This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a solid nine-game slate on tap Saturday night, and even with a host of big names on the injury report, we're still in solid shape in terms of the options at our disposal across the price scale. That's due not only to the fact there are 18 teams in action, but because of how well some backup players are doing with the opportunities injuries in front of them are affording them.
As usual, we'll proceed to break down the positional outlook below, along with possible chalk plays and some likely under-owned bargains that could help you round out your lineups with a couple of superstars.
Before delving into the slate, a reminder that FanDuel has reverted to its previous format of NOT dropping the lowest scoring in lineups after a one-year experiment with that feature. Therefore, it will be important to be prudent with each selection, as each player's total will count toward your final score.
Without further ado, let's take a more comprehensive look at Saturday's slate!
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the three games with the highest projected totals on Saturday's slate:
San Antonio Spurs at Milwaukee Bucks (Projected total: 228.5 points)
A battle between a defensively vulnerable team like the Spurs (115.1 PPG allowed per road game) and a high-octane unit like the Bucks (NBA-high 119.9 PPG scored at home) is unsurprisingly carrying the highest projected total of the day. Milwaukee's pace (107.9 possessions per game) also plays a big part here, and the overall game environment boosts the expectations of the front-line pieces on each team.
New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings (Projected total: 224.5 points)
The Pelicans continue to facilitate plenty of offense (117.3 PPG allowed on the road), and while Sacramento has been one of the poorer offensive teams in the league (105 PPG at home), this is certainly the type of up-in-pace matchup that could see them exceed their averages. New Orleans' own offensive capabilities (112.3 PPG scored overall) also boosts expectations here.
Denver Nuggets at Washington Wizards (Projected total: 222.5 points)
The Wizards can always be counted on to be part of a game with an elevated total, primarily due to their considerable defensive deficiencies. Washington comes in allowing 120.4 points per home game and playing at a top-10 pace (106.9 possessions per game), both of which boost the Nuggets' overall prospects and makes this an excellent game to find some individual production, even if Bradley Beal (leg) sits.
Positional Breakdown
We've certainly got a fair share of prominent injuries Saturday, but the size of the slate (nine games) helps mask some of that effect. No one position is in especially dire straits in terms of depth, but as usual, there are some in better shape than others.
Point guard does suffer some from the confirmed absences of Dejounte Murray (personal) and Malcolm Brogdon (back), as well as the possible one for Kemba Walker (illness). At shooting guard, it's the top end of the pool that takes the biggest hit, as D'Angelo Russell (shoulder) is already out and Bradley Beal (leg) could well be headed for the same fate. Small forward is in fine shape up top and for most of the mid-tier, although it starts to get a bit ragged in the sub-$6k level with Jonathan Isaac (knee), Tim Hardaway (hamstring), Luke Kennard (knee) and Markieff Morris (foot) all out of action.
Power forward is actually in fairly good health overall, but the three names that are already ruled out or potentially set to miss (in terms of shorter-term injuries) – Kristaps Porzingis (knee-out), John Collins (back-questionable) and Blake Griffin (knee-out) – are big. That doesn't even factor in the longer-term absence of Marvin Bagley III (foot) and that of Larry Nance, Jr. (knee), arguably making PF the weakest depth position. In contrast, center might be one of the strongest when factoring out long-term injuries, as Wendell Carter (abdomen) is probable, while Enes Kanter (face/chin) and Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) have a 50/50 shot of playing.
Notable Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written (usually late morning Eastern time), check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
UPDATE: Kemba Walker (illness) has now officially been ruled out for Saturday's game.
D'Angelo Russell, GSW
Russell will not play due against the Timberwolves due to a shoulder bruise. Alec Burks is likely to draw the start at point guard in Russell's stead.
Bradley Beal, WAS
Beal is likely to be considered questionable at best with the leg injury that cost him Friday's game. Troy Brown Jr. could draw the start at shooting guard if Beal misses, although Jordan McRae also stands to benefit in the form of heavy minutes off the bench.
