Monday features an 11-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET. We’ll use the FantasyLabs tools, especially the NBA Player Models, to break it all down.
Point Guard
Stud
Paying up for Russell Westbrook has been an extremely wise decision recently. He’s coming off a poor showing in his last outing, but he had posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his previous 11 games on DraftKings. Overall, he’s averaged a stout 1.69 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He leads the position with nine Pro Trends on DraftKings, so he should be able to bounce back vs. the Spurs.
Value
The 76ers are going to be a crucial team to monitor on Monday. They currently have four players listed as questionable: Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, and Furkan Korkmaz. Embiid, Harris, and Simmons are obviously huge parts of the 76ers’ rotation, so their absences would open up a ton of value for the rest of the roster. Make sure to follow along with updates using the Labs Insiders tool.
George Hill would be an interesting option if the team is shorthanded. He’s started the past two games in place of Simmons, and he’s currently projected for 23 minutes in our NBA Models. Hill has averaged 0.79 DraftKings points per minute this season, so that should be enough playing time to pay off his current salary.
Fast Break
The Spurs have a pair of interesting targets at the point guard position. Dejounte Murray and Derrick White both own Bargain Ratings of at least 75% on FanDuel, and they’re in an elite spot vs. the Wizards. Washington ranks first in pace, and the Spurs’ implied team total of 116.0 points is tied for second on the slate.
Dennis Schroder is currently questionable, but he stands out as an excellent value on FanDuel if he’s active. His $7,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 65%, and he’s increased his fantasy production to 1.06 FanDuel points per minute over the past month. He’s scored at least 36.8 FanDuel points in each of his past four games, and he owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +1.18 Monday vs. the Magic.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Tyrese Haliburton isn’t exactly priced like a stud, especially at just $6,100 on FanDuel. That said, he has the potential to provide stud-like production tonight vs. the Mavericks. De’Aaron Fox remains out of the lineup due to health and safety protocols, and Haliburton replaced him in the starting lineup. He racked up 41.6 FanDuel points over 37.5 minutes on Sunday, and he’s projected for a comparable workload on Monday. Haliburton has averaged 0.93 FanDuel points per minute this season, so he should be able to put together another strong performance.
Value
Luguentz Dort has been ruled out for Monday’s matchup vs. the 76ers, and the team will also be without Shai Gilegous-Alexander, Al Horford, Josh Hall, and Mike Muscala. Dort’s absence has led to more playing time for Svi Mykhailiuk, who is massively underpriced on DraftKings. His $3,600 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 98%, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.75 (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Fred VanVleet returned to the lineup recently for the Raptors, and he’s stepped right back into his usual workload. He’s coming off 40.1 minutes in his last outing, and he racked up 55.5 FanDuel points. He owns a nice matchup today vs. the Cavaliers, who rank just 22nd in defensive efficiency.
The top implied team total on the slate belongs to the Jazz. They’re in a great spot vs. the Timberwolves, and they’re still playing without Donovan Mitchell. Jordan Clarkson has posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games since returning to the lineup, and he should be able to make it six in a row on Monday.
Small Forward
Stud
Michael Porter Jr. is coming off one of his best games of the season on Saturday. He racked up 39 points while shooting 13-21 from the field and 8-12 from 3-point range, resulting in 57.2 FanDuel points. He should continue to benefit from the Nuggets’ current injury situation, with Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and Monte Morris all out of the lineup. He’s increased his production to 1.13 FanDuel points per minute with all three players off the court this season, and his $7,400 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 87%. The Grizzlies are also a nice matchup, and the Nuggets’ implied team total of 116.0 points is tied for second on the slate.
Value
Keldon Johnson has been priced down to just $4,400 on FanDuel, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games. He’s averaged 0.87 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he’s coming off more than 34.1 minutes in his last outing. He’s not expected to see quite that much playing time on Monday, but he obviously has nice upside if he does.
Fast Break
The Mavericks are another team with a loaded injury report on Monday. Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, and Maxi Kleber are all questionable, and Tim Hardaway Jr. would become an excellent value option if they’re ultimately ruled out. Hardaway leads the team with a usage rate of 33.2% with all three players off the court this season, resulting in 1.04 DraftKings points per minute.
The 76ers could provide a few different options at small forward tonight if they’re shorthanded. Danny Green would serve as one of their primary scoring options, while Matisse Thybulle would see a boost in minutes.
Power Forward
Stud
Harrison Barnes isn’t the sexiest DFS option, but he’s about as safe as it gets. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +4.76 on FanDuel over his past 10 games, and he’s scored at least 33.5 FanDuel points in each of his past four games. He was already carrying one of the largest workloads in the league from a pure minute’s perspective, and he’s expected to play even more with Fox out of the lineup. He’s coming off 40.3 minutes yesterday vs. the Warriors, and he’s currently projected for 38.2 minutes in our NBA Models. Barnes has also increased his usage rate by +2.6% with Fox off the court, so he has the potential to be more productive with his minutes as well. Overall, he leads the position with 13 Pro Trends on FanDuel.
Value
The Wizards are very thin at forward at the moment. They’re playing without Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija, which has allowed Anthony Gill to take on a larger role in the rotation. He’s averaged 0.92 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to pay off his $3,100 salary vs. the Spurs.
Fast Break
Harris is an interesting option for the 76ers if he’s able to suit up. His price has decreased by -$1,600 over the past month on FanDuel, which makes him a nice buy-low option in a good matchup vs. the Thunder. There’s also a chance that he suits up and Simmons and Embiid are inactive, which would make him an even stronger option.
Moe Harkless is another potential value option at power forward. He’s coming off 31.0 minutes in his last game, and he’s currently projected for 31.1 minutes on Monday. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.90.
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic wasn’t really needed in the Nuggets’ last game. He played just 29 minutes in a comfortable victory, but that didn’t stop him from racking up 55.5 DraftKings points. Jokic posted two clunkers in the two games prior, but other than that, he has been a fantasy monster with Murray out of the lineup. He’s been asked to do a bit more scoring in that situation, and he’s already one of the best players in the league in terms of racking up peripheral statistics. He should have no problems putting up another big game Monday vs. the Grizzlies.
Value
Ivica Zubac has been a solid source of value for the Clippers recently. They’re playing without Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka, and Patrick Beverley, which has left plenty of playing time for Zubac. He’s averaged 1.00 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +3.29 over his past 10 games.
Fast Break
Rudy Gobert owns arguably the best matchup at the position. He’s taking on the Timberwolves, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.94 on FanDuel. He’s also been extremely productive this season, averaging 1.32 FanDuel points per minute, and his $8,100 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 80%.
