This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's seven-game slate is highlighted by a showdown of Western conference powerhouses between the Spurs and Clippers, but some of the less notable games offer the best value plays. Houston's fast pace makes both Rockets and Hawks players quite desirable, while a number of guys who have set a baseline of outperforming their price range are starting to get deserved recognition for it.
GUARDS
James Harden, HOU at ATL ($55): Harden has put up video game numbers through five game as the point guard in Mike D'Antoni's fast-paced system, averaging 31.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 12.4 assists while also chipping in 3.6 3-pointers per game. Atlanta's starting backcourt of Dennis Schroder and Kyle Korver isn't defensively gifted enough to limit Harden any more than his first five opponents have. A third straight game with over 63.0 fantasy points would make him well worth a play, even at $55.
Dennis Schroder, ATL vs. HOU ($25): He may not be able to defend Harden, but Schroder should be able to burn him on the other end for a strong performance of his own. Atlanta's starting point guard has the ball in his hands more than ever, which gives him astronomical upside against a Houston team allowing 107.4 points per game. This game figures to be a fantasy-friendly shootout, meaning there should be no shortage of points or assists for Schroder.
Guard to Avoid
Dwyane Wade, CHI at IND ($32): Don't let Indiana's slow start on defense suck you into starting an aging Wade. Chances are the Pacers are going to start shoring things up, while the former Heat shooting guard seems likely to underperform his $32 price consistently after failing to top 27.0 fantasy points in three of his first four appearances heading into the weekend. Plus, his 34-year-old legs may not be back fully under him on the second night of a back-to-back.
FORWARDS
Marcus Morris, DET vs. DEN ($19): Morris has provided excellent value at $19, topping 30.0 fantasy points in four of his first five games while averaging 18.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while playing a healthy 32 minutes per game. Stanley Johnson's early struggles have quelled any talk of him cutting into Morris' minutes, which means the veteran will have plenty of opportunities to exploit a Nuggets defense that's allowing 105.3 points per game.
Kevin Love, CLE at PHI ($33): Love's production has trended up for two straight games, and he has a good chance of extending that streak against a banged-up 76ers frontcourt. The biggest limitation on his value is the possibility that the Cavaliers cut his minutes in a blowout victory, but Love has topped 40.0 fantasy points in three of five games while averaging a modest 31 minutes per game as it is. Love's per-minute effectiveness should make him well worth a play against a Philadelphia team that has allowed opponents to score 104.8 points per game.
Forward to Avoid
Nikola Jokic, DEN at DET ($27): Jokic has scored fewer than 20.0 fantasy points in three of his first four games, and he played just 14 minutes Thursday as the Nuggets went small against the Timberwolves. He's too talented not to pick things up eventually, but the 21-year-old Serbian is hitting an early-season low point and it's best to avoid him until his usage climbs back up.
CENTERS
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. CLE ($20): While Embiid will be held to 20-24 minutes per game for the foreseeable future, the 2014 third overall pick possesses much greater skill than the typical guys playing that range of minutes. His usage rate is astronomical, and it has allowed Embiid to average 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. We've seen little to suggest that production isn't sustainable moving forward.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs. WAS ($32): Vucevic specializes in scoring and rebounding, while the Wizards have allowed opponents to do plenty of both. Washington ranks 28th in the league by allowing 113.0 points per game and 23rd with a minus-4.6 rebound differential. Vucevic only has two double-doubles in five games despite averaging 13.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, but getting his third should be easy in this favorable matchup.
Center to Avoid
Pau Gasol, SAS vs. LAC ($29): Gasol's price is still hanging at $29 due to name value, but his play hasn't warranted that level of investment. The offseason acquisition has seen his offensive role reduced significantly in San Antonio, scoring in single digits in four of his first five games with the Spurs. The athletic Clippers frontcourt of DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin won't make grabbing rebounds easy for him, either.
