This article aims to highlight some of the best NBA DFS Plays at every position for your cash game lineups. Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our NBA News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
We’ll take a look at Saturday’s 7-game main slate starting at 7:30 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Damian Lillard – Portland (vs. Detroit) - DK: $9,400 / FD: $9,000 / Yahoo: $44
There is but one game on this slate carrying a spread of less than nine points and this isn’t it. Six games could be blowouts, which is not an easy feeling, but we’re all in the same boat, I guess. I’m electing to go with Lillard at the point because 1) the Trail Blazers did not play last night, 2) he’s cheapest among the stud point guards tonight and 3) he previously put up 58 fantasy points against the Pistons, who rank 20th in defensive efficiency. Lillard is coming off a couple of down games against the Clippers and Jazz, and he’s made only seven of 25 three-point attempts in his last three games. This is an elite player who is clearly much better than this recent stretch shows, and I think we get a more typical 50-ish fantasy point game from Lillard in this plus matchup.
Also Consider: Chris Paul, John Wall, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook
Bargain Options: Malachi Flynn (if Kyle Lowry remains out), Killian Hayes/Cory Joseph
SHOOTING GUARD
Collin Sexton – Cleveland (vs. Toronto) - DK: $7,500 / FD: $7,400 / Yahoo: $31
Sexton continues to produce every single night he’s healthy on the court. For the price, he is a very safe play tonight, and it does influence me that this is expected to be the most competitive game of the night, with the Raptors favored by about three points. Sexton actually produced one of his best games of the season a few weeks ago vs. the Raptors – a 36-point bonanza worth about 50 fantasy points. He’s basically a lock for 30-50, something that is also true of Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell, but you can roster Sexton for roughly $1-2K less.
Also Consider: Donovan Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins
Bargain Options: De’Andre Bembry, Talen Horton-Tucker, Sterling Brown, Ty Jerome
SMALL FORWARD
Kevin Porter, Jr. – Houston (at Golden State) - DK: $6,900 (PG) / FD: $6,600 / Yahoo: $25 (SG)
Besides being a positional challenge to write about, there’s not much to dislike about Porter’s game. He’s playing 30-plus MPG, is coming off a double-double vs. the Clippers last night, and has been a consistent source of high-volume scoring since the end of March when his role expanded. Tonight he should continue to shine, even with John Wall on the court, in a fast-paced matchup with the Warriors, who lost to the Wizards last night. While his value is highest with Wall out, Porter provides much needed scoring from the backcourt, and can generally provide a few peripherals to boost his line.
Also Consider: Taurean Prince, Kevin Durant, OG Anunoby
Bargain Options: Kenrich Williams
POWER FORWARD
Kevin Love – Cleveland (vs. Toronto) - DK: $6,100 / FD: $5,800 / Yahoo: $19
This game is an affordable one to draw from, with less risk of a blowout dictating lost minutes. Love is coming off his best game in a while (an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double), with a night’s rest, and facing a favorable forward matchup with the Raptors, who are still likely down a starter or two. Love’s minutes are relatively low (23-26 MPG), but he’s been producing so efficiently that I’m on board. With well over a fantasy point per minute, we’re looking at around 5-6X return on value tonight.
Also Consider: Pascal Siakam, Christian Wood, Tobias Harris
Bargain Options: Isaiah Hartenstein (FD), Isaiah Stewart (FD)
CENTER
Rudy Gobert – Utah (vs. Sacramento) - DK: $8,000 / FD: $8,600 / Yahoo: $36
The Jazz are the biggest favorites of the night, but the history is unclear on how negatively a blowout win affects Gobert. He put up over 52 fantasy points in a 39-point victory over the Cavs a couple weeks ago (in 28 minutes), but managed only 27 fantasy points in 20 minutes in another massive win over Orlando last week. I think the Kings keep it close enough for us to get at least 3.5 quarters of Gobert tonight, and given their relatively weak frontcourt defense, that should be more than enough for him to get to that 50-point benchmark I want to see.
Also Consider: Kelly Olynyk, Chris Boucher
Bargain Options: James Wiseman, Dwight Howard (if Joel Embiid is out)
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
Killian Hayes (PG – DET) may not be starting yet, but that is the goal. He’s cheaper than Cory Joseph, who is coming off a fantastic game, and savings is a priority tonight. Hayes has been playing about 20-25 MPG, and he had his best effort in a blowout win over the Thunder earlier this week (including four steals!). While Detroit may be on the wrong side of a blowout tonight, Portland is still a very favorable point guard matchup (they rank 29th in defensive efficiency and give up the third-most fantasy points to point guards). I think Hayes is in store for a nice return on value tonight.
Donovan Mitchell (SG – UTA) If you can afford him, I have no qualms about using Mitchell. He’s coming off back-to-back 50-plus fantasy point games, one a blowout win over Portland. Sacramento is a fantasy-friendly matchup overall, but ranks an especially enticing third in fantasy points to opposing two-guards. Mitchell is a luxury high-floor with upside play tonight, but that means you might have to scrimp elsewhere to fit him.
Dwight Howard (C – PHI) is a possibility tonight if Joel Embiid doesn’t play, and really, why would he? I know they were planning on using him in the back-to-back tonight, but given that he injured his knee, however mildly, in Friday night’s game, why risk it? The 76ers are huge favorites over a young Thunder team that is getting blown out regularly. Howard should be able to put up an efficient double-double in limited time tonight, reaching value with ease at his salary of $4300 (FD), $4700 (DK) and $17 (Yahoo). Of course, you’ll have to watch the news to ensure that it is Howard, and not Embiid, that starts tonight.
