Bryan Armetta breaks down Saturday’s five-game featured NBA slate to find three undervalued players to slot into your lineups.
A five-game, ten-team slate makes up Saturday’s featured NBA DFS slate. That means several big-time stars are expected to take the floor tonight. Among those worth watching, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant stand out.
Any fantasy basketball manager knows a winning lineup takes more than just big names. Finding a few low-cost, high-upside sleepers makes all the difference. Still, that’s easier said than done; every value pick comes with some level of risk. Here are three bargains to consider this evening in DFS and season-long fantasy formats.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
C Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat vs. CHI ($4,900)
Miami’s offensive scheme is all about pushing the pace. Still, the strength of this roster remains down low. Bam Adebayo ($8,300) is a two-way force, looking the part of an All-Star in recent weeks. However, he’s not the only center worth mentioning for the Heat. Kel’el Ware has made major strides during his second year in the pros. Through 45 games, he’s posted 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game (28.7 FPTS). On defense, he’s also chipped in with 1.1 blocks and 0.8 steals.
What makes Ware’s production so remarkable is that he only plays 23.2 minutes a night. The Indiana alum has missed some time this month due to a hamstring injury, as well. He made his return to the court only four days ago vs. Orlando. On Saturday, against a vulnerable Bulls frontcourt, expect a bigger workload for the 21-year-old. Chicago is giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. In addition, centers Jalen Smith (calf) and Nikola Vucevic (rest) are both questionable to play. Ware is poised for a stellar showing tonight in South Beach.
SG/SF Kevin Huerter, Chicago Bulls at MIA ($4,200)
We’ll stay in Florida for a matchup that has major shootout potential. Both of these clubs operate at a breakneck speed on offense. On Thursday, Kevin Huerter made his presence felt. The sharpshooter notched 15 points, ten rebounds and three assists over 33 minutes (41.5 FPTS). Granted, the veteran’s production is tied heavily to his ability to score buckets. Huerter is putting up 10.9 points per game on 46/32/75 shooting splits.
As previously mentioned, the Heat aren’t exactly a defensive juggernaut. That’s especially true on the perimeter, where they’ve allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to shooting guards. Huerter is a bit boom-or-bust, but Thursday’s outing is proof he can deliver. It’s also worth mentioning that the Bulls have listed several key contributors as questionable tonight. That includes Josh Giddey (hamstring), Coby White (calf) and Nikola Vucevic (rest). If even one of those three sits, there will be more touches up for grabs. Huerter, at this modest price, is worth taking a flier on.
PF/C Mouhamed Gueye, Atlanta Hawks at IND ($4,100)
Despite an intriguing collection of talent, Atlanta has underperformed. One saving grace for this club has been the All-Star caliber play of Jalen Johnson. Unfortunately, the forward is questionable to play tonight due to a calf injury. Even if he doesn’t sit, the Hawks remain without frontcourt contributors such as Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) and Onyeka Okongwu (face). That’s a ton of fire power missing, especially for a club that lacks above-average guards.
Out of necessity, backup big man Mouhamed Gueye is almost guaranteed 20+ minutes tonight. The 6’11” center does a little bit of everything, the kind of stuff that doesn’t always show in the box score. Through 48 games, he’s recorded 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks (13.4 FPTS). Those numbers, while unimpressive, don’t mean much tonight. Indiana is a mess, especially down low. The Pacers are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to centers. In addition, they’ve also allowed the second-most rebounds (56.7) and third-most points in the paint (53.5) per game. Given the lack of internal competition, Gueye could pay massive dividends at $4,100.