We have been spoiled lately with a ton of exciting NBA DFS slates this past week with numerous high-priced studs to choose from, a bunch of chap value options due to injuries and a lot of games with high Vegas totals and fantasy points. Unfortunately, Saturday’s nights small four-game slate has none of those things going for it. It could be a good night to reduce the amount of your bankroll you put in play or skip the slate entirely and actually spend a Saturday doing some Spring cleaning or even going out somewhere with your significant other without incessantly checking your phone every five minutes.
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One Stud
Russell Westbrook (PG – OKC): $11,500 vs SA
There is only one high-priced stud on the small four-game slate and he draws a tough matchup in a pace down spot against the Spurs. Westbrook has averaged just 44 DraftKings points per game in two previous meetings this season while shooting a woeful 31.8% from the field in those games. Usually as the only stud on a small slate Westbrook would be a no-brainer play and very highly owned but due to the lack of value on the slate and his matchup, he may be worth fading. Did I just say that?!?! Of course, he is capable of putting up big numbers against anyone, so I’d suggest taking a stand one way or the other and either be all-in or fade him completely.
We have been spoiled lately with a ton of exciting NBA DFS slates this past week with numerous high-priced studs to choose from, a bunch of chap value options due to injuries and a lot of games with high Vegas totals and fantasy points. Unfortunately, Saturday’s nights small four-game slate has none of those things going for it. It could be a good night to reduce the amount of your bankroll you put in play or skip the slate entirely and actually spend a Saturday doing some Spring cleaning or even going out somewhere with your significant other without incessantly checking your phone every five minutes.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
One Stud
Russell Westbrook (PG – OKC): $11,500 vs SA
There is only one high-priced stud on the small four-game slate and he draws a tough matchup in a pace down spot against the Spurs. Westbrook has averaged just 44 DraftKings points per game in two previous meetings this season while shooting a woeful 31.8% from the field in those games. Usually as the only stud on a small slate Westbrook would be a no-brainer play and very highly owned but due to the lack of value on the slate and his matchup, he may be worth fading. Did I just say that?!?! Of course, he is capable of putting up big numbers against anyone, so I’d suggest taking a stand one way or the other and either be all-in or fade him completely.
Core Plays
Nikola Vucevic (C – ORL): $8,700 @ LAC
If you roster Westbrook, you are probably only getting one of these Core Plays. Vucevic has a huge disappointment on Saturday against the Kings with just 13 points and five rebounds despite the Magic playing without Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. This could depress his ownership on Saturday but I’m fine with that and will get right back on board with Vucevic against a Clippers’ team that has allowed the third most DK points to opposing centers over the last 15 days.
LaMarcus Aldridge (PF/C – SA): $8,400 @ OKC
After missing a game last Saturday, Aldridge has worked his way back into form posting a big line with 30 points and 17 rebounds against the Warriors on Thursday in 37 minutes. With Pau Gasol questionable and Kahwi Leonard still not playing, Aldridge will continue to be the focal point of the offense in a game with a tight spread and the second highest Vegas total on the slate against the Thunder.
DeAndre Jordan (C – LAC): $7,800 vs ORL
You will want to try to get some exposure to the Clippers as the team with the highest implied team total on Saturday’s abbreviated slate. The only concerns are the Clippers playing in the second game of a back-to-back (as are the Magic) and the threat of a Clippers blowout as a double-digit favorite. Jordan pounded the Magic earlier this season with 18 points and 20 rebounds on his way to 54.5 DK points. He has also been a monster on the glass recently with three 20 rebound games in his last four outings and at least 15 board in five straight games.
Dennis Smith Jr. (PG – DAL): $6,800 vs MEM
If you decide to take the fade Westbrook approach then consider Dennis Smith Jr. at PG. Smith has been stuffing the stat sheet in his last two games averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists. He will face a depleted Grizzlies backcourt that has given up the fourth most DK points to opposing PGs over the last 15 days. In a battle of teams playing for ping pong ball, give me a rookie who is still looking to make his mark in the NBA.
Value Plays
Magic
Mario Hezonja (SF/PF): $5,600 / Jonathon Simmons (SG/SF): $5,400 / DJ Augustin (PG/SG): $5,200 / Jonathan Isaac (SF/PF): $3,700 @ LAC
There are two teams with a plethora of wings and backcourt players all hovering around the same salary to mix and match when rounding out your DFS lineups. The Magic are short-handed with the injuries to Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier in addition to the trade of Elfrid Payton at the deadline. This opens up playing time and usage increases for a variety of players. They had mixed results in Friday’s game against the Kings but all saw increased playing time with at least 26 minutes apiece. The Magic get a pace up matchup against the Clippers in a game with the highest Vegas total on the slate. Of this group, my favorite targets are Simmons and Hezonja, while Augustin is a potential Westbrook/Smith pivot to save salary at PG and Isaac is the cheap wild card best used in GPPs.
Heat
Josh Richardson (SG/SF): $5,500 / Justise Winslow (SF/PF): $5,100 / Tyler Johnson (PG/SG): $4,900 vs WAS
The Heat are the other team with a variety of options in the same price range to help fill out your lineup on Saturday. The Heat get a rematch against the Wizards who they just lost to in overtime four days ago. In that game, Josh Richardson played 35 minutes with 27.5 DK points, Tyler Johnson played 38 minutes and put up 39.75 DK points, and Justise Winslow played 38 minutes for 25.5 DK points. All three should be heavily involved again on Saturday as the Heat look for redemption against a Wizards’ team playing in the second game of a back-to-back. I would prioritize them as Johnson, Richardson and then Winslow when building lineups.
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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.
