As you build your fantasy basketball lineups for Saturday’s DraftKings contests, check out ZT’s top three NBA DFS stacks to target.
The NBA has a featured four-game slate on Saturday night centered on a huge matchup between the Lakers and Nuggets in Denver. Of the eight teams in the DraftKings player pool, the Rockets and Jazz are playing for the second night in a row, but the other six teams had Friday off. The big game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET, but the contests lock at 7:30 p.m. ET when the Nets visit the Sixers.
There are still a few question marks on today’s injury report, but for the most part, we have a good idea of who will play and who will sit on Saturday night.
A few teams stand out from the rest as great options for DFS Stacks for Saturday’s fantasy basketball contests on DraftKings, headlined by the NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st].
The Nuggets-Lakers game has by far the highest point total on the board, and the Nuggets have won nine straight coming into this showdown matchup. They have averaged 128.2 points per game during their winning streak, the highest total of any team over that span.
Core Plays: The offense is built around the other-worldly Nikola Jokic ($12,200), who had 29 points, 17 boards, nine assists and 71.25 fantasy points in his first game after the All-Star break on Thursday. He has over 65 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games, and he should be in a smash spot against the Lakers, who don’t have many options at center after trading Anthony Davis and failing to complete the trade for Mark Williams. Jamal Murray ($7,600) has also been outstanding lately with 30+ points in three of his last four games, including a 55-point game against the Trail Blazers that resulted in 74 fantasy points.
Value Options: The Nuggets don’t have a ton of cheap plays now that Russell Westbrook ($5,900) is back in the mix. Aaron Gordon ($4,800) had 18 points and 30.25 fantasy points on Thursday and looks ready to pick up more work after nursing a calf injury for a while. Julian Strawther ($4,600) has also been playing well with 20+ fantasy points in four straight games, including two games over 28 fantasy points.
The Rockets resumed their season after the All-Star break with a big six-point win over the Timberwolves on Friday. Fred VanVleet (ankle) has missed eight straight games and will remain sidelined Saturday. The Rockets did get a boost on Friday from the return of Jabari Smith Jr. ($5,000), who had 15 points, nine rebounds and 30.75 fantasy points in his first action since New Year’s Day. Smith may not be ready to play in back-to-back games, but either way, the Rockets are a good option to attack against the Jazz.
Core Plays: Without FVV, Amen Thompson ($8,800) has become a high-ceiling, go-to option. Thompson has carried a huge workload over his last 18 contests, playing 38.3 minutes and producing an elite 43.9 fantasy points on 16.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocked shots per game. Jalen Green ($7,200) was the hero against Minnesota, dropping 35 points and finishing with over 50 fantasy points. Alperen Sengun ($8,500) also brings a very high ceiling, although he hasn’t been quite as hot as Green and Thompson lately.
Value Options: If Smith plays, he’ll be a solid midrange target, but if he sits, there will be more usage and minutes for Tari Eason ($5,600) and Cam Whitmore ($4,400). While VanVleet has been sidelined, Aaron Holiday ($3,400) has also picked up more work at times. He had 25 points and 43.5 fantasy points in a start just before the All-Star break but came off the bench with 10 points and 13.75 fantasy points on Friday. He has high upside but his role isn’t certain, even without VanVleet.
The Nets and Sixers have identical 20-35 records coming into their matchup on Saturday night, but the Nets are much more affordable and make a very interesting value stack to mix with whatever high-priced options you think will go off. Not only do the Nets have a lack of star power overall, but they also will be without D’Angelo Russell (ankle), opening up even more usage.
Core Plays: Without Russell, Cameron Johnson ($5,700) and Nic Claxton ($5,400) will have to carry the offense while Keon Johnson ($5,200) will likely have high usage and plenty of chances to shake off his recent shooting slump. Cameron Johnson is one of the safest plays on the board since he will get so many chances, and Keon Johnson has a very high ceiling even though he comes with higher risk.
Value Options: The reason the Nets are a top stack for DFS contests, though, is really their cheap plays in line for big minutes. Killian Hayes ($3,600) signed a 10-day contract on Wednesday but could start in Russell’s place on Saturday. Due to a hip injury, he couldn’t make the Nets’ roster after signing an Exhibit 10 deal this summer but landed with the team’s G League affiliate, where he averaged 21 points and 8.3 dimes in 13 games for the Long Island Nets. He had 12.75 fantasy points on five points and three assists in 21 minutes off the bench on Thursday.
Trendon Watford ($4,400) has been strong lately and had 29.75 fantasy points against the Sixers just before the All-Star break, and Day’Ron Sharpe ($4,500) has had over 22 fantasy points in six of his last seven games and is coming off 33 fantasy points against the Cavs on Thursday.
