This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
After a monster 11-game slate on Friday, we're looking at just six games for this Saturday card. The Lakers-Jazz matchup is actually during the day, too, leaving us with only five games for this DFS slate. That's a small ledger, but there's a ton to discuss with so many question marks out there. Without further ado, let's go ahead and get into it!
Guards
Coby White, CHI vs. CLE ($10)
This is easily the best play of the day. It would be one thing if it were just Tomas Satoransky missing, but Zach LaVine is out for the next week as well. That leaves White as the primary ball-handler in Chicago, which was on full display when he tallied 27 points, five rebounds and seven assists on Friday. He's shown that sort of ability all season, averaging nearly 30 Yahoo points per game in the 43 outings he's played at least 28 minutes. We love that with his expanded usage, and we certainly don't mind that he faces a 21st-ranked Cavaliers defense.
Killian Hayes, DET at WAS ($10)
It's weird to ride two minimum-priced guards, but both players are huge values. Much like White, Hayes went off on Friday night. He provided nine points, four rebounds, seven assists and five steals en route to 40 Y! points. That's a hard total to reach from a $10 player, and it's clear that the Pistons will feed this rookie with Detroit in full-on rebuild mode. The best part of this play is the matchup, though, with Washington ranked 27th in defensive efficiency while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA. There's a small chance Hayes will rest here in the second half of a back-to-back, though, and if that's the case, don't forget about Cory Joseph!
Guard to Avoid
Bradley Beal, WAS vs. DET ($38)
Beal has admitted that his hip issue is still bugging him, and it's on full display when you dive into his numbers. He's only surpassed 42 fantasy points once in his last nine games, and that's pretty much the minimum you'd need from a $38 player. What's more concerning is that this is the second half of a back-to-back. Beal has yet to play in both ends of a back-to-back since he mentioned this injury, and he may sit all together. The matchup is no piece of cake either, with Beal scoring just 30 fantasy points in their one matchup three weeks back.
Forwards
Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. GS ($40)
Tatum is on an absolute heater right now. Despite struggling against the Lakers on Thursday, he is averaging 45 Yahoo points per game over his last 13 outings. That's the superstar player we've been waiting to see, and it makes him really enticing in a matchup like this. Golden State currently ranks second in pace and 20th in points allowed. They also play a ton of small-ball, which could force Tatum into more rebounding than usual. In their one matchup earlier this year, he dropped 40 Yahoo points if you needed any more incentive.
Mikal Bridges, PHX vs. SAN ($14)
Bridges is not the sort of guy that's going to carry your lineup to a GPP win, but he's way too good to be just $14. That's crystal clear by his 26-point average for the season. If you look at the other four players who are just $14, none of them have an average above 20 fantasy points. That clearly makes him a fantastic value, and it's even more surprising when you see that he has at least 25 Y! points in four of his last five games. San Antonio struggles with opposing small forwards, too, owning a 20th OPRK against them this year.
Forward to Avoid
Rui Hachimura, WAS vs. DET ($19)
I do want to preface this by saying that Hachimura is not a fade if Beal does sit. He's been great in those circumstances, but he simply doesn't do enough when Beal and Russell Westbrook both suit up and swallow up all of the usage. In fact, that has held him to 27 or fewer fantasy points in seven straight games, providing an ugly 19-point average in that span. That makes it hard to believe that he's $19, and it's even scarier when you see that he's averaging just 18.3 Y! points per game in his two meetings with the Pistons as well.
Centers
Nikola Vucevic, CHI vs. CLE ($41)
Since we've saved so much salary with those minimum-priced guards, Vooch is a great high-end buy. We say that because he's averaging an absurd 1.5 Y! points per minute with LaVine off the floor while leading the team in usage. The best part about using him might be his floor, though, scoring at least 31 Yahoo points in 55 of his 56 games this year. That's a truly ridiculous floor, and we certainly don't anticipate this weak Cleveland defense to slow him down in such a tasty spot.
Isaiah Stewart, DET at WAS ($12)
It's unclear exactly who will play for Detroit, but Stewart has been an absolute beast when given the opportunity. He actually got a start for Mason Plumlee on Friday, generating 15 points, 21 rebounds, three assists and two blocks en route to 50 Yahoo points. It's rare to see a $12 player drop 50 fantasy points, but he's actually averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game in his five starts this year. We love all of that with Washington surrendering the most fantasy points in the NBA to opposing centers.
Center to Avoid
Larry Nance Jr, CLE at CHI ($21)
The statistics from Nance have been good this season, but there's a lot that worries me here. The main thing is how congested this frontcourt is right now. Players like Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade and Isaiah Hartenstein have all earned minutes, limiting Nance's workload. That's actually forced him to the bench in the last two games since his return, scoring 15 or fewer fantasy points in both of those outings. He's also playing just 22 minutes a night in that span, and it's really concerning when the minutes and production are both trending downwards.
