This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
After a massive slate Friday, there are just six games on the Saturday card. It's an interesting one, though, with the Brooklyn-Golden State game looking like one of the matchups of the year. The only thing that concerns me are the three big spreads. That could cause chaos for this slate, but it's too many to fade since that's half the schedule. With that in mind, let's get started with one of the most exciting players in the NBA.
Guards
Ja Morant, MEM vs. WAS ($45)
Ja has been dropping jaws all season, scoring at least 53 Yahoo points in five consecutive games and averaging 49 points in his last 16. He faces a Washington team that ranks 21st in defensive efficiency, which likely means another big performance.
Tyrese Maxey, PHI vs. SAC ($24)
With Seth Curry out, Maxey is the primary ball-handler once again, scoring at least 29 Yahoo points in six of his last eight games in nearly 40 minutes a game. Sacramento is 29th in total defense while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to point guards. In their one matchup earlier this season, Tyrese tallied a cool 35.2 Yahoo points.
Guard to Avoid
Buddy Hield, SAC at PHI ($18)
It's hard to trust volume shooters, especially when they come off the bench. Hield is no exception. He's scored 21 or fewer Yahoo points in four consecutive games, averaging 16 in that span. In his last 17 games he's averaged 22. That's a long stretch of struggles, and it's unlikely to get any better against a top-5 Philly defense. There's also major blowout potential with Sacramento being so bad.
Forward
Jaren Jackson Jr. MEM vs. WAS ($30)
Jackson can be tough to trust with his volatility, but his recent form is strong. The versatile big man has scored at least 35 fantasy points in eight of his last 11 games, dropping at least 43 Yahoo points in five of those. That ridiculous upside is tough to overlook with his recent form, especially since he dropped 30 Yahoo points in this matchup earlier this season. He did that damage despite shooting 4-of-14 from the field too. He should be asked to do even more with Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson out here as well.
Kessler Edwards, BKN at GSW ($12)
Edwards hasn't been particularly productive, but it's impossible to overlook this sort of workload from such an affordable player. With Kevin Durant sidelined, Kessler has taken over all of the power-forward minutes in Brooklyn, averaging 33.4 minutes in his 10 starts. That alone makes him tough to fade in this price range, especially considering his 21-point average in those outings. That might not sound like much, but it's a great total from a guy flirting with the minimum. He also has one of the better matchups Saturday, considering Golden State will place their best defenders on guys like James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
Forward to Avoid
Kristaps Porzingis, DAL vs. IND ($34)
There's a lot to like about Porzingis, but he's simply not the same player when Luka Doncic is in the lineup. The All-Star point guard leads the NBA with a 36 percent usage rate, and it's left KP with crumbs. Porzingis has taken 12 shots or fewer in six of his last eight games. That's a nightmarish total from a guy this expensive, especially since KP has a 26-point average over his previous two outings. You need 40 Yahoo points from a $34 player, and he hasn't cracked that number in seven consecutive games. This game also has blowout potential, with Dallas a massive favorite.
Centers
Joel Embiid, PHI vs. SAC ($53)
Embiid is the best play on the board. He's scored at least 49 Yahoo points in 13 of his last 16 games, averaging 57 points in that span, second most in the league. All of that makes him a worthy option against anyone, let alone against the lowly Kings. Sacramento has allowed at least 114 points in seven consecutive games, ranking 29th in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.
Goga Bitadze, IND at DAL ($17)
Goga has been slightly disappointing in this expanded role, but it's just a matter of time before he jumps above $20. He's averaged 27 Yahoo points per game in 28 minutes a game since becoming a starter. He's done that damage despite dealing with foul trouble on a nightly basis, and he could flirt with 30-40 fantasy points per game with Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis both sidelined (Sabonis could sit in the second half of a back-to-back). Bitadze is a walking double-double in this 30-minute role against a Mavericks team whose biggest weakness happens to be at center.
Center to Avoid
Al Horford, BOS at NOP ($22)
Big Al was one of the biggest surprises in the NBA through the first month, but he's hit a regression wall. He hasn't cracked 30 fantasy points in 15 consecutive outings, averaging 21 Yahoo points per game in 27 minutes a game in that stretch. There are just too many cooks in the kitchen, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart taking all the touches while Robert Williams is swallowing up all the big-men statistics.
