This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's NBA slate is set to feature eight games that tip off after 7 p.m. EST, highlighted by what should be a fascinating encounter in Atlanta between legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and his former disciple Mike Budenholzer. It's probably best to avoid loading up your lineup with guys playing against San Antonio's otherworldly defense, but luckily there are plenty of other games from which to choose. There's quite a variety of ways to build an effective DFS team, but going with the players listed below is a good start regardless of your strategy.
GUARD
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. BOS ($32) - He finally earned some acclaim with a triple-double Wednesday, but Batum has contributed significantly in categories outside of points for a while now. The Frenchman has picked up at least 10 combined rebounds and assists in every game since Nov. 20, making him an especially appealing option in formats that reward consistent all-around production. Batum's excellent at sneaking above the 30.0 fantasy-point mark even when he barely reaches the teens in points, and his combination of high floor and recent productivity makes him an excellent value.
Deron Williams, DAL vs. WSH ($28) - Williams has topped 30.0 fantasy points in 10 of his last 12 games, yet he continues to be available for a reasonable price. He would be a tremendous value even if he wasn't facing the 25th-ranked Wizards defense, but the matchup makes Williams an absolute no-brainer. The point guard has been excellent on the offensive end after a brief acclimation period in his first season with the Mavericks, and those who didn't hold the slow start against him have benefitted tremendously lately.
Guard to Avoid:
Derrick Rose, CHI vs. NOP ($28) - Rose continues to skate by on name recognition, even though the former MVP is having a lackluster 2015-16 campaign. Bulls fans are happy just to have him back healthy, but savvy fantasy owners know $28 is too much to pay for the current version of Rose. Many will be tempted to utilize him against a porous Pelicans defense, but a smaller overpay than usual is still an overpay. Even in a cushy matchup, Rose's role in the Bulls offense isn't great enough to guarantee a good outing.
Others to Avoid: Kemba Walker ($33), Jeff Teague ($30), Ish Smith ($24), Michael Carter-Williams ($21), Jeremy Lin ($15)
FORWARD
Kobe Bryant, LAL at HOU ($20) - Bryant has been magnificent in the second games of back-to-back sets, registering 39.9 and 37.1 fantasy points in two such contests in December. His third opportunity comes against Houston's 28th-ranked defense, and the ego-driven veteran will surely look to upstage fellow scoring maestro James Harden. Kobe hasn't been the model of consistency this season, but formats that don't penalize missed shots are his bread and butter.
Ersan Ilyasova, DET vs. IDN ($16) - Ilyasova has taken advantage of a recent uptick in minutes with some quality performances, such as Monday's 15-point and 13-rebound effort against Charlotte. The Turk has averaged more than 13 points and seven rebounds per game in a season twice, so he should easily be able to exceed his valuation if he continues to see the floor often. Any long-term increase in role will, of course, come with a corresponding bump in price, so nab Ilyasova for cheap while you still can.
Forward to Avoid:
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs. NYK ($24) - It's tough to understand why Aminu is priced in the mid-20s. He hasn't topped 30.0 fantasy points in nine games and has more outings with less than 15.0 than more than 21.0 in that span. There are players with much higher upside available for a significantly lower price, as investing in Aminu in his current form is an absolute travesty considering his inability on the offensive end significantly caps his ability to be a consistent fantasy contributor.
Others to Avoid:Draymond Green ($38), Kristaps Porzingis ($36), Jae Crowder ($25), Andre Iguodala ($21)
CENTER
Dwight Howard, HOU vs. LAL ($32) - Howard will be motivated to show up former teammate Kobe Bryant when Bryant's Lakers come to town, and nobody on Los Angeles' putrid front line has the ability to slow a focused Howard. There's always a possibility that Houston will rest its prized center if it gets out to a big lead, but a blowout is far from guaranteed with the Rockets struggling through some early rough patches of their own. Howard's combination of skill and situation tops that of any other centers available Saturday.
Center to Avoid
Roy Hibbert, LAL vs. HOU ($16) - Hibbert is offensively challenged to begin with, but you can completely forget about him contributing on that end when going against a strong defender like Dwight Howard. He's also only reached double-digit rebounds twice since opening night, making blocks Hibbert's primary source of value. It's tough to expect consistent returns when your fantasy fate rests on the odd swat, and DFS is perfect for making one-category contributors like Hibbert nearly obsolete. There's no need to hope to get lucky with Hibbert's blocks when there are more skilled, multi-dimensional players available.
Others to Avoid: Greg Monroe ($34), Zaza Pachulia ($24), Tim Duncan ($24)
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