This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
After a massive slate Friday, we're looking at a compact four-game Saturday evening slate with the potential for a couple of high-scoring affairs on the back end. FantasyDraft's unique roster construction offers you the flexibility to work in many of the appealing options available. Without further ado, let's dive in to how you might best allocate resources Saturday:
GUARDS:
Damian Lillard, POR vs. PHO ($17,800): Lillard has averaged 34.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 38.3 minutes over three games against the Suns. Phoenix surrenders the fourth-most fantasy points (55.8) to point guards on the season, along with the most points (26.3), three-pointers per game (2.8) and fourth-highest field-goal percentage (44.9). Lillard has scored between 43.50 and 62.75 fantasy points in the last seven contests, with two games over 50 and one over 60 during that stretch.
Rajon Rondo, CHI vs. ATL ($12,900): Elfrid Payton ($14,000), C.J. McCollum ($13,900) and Devin Booker ($13,800) all make for nice pivots if you have the cash to spend up at this level, but Rondo could be in a prime spot against a Hawks defense that's surrendered 53.8 fantasy points per game to point guards on the season and the seventh-most (55.8) in the last 10 contests. Rondo has scored between 43.75 and 45.75 fantasy points, respectively, in his last two games and he also crossed the 50-mark five games ago against the Raptors. In what should be a competitive home matchup, he presents as a high-upside value play.
Terrence Ross,ORL at BKN ($10,100): Ross draws the most permeable small forward defense in the league in the form of the Brooklyn Nets, which have surrendered the most fantasy points (49.8), most points (22.4), most rebounds (9.0), most steals (1.9) and most blocks (1.1) to the position. Ross has hit his stride in recent games as well, as he's scored between 27.00 and 32.50 fantasy points in his last six games while playing some heavy minutes. Saturday will notably mark the fifth time Ross faces the Nets this season (since he'd already seen them four times while with the Raptors) and he's enjoyed success against them despite coming off the bench in those contests, averaging 50 percent shooting overall and 42.1 percent from three-point range.
FORWARDS/CENTERS:
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. SAC ($18,500): Towns is averaging a double-double against the Kings this season (21.0 points, 12.0 rebounds) over three games and has scored between 51.75 and 60.00 fantasy points in four of his last five games. He's essentially guaranteed heavy minutes each night and will face off against a Sacramento defense on the second game of a back-to-back that's surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points (60.0) to centers over the last 10 games and second-highest field-goal percentage (57.3) to the position on the season.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at BKN ($13,900): Vucevic lit up the Nets for 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals over 31 minutes in his one previous encounter with them, and Brooklyn checks in surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points (52.7) to centers on the season. Prior to a 27-minute outing against the Celtics on Friday night, Vucevic had also scored no less than 37.75 fantasy points and as many as 50.75 in the prior six games, excellent returns on his current price.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs. PHO ($9,700): Aminu has been generating production befitting a higher-priced player recently, as he's scored between 25.25 and 32.25 fantasy points in four of his last five games. His minutes are essentially locked into the upper 20s-low 30s each night and his work on the glass is as steady as they come (six or more rebounds in 11 of his last 12 games). He'll draw an appetizing matchup as well, as the Suns surrender the third-most fantasy points (50.2), most points (21.9), fourth-most rebounds (11.8), third-most steals (1.5), fourth-most blocks (1.4) and fifth-highest field-goal percentage (48.1) to power forwards.
UTILITY:
Jimmy Butler, CHI vs. ATL ($17,700): Butler has scored no less than 44.50 fantasy points in the seven full games that Dwyane Wade (elbow) has missed and has steamrolled Atlanta this season to the tune of 32.7 points (on 59.3 percent shooting), 4.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals over three prior games. The Hawks also check in as the second-most inept defense versus small forwards behind the Nets, as they've surrendered the second-most fantasy points (48.4), third-most points (21.7), fifth-most rebounds (8.3), third-most assists (3.6), most steals (1.9) and most three-pointers (2.6) to the position.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN vs. ORL ($11,100): A pair of Suns, T.J. Warren ($13,200) and Marquese Chriss (10,500), are also in very good spots above and below Hollis-Jefferson's price tag, but the Nets big man makes for a great play in his own right, particularly due to the consistency he's displayed lately. RHJ has scored over 30 fantasy points in four of his last five games and provided 28.25 in the other contest during that stretch. He brings the ability to fill out the stat sheet and draws a solid matchup in the Magic, which have given up the fourth-most fantasy points (50.7) to power forwards over the last 10 games.
