This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
This Saturday in the NBA features is a loaded slate with 20 teams in action. With so many options to choose from, nailing down the top values who will help create a high scoring lineup will be critical. This article will help you find the best players and matchups to help maximize value within your rosters.
Point Guard
Russell Westbrook, OKC at GSW ($11,000): Today's top option at point guard comes down to whether you want to roster Curry or Westbrook. While everyone has Curry's 51-point performance with 11 treys in D.C. fresh in their minds, they should remember that Westbrook outscored him that night, dropping 69.8 fantasy points and posting his third straight double-double. The total for this game is an incredible 232 points, and if I had to bet on a side, I'd take the over. There's no way to avoid having exposure to this game, and you should start your rosters with the player who has the highest usage rate (31.6) at the point guard position.
Patrick Beverley, HOU vs. POR ($4,900): This is a great way to balance the expensive cost of rostering a five-figure point guard. Beverley has scored at least 24 fantasy points in five of the past seven contests, and has returned an average of 6x value on his price tag during that time span. The great thing about rostering Beverley is that he will do the little things including rebounds, assists and steals, so he's not relying on scoring to provide value. Look for another solid game from the Rockets guard against a Portland squad that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to point guards this season.
Shooting Guard
Bryce Dejean-Jones, NOP at CLE ($3,500): With Tyreke Evans ruled out of Saturday's game due to an ongoing knee issue, expect Dejean-Jones to get another round of extended minutes. Coming off his best game, Dejean-Jones had 17 points and nine rebounds in 43 minutes for 32 fantasy points Thursday. The matchup today versus J.R. Smith and Cavs isn't ideal, but anytime you have a chance to roster a productive player getting starter's minutes at this price, it's likely going to be well worth the cost.
Rodney Hood, UTA at PHX ($5,600): Over the past two weeks, Hood is averaging over 30 fantasy points per game and returning over 5.5x his price. The matchup today is about as good as can be, as he faces rookie Devin Booker, who has helped lead the Suns backcourt to the third-most fantasy points allowed to shooting guards this season.
Small Forward
Stanley Johnson, DET at IND ($4,600): Two things immediately stand out when considering Johnson: first, he's essentially locked in for 30+ minutes with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out; second, FanDuel has Johnson eligible at his natural small forward position, but he is currently getting minutes for Detroit at shooting guard. This is very important because it means Johnson will draw Monta Ellis primarily on defense and not Paul George, making for a much more favorable matchup. Take advantage of the discount now, as the price is likely to continue rising, and he may just stick in the starting lineup.
Power Forward
Derrick Favors, UTA at PHX ($7,300): Favors is hosting a block party today in Arizona, and all the Suns starters are invited. Just how good has Favors been on the defensive end? He has managed to rack up a whopping 15 blocks over the past three games. Favors also has produced back-to-back double doubles while averaging 40 fantasy points per game in the last two. The fact he didn't even score 20 points in either game shows you that there's room for upside as well. Phoenix doesn't have a good defensive answer for him in Alex Len or Markieff Morris, so Favors could be in position for his third straight double-double today.
Center
Brook Lopez, BKN at PHI ($8,900): BroLo is your top center option today on FanDuel and deservedly so. Lopez has scored at least 42 fantasy points in four of the past five games and has earned a double-double in five of the past seven. He'll now draw Jahlil Okafor, who has been an overall disappointment at that end of the floor, averaging a paltry 6.7 rebounds per game this season. It's no surprise that the Sixers have allowed more fantasy points per game to centers this season, which is why you want Lopez in your lineups today.
Editor's note: an earlier version of the article showed the Jazz playing at home against the Suns. In fact, they are playing in Phoenix.
