We’re back for a crowded Monday slate filled with 10 games. There will be 20 teams in action, but one team stands out above all others with a litany of fantastic DFS plays: the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte will be without four players (three starters) due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which opens up plenty of minutes and production for others on the roster.
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
Over his last three (two full games without Devin Booker), CP3 has averaged just 13.0 points, but the NBA’s assist leader has also chipped in 10.3 dimes and 2.7 swipes in that span. Fitting him into your lineup is a bit more cost-effective than playing some other top-tier guards, making Paul an even more interesting stud on tonight’s slate.
Value
Dennis Smith Jr. went off for 21 points, six dimes, four boards, and three steals Saturday in his first start for the Blazers. DSJ filled a much-needed void for a team missing Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. Both will be out tonight, while C.J. McCollum is probable but will likely be playing at less than 100% due to a ribs injury.
Fast Break
Darius Garland is enjoying the best season of his career, averaging 19.7 points, 7.2 assists, 2.9 boards, 2.8 triples, and 1.3 steals per contest. Over his last two contests, he’s averaged 31.5 points, 7.5 dimes, 6.0 boards, 5.0 triples, and 2.5 steals. These have been his best two games of the season, and he’s posted better than 50 fantasy points in each outing.
Garland not only runs the Cavs’ offense, but he’s the primary scorer within it. It’s incomprehensible that his price tag is under $8,000 on both FanDuel and DraftKings. If you want to pay a little more at guard while not breaking the bank, Garland is a fantastic option.
With LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier out due to health and safety protocols, Ish Smith played a season-best 32 minutes and had his best game of the season Sunday against Atlanta. In that contest, Smith went for 18 points, seven dimes, five boards, and a steal. He remains a fine value on tonight’s slate.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Our stud tonight is none other than Dejounte Murray ($10,200 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel). Surprise! Ok, this shouldn’t be surprising if you play daily fantasy contests, as Murray has been phenomenal all season.
In his fifth season, Murray has averaged career highs across the board with 19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 triples. The nightly triple-double threat finds himself in an advantageous spot against a shorthanded Phoenix squad and gets the benefit of a positive Opponent Plus/Minus and positive Pace Differential.
Value
Much like Ish Smith, Cody Martin had his number called Sunday due to Charlotte’s decimated roster. In the Hornets’ matchup with Atlanta, Martin logged 32 minutes of his own and provided 19 points, six boards, four dimes, and two steals. Unlike Smith, however, Martin was already an important part of Charlotte’s rotation. His increased minutes and usage are simply icing on the cake.
Fast Break
Ayo Dosunmu is a player to keep an eye on tonight, as he could see a major bump in usage with Coby White out and Alex Caruso doubtful. At just $3,100 on DraftKings and $3,800 on FanDuel, Dosunmu’s salary is near-minimum. He went for 11 points, three rebounds, and two blocks across 23 minutes in his last contest.
Small Forward
Stud
Perhaps no player gets a bigger boost than Miles Bridges in the absence of three Charlotte starters. That was evident Sunday as the Hornets surprisingly beat the Hawks behind Bridges’ 32 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block across a team-high 40 minutes.
Bridges started the season on a blistering run, posting four 40-point games in his first nine contests. Since then, he scored at least 30 just once before Sunday’s eruption. With LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier out again tonight, expect Bridges to play heavy minutes and take on another massive workload.
Value
Kelly Oubre’s arrow was pointing up prior to Saturday’s announcement that four players would be placed in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols. In five games prior, he averaged 22.8 points, 3.8 triples, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. Oubre made his first start since Oct. 29 on Sunday, posting 28 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal across 39 minutes. He figures to stick in the starting lineup for as long as LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier are out, making him a strong value tonight.
Fast Break
Leandro Bolmaro has played at least 15 minutes in four straight games, including a career-high 25 minutes Friday against Brooklyn. If D’Angelo Russell is unable to go, Bolmaro and Malik Beasley would make interesting pivots on a crowded slate.
Power Forward
Stud
Jarrett Allen has been on a major roll as of late, and that’s probably an understatement. Since missing three games in mid-November, Allen has logged seven straight double-doubles. In that span, he’s averaged a robust 22.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 blocks while committing just 2.4 turnovers.
Allen’s price has understandably soared to keep up with his recent production, making him one of the pricier frontcourt options on the slate. He’s worth every penny.
Note: Allen is eligible at PF/C on FanDuel and C on DraftKings
Value
Isaiah Stewart started the season slowly, but he’s now recorded a 14-rebound double-double in each of his last two games. Tonight, he’ll face a Thunder team that has surrendered the most rebounds, most blocks, and third-most fantasy points overall to opposing centers. Still undervalued, Beef Stew should be a strong value option on tonight’s slate.
Fast Break
With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) out of action, Bobby Portis stepped up in a big way and dominated Miami on Saturday night. In that game, Bobby P went off for 19 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals across 29 minutes. Giannis is questionable tonight, and if he’s out, Portis is an obvious option, no matter how chalky.
Jarred Vanderbilt is another name to consider on tonight’s slate if Karl-Anthony Towns (tailbone) sits out for a second straight game. In Towns’ absence Friday, Vanderbilt pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds to go with 10 points, three assists, one steal, and a block across 29 minutes. Over his last three contests, Vandy has averaged 13.7 rebounds and 2.0 combined blocks/steals.
Center
Stud
I’ve written ad nauseam about how shorthanded the Hornets are, and Joel Embiid should be a primary beneficiary tonight. I highlighted Embiid in Friday’s article, and he had a strong game against Atlanta despite shooting sub-50% for the third straight game.
Embiid is in the midst of a freezing cold shooting streak, but his across-the-board contributions have remained enormous. In four games since returning to the lineup, Embiid has averaged 24.8 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a ridiculous 3.3 combined blocks/steals. He’s in an advantageous spot tonight, and he should eat against Charlotte.
Value
Naz Reid filled in for Karl-Anthony Towns (tailbone) Friday and went for 19 points, seven rebounds, and an assist across 34 minutes. Towns is questionable again tonight, and if he sits, Reid would likely be in line for another start. Reid is an efficient blocker, though he failed to record a swat in Friday’s contest. If he can get back in the box score in that category, his value would get an even bigger boost.
Fast Break
Dewayne Dedmon has averaged 8.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 combined blocks/steals across his last three games (all starts) filling in for Bam Adebayo. Dedmon will remain in the starting lineup tonight, and of course he’ll be in play for the large slate.
Zeke Nnaji went off for a career-high 21 points and five triples Saturday, adding eight boards and two steals across 33 minutes. His price tag is $4,100 on FanDuel and $3,800 on DraftKings, making him a worthwhile tournament target with the hope that he replicates this type of performance.
