Skip to main content

DraftKings DFS NBA Strategy Advice: Saturday (8/8)

DraftKings DFS NBA Strategy Advice: Saturday (8/8)

Today’s schedule presents a light five-game slate that will operate as an all-day main slate. The Utah Jazz are the only team operating on a back-to-back. Lineups — like usual — lock at 1:00 p.m. EST. Keep an eye out for injury updates throughout the day.

Create DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool partner-arrow

Value Plays

Point Guard

Name (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
@ POR $3,300 ⭐⭐⭐ LOW
vs. PHO $5,100 ⭐⭐ MEDIUM
@ DAL $5,600 ⭐⭐⭐ MEDIUM

 

  • Landry Shamet is likely in line for a start at the point guard spot for the Los Angeles Clippers today, as Patrick Beverely has once again been ruled out due to injury. While Shamet doesn’t offer much of a ceiling, he does afford you the opportunity to spend elsewhere while still plugging in a starter at a diminutive cost.
  • Goran Dragic has been impressive since he’s played in the bubble, and he’s likely going to start today with Kendrick Nunn leaving the bubble due to personal reasons. Dragic is listed as questionable — pay attention to his status.
  • Eric Bledsoe has not played a large number of minutes recently, and the Milwaukee Bucks are always a threat to scale back workloads with the first seed locked up — but Bledsoe is a defensive savant and is coming off a strong 31-point performance.

Shooting Guard

Name (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
vs. PHO $4,800 ⭐⭐ LOW
vs. UTA $4,200 LOW
vs. LAL $4,700 ⭐⭐ MEDIUM

 

  • The two-guard spot is thin on value options today. One of the potential options is Miami’s Duncan Robinson. Robinson doesn’t have a tremendously high ceiling, but he has scored 21 real-life points in his last two contests while shooting 46% and 56% from three — he’s starting to feel it.
  • Once again, Craig appears to have another spot in the starting lineup. He hasn’t put together a tremendous performance yet, but he has hovered near value in every game. His matchup against the Utah Jazz is not a good one — they rank 10th in defensive rating and 22nd in pace.
  • Aaron Holiday has performed inconsistently, but has played 34-plus minutes in four games straight and has largely been a solid player outside of his last contest which resulted in 17.75 points.

Small Forward

Name (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Jae Crowder (MIA) vs. PHO $4,600 ⭐⭐⭐ MEDIUM
vs. LAC $4,800 ⭐⭐⭐ LOW

 

  • Like Holiday, Jae Crowder has been inconsistent on a game-to-game basis but has performed pretty well since entering the bubble. Crowder’s minutes are steady, he offers defensive upside and can chip in offensively, too. Expect Crowder to get some run with Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn ruled out for the Heat.
  • There may not be a player with a more consistent workload in the bubble than Gary Trent Jr. — he’s played 34, 35, and 36 minutes in his last three contests and has reached value in all three of those games. His matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers isn’t ideal, but the Portland Trail Blazers are fighting for their playoff lives currently.

Power Forward

Name (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
@ MIA $5,200 ⭐⭐ MEDIUM
Kyle Kuzma (LAL) @ IND $5,400 ⭐⭐ MEDIUM

 

  • Actually, Cameron Johnson’s workload might be the only one to top Trent’s, as he’s topped 36-minutes in all of his past three contests. Johnson is beginning to find his stride with 43.5 and 37.5 point performances in two of his past three contests. The matchup opposing the Miami Heat isn’t ideal — but the Phoenix Suns are the only undefeated team that remains in the bubble.
  • The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have much to play for at this point, but Kyle Kuzma is one of the few value options at the four spot, particularly if LeBron James is sidelined once again — Kuzma scored 39.75 DraftKings points in his last contest without Bron.

Center

Name (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Kelly Olynyk (MIA) vs. PHO $4,900 ⭐⭐ LOW
@ POR $5,300 ⭐⭐⭐ MEDIUM

 

  • Like most of today’s slate, there simply aren’t many value options at the center spot, but Kelly Olynyk certainly qualifies. Olynyk has topped 30-plus points three times in his past four contests and still managed to reach value in his most recent game in which he totaled 25.5 points. As long as he’s starting, Olynyk is a good play.
  • Ivica Zubac has quietly performed very well over his past three contests and is coming off a particularly dominant 44.75-point performance two nights ago. Zubac has a nice matchup tonight — the Trail Blazers rank 27th in defensive rating and 12th in pace.

