This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday features one early game (Grizzlies at Clippers) on the five-game slate, with the featured slate only including the evening matchups. I'll include the early game in my picks.
Before we jump into it, let's briefly hit the high-salary players. DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are on back ends of back-to-backs but are viable. I'll feature mid-salary and budget picks for each category should you elect to spend up. The biggest drop-off in quality is at center, so while Cousins and/or Davis are great plays, Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. DAL ($47) is coming off multiple days of rest and faces the struggling Mavericks for $10 less. With Towns coming in at $.87 per point and Cousins at $1.07 per point, you aren't experiencing much of a drop-off at this price.
GUARD
Jrue Holiday, NO at CHI ($30): Holiday had a mediocre night in Dallas on Friday and comes into the back end of a back-to-back road trip, but I still like him to meet value as he dishes to the best frontcourt tandem in the league. A bet on Holiday is actually a bet against Robin Lopez handling the Bulls down under without Nikola Mirotic.
Will Barton, DEN vs. GS ($18): Barton is the last choice on the slate before a huge drop-off. Gary Harris is a dollar cheaper, but Barton averages more time on the floor off the bench, and the Nuggets will need to rotate personnel to keep pace with the Warriors.
Other guards to consider: Klay Thompson GS at DEN ($28), Reggie Jackson, DET vs. SAC ($23), De'Aaron Fox, SAC at DET ($20)
[Join the free NBA Yahoo Cup. $25K in total prizes with weekly winners]
Guard to Avoid:
Patrick Beverley, LAC vs. MEM ($21): The last few games, Beverley yielded more and more minutes to Austin Rivers, who has taken over the point from time-to-time in the rotation. Memphis also plays at a slower temp that doesn't play to L.A.'s strengths. Beverley will only be adequate.
Join the free NBA Yahoo Cup. $25K in total prizes with weekly winners
FORWARD
Andrew Wiggins, MIN vs. DAL ($31): The Timberwolves are coming off two days of rest, while the Mavericks are reeling from five consecutive losses with no rest. I will probably use Wiggins in all formats and may even stack the whole team on a tournament flier. Wiggins is the most reliable player to meet value on the team.
Paul Millsap, DEN vs. GS ($30): It's hard to find a budget player that has a decent matchup, so I'll stick with Millsap, who scored a season-high 27 points Friday. The game felt like a watershed moment for Millsap, who isn't used to being a second or third option and has gone through a period of adjustment. I might be a tad worried about a reduction in minutes, but I think the Nuggets will need him to fend off Draymond Green.
Other forwards to consider: Draymond Green, GS at DEN ($33), Taj Gibson, MIN vs. DAL ($13)
Forward to Avoid:
Harrison Barnes, DAL at MIN ($23): It's been a bit up-and-down for Barnes as he's adapted a pattern of following a good game with a rotten showing. He had a season-high of 28 on Friday, and after racking up five consecutive losses the Mavs are running low on fuel. I'm inclined to follow the trend and fade Barnes.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball contest or league today]
CENTER
Andre Drummond, DET vs. SAC ($36): This could be my favorite play on the slate. If Drummond keeps putting up numbers like this he could work his way into the MVP conversation. A much-improved free-throw shooter this year, he isn't falling victim to being a foul target nearly as often, and the Kings will need to get their hands on Drummond to stop him.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. MEM ($33): Marc Gasol is a game-time decision, so this could give Jordan more opportunities in the paint. As I said, I think the biggest drop-off on the slate is at this position, so unless I'm spending up he's one of the only centers I'd consider with confidence.
Other centers to consider: Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. GS ($43)
Center to Avoid
Robin Lopez, CHI vs. NO ($19): This is only a desperation play if you're really needing to go cheap, but Lopez would need a lot of help from Lauri Markkanen to even begin to match up with Cousins and Davis. You definitely steer clear in cash – I only see a viable play if you are paying up in a tournament roster and have to go cheap.
