This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
It's an intriguing, yet tricky time for NBA DFS players due to playing time for some big names being in question as teams ready themselves for the postseason or give younger players a chance. While there will be some notable names sidelined Saturday, there are also multiple teams with plenty still left to play for and some opportunities opening up for value as well. FantasyDraft's unique roster construction offers you the flexibility to work in many of the appealing options available so without further ado, let's dive in to how you might best allocate resources:
GUARDS
John WallWAS vs. MIA ($17,600): The Wizards remain invested in their playoff positioning, as they enter Saturday only a half-game behind the Raptors for the third seed. With the Heat desperately trying to climb back into the eighth spot, we should have a competitive matchup Saturday, and Wall has already averaged 32.0 points, 8.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds against Miami in two prior games this season. While the Heat have been tough on point guards this season, they've surrendered 49.6 fantasy points per game to the position over the last 10 and Wall has scored between 42.25 and 67.25 fantasy points in five of his last seven games.
Damian Lillard POR vs. UTA ($14,700): The Blazers are another team with plenty to play for, as they're trying to stave off the Denver Nuggets, who only trail them by one game for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. This is a tournament play despite the fact there should be plenty of motivation on Lillard's part, considering the stingy point guard defense of the Jazz (which he struggled against two games ago) and the fact that Lillard has been mired in a shooting slump. However, his price has also come down accordingly, and despite recent struggles, he's still scored between 43.50 and 62.75 fantasy points in 12 of the last 13 games.
Jordan CrawfordNO at GS ($8,100): Stephen Curry (knee) is slated to miss Saturday's game and the Warriors could curtail Klay Thompson's minutes as well, meaning that Shaun Livingston ($6,000) and Ian Clark ($7,000) are both very much in play as well at this price tier. However, Crawford has been excellent and should see some extra run in his own right, considering that E'Twaun Moore has already been ruled out for Saturday with an ankle injury. DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) and Anthony Davis (rest) are also sitting, and Crawford sports a 25.4 percent usage rage with that trio of players off the floor this season. Crawford has also scored over 20 fantasy points in six of his last seven games and posted double-digit scoring in nine of his last 10. With the game projecting to be up in pace regardless of who's on the court for Golden State, he makes for an appealing value play.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Kevin Durant GS vs. NO ($16,000): Staying with Pelicans-Warriors, Durant will be making his long-awaited return from a knee injury and coach Steve Kerr has already stated there will not be limits on his minutes. Even if Kerr opts to give some of his other stars a bit of down time in this one, Durant figures to get plenty of run in order to get back into the swing of things. His price is much lower than usual in his first game back, and he'll face a depleted Pelicans team that he's already averaged 26.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals against over three games this season. New Orleans has also struggled against small forwards recently, giving up the seventh-most fantasy points (48.5) over the last five games to the position. Meanwhile, Durant sports a 32.3 percent usage rate this season with Stephen Curry (knee), who'll miss Saturday's game, off the floor.
Gordon Hayward UTA at POR ($13,600): The Jazz are also still jockeying for seeding, as the Clippers remain just one game behind them for the fourth seed in the West. Hayward has averaged 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two games against the Blazers this season and lit up Portland for 41.50 fantasy points last Tuesday. The Blazers check in giving up the third-most rebounds (8.5) to threes on the season, and Hayward has scored at least 30 fantasy points in six of his last eight games.
Solomon Hill NO at GS ($7,800): Hill is another potential beneficiary of the absence of Anthony Davis (rest), DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) and E'Twaun Moore (ankle) on Saturday. He's scored over 20 fantasy points in three of his last seven games with most or all of those pieces healthy, so he should be in for a nice uptick in offensive involvement with the three missing. The Warriors have been solid against small forward this season, but have given up the sixth-most fantasy points (49.1) to the position over the last five games.
UTILITY
Jrue Holiday NO at GS ($14,000): Holiday is boasting a 34.8 percent usage rate with Davis, Cousins and Moore off the floor while averaging a whopping 1.48 fantasy points per minute. He brings plenty of upside under normal circumstances, having scored over 30 fantasy points in five of the last eight games, and a solid 27.00 and 29.75, respectively, in two others over that span. Without his trio of teammates on the floor, his usage should be sky-high in a fast-paced matchup against a Warriors team that will be missing Stephen Curry (knee) and that surrenders 50.0 fantasy points per game to point guards.
Goran Dragic MIA at WAS ($13,700): Dragic and the Heat are playing for a postseason berth and he's already averaged 28.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in two games against the Wizards this season. Washington has been very tough on point guards overall but check in giving up the most fantasy points in the league (67.1) to the position over the last five games, and Dragic checks in having scored between 31.25 and 46.25 fantasy points in six of his last seven contests.
