This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
With the NBA off for Christmas Eve, Saturday brings us a robust 12-game slate with plenty of teams on back-to-backs. That brings some important lineup considerations into play, particularly when considering the most expensive options on the schedule. With so much contemplate, let's dive right into some of the most appealing plays at each tier on what should be an action-packed Saturday night of DFS.
GUARD
Russell Westbrook, OKC at UTA ($22,700): Westbrook eclipsed 60 fantasy points for the third time in the last five games Friday against the Hawks, and he just lit up this same Jazz squad for 56.00 fantasy points Wednesday. The Jazz have a well-earned defensive reputation, but point guards have been a weakness. They've allowed 45.7 fantasy points per game to ones on the season, but the second most (59.3) over the last five and fourth most (56.2) over the last 10. Given his massive usage, Westbrook is one of the safest plays on the slate despite a tough road environment.
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. CHI ($16,700): The Bulls have been playing inspired basketball since Nikola Mirotic's season debut, but they're still undeniably a work in progress on defense. That's leading to plenty of competitive, back-and-forth matchups, which bodes well for Irving's fantasy prospects Saturday. Chicago comes in allowing 47.0 fantasy points per game to point guards, including 50.0 over the last five contests. They're also allowing the fifth highest shooting percentage (43.0) to the position, while Irving has scored between 38.25 and 51.25 fantasy points in five of his last six games, a stretch that includes three games of over 40 fantasy points.
Yogi Ferrell, DAL at ATL ($9,000): Ferrell is back on the bench due to the return of Dennis Smith to the lineup from a hip injury, but he's encouragingly continued to see plenty of playing time in the two contests the latter has played. Ferrell has logged 31 and 32 minutes in the last two games, scoring 25.25 and 34.50 fantasy points, respectively. The Hawks have tightened up their point-guard defense some in recent games, but Ferrell will likely be seeing a fair share of minutes against the second unit, and Atlanta has also allowed the third highest shooting percentage (45.0) and fourth most three-pointers (2.5) to the position.
FORWARD/CENTER
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at PHO ($17,600): The top quartet of Kevin Durant ($22,300), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($21,400), Anthony Davis ($19,900) and DeMarcus Cousins ($19,000) are always worthy of consideration, but they're all also on the second night of back-to-back sets. Towns is priced considerably cheaper than all of them, last took the court Wednesday, and is facing a team he just trampled to the tune of 56.75 fantasy points on the strength of a 28-point, 11-rebound double-double last Saturday. The Suns' struggles against centers have been persistent, as they've allowed the second most fantasy points (41.9) per game to fives on the season, including 45.5 over the last five contests. They're also ranked in the bottom five in points (17.7), rebounds (12.4) and blocks (1.7) allowed to the position, while Towns has scored over 50 fantasy points in five of the last seven games and averaged 1.31 fantasy points per minute during that stretch.
Harrison Barnes, DAL at ATL ($12,700): Barnes had a rare down game by his standards against a tough Heat defense Friday, scoring a relatively modest 25.50 fantasy points. However, he'd been over 30 fantasy points in three of his previous five contests and scored 29.25 in a fourth game during that stretch. Defending small forwards has been an issue all season for the Hawks, who come into Saturday allowing the second most fantasy points per game to the position on the season (47.0), including the most (63.1) over the last 10. They've also allowed the most points (25.1) and highest shooting percentage (50.0), while Barnes is shooting 48.4 percent, including 47.1 percent from three-point range, over the last four contests.
DeMarre Carroll, BKN at IND ($9,200): Carroll has compiled 29.75 and 31.50 fantasy points in his last two games, turning in a pair of 15-point efforts while filling out the stat sheet nicely in other categories. He'd also tallied 29.00 and 25.25 fantasy points in two other contests in his last five and will be in a favorable position for more of the same Saturday. The Pacers have struggled against the small forward position all season as well, allowing the fourth most fantasy points per game (44.9) to the position this season, along with a notably higher 51.0 over the last five. They're also allowing the most three-pointers (3.2) and second highest shooting percentage (48.0) to the position on the season, while Carroll is averaging a career-high 5.1 shot attempts from behind the arc through his first 28 games.
UTILITY
Victor Oladipo, IND vs. BKN ($17,000): Oladipo has scored between 42.25 and 54.75 fantasy points in three of his last four games, as he continues to serve as the focal point of the Pacers' offense on the overwhelming majority of nights. The low end of that aforementioned range came against this same Nets squad last Sunday, and there's little reason to think he won't be capable of offering another strong return. Brooklyn is surrendering 50.7 fantasy points per game to two-guards, along with bottom 10 figures in multiple other categories. Oladipo has kicked things into high gear in December as well, averaging 29.1 points and 50.5 percent shooting on an average of 20.4 shot attempts across 10 games.
C.J. McCollum, POR at LAL ($14,600): McCollum was a relative disappointment for many Friday, as the expectation had been he'd have a true breakout game with Damian Lillard (hamstring) out of the lineup. He ultimately finished with just 22.75 fantasy points over 33 minutes, but a bounce-back is very conceivable Saturday. Lillard will be sitting out again and McCollum will draw a more favorable matchup versus a Lakers team that's allowed the third most fantasy points (51.7) and points (30.4) to two guards, including 57.0 fantasy points over the last five games. Furthermore, despite Friday's downturn, McCollum is also sporting a 31.5 percent usage rate and averaging 1.02 fantasy points per minute without Lillard on the floor this season.