John Collins, ATL
Collins is questionable with a back contusion that forced him from Friday's game against the Celtics. Jabari Parker would be in line to draw the start at power forward should Collins miss.
Kemba Walker, BOS
Walker will likely be considered questionable at best with the illness that cost him Friday's game. Brad Wanamaker and Marcus Smart are set to step in at point guard should Walker miss.
Enes Kanter, BOS
Kanter is likely to be considered questionable at best after receiving stitches on his chin Friday. Grant Williams would likely see extra backup minutes at center should Kanter miss.
Malcolm Brogdon, IND
Brogdon will not play Saturday due to a back injury. Aaron Holiday and T.J. McConnell are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries of a Brogdon absence.
Kristaps Porzingis, DAL
Porzingis is expected to miss a third straight game due to knee soreness. Dorian Finney-Smith, Justin Jackson and Maxi Kleber could be the primary beneficiaries of his absence, while the usage of the remaining members of the starting five would also go up a notch in Porzingis' absence.
Davis Bertans, WAS
Bertans is likely to be considered questionable to return from the quadriceps injury that's cost him the last six games. Johnathan Williams would be in for a reduction in playing time if Bertans returns.
Kevin Porter Jr., CLE
Porter will not play due to personal reasons. Alfonzo McKinnie could be the beneficiary of some extra minutes as a backup small forward.
Caris LeVert, BKN
LeVert is probable to return from the thumb injury that's cost him the last 24 games. The talented wing will likely be on a minutes restriction of some degree, and his return would figure to lead to a minutes reduction for Garrett Temple.
Dejounte Murray, SA
Murray will not play due to personal reasons. Derrick White sets up for a spot start at point guard as a result.
Donte DiVincenzo, MIL
DiVincenzo is out for rest purposes. Pat Connaughton could be in line for extra backup minutes at small forward as a result.
Blake Griffin, DET
Griffin will not play due to a knee injury. Sekou Doumbouya and Christian Wood figure to be the biggest beneficiaries with Markieff Morris (foot) also ruled out.
Markieff Morris, DET
Morris will not play due to a foot sprain.
Edmond Sumner, IND
Sumner is considered questionable due to knee soreness. If he misses a second straight game, it would likely lead to extra minutes in the backcourt rotation for the likes of Justin Holiday.
Zach LaVine, CHI
LaVine is considered probable with a shoulder and ankle injuries.
Wendell Carter Jr., CHI
Carter is considered probable with abdomen and ankle injuries.
Ryan Arcidiacono, CHI
Arcidiacono is considered probable with an elbow injury.
Willie Cauley-Stein, GSW
Cauley-Stein is considered questionable due to an illness. Marquese Chriss would draw another start at center if Cauley-Stein misses.
Kevon Looney, GSW
Looney will miss his sixth straight game due to an abdomen injury. Omari Spellman could see some minutes at backup center as a result.
Garrett Temple, BKN
Temple is probable with a knee injury.
Hardaway will not play due to a hamstring injury. Jalen Brunson could be in for another start in his place.
Delon Wright, DAL
Wright is considered questionable due to a foot injury. Jalen Brunson would be the beneficiary of extra minutes at point guard should Wright miss.
Notable Longer-Term Injuries/Absences: Kyrie Irving, BKN; Stephen Curry, GSW; Klay Thompson, GSW; Victor Oladipo, IND; Zion Williamson, NOP; Darius Miller, NOP; Marc Gasol, TOR; Pascal Siakam, TOR; Norman Powell, TOR; Otto Porter Jr., CHI; Luke Kennard, DET; Reggie Jackson, DET; Andre Iguodala, MEM; Justise Winslow, Mike Conley, UTA; Marvin Bagley III, SAC; Jonathan Isaac, ORL; Al-Farouq Aminu, ORL; Michael Carter-Williams, ORL; Andre Roberson, OKC; Larry Nance, Jr., CLE; Robert Williams III, BOS; Thomas Bryant, WAS; Moritz Wagner, WAS; Rui Hachimura, WAS; C.J. Miles, WAS; Ryan Broekhoff, DAL; Nicholas Claxton, BKN
Elite Players
Despite a robust nine-game slate, we only have two five-figure salaries on the ledger in the form of Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000) and Luka Doncic ($10,900). There's also just a pair of players in the $9K range (Andre Drummond-$9.7K/ Trae Young-$9K), with both in excellent matchups and in position to see even greater usage than usual due to injury situations on their respective teams. Then, Nikola Jokic ($8.9K) could be one of the bargains of the night at his price while playing the Wizards.
