This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's nine-game NBA slate offers owners plenty of choices. Good matchups account for some value plays, but rotation changes in the wake of injuries and roster moves account for the biggest gaps between price and potential. Those players who benefit from both are the most enticing plays.
GUARDS
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. NO ($41): Walker has outperformed his $41 price in six consecutive games, thanks in large part to his 4.7 made 3-pointers per contest in that span. Continuing to find success from deep shouldn't be difficult against one of the two teams besides his Hornets surrendering at least 3.0 made threes per game to guards.
Seth Curry, DAL vs. PHO ($25): Curry has been tremendous in seven games since the Mavericks waived Deron Williams, averaging 22.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists along with 3.4 made 3-pointers per games. He's averaging 35 minutes per game in that span, and should continue to play a major role for a Mavericks team that has gone 5-2 over that stretch. Expect another offensive barrage from Curry against a Suns team that has surrendered a league-high 23.9 points per game to guards.
Guard to Avoid
Dennis Schroder, ATL at MEM ($29): Schroder looks tempting after Wednesday's 43.4 fantasy points against the Nets, but he's going from facing the league's most porous defense at 114.3 points per game to facing the fourth-stingiest at 100.7 points per game. Since his fantasy value is tied primarily to points and assists, the point guard is going to have a hard time even getting to the 30.7 fantasy points he had been averaging over his previous nine games. With so many alternatives available in this expansive slate, it's not hard to do better.
FORWARDS
Khris Middleton, MIL vs. MIN ($24): Middleton has finally shaken off the cobwebs, averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in five March appearances. Milwaukee's leading scorer last season is showing no ill-effects from a torn hamstring that kept him out until early February, but his price hasn't accounted for his return to form yet. You won't be able to get Middleton for only $24 much longer, and even a matchup against a Timberwolves team that has been better than average at defending small forwards shouldn't deter you from taking advantage.
Wilson Chandler, DEN at SAC ($29): Chandler will be chomping at the bit heading into this rematch against a Kings team that he dropped a season-high 59.9 fantasy points against Monday. Sacramento's reeling defense has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to small forwards, and simply doesn't have the personnel to do much better given the barren roster left in the wake of the DeMarcus Cousins trade. With Kenneth Faried (back) still out, and both Danilo Gallinari and Nikola Jokic battling illnesses, Chandler has a clear path to playing time and usage in a dream matchup.
Forward to Avoid
Anthony Davis, NO at CHA ($54): Davis missed the second half of Wednesday's loss to Toronto due to a left wrist contusion, and he will likely be playing at less than full health Saturday for a Pelicans team still sitting outside the playoff picture despite an aggressive buyer stance at the trade deadline. He has averaged just 45.3 fantasy points per game since the acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins, and will have a hard time raising that number against a Hornets defense that has been stingier than average in defending power forwards. It simply doesn't make sense to commit such a large percentage of funds to a player with so many factors working against him.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at MIL ($49): Towns' streak of 19 consecutive games topping 20 points is in no danger of ending against a Bucks team that has surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points per game to centers. The second-year big man has put up 51.4 fantasy points per game over his past seven heading into the weekend, showing that he's more than capable of outplaying his hefty price. Towns' continued improvement makes him as good a bet as any high-priced option to deliver top-tier results.
Alan Williams, PHO at DAL ($15): Williams has recorded five straight double-doubles, averaging 33.1 fantasy points per game in that span. Coach Earl Watson has made it clear that giving the 24-year-old pending restricted free agent more playing time down the stretch is a priority for a Suns team lacking playoff aspirations. Expect Williams to continue taking advantage of his increased usage against a Dallas team that has surrendered the fourth-most rebounds per game to centers.
Center to Avoid
Marc Gasol, MEM vs. ATL ($34): Gasol has been a good play more often than not this season, but he's unlikely to find success against a Hawks team that has been the fourth-best against centers from a fantasy perspective while limiting them to a lower scoring average than any team besides Gasol's own Grizzlies. Dwight Howard's defensive prowess is going to make life difficult for the Spaniard, making him a poor value at a position teeming with cheap, yet effective alternatives.
