This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday is a busy day in the NBA, with 11 games starting after 7 p.m. Eastern. There is a multitude of lineup possibilities with the large number of players in action, but pinpointing the top value plays is still the key to topping the competition. While it's nigh impossible to compile a comprehensive list with such a large assortment of players to choose from, you can't go wrong with any of the guys listed below.
GUARD
Mike Conley, MEM at CHA ($27) - The streaking Conley has averaged 33.1 fantasy points per game in his last six, as the Grizzlies have leaned heavily on their point guard to carry the offense recently. That trend should continue Saturday at Charlotte, as the Hornets' decent defensive unit is better at containing inside threats than perimeter players. Conley rarely blows you away with his production, but his ability to consistently out-produce his price by a few points makes him an invaluable asset as a safe building block.
Gerald Green, MIA at ORL ($12) - Green has topped 20.0 fantasy points in six of his last eight games, yet continues to be available for just $2 above the minimum price. With 19 three-pointers, nine steals and just eight turnovers in that span, Green has demonstrated an ability to accrue fantasy points in a variety of ways without shooting himself in the foot. It's tough to find a better value if you're looking to save money for a superstar player or two.
Guard to Avoid:
Kyrie Irving, CLE at POR ($30) - It may be tempting to grab Irving before his price returns to pre-injury levels, but even $30 is too much for the point guard with coach David Blatt gradually easing him back into the lineup. Irving scored just 19.6 fantasy points Friday at Golden State after posting 23.2 on Sunday against Philadelphia and only 10.2 Wednesday against the Knicks, proving he doesn't belong in lineups until he's back to playing near his full minutes.
Others to Avoid: Kemba Walker ($33), Monta Ellis ($25), Goran Dragic ($22), J.R. Smith ($19), Mo Williams ($18)
FORWARD
Kristaps Porzingis, NY at ATL ($36) - Even with Arron Afflalo doing his best post-prime Kobe impersonation and jacking up bricks the whole fourth quarter, Porzingis managed to put up 23 points and 13 rebounds Wednesday against the Cavaliers as the Knicks ran more of their offense through him in the absence of Carmelo Anthony (ankle). While Melo might be back for Saturday's contest, he likely won't be 100 percent healthy, so Porzingis should once again get a chance to shine with added responsibility. His recent struggles have taken some of the luster off an otherwise marvelous rookie season, but the Latvian forward seems to be reverting back to his strong early season form based on his last performance.
Jon Leuer, PHO vs. PHI ($21) - With Markieff Morris suspended two games for a towel-throwing incident, Leuer has a golden opportunity to capitalize on his increased playing time against a pathetic Philadelphia team. The big man is coming off an 18-point, 10-rebound effort in 29 minutes against the Nuggets, and has an excellent chance of repeating those numbers with no real threat to his playing time.
Forward to Avoid:
Will Barton, DEN at SA ($29) - Barton has been a scoring machine lately, but San Antonio's top-ranked defense has made far more talented players look downright pedestrian. Even though Denver's most expensive healthy fantasy commodity has certainly earned his high price tag, it would be foolish to invest a decent chunk of resources into a player facing such a tough situation. Considering Barton managed just 25.3 fantasy points in each of his first two cracks at the Spurs this season, it's not hard to find higher-upside options in his price range.
Others to Avoid: Andrew Wiggins ($31), Dirk Nowitzki ($31), Kent Bazemore ($23), Matt Barnes ($22), Ersan Ilyasova ($20)
CENTER
Dwight Howard, HOU at NO ($31) - Howard pulled down 16 boards when he faced the Pelicans on Dec. 2, which should hardly come as a surprise considering New Orleans sports an ugly minus-3.7 rebound per game differential to go with the league's second-worst scoring defense. The matchup is ideal, and Howard is in position to take advantage on the offensive end after attempting double-digit shots in four of the last six games heading into the weekend. That's a big step forward after Howard was held to less than 10 attempts in all but one of his appearances between Nov. 11 and Dec. 14 and could indicate the big man is finally feeling healthy enough to make significant offensive contributions. Look for an aggressive Howard to decimate the hapless Pelicans.
Center to Avoid:
Andre Drummond, DET vs. BOS ($48) - Drummond's incredible performance in a four-overtime win over the Bulls last week has fueled his rise in price, but Detroit's center has failed to live up to his $48 valuation outside of that effort. With five games of less than 40.0 fantasy points, and none more than 50.0 besides the aforementioned Chicago game in his last 10, there's a strong chance Drummond will once again disappoint owners Saturday against Boston. Investing in a player whose price tag is higher than his free-throw percentage usually isn't a winning strategy.
Others to Avoid: Al Horford ($29), Zaza Pachulia ($24), Alex Len ($16), Joffrey Lauvergne ($11)
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