This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's nine-game evening NBA slate is highlighted by a few lopsided matchups. The Spurs, Bulls and Cavaliers are heavy favorites (against the Lakers, Timberwolves, and Pelicans, respectively), and are projected to provide plenty of fantasy value en route to easy victories. It's important to take advantage of the large number of teams in action and diversify your lineup with top individuals from across the league in addition to members of the three aforementioned powerhouses. Read on to find out the top value plays from all over the NBA.
GUARD
Archie Goodwin, PHX vs. UTA ($16) - Goodwin continues to pile up fantasy points as Phoenix's starting point guard. He has scored more than 27.0 six times in eight tries since taking over that role, demonstrating the ability to significantly outproduce his price most of the time. Some may steer clear of Goodwin due to his tough matchup against a strong Jazz defense, but his 21.0 PPG and 6.3 APG in four home games since Brandon Knight's groin injury suggest the young guard's productivity at home transcends his opposition.
Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. NO ($30) - Irving has been on a scoring binge recently, averaging 25.0 PPG on 54.8 percent shooting in his last four games while scoring at least 34.0 fantasy points in each. New Orleans' backcourt is stretched thin with injuries to Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon, meaning the red-hot guard should have no problem continuing his offensive dominance against the Pelicans. Now that he's finally looking healthy, expect Irving to regularly exceed 20.0 PPG and 5.0 APG as he has throughout his career.
Guard to Avoid:
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. WAS ($28) - The injury-prone wing has struggled to score lately, topping 10 points just once in his last nine appearances. While his versatile all-around game has allowed Batum to maintain some value in that span, his inability to outscore his price in all but one of those games shows he's far from a $28 asset at the moment. Leave him on the bench until the Frenchman starts approaching his season-long 14.5 PPG mark again.
Others to Avoid: Monta Ellis ($29), Bradley Beal ($28), Tony Parker ($20), D'Angelo Russell ($19), J.J. Barea ($14)
FORWARD
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA vs. WAS ($24) - Three games into his return from offseason shoulder surgery, Kidd-Gilchrist's 28.8 fantasy point per game average has topped the expected returns on his $24 price. The second overall pick from the 2012 draft double-doubled with 19 points and 12 rebounds in his only matchup against a bottom-10 defense, so expectations should be high with a home date against Washington's 26th-ranked unit on tap.
Robert Covington, PHI vs. BKN ($23) - The battle of bottom-dwellers between Philadelphia and Brooklyn might not be the night's most well-played game, but its stats will count just the same. Covington's strong recent production suggests he's primed to take advantage of that, and his reasonable $23 price should encourage owners to play him. Prior to playing limited minutes due to the blowout nature of Wednesday's loss to Atlanta, Covington averaged 28.9 fantasy points per game while seeing more than 30 minutes in each of his six previous appearances. He's a good bet to reach those totals once again in what projects to be a much more even game.
Forward to Avoid:
Otto Porter, WAS at CHA ($24) - Porter has struggled since Bradley Beal returned from concussion-like symptoms on Dec. 28, averaging just 14.4 fantasy points in four subsequent games. He isn't being asked to carry much of an offensive load with the rest of Washington's lineup at full health, and the rest of Porter's game doesn't offer enough to warrant a $24 commitment.
Others to Avoid: Dirk Nowitzki ($27), Zach Randolph ($26), Marcus Morris ($23), Harrison Barnes ($21)
CENTER
Zaza Pachulia, DAL at MEM ($20) - Pachulia has provided value due to his rebounding ability lately, pulling down 13.8 boards per game in his last four games heading into the weekend. There should be even more space for the big man to operate Saturday with head coaching Rick Carlisle promising to rest power forward Dirk Nowitzki during the second legs of back-to-backs, so expect an improvement on Pachulia's season averages of 10.3 PPG and 11.0 RPG as he's asked to play a bigger role for the Mavericks.
Center to Avoid:
Andre Drummond, DET at IND ($42) - Drummond plays significantly worse on the road, averaging 2.7 PPG and 1.5 RPG fewer outside the Palace of Auburn Hills. Indiana limited the high-flying center to 11 points and 37.6 fantasy points last time it played host to the Pistons, and now it has Myles Turner to throw at him even if Ian Mahinmi is unable to go. Chances are Drummond won't be a major disappointment, but he has consistently failed to live up to his $42 price away from home.
Others to Avoid: Jahlil Okafor ($26), Jon Leuer ($17), Spencer Hawes ($14)
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