This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Saturday features 14 teams to choose from for DFS action on FanDuel. Today's slate includes a number of games with high totals, which means we should expect higher scores in your cash games and tournaments. This article will help you find the best players and matchups to maximize value.
Point Guard
Jrue Holiday, NOP vs. BKN ($7,000): Holiday looks to be in line for heavy usage against a Brooklyn team that has defensive issues at almost every position. Holiday has stuffed the stat sheet in the past two games, scoring 54.7 and 43.0 fantasy points, respectively. He will likely be asked to carry the load once again, with both Anthony Davis (concussion) and Tyreke Evans (knee) questionable to play. Look for Holiday to expose Brooklyn's backcourt, which allows the fourth-most fantasy points to point guards this season.
George Hill, IND vs. DEN ($5,700): This is a play that requires a little more faith in Hill's recent return to the starting lineup, along with the uptick in minutes. The good news is that the games that Hill missed last week were due to a personal issue, not an injury. It's important to note that Hill finished last season priced around $7,600 on FanDuel, and he has played at least 31 minutes in every game he's appeared in since Dec. 23. The matchup along with the discount is simply too good to ignore, with Hill facing rookie Emmanuel Mudiay at the point, who has been largely responsible for Denver's 27th-ranked defense against point guards.
Shooting Guard
James Harden, HOU vs. WAS ($10,200): Harden is expensive and will be playing in back-to-back games, but the positives far outweigh these two hurdles. His price has actually come down $400 from Friday, and he will benefit from playing at home against the Wizards. Harden has been a solid cash-game option, scoring at least 50 fantasy points in five of the past six games. Bradley Beal has struggled to stay healthy this season, but even when he's been on the court he's been a defensive liability. With the game total at 218.5 and Washington allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to shooting guards, Harden could reach the 50-point mark again.
Bryce Dejean-Jones, NOP vs. BKN ($3,500): This play comes with a few disclaimers: for starters, if Tyreke Evans returns, Dejean-Jones should be faded. He is also a relative unknown, playing on a 10-day contract, so his exposure to fantasy lineups should be limited to GPPs. Having said that, he's available at minimum price and likely to have low ownership, so if he's able to return nearly 7x his price again today in a plus matchup with the Nets, he becomes a punt play that opens up a good amount of salary flexibility on your roster.
Small Forward
Trevor Ariza, HOU vs. WAS ($5,700): Two things stand out about Ariza's recent production; I actually like the fact that he had a down performance against the Spurs, who have done that to everyone this season with the exception of the Warriors. I also like that he only scored eight points in back-to-back games. Hopefully that creates low ownership levels today. Ariza stuffed the box score despite the low scoring output Friday, scoring 33.70 fantasy points. The Wizards have been consistently the worst team in the NBA in defending the small forward position, making Ariza a nice, mid-priced value option.
Power Forward
Myles Turner, IND vs. DEN ($5,100): Pacers head coach Frank Vogel finally did the right thing and has recognized that Turner is easily their best offensive weapon in the frontcourt. His production was already at an elite level off the bench, averaging over 30 fantasy points per game in the last six, and that should only increase with consistent minutes as a starter. Turner should find himself in another plus matchup with a solid game total of 208.5 and Denver coming in ranked 22nd in fantasy points allowed to power forwards.
Center
Brook Lopez, BKN at NOP ($8,100): Chances are that unless you love all of your punt options, it will become very tough to roster both DeMarcus Cousins and James Harden. Lopez is your next best option, as he's produced five double-doubles in his past six games and has reached the 50-point mark in the three of those. No other team allows more fantasy points to centers than the Pelicans. Lopez provides a safe floor and consistent minutes, two factors that make him one of the safest cash game options available today.
