbers with 17 points and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes. Watch the news leading up to game time but assuming that Labissiere is rewarded with another start on Saturday, he becomes a near must-play at his minuscule price against the Nuggets.
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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.