This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
A seven-game slate is on tap for Saturday night, providing us with plenty of opportunity for value off the very top tier at each position. The absence of what would normally be two of the highest-priced players on the slate (Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry) also helps us hone in that much more on what studs we want to pay up for. Without further ado, let's identify some cost-conscious options at each position that could help you open up salary for some of the elite:
POINT GUARD
Dennis Smith, Jr., DAL vs. OKC ($5,800): Smith won't have Russell Westbrook (ankle) to worry about Saturday, and Dennis Schroder, while certainly talented in his own right, doesn't offer much in the way of defensive resistance. That bodes well for a very affordably priced Smith, who comes in having scored over 30 fantasy points in three of his last six. A trio of less productive games during that span have lowered his price to its current level, but the upside is still there for the dynamic second-year guard.
Quinn Cook, GS vs. BKN ($4,400): For at least Saturday, Cook finds himself back in a spot in which he often thrived in last season, namely, as the starting guard in place of an ailing Stephen Curry (leg). Cook scored between 20 and 30 points in five of his 18 starts last season, and he scored in double digits in 14 games overall. The Nets have been about middle of the pack against point guards (41.4 fantasy points per game allowed), a figure that's partly comprised of allowing the sixth-most made threes (3.1) to the position. That latter number is particularly relevant when considering Cook, as he drained an impressive 44.2 percent of his attempts from behind the arc last season and boasts an even better 50.0 percent success rate from three-point range thus far in the current campaign.
SHOOTING GUARD
Zach LaVine, CHI vs. CLE ($8,800): LaVine is one of the most important young building blocks on an evolving Bulls squad, and accordingly, he comes into Saturday sporting a team-high 33.7 percent usage rate. LaVine is averaging 40.2 fantasy points per game overall and has scored 31.8 to 58.8 over his last seven. The Cavs have had trouble defending the shooting guard position all season as well, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points (43.3) to the position, along with the second-most steals (2.2). Cleveland is also allowing the third-highest three-point percentage (38.9), certainly notable when considering LaVine takes 6.6 attempts from behind the arc per game.
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. LAL ($7,300): Hield continues to make his case as one of the NBA's most improved players this season, and he'll check into Saturday's game having eclipsed 30 fantasy points in six of his last eight, including three games over 40. He's appealing once again at a reasonable cost in a game where the pace should be through the roof, as the Lakers are allowing the most fantasy points per game (48.8) to shooting guards, including the second-most points (29.1), most assists (6.1), fifth-most made threes (3.5), and third-highest shooting percentage (49.1). Given Hield's ability to check off every box on the stat sheet, he sets up as an ideal candidate with which to attack that multitude of weakness.
SMALL FORWARD
Josh Richardson MIA vs. WAS ($7,700): Richardson was deployed at point guard Friday against the Pacers with Goran Dragic (knee) out, but the latter appears to have a much better chance of taking the floor Saturday. If so, that would likely bump Richardson back to small forward, where he'd be in an enticing matchup against a Wizards team that's allowed the fourth-most points (22.1) and most rebounds (12.9) per game to threes, along with the second-most fantasy points per game (48.9) to the position. Richardson is taking a career-high 17.6 shot attempts this season, a significant spike in usage over any other point in his career.
Harrison Barnes, DAL vs. OKC ($5,300): Barnes enjoyed success while facing off against Paul George and the Thunder last season, averaging 21.0 points (on 57.9 percent shooting, including 56.3 percent from three-point range), 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists across four games. The Thunder come in allowing 40.6 fantasy points per game to small forwards, and while Barnes is still finding his footing after a late start to his season, he offers both the upside (43.1 fantasy points two games ago) and the savings to make him a tournament consideration.
POWER FORWARD
Wendell Carter, Jr., CHI vs. CLE ($7,600): Carter is already averaging 30.6 fantasy points per game and comes into Saturday's contest having rattled off three straight double-doubles and multiple blocks in four of the last five overall. The Cavs come in yielding allowing 57.6 fantasy points per game to centers, partly the result of Cleveland surrendering 16.4 rebounds per contest to the position. Meanwhile, it's worth noting Carter is averaging 7.9 rebounds overall and has been stepping up his contributions in that area recently. The Cavs' vulnerability to allowing scoring near the basket (53.1 points in the paint per game allowed on the road) also meshes well with the fact Carter has scored 50.4 percent of his points in that area of the floor.
Jaren Jackson, Jr., MEM vs. PHI ($6,300): Jackson has hit the ground running in his rookie season, already averaging 26.4 FD points per contest while making contributions across the stat sheet. Most recently, the rookie has scored in double digits in seven of his last 10 games and recorded multiple blocks in two straight. He couldn't ask for a better matchup than the Sixers, which have allowed the most points (27.0), rebounds (14.9) and fantasy points (57.4) per game to power forwards. Philadelphia's troubles down low extend to them allowing the fifth-most points in the paint on the road (53.7), while Jackson has scored 66.1 percent of his points in that area of the floor.
CENTER
Tristan Thompson, CLE at CHI ($5,500): Thompson is averaging a solid 25.5 fantasy points per game, and he'll come into Saturday in the midst of arguably his best stretch of production thus far. The veteran big man has scored 21.9 to 44.2 fantasy points in the last five games, eclipsing the 40-mark twice overall during that span. The Bulls set up as potentially willing facilitators for more of the same, considering they've allowed 59.5 fantasy points per game to centers, along with the fourth-most rebounds (17.9). The latter number is especially relevant with respect to Thompson, who's posted three double-doubles in his last five and is averaging a career-high 10.0 boards per contest.
