Monday features a seven-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Point Guard
Stud
James Harden has fallen back to earth after his Christmas to New Year’s eruption that included three triple-doubles in a week and four straight games of at least 30 points.
Still, Harden has one of the highest ceilings on any slate he’s available, and he can easily eclipse 60 fantasy points on both sites. Harden’s recent cooling-off period may have DFS players shying away when setting lineups, so we can differentiate in large-field tournaments by playing him.
Value
Kevin Porter Jr. ($6,200 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel) has seen his price sink lower and lower in recent weeks, but he’s now priced so low that we need to take notice and give him a shot in tournament lineups.
He can score quickly when he gets hot, and KPJ can contribute elite assist and steal numbers when he’s on his game. The matchup with Philly tonight has a 227.0 over/under, and it should be the perfect matchup for Porter Jr. to bounce back and provide some DFS value.
Fast Break
Darius Garland went 3-of-12 Sunday for just nine points and finished with a putrid 9/4/2/1 line that should have DFS players undervaluing him tonight with a price tag of $8,900 on DraftKings. We can take advantage and pivot to him in a highly favorable matchup with a Kings’ squad that is predicated on fast play and little defense. Garland is just $7,700 on FanDuel, where he’ll likely be more chalky, but that’s a savings you can’t ignore.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Donovan Mitchell is fresh off a 36-point, nine-assist effort, and he gets a great matchup with Detroit tonight as Monday’s featured stud. Over his last five games, Spida has averaged 28.2 points, 6.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 4.0 triples.
The Pistons rank 22nd in defensive rating and 10th in pace, giving Mitchell positive boosts in Opponent Plus/Minus and Pace Differential. He’s got a ceiling projection of over 62 points in our NBA Models given his elite play this season.
Value
Lonnie Walker ($4,200 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel) went for 25 points, four assists, three rebounds, one block and a steal Sunday in San Antonio’s starting lineup.
With all of Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Derrick White (protocols) out, we can go back to Walker as a quality salary-saving option on a slate filled with studs.
Fast Break
Jaylen Brown ($9,200 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel) is still flying under the radar in DFS contests for more enticing plays like Jayson Tatum or Robert Williams. We can use that to our advantage. Over his last four contests, Brown has a 50-point game, a 30-point game and a triple-double under his belt. Tonight’s matchup with the short-handed Pacers is nothing to worry about, and Brown could be a sneaky, low-owned play tonight.
Small Forward
Stud
Kevin Durant has scored at least 50 fantasy points in four straight games, and he gets another juicy matchup tonight against the Blazers in a game with a 228.0 total.
Durant has shown no signs of slowing down this season, as he’s averaged 30.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 stocks over his last six games. This is a pace-down spot for Brooklyn but a great Opponent Plus/Minus to attack.
Value
Keita Bates-Diop is priced at just $3,800 on DraftKings and $3,900 on FanDuel. That’s a pretty cheap price tag for a guy who should be in the starting lineup again and is projected 32 minutes.
KBD has a ceiling of nearly 40 fantasy points, and we’ve seen him hit that ceiling as recently as three weeks ago when he scored a career-high 30 points against the Lakers.
Fast Break
Lance Stephenson’s price has risen dramatically on FanDuel to $6,600, but he’s still just $5,500 on DraftKings after two monster performances in a row. Over his last two, Stephenson has a 30-point, five-assist game and a 16-point, 14-assist, four-steal game under his belt. He’s worth a look on both sites, but he’s particularly appealing on DraftKings.
Power Forward
Stud
I’ll talk about Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Fast Break section below, but for our featured stud, we’re turning to Domantas Sabonis, who has been on fire recently and gets an exploitable matchup with Boston.
He went off for a career-high 42 points Saturday against the Jazz and has been scoring at will and busting the box score with his all-around efforts. Over his last four, he’s averaged 30.3 points, 9.8 boards and 6.0 dimes while stroking 1.8 triples per contest. Sabonis has provided two double-doubles, one triple-double and scored at least 30 points three times in that span.
He’s $10,300 on both sites, and his recent price increase to five figures may make him a less popular option than Giannis, Durant, Joel Embiid or Tatum. We’ll stick with him on tonight’s slate as a guy with a monster ceiling.
Value
After a blistering start to the season, Harrison Barnes has cooled off in a big way. He’s averaged 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 triples and 2.3 assists across his last 14 games, but he’s still logging over 30 minutes a night.
Our models give him a 40-point ceiling on both sites, and his price tag has now reached the point where we need to take a shot on him. At just $5,400 on DraftKings and $5,000 on FanDuel, he could return some significant value in a matchup with Cleveland that should provide a friendly game environment.
Fast Break
Antetokounmpo will get another crack at Charlotte tonight after losing to the Hornets Saturday night. The Bucks didn’t lose that one due to lack of effort from the Greek Freak, though.
Antetokounmpo went off for 43/12/3 with two blocks and a steal Saturday, and he’ll surely be motivated to perform in this re-match. Unsurprisingly, the Hornets/Bucks matchup has the highest over/under on the slate at a massive 236.5. There should be plenty of points to go around.
Center
Stud
Embiid gets an incredibly friendly matchup at Houston tonight, where he’s the featured stud once again. Embiid has scored at least 30 points in six straight games and averaged 33.2 points, 10.5 boards, 4.5 dimes, 2.3 stocks and 1.3 triples in that span.
When he played the Rockets last week, he erupted for a 31/15/10 triple-double. The matchup with Houston gives him a substantial pace-up spot and an excellent Opponent Plus/Minus.
Value
Bobby Portis comes in at $6,800 on DraftKings and $6,000 on FanDuel, and our model gives him one of the highest overall ratings of any player on the slate.
Crazy Eyes posted a 19/13 double-double against the Hornets in Saturday’s matchup, and he’s now double-doubled in two straight. In that span, he’s averaged 22 points, 12.5 boards and 1.5 stocks. He’s got some of the strongest Opponent Plus/Minus and Pace Differentials of any center.
Fast Break
Alex Len has averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and a steal over his last two games and figures to see plenty of run tonight with Richaun Holmes and Damian Jones both out in protocols.
Jakob Poetl is a reasonably-priced pivot from any of the above options, and he’s been a steady contributor all season. Over his last seven, he’s averaged 13.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 stocks and gets a New York frontcourt defense that’s below average against opposing centers.
Photo Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images. Pictured: Domantas Sabonis
