Squad Up Daily NBA Fantasy Dose: Trust in Thomas, Horford to carry the load

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NBA fantasy picture for Saturday, Jan. 21:

Dynamic Duos

• PG Isaiah Thomas (86K) & C Al Horford (70K), Celtics (vs. Trail Blazers): Thomas and Horford will have to shoulder more of the load on both ends of the floor with Avery Bradley ruled out. Thomas is a minus on defense but that can only serve to ramp up the scoring for both teams. The Celtics' diminutive PG has scored 32 PPG with 5.8 assists over his past 17 games.

• PG Mike Conley (81K) & C Marc Gasol (71K), Grizzlies (vs. Rockets): The Rockets' defense isn't awful, but they also don't really have the size to contend with a healthy Marc Gasol. Conley and Gasol average 3.6 assists per game between each other. When they're at their best, they make the other's job on offense a lot easier.

• C DeAndre Jordan (75K) & SG J.J. Redick (52K), Clippers (at Nuggets): Admittedly, the Jordan/Redick duo doesn't work in tandem; both operate as the final destination of many possessions before a shot attempt. But when you're without the two players with the highest usage rates on your team -- Chris Paul and Blake Griffin -- someone is going to have to take those shots.

Bargain Plays

• PF David Lee (26K), Spurs (at Cavaliers): Thursday's game -- the Spurs' first in the wake of Pau Gasol's hand injury -- hints at what Lee's role could be in the coming weeks. He's not going to average 16 rebounds per game, but double-double potential is there. Though past his prime, this is a man who averaged 16.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game from 2006-14.

• C Montrezl Harrell (27K), Rockets (at Grizzlies): Harrell's point totals have declined in four straight games, from 16 to 13 to 12 to just eight, his worst scoring night in nearly a month. That said, his 16-and-8 outing against the Grizzlies in just his second start of the season was the best game of his career to that point. He has the athleticism to take advantage of Memphis' older frontcourt rotation.

• PG Raymond Felton (32K), Clippers (at Nuggets): Over his past 10 games, Felton is averaging a line close to 12-4-5 with 49% shooting and solid steal totals. Now that Chris Paul is out long term, Felton's usage should continue to rise. He won't be a bargain for long.

Top Fades

• SF LeBron James (88K), Cavaliers (vs. Spurs): James is the second-most expensive option at his position but doesn't have a great track record against the Spurs' -- and Kawhi Leonard's defense -- in recent years. Last season, King James averaged 25.5 points, six rebounds and six assists in two games against San Antonio. At his current price, he'll need to bring a lot more on the glass and as a passer.

• C Myles Turner (63K), Pacers (at Jazz): The Pacers score the fifth-most second-chance points per game -- 13.8. With Rudy Gobert patrolling the paint, not only will offensive rebounds be hard to come by for Turner, but simply getting a clean shot off could prove difficult. You're better off paying up for Horford or going safe with Marcin Gortat (57K).

• C Rudy Gobert (70K), Jazz (vs. Pacers): That isn't to say that Gobert is a safe bet either. The towering Frenchman played 41 minutes last night, finishing with 27 points and 25 rebounds. The Pacers are playing on the second night of a back-to-back as well, so everyone will be a little weary. Expect a low overall point total.

Contrarian Options

• PG Malcolm Brogdon (45K), Bucks (at Heat): Too expensive to be a true bargain but far from being an established fantasy commodity, Brogdon goes against a Heat team that doesn't have much to hang their hat on except for the 11th-best defensive efficiency in the league. The Bucks' rookie has averaged close to 13-4-6 over 12 starts. His floor has yet to be determined but his ceiling is much higher than anyone thought.

• SG Marco Belinelli (32K), Hornets (vs. Nets): After missing five games with injury, Belinelli has struggled over his past eight games, shooting just 32.8% from the field and 23.1% on 3-pointers. His price has dropped substantially as a result, making him both a bargain and contrarian play against a Nets squad that ranks in the bottom 10 in both 3-point percentage allowed and defensive efficiency.

• SF Wayne Ellington (25K), Heat (vs. Bucks): Ellington's recent scoring outlook has been that of a home run hitter: boom or bust. He dropped 18 points against Houston on Tuesday, surpassing the 16 total points he scored in the four games prior; he followed up those 18 points by missing all of his shots on Thursday. He's a tournament play only.