A jam-packed 11-game Saturday in the NBA is upon us. Plenty of stars are set to take the floor, but there’s also several under the radar names worth watching. With so many players in action, there’s value to be had for fantasy basketball managers. Here are three players from Saturday’s 11-game slate that are being slept on in DFS contests.
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SG/SF Corey Kispert, Washington Wizards ($5,200)
A flurry of trade deadline moves from the Wizards have sent several veterans packing. In their place, some less proven names on the roster will get more opportunity going forward. That includes former lottery pick Corey Kispert. The sharpshooter, who signed a four-year, $54M extension this summer, hasn’t been great this season. Through 46 games, he’s posted 11.5 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 44.9% from the field (35.7 3PT%).
Washington will have a rare opportunity for a win against a Hawks team weakened by injuries and trades. This season, Atlanta has allowed the fifth-most points (118.8) and the third-most three-pointers made (14.4) per game. Over the last three meetings between these teams, Kispert has recorded 17.7 points. As long as the 25-year-old stays on the court, he should enjoy another stellar shooting performance on Saturday.
PF Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls ($4,600)
The Bulls finally shipped out Zach LaVine at the deadline, opening up plenty of minutes and touches for the rest of the roster. Over the past month, Matas Buzelis has begun to emerge as a difference-maker for Chicago. During his last five outings, the rookie has averaged 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks (25.75 FPTS). On a team seriously lacking in athleticism, the bouncy 20-year-old already serves a major role on offense.
Buzelis made his first start of the season against Minnesota on Wednesday. That might not continue tonight, but he should be in line for close to 30 minutes of work. The Warriors, Saturday’s opponent, play solid defense against forwards. Still, Golden State lost a good portion of its depth this week to facilitate the Jimmy Butler trade. Even if he comes off the bench on Saturday, Buzelis will have his way against a thin second unit.
PG Tyus Jones, Phoenix Suns ($4,300)
It’s difficult to feel great about the Suns, even after holding on to Kevin Durant. Phoenix is a team that lacks direction: not good enough to contend for a title, but not bad enough to tank. The franchise has clearly committed to the duo of Durant and Devin Booker, so expect a strong push to reach the playoffs. That means playing time for most veterans on the roster, including Tyus Jones. This season, he’s put up 11.0 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field.
Despite starting in all 50 of his appearances, Jones’ minutes can fluctuate from game to game. That makes backing the 28-year-old difficult in any fantasy format. However, after a 38-minute outing on Friday, the point guard appears to be earning a larger workload. Jones’ pass-first approach will come in handy tonight against the Nuggets. This season, Denver has surrendered 29.5 assists per game, most in the NBA. Phoenix’s secondary playmaker should have ample opportunity to create for his teammates.