5 Studs Worth Their Salary

  • Kristaps Porzingis (DAL) $8,400: Porzingis has performed outstandingly since the bubble’s inception — he’s topped 51-plus points in three of his past four games. His price remains affordable and he’s coming off a dominant 30-point performance, managing to remain hot throughout.
  • Michael Porter (DEN) $7,200: MPJ has been priced-up aggressively, and with good reason — he’s been unreal in his past three contests as he’s managed to top 50-points in each game. His matchup isn’t good tonight, but MPJ has simply played too well for it to matter right now.
  • Damian Lillard (POR) $10,000: The Trail Blazers have everything to fight for, and it shows with Lillard’s minutes — he’s played over 40 minutes in every game in the bubble. Portland will need to ride their best player today, which is why we can expect Dame to receive every opportunity to shine.
  • Kawhi Leonard (LAC) $8,800: Kawhi hasn’t dominated to the level we’re accustomed to, but he’s routinely scored in the 42-48 point range — which justifies his salary quite well. Kawhi is too cheap for a player with his potential dominance. Also, his matchup against the Trail Blazers is awesome — they rank 27th in defensive rating and 12th in pace.
  • Devin Booker (PHO) $8,300: Booker has experienced tremendous success in the bubble, and the Suns are the only remaining unbeaten team. The Heat are never an easy task, but they’re missing their best defender in Jimmy Butler — which makes this a matchup Booker can exploit.

5 Notable Players to Fade

  • LeBron James (LAL) $10,400: Bron is once again listed as questionable for today’s matchup opposing the Indiana Pacers. While he may suit up, he likely won’t play much with the Lakers locked into the first seed in the West.
  • Anthony Davis (LAL) $10,300: Like Bron, AD doesn’t offer a ton of intrigue today, which is strange to say because he’s a monster. The Lakers have no reason to keep trotting out these two for extended minutes, and like Bron, AD is also on the injury report — he’s also struggled since the bubble kicked off, as he’s reached value only once in five contests.
  • Jamal Murray (DEN) $7,300: A hamstring injury continues to sideline Murray — he’s once again listed as questionable. Even if he goes, he’s too expensive to fully trust, especially when you consider how much potential there is for a rusty performance.
  • Nikola Jokic (DEN) $9,200: Jokic is arguably the most confusing player for DFS purposes. He’s coming off a game in which he struggled tremendously and now faces the tough defense of the Jazz and Rudy Gobert — approach with caution.
  • Rudy Gobert (UTA) $7,500: You should try to avoid this contest as much as possible, as the pace is slated to be awful — the Jazz rank 22nd and the Nuggets rank 29th in pace. Gobert is also dealing with an injury that caused him to miss the Jazz’s last game.

Check out today’s NBA Sharpshooter from DraftKings partner-arrow

Beyond our daily fantasy basketball content, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Basketball Tools. From our Lineup Optimizer – which allows you to build winning DFS lineups in seconds for Cash and GPP contests – to our DFS Cheat Sheets – that helps you get a quick read on the day’s players – we’ve got you covered this fantasy basketball season.

Sosa Kremenjas is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Sosa, check out his archive and follow him @QBsMVP.

More Articles

Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, CJ McCollum (3/28)

Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, CJ McCollum (3/28)

fp-headshot by Raju Byfield | 2 min read
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (3/28)

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Thursday (3/28)

fp-headshot by Joel Bartilotta | 3 min read
Wednesday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Cade Cunningham, Lauri Markkanen, Michael Porter Jr. (3/27)

Wednesday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Cade Cunningham, Lauri Markkanen, Michael Porter Jr. (3/27)

fp-headshot by Raju Byfield | 2 min read
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (3/27)

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (3/27)

fp-headshot by Joel Bartilotta | 1 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

4 min read

Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, CJ McCollum (3/28)

Next Up - Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, CJ McCollum (3/28)

Next Article