This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are just five games on the schedule for Saturday's NBA, but there are plenty of interesting options to use at most positions.
With that said, the best value buys for low-salaried players are pretty terrifying to have in your daily games lineup due to their boom-or-bust potential.
Saturday Value Plays
Point Guard
Reggie Jackson ($7,400) DET vs. CHI: Action Jackson is coming off back-to-back great games. He posted a 23-point, 20-assist line against the Grizzlies and then collected a triple-double against the Sixers. He's still adjusting to the Pistons' system, but Jackson is finding ways to post good FanDuel point totals even when one aspect of his game may be faltering. He shot just 4-of-17 from the field against the Sixers, but his work distributing the ball and cleaning the glass helped make him a value play. While his recent production has resulted in Jackson's salary going up slightly, he hasn't jumped far enough to avoid Saturday. He is the most sure thing at point guard, for his salary, Saturday.
Other Suggestions:George Hill ($6,400) - Brooklyn sucks; Stephen Curry ($10,000) - The Jazz can defend well everywhere, but Chef Curry with the pot. Avocados for the guac (see below). Really, though, Curry's shot is outside the box of time and space. If nothing else, he might see the Jazz defense as a challenge and then come out and drop a 50 burger. There's no Klay in his way.
Shooting Guard
No one: I realize this is a cop out, but I hate every single option at shooting guard Saturday. James Harden is the only sure thing, but at $11,000, is it worth it to spend so big on him and then have to configure your lineup around such a big ticket player?
Other Suggestions: Harden remains a decent play in tournaments thanks to his upside, but in the one lineup I have Harden, I was forced to use Solomon Hill ($4,100) and Bojan Bogdanovic ($3,700) at small forward in order to stay within the budget. Just like Maurice Harkless and Mitch McGary failed greatly Friday night, I'm terrified of the possibility of Hill and Bogdanovic doing the same Saturday.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,900), Joe Johnson ($5,400), and Rodney Stuckey ($6,100) are all interesting plays. Each has their merits, and Stuckey will be playing at home, where he's been much more productive recently than on the road.
Small Forward
Corey Brewer ($5,500) and P.J. Tucker ($5,400) PHO at HOU: I lumped these two together because they're playing in the same game and because I think they're essentially the same player for all intents and purposes. Brewer is a cross between a Road Runner and a sloth, with his long dangly arms. Dangly is a word. Look it up. In five of his last six games, Brewer has put up at least 27 FD points. If he hits that floor, he's a solid buy at $5,500, and there's always the potential for an insane night out of Brewer.
Tucker doesn't have the same ceiling as Brewer, but in seven of his last nine games, Tucker has posted at least 21 FD points, and two of those games he had over 30. There should be a lot of weird matchups with the Rockets and Suns running out smaller and bigger lineups depending on who is healthy from game to game. Tucker has played at least 34 minutes in each of his last nine games, giving him lots of court time to meet value on his salary.
Other Suggestions:Andre Iguodala ($5,200) - With Klay Thompson out, there's a possibility for old-school Iggy to come out of the mothballs; Rodney Hood ($4,600) - With Justin Holiday guarding Hood, it could mean a big game for the mercurial rookie.
Power Forward
Markieff Morris ($6,900) PHO at HOU: Not gonna lie: I hate Morris. I think the Suns are deluding themselves trying to use him as a legit starter on an NBA team that seemed to have playoff aspirations before they made some intriguing backward moves at the deadline. Regardless of my personal feelings about Morris' role and place in the Suns' organization, he is one of the safest plays Saturday. At just $6,900, he's the right mix of a high floor and a high ceiling. Morris should put up about 30 FD points, which is acceptable for his salary, but there's also the potential that he could excel against a depleted Rockets frontcourt that will be without Terrence Jones (collapsed lung).
Other Suggestions:Josh Smith ($5,400) - Someone has to step up with Jones out; Marcus Morris ($5,200) - Alex Len and Brandon Knight will likely be out again with sprained ankles; Pau Gasol ($8,900) - The Pistons are atrocious guarding big men.
Center
Brandan Wright ($5,600) PHO at HOU: Since being moved into the starting lineup two games ago, Wright has been firing two guns whilst jumping through the air. He posted 34.7 FD points on 18 points and 11 rebounds against the Knicks last Sunday and then followed that up with 39.6 FD points on 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven blocks against the Pelicans on Thursday. As my Grandma Shirley often says, "Ballers gotta ball." Wright is getting the opportunity to start, and he's running away with it. Even beyond daily games, the guy should be owned in all standard leagues as well.
Other Suggestions:Andre Drummond ($8,700) - The Bulls have been horrible guarding big men this season, making Drummond an interesting play as long as Greg Monroe (knee) is out; Rudy Gobert ($7,900) - He put up a dud Thursday against the Lakers and should be looking to rebound from his poor performance; Joakim Noah ($6,700) - This is the first guy I threw into a center spot when making lineups because the Pistons are terrible guarding big men. Noah might have a magical night.
