This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
We're down to the final month of the NBA season. It's been a wild one with the COVID protocols earlier in the year, but this final month is the best time to get involved. It feels like every team is still in contention, and it's making every slate more exciting than the last. There's a lot to discuss with this Saturday card, though, so let's kick things off with the most exciting player in the NBA.
Guards
Ja Morant, MEM vs. ORL ($46)
Anyone who watches the NBA knows how ridiculous this guy has been playing. Morant has at least 38 Yahoo points in 17 straight outings, averaging 51.4 fantasy points per game in that span. The last week has been even more absurd, with Morant averaging 40 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists over his last five games played. Playing without Dillon Brooks (ankle) has really opened things up for Morant, giving him more shot attempts and usage. All of that is bad news for Orlando, with the Magic ranked 21st in points allowed and 23rd in defensive efficiency ratings.
Anfernee Simons, POR at MIN ($26)
Simons price has dropped along with Portland's form, but he's the Trail Blazers' best player right now. Losing Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic to injury opened things up but trading away CJ McCollum and Norman Powell has left him with all the usage he can handle. In fact, Simons leads this current roster with a 34 percent usage rate, averaging 1.2 Yahoo points per minute. Despite struggling the last two games, Simons is averaging 35 Yahoo points per game across 35 minutes a night over his last 27 games played. We love that against Minnesota, with the T'Wolves ranked third in pace and 23rd in points allowed.
Guard to Avoid
Russell Westbrook, LAL vs. GSW ($26)
We hate to pile on the Westbrook hate train, but this situation is just not working. Russ is playing the worst basketball of his career right now, averaging 29 Yahoo points per game across his last nine outings. That might be good for many players, but it's unacceptable from a $26 player. It doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon either, with Westbrook shooting 35 percent from the field, 12 percent from three-point range and 65 percent from the free-throw line in that span. Having to face the top-ranked defense in the NBA is the final nail in the coffin, though.
Forwards
Keldon Johnson, SAS at CHA ($19)
Johnson just had one of the worst games of his career on Thursday, but we're going right back to the well. The Olympian had at least 26 Yahoo points in 13 of his previous 15 games before that, averaging 31 fantasy points per game in that span. That's a monster total from a sub-$20 player, and it should continue in this sensational matchup. Charlotte ranks second in pace, 21st in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.
Jarred Vanderbilt, MIN vs. POR ($15)
Vanderbilt has really struggled recently, but he's had way too good of a season to be this cheap. How often do you see a $15 player averaging 25 fantasy points per game? That alone makes him a good option, especially since he should be asked to more in the absence of Anthony Edwards. Our favorite part of this is the matchup, though, with Portland ranked 28th in total defense. That's on full display when you see that Vanderbit is averaging over 36 Yahoo points per game in their two meetings this season.
Forward to Avoid
Tobias Harris, PHI at MIA ($26)
It was unclear who would take a hit in Philly with the James Harden acquisition, but it's definitely looking like Harris. The versatile forward has scored 22 or fewer fantasy points in five of his last seven games, seeing his usage and shot attempts collapse in that span. That directly correlates with that trade, and it looks like he's being relegated to an ancillary piece with Harden and Joel Embiid swallowing up so much usage. That's even more concerning in this matchup, with Miami ranked fifth in points allowed and sixth in defensive efficiency.
Centers
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. POR ($39)
Big KAT should be in for a big night with Edwards likely sitting due to a knee issue. The big man has a 33 percent usage rate with Edwards off the floor, averaging nearly 1.5 Yahoo points per minute. That absurd rate is no surprise when you see that Towns has at least 38 Yahoo points in 27 of his last 30 games, generating a 47-point average in that span. In the four games that Edwards has missed, KAT has at least 40 fantasy points in all of them en route to a 49-point average. The matchup with Portland is the icing on the cake, with the Trail Blazers ranked 25th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency.
Mo Bamba, ORL at MEM ($16)
As long as Bamba gets the minutes, he's an elite play. He's averaging 28 Yahoo points per game across 26 minutes a night for the season and has been playing much more recently. He's played 30-plus minutes in back-to-back outings and should be looking at an expanded role with Wendell Carter Jr. sitting on Friday. If you look at the 26 games he's played at least 28 minutes, Bamba is averaging 34 fantasy points per game. Needless to say, that's a crazy total from a $16 player.
Center to Avoid
Montrezl Harrell, CHA vs. SAS ($17)
Harrell always has stretches where he disappears, and it looks like he's in one of those right now. He's played 25 or fewer minutes in four straight outings, scoring 23 or fewer fantasy points in each of his last three outings. The downward trend in playing time and production has been common for Harrell throughout his career, and it's hard to understand why. That's even more concerning with P.J. Washington, Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre taking so many of his minutes, making him tough to trust at $17.
