This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
We have some excellent matchups in the NBA on Saturday with the Warriors facing the Thunder, the Spurs hosting the Blazers and the Pacers taking on the Nuggets. In total, seven games will make up the main evening slate on Yahoo. Let's dive in and highlight some players to target and avoid while you fill out your entry.
GUARDS
Elfrid Payton, NO vs. PHO ($25): Payton has taken on a more prominent role with Jrue Holiday (abdomen) out and has shined with a triple-double in three straight games. Even though the Pelicans are tanking down the stretch, Payton is still locked into steady minutes. Since they play at the fourth-fastest pace (103.8 possessions per game) in the league, that's huge for his upside. This is a great matchup against a Suns team that allows the third-most points per game (115.8), so doesn't hesitate to deploy Payton at this reasonable price.
Jalen Brunson, DAL vs. CLE ($16): Luka Doncic might grab all the headlines for the Mavericks, but Brunson has also shown signs of being a promising young player. They've decided to give him added playing time down the stretch, which has enabled him to average 16.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists across his last 11 games. At this cheap price, this is a matchup to exploit against the Cavaliers and their porous defense.
Guard to Avoid
Ricky Rubio, UTA vs. BKN ($20): Rubio's had a hard time staying on the floor lately, missing three of the Jazz's last eight games. He hasn't played well when he has been able to suit up, scoring 26.6 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last six games. Brunson is four dollars cheaper and playing much better right now, so it's hard to justify rostering Rubio at this price.
FORWARDS
Paul George, OKC vs. GS ($48): George has continued to be an extremely reliable option in DFS, scoring at least 40.2 Yahoo points in five of his last seven games. His 29.7 percent usage rate ranks inside the top-20 in the league and he's averaging career-highs in rebounds (8.1), assists (4.2) and steals (2.2), leaving him with tremendous upside. This has the potential to be a high-scoring affair between two teams inside the top-10 in pace of play, making George someone to target despite his lofty price tag.
Jae Crowder, UTA vs. BKN ($15): Crowder is not a sexy option, but that doesn't mean that he should be ignored. He's a key player off the bench for the Jazz, which has enabled him to average 28 minutes a game. Even though he doesn't provide much in the way of defensive stats, he's still managed to score at least 24 Yahoo points in six of his last seven contests. At this price, he has a relatively high floor.
Forward to Avoid
Caris LeVert, BKN at UTA ($18): With the Nets the healthiest they have been in a while, LeVert has been moved to the second unit. It's not going well for him so far since he's scored 23.3 Yahoo points or fewer in each of his last four games. The Jazz are tied for the fourth-fewest points allowed per game (106.5), so don't expect this to be LeVert's breakout performance.
CENTERS
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs. BKN ($35): It's usually a wise move to target centers against the Nets. They have been horrible up front defensively, leaving them tied for the fourth-most Yahoo points allowed per game (42.6) to the position. They could be in big trouble Saturday against Gobert, who has scored at least 44.5 Yahoo points in four of his last six games. When these two teams met earlier this season, Gobert steamrolled the Nets for 60.7 Yahoo points.
Joakim Noah, MEM at WAS ($18): The Grizzlies could have never imagined Noah would play this well after they brought him on board at the end of November. His tenure with the Knicks was littered with injuries and poor play, but he's carved out a significant role with the Grizzlies' second unit. He's shown he can still be productive, scoring at least 28.6 Yahoo points in eight of his last 10 games. With the Wizards playing at the eighth-fastest pace (102.6), Noah could receive even more opportunities to provide value.
Center to Avoid
Myles Turner, IND at DEN ($28): Turner has had a couple of good performances lately, but he's also had his fair share of struggles with 25.2 Yahoo points or fewer in five of his last 10 games. He only averaged 10.7 points per contest during that stretch in large part because of his 35.2 percent shooting from the field. He's shooting 49.5 percent from the field for his career, so don't expect him to continue to struggle this much. However, this is not a favorable spot for him to get back on track with the Nuggets allowing the sixth-fewest Yahoo points per game (38.1) to opposing centers.
