This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday has 10 games scheduled, but Yahoo's featured contests focus on the eight evening contests. Before we target and exclude players by position, we'll look at the high-salary options vying for your $200 budget.
If you were hoping to see Kawhi Leonard (quad) here, it looks like his much-heralded return won't occur Saturday as has been reported. He'll immediately arrive in the $50-plus level when he returns Tuesday. There's no shortage in this area, though, as LeBron James, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid clock in at $50 or more. Embiid is expected to rest on Saturday, so he can be excluded. While all of those players should have respectable games, my ideal lineup actually includes NONE of them.
Ranking them in order of playability, Westbrook is my least favorite, as Memphis plays at a snail's pace and the 2016 MVP doesn't thrive in an environment where he's unable to dictate the speed of play. Antetokounmpo ranks next, as he failed to meet value against Utah in their last meeting and the Bucks hit the rear-end of a back-to-back after a hard-fought battle against Dallas on Friday. This leaves Simmons, James and Harden, and I have to slide Harden in third, Simmons second and James in the No. 1 slot at an eye-popping $60. Harden's value is impacted by Chris Paul (albeit negligibly), so the Simmons vs. James show in Cleveland is where I'd put my money if I splurge. A Simmons/James combo with a heap of value picks is a prudent tournament strategy.
FADE ALERT: San Antonio starters
Multiple Spurs reportedly will rest Saturday with Pau Gasol and Manu Ginobli already confirmed out. There may be MULTIPLE options for value at lineup lock, so keep an eye on this development.
GUARD
Damian Lillard, POR vs. HOU ($45): Lillard is not entirely matchup-proof, but he's coming off multiple days of rest and has hit almost 60 percent of his shots when he's off for two days or more. Houston is no slouch defensively against backcourts, but this game will be all about the offense, and I see Lillard throwing it up early and often. The Portland point will be one of my cash game anchors.
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. LAL ($38): Walker's averaged 24 points a game over his last three, and this will be his first opportunity to pick apart the Lakers. Walker also has done his best work at home, so I see Walker as another chalk play in cash, as spending up at guard is my clearest path to 300.
Other guards to consider: C.J. McCollum, POR vs. HOU ($29), Donovan Mitchell, UTA at MIL ($29), Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. LAL ($21)
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Guard to Avoid:
Justin Holiday, CHI vs. NY ($20): Yes, Holiday's been playing out of his mind lately and is coming off a 40.6 YFP game against Charlotte, but his position doesn't match up particularly well against the Knicks and his rebound totals will be stifled, which accounts for a third of his value. He may come close to meeting value, but he's not the strongest play at guard Saturday.
FORWARD
I'll mention some more obvious options in a bit, but the forward position is a non-stop trip to value town for me.
Jonathon Simmons, ORL at ATL ($19): The Magic almost laughably opted to start Aaron Afflalo in place of Evan Fournier (ankle) on Friday, and I think we'll see some lineup tinkering, giving Simmons more time at the two as well as the wing. Atlanta ranks 30th against his position, and the over/under is a decent 210 in this game. All combining to make Simmons an excellent value play.
Josh Jackson, PHO vs. SA ($12): Multiple Spurs are expected to rest and some did not even travel to Phoenix. This will give the Suns an opening, and I like Jackson to be the hot hand as he starts in place of Devin Booker (adductor). To be clear, I like the outlook for multiple Suns (T.J. Warren, Greg Monroe) but in the quest for ultimate value and spend-up ability I think the rookie will take advantage of this opportunity.
Other forwards to consider: Carmelo Anthony, OKC at MEM ($31), T.J. Warren, PHO vs. SA ($31), Rudy Gay (if he plays), SA at PHO ($22)
Forward to Avoid:
Kyle Kuzma, LAL at CHA ($23): His meager performance in Philly concerned me over the weekend, and Larry Nance Jr. has clearly bounced back from his injury. The variance for Kuzma has been very polarized the last couple weeks, and it's not an especially favorable matchup either. He's frequently been a DFS darling, but I'm fading him until I see more consistency.
CENTER
Kevin Love, CLE vs. PHI ($35): While he'll be widely owned, Love is the best avenue at center as he will take on Philly without Joel Embiid to impede him. I really don't think you can do any better. Join the flock and own him in cash.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at ATL ($31): You could make an argument for Vucevic to be better. Atlanta already had a wimpy frontcourt and now it is missing John Collins and Dewayne Dedmon, so it could be another rebounding bonanza for Vucevic, who torched Denver on Friday. The Magic are on the road, but it's a quick trip up to Atlanta.
Other centers to consider: Dwight Howard, CHA vs. LAL ($29), Greg Monroe, PHO vs. SA ($19)
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Center to Avoid:
Rudy Gobert, UTA at MIL ($32): "Avoid" is such a strong word, and it's all too tempting, as Milwaukee's undersized frontcourt looks ripe for the picking. Unfortunately, I have to say "not yet" for Gobert, as he isn't yet at full speed following his three-week absence. You could take a flier on him in a GPP format, but he's way too risky for cash.
