This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
A six-game Saturday night slate already has multiple value options at each position, and more are opening up as injury absences are being announced throughout the day. The likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Russell Westbrook and Paul George loom as high-priced assets we want to find the salary for, so identifying the right bargain plays is pertinent. Without further ado, let's tackle just that task:
POINT GUARD
Derrick Rose, MIN at PHO ($5,800): Rose is priced $800 cheaper than starting point guard Jeff Teague, and he's still averaging 29.8 fantasy points per game across 29.4 minutes per game. He's been logging time at both guard spots off the bench recently and has the talent to exploit a Suns squad that's allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (47.6) to ones, along with the fourth-most assists (8.9) and most steals (2.6). Phoenix also allows the sixth-highest shooting percentage to two-guards (45.3), providing Rose with another favorable path to extending his current streak of at least 20 fantasy points to five games.
Bryn Forbes, SA vs. CHI ($4,400): Forbes provided a glimpse at his ceiling two games ago versus the Suns, racking up 42.7 fantasy points over 32 minutes on the strength of a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double. He'd also posted 24.5 and 19.4, respectively, in the two games prior, and he's eclipsed 20 on seven other occasions this season as well. Those are solid-to-excellent returns on his current price, and his Saturday matchup could help lead to one of his more productive outings. The Bulls have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to ones (48.1), along with the most rebounds (7.4) and, particularly relevant in Forbes' case, the fifth-most made threes (2.9) per contest to point guards. In turn, Forbes is draining an impressive and career-high 42.7 percent of his three-point attempts.
SHOOTING GUARD
Jeremy Lamb, CHA vs. LAL ($6,100): Lamb is priced right for a player who's averaging 28.3 fantasy points per game, and who just racked up 35 in an overtime loss to the Knicks on Friday. Lamb is averaging a career-best 15.1 points on a career-high 12.3 shot attempts per contest, and he's also established a new high-water mark in rebounds (5.6). That leaves him in good position to take advantage of a Lakers squad that's allowed the most fantasy points (45.6) points per game to shooting guards, along with the second-most points (25.6), sixth-most rebounds (6.4), and most assists (5.6) to the position, vulnerabilities that afford Lamb multiple paths to fantasy success.
Josh Hart, LAL at CHA ($5,000): If you have a few extra hundred to spend, the Bulls' Justin Holiday ($5,600) is also very worthy of consideration considering Zach LaVine (ankle) has been ruled out of Saturday's game. Meanwhile, Hart's production has been a bit up and down, but he's currently logging plenty of minutes as the starting two-guard, making him an appealing value play at just $5K. The matchup Saturday makes him an even more enticing proposition if you're looking to save at two-guard, as the Hornets have yielded the fifth-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards (42.5), along with the fifth-most points (24.0), fourth-most assists (5.0), fourth-most made threes (3.2), and the highest shooting percentage (47.3) to the position. Hart is taking 4.5 three-point attempts per contest and draining them at a 39.7 percent clip, and he's tallied 23.9 and 38.8 fantasy points in two of his last three games.
SMALL FORWARD
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. MIN ($6,500): Warren has posted 32.2 and 36.1 fantasy points, respectively, in his first pair of full contests since returning from a five-game absence due to an ankle injury. Warren is enjoying a fine season overall, but he's been at his best at home, shooting 50.0 percent from both the field and three-point range at Talking Stick Resort Arena. He's adapted well to his current power forward position as well, and he'll face a favorable positional matchup Saturday. To begin with, the Timberwolves will be without Taj Gibson (personal) on Saturday, and they already come in allowing 46.7 fantasy points per game to power forwards, while also yielding the sixth-highest three-point shooting percentage overall (36.6). Devin Booker (hamstring) also remains very questionable to play for the Suns on Saturday, and his absence would continue to spell extra opportunities for Warren, who already boasts a 23.5 percent usage rate.
Mikal Bridges, PHO vs. MIN ($4,600): Bridges has been solid in his current starting stint, scoring 24.8 to 29 fantasy points in four of the last seven games -- six of which Devin Booker has missed with his current hamstring injury. Booker is questionable for Saturday's game, but he's likely to slide back into the starting point guard role if he does return, leaving Bridges at shooting guard. The Timberwolves have unsurprisingly been much more welcoming to two-guards since the trade of Jimmy Butler, as they're now allowing 40.8 fantasy points per contest to the position. They're also yielding the second-most rebounds (6.7) to twos and, alluded to in Warren's entry, the sixth-highest team three-point percentage (36.6), giving Bridges more avenues to a solid return on an affordable price.
POWER FORWARD
Bobby Portis, CHI at SA ($5,300): Portis has looked to be in mid-season form over his first two games of the campaign, racking up 22.1 and 27.9 fantasy points, respectively, against the Kings and Magic. The big man worked up to 21 minutes in the latter contest, and another bump is certainly possible Saturday. He'll face a Spurs squad that's allowed the highest shooting percentage (53.2) to power forwards, along with the fifth-most points (23.4) and 45.4 fantasy points per contest overall to the position. Additionally, Portis should also see a bit of a trickle-down effect of LaVine's absence Saturday -- a development that could indirectly lead to at least a slight uptick in offensive responsibility.
Dario Saric, MIN at PHO ($4,600): Saric figures to draw the starting nod Saturday in place of Taj Gibson (personal), making him one of the top values of the slate. The big man has already been coming on in recent games, scoring 21.5 to 32.7 fantasy points over his last three. Now due for a nice bump in minutes, he'll be in excellent position to outpace his price against a Suns squad that's surrendered 45.3 fantasy points per game to fours, along with the seventh-most assists (4.0) and fifth-highest shooting percentage (51.3). Phoenix also allows the most points in the paint per game (52.6), furthering Saric's case.
CENTER
Cody Zeller, CHA vs. LAL ($5,500): Zeller went off for a season-high 47.1 fantasy points in Friday's overtime loss to the Knicks, but that's hardly his only impressive outing recently. Zeller also posted 22.3 to 35.4 fantasy points in the four games prior, and he's eclipsed the 20-mark on 14 other occasions this season as well. He'll be poised for more success Saturday, beginning with the fact that Lakers starting center JaVale McGee could miss the game with an illness. Then there's the fact that LA already comes in allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (59.7) to fives, along with the third-most points (26.8) and fifth-most rebounds (17.5) per contest to the position. The Lakers also yield the seventh-most points in the paint per game (50.8), a weakness Zeller is well-equipped to exploit considering he's logging 75.7 percent of his scoring in that part of the floor.