Expected Chalk
We should be relatively spread out on ownership with 18 teams in action, although as just alluded to, Andre Drummond and Trae Young could be even more popular than usual with Blake Griffin (knee) already confirmed out and John Collins (back) a true 50/50 proposition for the Hawks. Luka Doncic is also likely headed for an uptick in his already robust popularity with Kristaps Porzingis (knee) set to miss again. Then, the Nuggets front-line players should see plenty of clicks as well due to their matchup versus the highly vulnerable Wizards.
As customary, I've also compiled a list of some likely popular sub-$6K value plays and placed them below the next section, with some of those names deriving their likely elevated ownership due to injury absences and resulting expanded roles.
Key and Likely Underowned Values
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, DET at GS ($4,200)
If Mykhailiuk continues to hold down a steady role in the backcourt rotation over the long term, he's unlikely to continue flying under the radar on large slates. The 22-year-old is a skilled shooter that's eclipsed 20 FanDuel points in three of the past five games and scored 18.4 in another contest during that span. Mykhailiuk is draining an impressive 41.9 percent of his 3.9 three-point shots per game as well, and he's encouragingly taken double-digit shots in three of his past four contests. With both Blake Griffin (knee) and Markieff Morris (foot) ruled out again Saturday, the Pistons will be in search of additional offense, and Mykhailiuk could be well-equipped to provide it against a Warriors squad that's allowed the highest three-point percentage overall (38.4), along with the third-highest offensive efficiency rating to shooting guards (24.0).
Jerami Grant, DEN at WAS ($3,800)
Grant's production tends to fluctuate somewhat, as is the case with many second-unit players. However, the veteran big carries some very appealing upside for his current salary, as evidenced by his 12 tallies of more than 20 FanDuel points already this season. The Wizards also make for particularly appealing targets, as they've laid out the red carpet to fours and bench players in general all season. Washington checks in allowing the sixth-most FanDuel points per game to power forwards (47.5), along with the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating (27.3) to the position. The Wizards also come in with the NBA's lowest rebounding rate (47.3 percent) and 48.2 percent shooting surrendered to opposing benches, making Grant's case all the stronger.
Pat Connaughton, MIL vs. SA ($3,600)
Donte DiVincenzo will sit out Saturday's game for rest purposes, which should give a nice boost to Connaughton's minutes as a backup small forward. The Spurs come in allowing the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to threes (24.5), including the highest overall shooting percentage (49.1) and three-point percentage (44.0) to the position. San Antonio has also done a poor job of limiting production from opposing second-unit players, allowing the fifth-highest shooting percentage (46.6) to benches. Meanwhile, Connaughton has proven capable of outpacing his current salary when given sufficient minutes, most recently having eclipsed 20 FanDuel points in three of his past four with tallies of more than 20 minutes.
Other likely lower-owned value play to consider: Dwayne Bacon, CHA at DAL ($3,600)
Other likely higher-owned value plays to consider: Danilo Gallinari ($5,800); Jordan McRae ($5,700); Lonzo Ball ($5,700); Jeremy Lamb ($5,500); Eric Bledsoe ($5,400); T.J. Warren ($5,300); Dwight Powell ($5,100); Bruce Brown ($4,700); Derrick White ($4,600); Gary Harris
