Saturday's NBA DFS Main Slate is unfortunately overshadowed by the shocking number of injuries we have to major stars on these eight teams. We already know that Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Tyler Herro will not play. And we have significant question marks surrounding the injuries to Ja Morant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kyle Lowry. But with so many guys out or questionable, it is going to open up the rare strong value plays we don't normally see in playoff DFS. Since the slate locks at 1:00 PM ET and the last game doesn't tip off until nine and a half hours later, how you choose to handle the injuries in the late window may be the deciding factor in the success of our lineups. 

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Favorite Players to Use for DFS Lineups

James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers

With Joel Embiid out for this game, James Harden is going to take an oversized role and will be the key factor if Philadelphia hopes to sweep the Nets today. When Embiid is not on the court, Harden's usage rate jumps over five points to almost 32% and his fantasy points go up by about five points per game. Harden has been mildly disappointing these last two games since erupting for 52 fantasy points in Game 1, but this is not a game where the 76ers can afford for Harden to take a backseat to anyone. 

Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers

Russell Westbrook will also be without his superstar counterparts as the shocking news came down yesterday that Kawhi Leonard will miss his second straight game with an injury. As you might imagine, when Westbrook gets time on the court without George or Leonard, his stats explode along with his usage. Westbrook tops 30% usage when those two do not play, his fantasy points are up 4.5 points per game, and he sees large spikes in rebound and assist rate. Westbrook went absolutely ballistic for 66 fantasy points in Game 3 under these same circumstances, so the Clippers will need that same kind of performance if they hope to stay competitive in this series. 

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

The gameplan for the Grizzlies in Game 3 of this series was clearly to try and take Davis out of his comfort zone and not let his interior presence dominate them all game long. After scoring 57 and 61 fantasy points in the first two games of the series, Davis was held to just 38 in Game 3. I expect the Lakers to counter-attack with high pick-and-rolls and opportunities to get Davis the ball in isolation. We have seen games this season where teams neutralized Davis on offense, and he would just put up 18 rebounds, four blocks, and five assists. He can always fall back on that if the baskets aren't there today. 

Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

My only concern right now with Durant and Devin Booker right now is that they are being forced to play huge minutes and does that catch up to them when they have an afternoon game less than 48 hours since their last slugfest with the Clippers. Durant has killed them three straight games, and without George and Leonard I am sure the Suns are hoping for a game where they can play Durant just 36 minutes or so. Durant is shooting over 50% for the series and is piling up the boards, assists, and steals every game. 

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker has gotten better each game of this series, culminating in a 68-fantasy-point explosion on Thursday including 45 points, six board, three assists, and three steals. With no Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers just have no wing defender who can stop Booker or Durant at this point, and the Suns' guards are just able to run circles around Russell Westbrook. But no matter who is guarding him, if Booker keeps putting up between 22-29 shots per game like the last two games, he will be a lock for 45+ fantasy points. 

Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets

If the Nets want to have any hope of extending this series beyond four games with Joel Embiid out, it is going to be on the back of Mikal Bridges. Bridges has been amazingly consistent in this series, scoring 39, 39, and 46 fantasy points despite shooting well under 50% the past two games. He is piling up the boards and assists, so if he can put together a decent shooting game in this one, we could be looking at a 50+ fantasy point game. He took 26 shots attempts last game which tied his season-high for 2022-2023, and that's exactly what the Nets are going to need again. 

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Even in a massive blowout in Game 2, Butler still shot 75% from the floor and put up 38 fantasy points in just 28 minutes. I am going to assume the Heat are not trailing by 30 points at halftime again today, especially if Giannis is ruled out, so Butler should be much more like the Games 1 version (63 fantasy points) and much closer to the 43 minutes he spent on the floor in the opener. If Giannis does indeed sit again in this game, it's going to be a clear path on the perimeter and in the lane for Butler to take over this game. With Tyler Herro also out, Butler took his most three-point attempts in over a month in Game 2. 

Favorite Value Players for DFS Lineups

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