This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's 11-game NBA slate tips off with a Boston-Brooklyn showdown at 3 p.m. EST and runs all the way until the conclusion of the 10:30 Nuggets-Warriors and 76ers-Clippers games. There are plenty of options to choose from with so many teams in action, so pinpointing the players who offer the best bang for the buck is of the utmost importance. The value plays presented below should help put you on track to trample the competition.
GUARD
Shaun Livingston, GS vs. DEN ($12) - Livingston delivered a solid line of 13 points and seven assists while starting for the injured Steph Curry (bruised leg) in Houston on Thursday. Curry is a game-time decision, but Livingston could be in line for a repeat performance if the reigning MVP ends up sitting out a third consecutive contest. Denver's 23rd-ranked defense isn't much of a step up from Houston's 27th-ranked unit, so it's fair to expect similar results from Livingston should he once again be asked to step into the starting lineup.
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL at MIN ($25) - While the impact of his contributions on the Bucks' winning and losing can be disputed, there's no denying Carter-Williams has been a major fantasy asset lately. The third-year guard out of Syracuse has topped 37.0 fantasy points seven times in his last 10 games, supplementing his scoring by pulling down at least five boards nine times and dishing five or more assists on seven occasions over that span. There's a direct correlation between the bump in production and a rise in Carter-Williams' playing time, as he has reached the 30-minute mark nine times in his last 10 games after doing so just eight times the rest of the season. It seems his increased role is here to stay, so expect the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year to continue putting up big numbers.
Guard to Avoid:
Brandon Knight, PHO at SAC ($37) - Knight has been a major letdown since being handed the keys to Phoenix's offense, averaging just 22.8 fantasy points per game since fellow ball-dominant guard Eric Bledsoe went down with a knee injury Dec. 26. His price is nonetheless high due to a perceived bump in value that is yet to materialize, so those banking on Knight to bounce back against Sacramento's putrid defense would still be paying market value for a decent performance from the point guard. Don't overpay for the chance of a breakout when there are much safer options to be had at lower prices.
Others to Avoid: Isaiah Thomas ($40), Brandon Jennings ($25), Monta Ellis ($25), Elfrid Payton ($23), Jerryd Bayless ($20),
FORWARD
T.J. Warren, PHO at SAC ($11) - Warren exploded for 29 points and nine rebounds in 41 minutes against the Thunder on Thursday with Jon Leuer (ankle) sitting and Markieff Morris in coach Jeff Hornacek's dog house. While it's tough to expect a repeat performance, Warren is still one of the night's most obvious values with nobody blocking his way to playing time and just $11 separating him from your lineup. The second-year man out of N.C. State has shown the ability to score in bunches, so he should have no problem getting buckets consistently now that he's seeing the floor for more than his customary 22 minutes per game.
Will Barton, DEN at GS ($30) - Barton has acted as Denver's go-to scorer lately, averaging 24.1 PPG over his last seven appearances. His lack of name recognition has allowed Barton's price to hover in the low $30s despite the recent scoring surge, and he should have no problem living up to that value against a Warriors squad that has allowed opposing teams to average 109.0 points in its last three games. Roll with Barton until the public realizes his production is no fluke.
Forward to Avoid:
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. HOU ($32) - His double-double in a blowout win over the hapless Suns notwithstanding, Aldridge has been struggling lately. San Antonio's premier offseason acquisition managed to grab double-digit rebounds just three times in December and failed to reach 30.0 points in 10 of his 16 games. While he did just barely top that mark in a Dec. 25 matchup against Houston, Aldridge still failed to live up to his $32 price tag, and should continue to do so based on recent trends.
Others to Avoid: Paul George ($47), Ryan Anderson ($27), Kenneth Faried ($26), Clint Capela ($18), Markieff Morris ($17),
CENTER
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. PHI ($31) - Blake Griffin's injury has opened the door for Jordan to take on a larger role, and the big man has responded by putting up more than 13 PPG and nearly 15 RPG over his last four games. Both of those numbers exceed his season averages by nearly two per game, yet Jordan is still priced at about $30 as he has been for most of the campaign. Expect the center to have his way with a far below average Philadelphia defense that he rampaged against for 24 combined points and 30 total rebounds over two meetings with a healthy Griffin in the lineup last season.
Center to Avoid:
Jahlil Okafor, PHI at LAC ($26) - Okafor played just 20 minutes and scored 10 points coming off the bench in Sacramento on Wednesday, and it seems like his newly diminished role is here to stay as Nerlens Noel has excelled at center lately. Okafor won't maintain his early season production playing just two-thirds as much as he was before, so the rookie should be left off rosters until his price drops to reflect his new fantasy value.
Others to Avoid: Jared Sullinger ($24), Kelly Olynyk ($16), Alex Len ($14)
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