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We have a short, four-game main slate to work with on this Saturday, and with the Rockets-Suns game owning a 239-point total, we are going to want to cram in both James Harden and Russell Westbrook, along with Devin Booker. That’s not going to leave a lot of wiggle room. Here are the top value picks on the slate at DraftKings.
Point Guard
Doug Melton, MEM at UTA, $5,200
In three games since Ja Morant went down with a back injury, Melton is averaging 32.5 DK points. Most notably, Melton has seen his minutes increase with each successive game, earning 30 minutes on Wednesday against Chicago. The matchup is tough, but he only needs 26 DK points to reasonably pay off his salary.
Other Options: RJ Barrett, NYK vs. IND, $5,300; Austin Rivers, HOU vs. PHX, $4,400
Shooting Guard
Matisse Thybulle, PHI vs. CLE, $3,900
No Joel Embiid, no Josh Richardson. There will be value all over the 76ers’ lineup tomorrow, but Thybulle stands to gain the most. Thybulle played 26 and 31 minutes in his past two games and scored over 20 DK points in each. That production should maintain in this one.
Other Options: Ben McLemore, HOU vs. PHX, $4,900; Grayson Allen, MEM @ UTA, $4,000
Small Forward
Kevin Porter, CLE @ PHI, $3,800
Porter has consistently produced with Kevin Love out of the lineup, and that continued on Friday night with 20.5 DK points in 20 minutes. If Love misses again on Saturday, feel free to take a flier on Porter once again.
Other Options: Cedi Osman, CLE @ PHI, $4,200; Royce O’Neale, UTA vs. MEM, $3,900
Power Forward
Cam Johnson PHX @ HOU, $4,100
This is the most stackable game on the slate, and grabbing some of the value pieces along with the Hardens and Westbrooks of the world is a great way to gobble up points. Johnson is coming off the best game of his young career with 18 points and six rebounds on Thursday. He’s an excellent value in a game expected to shoot out like no other on the slate.
Other Options: P.J. Tucker, HOU vs. PHX, $5,300; Dennis House Jr., HOU vs. PHX, $4,800
Center
Mitchell Robinson, NYK vs. IND, $5,300
It remains to be seen how the Knicks perform under new head coach Mike Miller. But it stands to reason that Robinson will remain a focal point of the Knicks’ future, and on the heels of back-to-back 30-DK point games – and facing a Pacers frontcourt that got demolished by Andre Drummond on Friday – there’s reason for optimism that Robinson could be in for a big game Saturday.
Other Options: Larry Nance Jr., CLE @ PHI, $5,200; Cheick Diallo, PHX @ HOU, $3,800
I am an avid fan and user (my username is jeffgo33) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.