This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Yahoo's Saturday slate excludes the early Thunder-Pistons game, so we'll focus on the other six games.
Teams on back-to-backs: Indiana, Atlanta, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Dallas
Dallas' trip stands out as the Mavericks meet a rested Nuggets team at high altitude after getting crushed by the Trail Blazers.
The best team in each conference clash in Saturday's marquee matchup, and the Celtics and Warriors figure to give us a high-scoring affair and a few places to target. Pacers, Nuggets and Wizards players will also warrant significant ownership.
As we look at the $50-plus elites, only Kevin Durant ($52) eclipses that amount, with Stephen Curry not too far behind at $48. While Durant is nursing a sore foot, there's little reason to think he'll miss a nationally televised game. Stacking these two players as the cornerstone of your cash lineup is a sensible play, as you can insert several value players on this slate to make up the difference.
We'll highlight two players at each position, along with an additional list of targets in each spot that hold equal weight in my predictions. Each position will feature one low-cost value player. We'll also mention one player to avoid in each category.
GUARD
Kyrie Irving, BOS at GS ($39): Kyrie loves the bright lights of a network broadcast game, and with each team facing one of its toughest tests of the season, I expect Irving to put up a great stat line. He pretty much matched projections with 38 YFP when they met in November, but the Celtics have matured considerably. Kyrie has also been lethal in the last week, averaging 35.6 points, 6,0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the last four games.
Darren Collison, IND vs. ORL ($20): Collison went off on Cleveland on Friday night for 50.9 YFP, and I don't think fatigue will play a huge factor in this back-to-back. Collison's success is directly tied to his assist totals, and Orlando yields 6.2 assists per game to point guards. While Collison didn't have a stellar game against the Magic earlier this season, we've seen Orlando get lit up by John Wall, Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving in the last two weeks. Collison is at an ideal price with an opportunity to shine.
Other guards to consider: Bradley Beal, WAS at ATL ($35), Jamal Murray, DEN vs. DAL ($27), Nicolas Batum, CHA at MIA ($21)
Special value play: If Jimmy Butler is out again Saturday, Jamal Crawford, MIN vs. BKN ($10) should see significant time.
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Guard to Avoid:
Goran Dragic, MIA vs. CHA ($28): While the fast pace of this game favors Dragic, he's still on the mend from a bruised knee and Charlotte hasn't been to kind to point guards lately. While he could put up a game in the 25 YFP range, that's not enough value at his price.
FORWARD
Aaron Gordon, ORL t IND ($29): While I like the Pacers at most spots in this game, they've been defensively weak at the wing, and Gordon has finally hit his stride after returning from injury. He'll also look to record his fourth straight double-double, and should get there. I also think Jonathon Simmons ($18) matches up well defensively.
Nemanja Bjelica, MIN vs. BKN ($12): Obviously this pick goes out the window if Butler starts, but if you're looking for cheap value, Bjelica doesn't have to do much to hit it. While I did mention Jamal Crawford above, I think both players will see enough minutes to justify an add, though I wouldn't recommend both. If Butler's out, Bjelica will start, but the Timberwolves likely will ride the hotter hand as the game progresses.
Other forwards to consider: Otto Porter, Jr. WAS at ATL ($23), Will Barton, DEN vs. DAL ($23), Taj Gibson, MIN vs. BKN ($20)
Forward to Avoid:
Jayson Tatum, BOS at GS ($23): The Celtics will absolutely need Tatum to take this one, and I think he'll fall short of value on Saturday. He only managed 18.8 YFP when he last faced Durant and Draymond inside, and while he's grown up a lot since November, the Warriors are going to be too tough defensively, and won't allow Tatum to get much traction.
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CENTER
Due to the drop-off here, spend up at center. Forward came significantly cheaper, and you can manage to play either of these guys.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. BKN ($44): A home game against the Nets' weak interior, this sets up as an ideal game for Towns, who's a virtual lock for a double-double every game. To sweeten the pot, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson might be out, and Jimmy Butler's likely absence puts more responsibility on Towns' shoulders, and he will deliver.
Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. DAL ($42): Jokic manhandled Dallas last week, putting up 66.1 YFP in a masterful 29 point, 18 rebound shellacking. The Mavericks still won't have an answer for the talented Serbian, and he's as good of a guarantee as Towns for $2 less.
Other centers to consider: Domantas Sabonis, IND vs. ORL ($23), Marcin Gortat, WAS at ATL ($18)
Center to Avoid:
Tyler Zeller, BKN at MIN ($10): Don't, under any circumstances, make this play. He's the cheapest starting center on the slate, and you could talk yourself into thinking that he has to do very little to make value, but there are so many other ways to spend down, you'd be doing yourself a disservice to punt here.
