This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
We've got another solid eight-game slate Saturday night, leaving us with plenty to choose from at each price level. Joel Embiid's first back-to-back set and a marquee matchup between the Rockets and Cavs are just two of the highlights of the evening, and both the Pelicans-Timberwolves and Warriors-Nuggets tilts could feature some fireworks as well. Without further delay, let's see who's standing out the most at each salary tier.
GUARD
James Harden, HOU at CLE ($21,900): Harden will be in a prime spot against the Cavaliers' porous two-guard defense, one that's allowed 46.4 fantasy points per game to the position on the season, along with the third-most made three-pointers (3.7). Harden has been a lock for 50 fantasy points at a minimum over the last five games, a stretch that includes an explosion of 102 fantasy points Jan. 30 and an average of 1.54 fantasy points per minute. The Beard also lit up the Cavaliers for a 35-point, 13-assist, 11-rebound triple-double that also included five steals and one block over 43 minutes in his one previous meeting against them this season, while the Cavaliers have allowed 31.9 percent of their points off three-pointers, the third-highest mark in the league and one that particularly spells trouble against Harden.
Victor Oladipo, IND vs. PHI ($14,900): Oladipo exploded for 35 points against the Hornets on Friday, and he's scored 38.75 to 46.00 fantasy points in four of the previous five contests as well. He also touched up this same Sixers squad for 31 points (on 60.0 percent shooting), seven assists, five rebounds and one block across 37 minutes in his one previous meeting against them this season, while Philadelphia comes in allowing 47.2 fantasy points per game to two-guards over their last 10. The Sixers are also playing at the third-highest pace (103.7 possessions per game) on the season, a rate that should certainly work in Oladipo's favor.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS at ORL ($9,400): Satoransky's scoring contributions have been somewhat inconsistent over the three games he's started in John Wall's stead thus far, but he's partly made up for it with serviceable numbers elsewhere. That's led to fantasy-point tallies between 22.25 and 26.25 in those contests, and there's reason to believe he could generate similar numbers Saturday. The Magic's season-long struggles against point guards have been exacerbated in recent contests, as they're allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (56.2) to ones in the last 10 games, a notable bump up from their 44.5 season figure. They're also yielding the fourth-highest shooting percentage (47.0) and third-most rebounds (7.8) to the position over that span, giving Satoransky more than one path to fantasy success.
FORWARD/CENTER
Joel Embiid, PHI at IND ($18,100): Embiid will finally have his wish to play in a back-to-back set fulfilled Saturday, and he could hardly ask for a better matchup to do it in. The Pacers have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (36.7) to centers on the season, along with the highest shooting percentage (60.0). Embiid also compiled an efficient 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals over 28 minutes against Indiana in his one previous meeting against them, and he's scored 42.75 to 60.50 fantasy points in six of his last eight contests. Moreover, the Pacers come in allowing the third-most points in the paint (52.0) over the last three contests -- a stretch that coincides with the three games that Myles Turner has returned to play significant minutes in -- while Embiid has scored 44.1 percent of his points in that area of the floor this season.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. GS ($14,900): Jokic exploded for 75.25 fantasy points on the strength of a 29-point, 14-assist, 13-rebound triple-double against the Thunder on Thursday, and he'd scored 42.25 to 53.50 fantasy points in five of his previous six contests as well. The emerging big man is averaging 1.36 fantasy points per minute during that stretch, and he's seen no fewer than 33 minutes in nine consecutive contests. The Warriors' second-highest pace of play (105.3 possessions per game) on the road this season also very much works in Jokic's favor Saturday, as does the fact that he decimated Golden State for 62.00 fantasy points in his last meeting with them Jan. 8. The Warriors have also been particularly vulnerable to bigs over the last five contests, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game (49.1), most points (22.6), second-most assists (4.4) and most steals (2.0) to the position during that stretch.
Dirk Nowitzki, DAL at SAC ($9,600): Nowitzki's production has gone through some ups and downs, but both the matchup and a recent surge make him worthy of a tournament flier Saturday. The veteran has scored between 22.25 and 32.50 fantasy points in the last three contests, while the Kings come in allowing the most fantasy points per game (47.7) to power forwards on the campaign, along with league-worst or bottom-five figures in multiple other categories against the position. Nowitzki has been shooting particularly well from distance over the aforementioned three-game sample as well, draining 50.0 percent of his 5.3 three-point attempts per contest.
UTILITY
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. NO ($17,200): The Pelicans have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to centers (43.8) over the last five, along with the fourth-highest shooting percentage (63.0). Towns has been excelling over that same span, as he's scored 42.25 to 53.25 fantasy points in four of his last five, a sample during which he's sporting a 26.4 percent usage rate, averaging 1.24 points per possession and 1.36 fantasy points per minute. He's also racked up an NBA-high 46 double-doubles already this season, while New Orleans comes in allowing the third-most rebounds (14.2) to fives over the aforementioned five-game sample. The Pels are also playing at the second-highest pace on the season (103.8 possessions per game), another factor that should work in Towns' favor.
Goran Dragic, MIA at DET ($12,700): Dragic eviscerated the Pistons for 51.25 fantasy points Jan. 3, and he's hit for at least 40 fantasy points on multiple occasions this season as well. Detroit, and in particular Ish Smith, have consistently been exploited by point guards, as they're now allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game (46.0) to ones on the season, along with the second-most assists (9.2). Dragic saw a downturn against the Sixers on Friday, but he'd scored 27.00 to 51.25 fantasy points in 14 of his previous 16 contests, numbers that represent solid-to-outstanding returns on his current salary.
