Welcome to the Saturday edition of FanDuel NBA lineup advice. Just like last week, we have a mid-size seven-game main slate to navigate today. In an odd scheduling coincidence, 11-of-14 teams featured are either completing or starting back-to-back series. Despite the number of teams available, only four players check in with five-figure salaries.  There are some key injuries to monitor that could significantly alter today’s landscape and, as usual, more could pop up throughout the day. Let’s dive in.

Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel

Point Guard

Russell Westbrook (HOU): $9,200 at PHO
Westbrook is the most expensive point guard you can play today but at $9,200 his salary won’t completely break your bank. He’s put up at least 49 FD points in seven of his last eight games played and tonight’s high paced-game against the Suns should be another. Both Houston and Phoenix are in the top-six when it comes to possessions per game, so there’s a pretty solid chance that Westbrook puts up a triple-double in this contest.

Others to consider:

Damian Lillard (POR): $8,700 vs. MIN
Lillard has nearly as high of a ceiling as any player on the slate and the talent drops off relatively quick at point guard tonight. He gets a good matchup against Minnesota, who gives up the sixth-most FD points to point guards, and he may be leaned on to score a bit more as Carmelo Anthony seems unlikely to play after exiting last night’s game early. 

Patrick Beverley (LAC): $4,700 at SA
After missing a few games with a concussion, Beverley is back to playing his usual allotment of minutes. He doesn’t put up big points but can fill up the stat sheet in every other category to rack up solid FD points, like the 37.9 he put up in his last outing on Thursday.

Shooting Guard

CJ McCollum (POR): $7,600 vs. MIN
I’m not sure why McCollum’s price tag isn’t over $8,000, but I’m not going to complain about it. He’s averaged 30.3 real points and 45.8 FD points over his last three games and gets a great matchup tonight against the Timberwolves, who give up the ninth-most FD points to shooting guards and are playing in the second half of a road back-to-back set. McCollum, probably even more than Damian Lillard, will also be more likely to score with Carmelo Anthony doubtful to play tonight.

Others to consider:

Devin Booker (PHO): $7,600 vs. HOU
Booker is a player with 60+ FD point upside, though it’s usually difficult to predict when the streaky shooter is going to catch fire. He’ll have as good of a chance as ever tonight in the up-and-down matchup with the Rockets. The last time he played Houston he finished with 49.3 FD points, so his $7,600 salary could be a bargain tonight. 

Justin James (SAC): $3,500 at MEM
You definitely need to monitor the injury news today if you slot James into your lineup to save salary. His involvement will evaporate if Bogdan Bogdanovic, who sat out Friday with a minor knee injury, returns. The rookie out of Wyoming put up 22.6 FD points in 23 minutes of action last night and could be needed to contribute again tonight if the Kings are once again short-handed in Memphis.

Small Forward

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): $11,300 vs. CLE
As of this writing, Antetokounmpo has the “Game Time Decision” tag next to his name, but fade him at your own risk. In his past two games, the reigning MVP has averaged 66.8 FD points and made a huge statement by draining a career-high five three-pointers against the Lakers Thursday night. Despite this, he’s actually $900 cheaper than he was a week ago. The biggest risk when rostering Antetokounmpo is that Milwaukee could very well blow out the Knicks and he could have a short night. However, he’s been so efficient that he’s still unlikely to completely disappoint.

Others to consider:

Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHO): $5,900 vs PHO
Oubre, much like his teammate Devin Booker, is a volume shooter that can get hot at any time. He’s coming off his lowest scoring output in over two weeks but could bounce back tonight against the Rockets. He’s another high ceiling play in the up-tempo matchup that I’ve already mentioned a few times. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him 40+ FD points if he can find his shot tonight.

Rudy Gay (POR): $4,600 vs. LAC
He’s coming off of his worst game of the season in just 13 minutes against Brooklyn, but Gay averaged 26 minutes and 32.2 FD points in his previous two games. He’s been relatively consistent throughout the season and isn’t likely to have consecutive poor outings. At just $4,600 he allows you some security to pay up at other positions.

Power Forward

Lauri Markkanen (CHI): $6,200 at DET
After a rough November, the third-year Finnish forward is finding some consistency in December. He’s averaged over 31 FD points in the month, including topping 42 FD points in two of his last three games. He matches up with the banged-up Pistons tonight, a team that he’s averaged 35.1 FD points against in two games this season.  

Others to consider:

LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): $8,000 vs LAC
Aldridge has been playing like his younger self since taking two games off to start the month. Since then he’s averaged 18.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks over a five-game span, good enough for an average of nearly 42 FD points per game. The Spurs should continue to lean on him when the Clippers come to town tonight.

Marvin Bagley III (SAC): $4,700 at MEM
The Kings have three FanDuel designated power forwards that see significant playing time, and they’re all priced within $400 of each other tonight. Bagley is the cheapest of the three, but the argument could be made that he has the highest ceiling. The second-year forward has been eased into the rotation after missing most of the early season with a thumb injury. He saw a season-high 27 minutes off the bench last night and it appears only a matter of time before last year’s number two overall pick gets back to a full-time role.

Center

Joel Embiid (PHI): $10,000 vs. WAS
Embiid is in a position to put up a monster game tonight. He’s been rolling lately, averaging 59.4 FD points over his last two games, and now he gets an ideal matchup at home against the Wizards. For his career, Embiid is averaging 24 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game against Washington. The Wizards are giving up fifth-most FD points to centers and may be without Thomas Bryant and Moritz Wagner again tonight, not that they would have much chance of slowing down Embiid anyway. 

Others to consider:

Deandre Ayton (PHO): $7,800 vs. HOU
It’s easy to forget about Ayton, last year’s number one draft pick who got dinged with a 25 game suspension right after the first game of the season. He’s averaged 42 FD points in his two games played this year and doesn’t appear to be seriously injured, even though he sat out of last night’s game. He’s another piece of tonight’s likely high-paced game in Phoenix and this might be the last time you see his salary under $8,000 for a while. 

Here’s an example of a lineup that you can roll out tonight with $300 to spare. It’s constructed more for tournaments, as there are a few high-upside but volatile players rostered. As usual, make sure you stay in tune with the news of the day as lock approaches.

PG: Russell Westbrook – $9,200
PG: Patrick Beverley – $4,700
SG: CJ McCollum – $12,400
SG: Justin James – $3,500
SF: Kelly Oubre Jr. – $5,900
SF: Rudy Gay – $4,600
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge – $8,000
PF: Lauri Markkanen – $6,200
C: Joel Embiid – $10,000

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Aaron Larson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Aaron, check out his archive and follow him @aalarson.