This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are eight games on tap Saturday, and injuries could open up some late value plays. Be sure to watch our Injury Updates page to make sure you're clued in to any players who may be sitting out.
Saturday Value Plays
Point Guard
Isaiah Canaan, PHI vs. ATL, $4,700:Canaan Ball has had his struggles leading the Sixers since joining the team at the trade deadline, but he's also shown his brilliance from beyond the arc, hitting at least four three-pointers in each of his last three games, including an eight three-pointer performance in his great game against the Thunder on Wednesday, wherein he also posted 31 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal in 42 minutes. He book-ended that game, the best of his career, with 16 points and 14 points, to produce three consecutive games scoring in double digits. If he's truly found his way leading his new teammates, Canaan's production should continue, and though he has a difficult path to success against a Hawks team that pimp slapped LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Friday, the track record of Sixers point guards playing well against the Hawks this season is good. Before Michael Carter-Williams was traded to the Bucks at the deadline, MCW averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.0 block, and 1.0 three-pointer in 35 minutes per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc over three contests against the Hawks. That doesn't mean the Hawks will play Canaan the same way on defense, but it fits the bill I'm trying to sell. If Canaan should fail Saturday, I'll give you a coupon for a free spatula at Spatula City.
Shooting Guard
Will Barton, DEN vs. HOU, $4,700: My better judgement still doesn't completely trust what's happening with Barton since he joined the Nuggets, but based on the production he's provided lately at a reasonable salary, he's worth rolling the dice on again Saturday. Through eight games with the Nuggets, he's scored at least 20 FanDuel points in all but three games, and he went for 36.1 FD points in one game and 31.2 FD points in another. Altogether, Barton has averaged 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.1 three-pointers in 27 minutes per game over his eight games in Denver.
Small Forward
Nicolas Batum, POR at MIN, $6,200: While there are no records to properly confirm whether Batum is a Snoop Dogg fan, he certainly has been dropping it like it's hot lately. Over his last two games, Batum has averaged 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 3.0 three-pointers in 38 minutes while shooting over 50 percent from the field and over 40 percent from beyond the arc. Couple his recent production with the fact that Wesley Matthews was lost for the season after suffering a torn Achilles in the Blazers' last game on Thursday, and Batum is in position to have another nice game, offering good value for his salary.
Power Forward
Kenneth Faried, DEN vs. HOU, $6,100: Faried has been unchained since Brian Shaw was fired from his gig as Denver's head coach earlier this week. After posting just 14 double-doubles through his first 54 games this season, Faried has flourished in his first three games under interim head coach Melvin Hunt to post three straight double-doubles, averaging 17.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.7 blocks in 33 minutes per game. The most reassuring game of his recent revival was Friday's 20-point and 10-rebound effort against the Spurs. Hunt is giving Faried the opportunity to play through any mistakes and make up for them with his unrelenting hustle and flow. Unless the trend changes, Faried should be a constant in lineups until his salary readjusts based on his recently improved play.
Also consider Ersan Ilyasova ($4,500) against the Wizards. He's played at least 29 minutes in each of the last four games, and the Wizards have struggled against stretch fours this season.
Center
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs. SAC, $8,700: He was benched for much of Friday's game, and there have been a few strange attitude things happening with him recently. Whiteside was ejected from Monday's game and has technical fouls in each of his last three games. At his salary, he has great upside. Marc Gasol ($7,700) is the safest play for 50/50 games, but Whiteside and DeMarcus Cousins ($10,600) have the most upside at the center position. There's some risk for Whiteside given that he's going up against a brick house like Cousins, but if you don't want to force Cousins' salary into your lineups, Whiteside is a great consolation prize.
Skip to 45 seconds in for the joke I am trying to make you smile with.
