This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Saturday's brings a compact seven-game slate that could yield quite a few close contests and that features plenty of appealing individual matchups. There's also a pair of potentially notable returns from injury at the guard position on tap, as well as plenty of options to pay up for at forward/center. Without further ado, let's break it all down.
GUARD
C.J. McCollum, POR at ATL ($14,200): Although Stephen Curry ($17,900) is expected back in the lineup Saturday, a potential minutes limitation could make him a bit risky, while McCollum's teammate Damian Lillard ($15,400) remains questionable due to the hamstring injury that's already cost him three games. Irrespective of Lillard's status, McCollum finds himself in a highly favorable spot against a Hawks team that already ranks as one of the league's worst against shooting guards. Atlanta has allowed 50.6 fantasy points per contest to twos, along with the second most made three-pointers (4.1) per contest. Meanwhile, McCollum went off for 50.25 fantasy points against the Sixers on Thursday, and he scored between 30.00 and 41.25 fantasy points in six of his prior seven contests as well. He's also sporting a 31.4 percent usage rate and averaging 20.3 shot attempts over the three games that Lillard has missed thus far, making him an even better play should the latter sit for a fourth straight contest.
Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. CLE ($12,700): Mitchell has scored between 27.25 and 49.75 fantasy points in six of his last seven contests, and he's shooting a red-hot 56.1 percent over his last five overall. He'll be poised for a potentially spectacular night Saturday, considering the Cavaliers have allowed the most fantasy points (57.0) per game to two-guards on the season, including 70.3 over the last five. They've also allowed the most points (30.4), assists (7.8) and made three-pointers (4.7) to the position – along with bottom 10 figures in every other major category – giving Mitchell plenty of paths to a strong return on a reasonable price.
Courtney Lee, NY at NO ($10,200): Lee is sporting career highs in scoring (13.6), assists (2.3), three-pointers (1.7) and three-point shooting percentage (43.0), while also equaling high-water marks in rebounds (3.5) and field-goal attempts (10.9). That type of production has most recently helped lead to fantasy-point tallies of between 27.25 and 49.75 fantasy points in six of his last seven games. He'll be in prime position for more of the same Saturday, as the Pelicans have allowed the third most fantasy points (51.6) per game to two-guards on the season -- including 66.7 over the last five – along with the third most made three-pointers (4.0) and highest shooting percentage (47.0) to the position.
FORWARD/CENTER
LeBron James, CLE at UTA ($20,800): James is set up for success on his 33rd birthday Saturday, considering he'll face a Jazz squad he just compiled 60.75 fantasy points against two weeks ago on the strength of a 29-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. That tally was just one of a whopping nine of more than 60 fantasy points in the last 11 games for James, giving him the most consistently elite upside at present of any player not named Russell Westbrook. Utah also serves as an inviting target once again, considering they've allowed the eighth most fantasy points (55.3) per game to point guards over the last five games, as well as the most on the season (46.3) and over the last five (69.3) to small forwards, numbers that leave James in an excellent matchup regardless of which spot on the floor he fills.
Dario Saric, PHI at DEN ($13,400): For those that have the cash to spend up, Nikola Jokic ($15,800) is also a highly viable option in this same game. However, Saric comes at a significantly lower price and is sporting a 23.4 percent usage rate and averaging 1.02 fantasy points per minute with Joel Embiid off the floor this season. With the latter already designated to sit out Saturday for maintenance purposes, Saric is poised for an opportunity to build on a recent 10-game stretch that's seen him score between 27.75 and 50.50 fantasy points in nine contests. The Nuggets' suspect frontcourt defense also furthers his case, as Denver has allowed the sixth most fantasy points (54.3) per game to power forwards over the last five, along with the third highest shooting percentage (48.0) to the position on the season. For those who need to save some cash, Bismack Biyombo ($11,800) is also certainly in play after posting 27.50 and 32.75 fantasy points in his first two games as a starter in place of Nikola Vucevic (hand).
Marreese Speights, ORL vs. MIA ($7,800): The Philly trio of Amir Johnson ($7,300), Richaun Holmes ($8,500) and Trevor Booker ($8,800) all stand to see some extended run with Embiid sitting out Saturday's game, but it can be difficult to pin down what the playing time will be among the three. Meanwhile, Speights checks in notably cheaper than the latter two Sixers and has produced 22.00 and 26.75 fantasy points in his last two games thanks in large part to an uptick in his rebounding. Moreover, he could continue seeing time at both center and power forward Saturday, providing him with a potential bump in minutes with which to pay off a very modest price.
UTILITY
Kristaps Porzingis, NY at NO ($16,900): Porzingis has scored over 40 fantasy points in four consecutive contests, a stretch during which he's sporting a 30.6 percent usage rate and averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute. The Pelicans continue to be vulnerable to power forwards despite Anthony Davis' sizable presence down low, as they've allowed the third most fantasy points (47.1) per game to the position on the season, along with bottom 10 figures in multiple other categories. Porzingis has seen no fewer than 34 minutes in any of the aforementioned four games, a streak that should continue Saturday in what projects as a highly competitive contest.
Jamal Murray, DEN vs. PHI ($12,800): Murray comes into Saturday with back-to-back 20-point performances, having scored between 33.00 and 45.00 fantasy points in four of his last five games. He's picked it up across the stat sheet in December overall, posting a 25.0 percent usage rate and averaging 1.02 fantasy points per minute during the month. The Sixers could well facilitate more of the same Saturday, as they've allowed the sixth-most fantasy points (53.6) per game to point guards over the last 10 contests, while Murray is shooting 47.9 percent – including 46.7 percent from three-point range – over that same stretch.
