This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
FantasyDraft offers an innovative salary structure and allows for a flexible lineup construction, allowing you to load up on fantasy-prolific positions like point guards and centers if you so choose. That comes in particularly handy on larger slates like Saturday's, so let's dive in to see where the best values might be:
GUARDS
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. NO ($15,000): Walker is one of the hottest players in the NBA, scoring over 40 fantasy points and between 23 and 34 actual points in each of the last seven games. He'll now face off against a Pelicans defense that's surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points (54.0) to the position on the season, along with the fifth-most points (24.0), most rebounds (6.3) and sixth-most assists (9.0).
Tyreke Evans, SAC vs. DEN ($10,600):Gary Harris ($11,200) also merits consideration on the other side of this matchup, but Evans should be well rested after receiving the night off Friday. He'll look to extend a stretch of solid play since arriving in Sacramento against a Nuggets squad that's yielded the third-most fantasy points (46.1) to shooting guards on the season, while also giving up the second-most points (23.3) and most assists (4.7) to the position. That feeds right into Evans' wheelhouse, as he brings a bit of extra fantasy security as a two-guard by not being as overly scoring-reliant as many others at the position.
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. DEN ($7,400): With the Warriors resting nearly their entire starting five Saturday, Shaun Livingston ($6,400), Ian Clark ($6,000) and Patrick McCaw ($6,400) are all in play at this level as well, though the tournament upside of each would likely be at least somewhat capped. Sticking with what should be a high-scoring contest, Hield makes for a solid value play in the same favorable two-guard matchup that Evans will see. The rookie is slated to head back to the bench with Evans returning to the lineup, but at his bargain price, he still offers a good chance of returning solid value. Hield has scored at least 10 points in six of his seven games since coming to Sacramento, and he's sporting a 24.7 percent usage rate.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
DeMarcus Cousins, NO at CHA ($18,000):LeBron James ($19,200) is an option if you can afford him, but for those looking for similar upside at a savings, Cousins fits right in. Although frontcourt mate Anthony Davis (wrist) is scheduled to play Saturday, Cousins still draws a premium matchup against a Hornets frontcourt that surrenders a robust 47.1 fantasy points per game to power forwards and the second-most three-pointers (1.9) to the position. He also already decimated this same squad back on Jan. 28 with a 35-point, 18-rebound double-double that netted 67 fantasy points while still with the Kings, and he has scored between 44.75 and 70.25 fantasy points in six of seven games with the Pels.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. WAS ($12,600): Nurkic set the DFS world on fire Thursday by exploiting one of the best center matchups in the NBA (the Sixers), scoring 81 fantasy points. As a result, the masses are likely to flock to him Saturday, but he remains a solid play for either cash or GPPs regardless. The Wizards have surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points (53.3) to centers over the last 10 games and will be playing their fourth game in five nights as part of a Western Conference swing. What's more, they're coming off a grueling overtime victory Friday, adding to their fatigue levels. Despite sharing the court with the high-usage duo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Nurkic is still sporting a healthy 25.4 percent usage rate since arriving in Portland, a testament to how involved he's become in a short time.
Matt Barnes, GS at SA ($6,400):Jonathon Simmons ($7,700), who'll draw the start for Kawhi Leonard (head) on the other side of this matchup, is also an interesting tournament option at his price tier. However, Barnes is scheduled to be on the first unit himself with the Warriors sitting four players. The veteran can certainly be inconsistent, but he but produces across the stat sheet when given the type of minutes he's slated to see Saturday. He's flashed 40-fantasy-point upside this season, and at $400 away from minimum, the risk in deploying him is limited.
UTILITY
Mike Conley, MEM vs. ATL ($14,600): Some might be scared off by Conley's dud Thursday versus the Clippers, but his 3-for-14 shooting night was essentially an outlier that he's bound to bounce back from. The veteran takes on a Hawks squad that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points (52.3) to the position on the season, as well as the seventh-most (55.0) over the last five. Prior to Thursday's dud, Conley had scored between 41.50 and 49.50 fantasy points in five straight.
Pau Gasol, ATL vs. TOR ($10,100):Dennis Schroder ($12,300) is also an appealing selection for those with the cash to pay up, but Gasol has been providing superb returns at reduced prices despite coming off the bench. He's scored between 27.50 and 39.00 fantasy points in six of the eight games since returning from his finger injury, and is sporting an excellent 28.2 percent usage rate without Kawhi Leonard on the floor this season.
