After the fun of the In-Season Tournament came to a close on Saturday, the regular season resumes its normal schedule with a massive 13-game slate on Monday. Since the whole league had Sunday off, none of the 26 teams are on the second half of a back-to-back.
With so many teams in action, there are lots of great options to consider. As usual, there are some matchups to attack and others to avoid, along with injuries to keep a close eye on. Make sure to refresh the NBA Models for the latest updates as we approach tip-off and keep a close eye on the news hub.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 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 NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
As usual, with a massive slate like this, there are multiple exceptional options at point guard. The top ceiling projection at the position on both DraftKings and FanDuel comes from Tyrese Haliburton, who has the second-highest ceiling projection of all players on the slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He and the Pacers will resume their regular season play after a surprising run to the championship of the In-Season Tournament.
Haliburton has been emerging as a go-to fantasy star all season, and he has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on DraftKigns despite his elevated salary. On DraftKings, he has an 87% Bargain Rating since he’s priced up to $11,600 on FanDuel.
On the season, Haliburton has produced an impressive 1.62 DraftKings points and 1.53 FanDuel points per minute. He’s projected for 26.4% usage in 36.0 minutes on Monday in what should be a great matchup for Indiana against the struggling Pistons.
Since the Pacers play so fast and the Pistons have been so bad defensively, Indiana has the second-highest implied team total on the board on Monday, according to our Vegas Dashboard. Haliburton had 26 points and 10 assists against Detroit when they met earlier this season and has posted double-doubles in seven of his last eight games.
Even though his salary has climbed to the level of the elite contributors, he has been able to outperform salary-based expectations in five of his last seven games. Especially on DraftKings, where he’s more affordable, he is once again a great option to build around on Monday.
Value
In his first season in Houston, Fred VanVleet is helping to turn the Rockets around and launch them in the right direction. The team is above .500 and can get their 11th win on Monday, a mark they didn’t reach until the end of January last season. VanVleet has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on Monday’s slate on FanDuel, and the fifth-most on DraftKings. On FanDuel, he has a 93% Bargain Rating and is priced under $8,000.
VanVleet has averaged 1.03 DraftKings points and 0.98 FanDuel points per minute on the season while playing 37.8 minutes per game. He is averaging what would be a career-high 8.7 assists per game while still posting a solid 20.1% usage rate and scoring 21.9 points per game.
On Monday, VanVleet gets a great matchup against the Spurs, who have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA and have allowed the most DraftKings points to opposing point guards in the NBA. VanVleet had 24 points and 12 assists in his first meeting with the Spurs, and he should be poised to outpace salary-based expectations again on Monday. He brings an elite ceiling without costing as much as some of the other elite options.
Fast Break
Luka Doncic and the Mavs take on the Grizzlies in Memphis, and he’ll be without Kyrie Irving (foot), which could lead to even more usage for Dallas’s superstar. He has been outstanding lately, with at least 30 points in each of his last six games. He posted three ceiling games in his last four contests, including two impressive triple-doubles with over 35 points. He has produced an amazing 1.70 DraftKings points and 1.59 FanDuel points per minute with Kyrie off the floor this season, and he’s a great play to build around if you can make his massive salary work under your cap. He has the highest median projection at point guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel and the third-highest of all the players on the slate.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the top three point guards alongside Luka and Haliburton in ceiling, median and floor projections on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He has produced 1.56 DraftKings points and 1.58 FanDuel points per minute on the season. SGA has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on DraftKings and the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel.
The Bucks had their In-Season Tournament run cut short in the semifinals by Haliburton and the Pacers, but Damian Lillard continues to post great numbers. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on FanDuel and the fourth-highest at the position on DraftKings. He has exceeded salary-based expectations on both DraftKings and FanDuel in six straight games, averaging 1.30 DraftKings points and 1.23 FanDuel points per minute, and has a good matchup against the banged-up Bulls.
The last one of the elite point guards that needs to be mentioned is Tyrese Maxey, who is in a great spot taking on the Wizards. If Joel Embiid (knee, questionable) is forced to sit, Maxey will jump near the top of all the projections since he will have to carry the offense. Alongside Embiid, he has been very productive as well and still deserves consideration as a strong play over $9,000.
Not only is this slate stocked with great elite options, but there are strong mid-range options at point guard as well. Tyus Jones has the top Projected Plus/Minus of point guards under $6,000 on DraftKings, and Alex Caruso leads the way in that category on FanDuel. De’Anthony Melton is just over $6,000 but also projects to do very well in the Sixers’ juicy matchup against the Wizards.
If you’re looking for an even cheaper play, T.J. McConnell should continue to get extra work for the Pacers while Andrew Nembhard (knee) is sidelined. McConnel brings a very high ceiling, especially if the Pacers try to get some rest for their starters after riding them so hard in the In-Season Tournament. Gary Trent Jr. and Jose Alvarado also stand out as good cheap plays at point guard on DraftKings. On FanDuel, Cason Wallace and Derrick Rose bring the top two Projected Plus/Minus of the point guards priced under $5,000.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell brings the top ceiling, median and floor projection on both DraftKings and FanDuel at shooting guard. With Evan Mobley (knee) ruled out, Mitchell will have to carry the offense for Cleveland as they take on the Magic in Orlando on Monday night.
Without Mobley on the floor, Mitchell has produced 1.44 DraftKings points and 1.41 FanDuel points per minute, with a 31.8% usage rate. While that usage rate is on par with his overall season numbers, his production has been better while helping to cover for Mobley’s absence.
In the first game Mobley missed all season, Mitchell had 27 points, 13 boards, and six assists in 36 minutes to help carry the Cavs to a comfortable win over the Heat last Friday. He’s projected for 33.1% usage and 36.0 minutes on Monday, and if he does have such a large workload, he brings an incredibly high ceiling.
Value
With both Kyrie and Grant Williams (knee) ruled out for Monday, the Mavericks should be a good source of value. Tim Hardaway Jr. has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Irving’s absences so far this season. He has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard on DraftKings and also has a positive Projected Plus/Minus on FanDuel, along with a 77% Bargain Rating.
Hardaway is projected for 23.5% usage in 30.1 minutes on Monday. He has produced 0.91 DraftKings points and 0.84 FanDuel points per minute on the season, but those numbers jump with Irving off the floor. Without Kyrie and Williams on the floor, he has put up 1.03 DraftKings points and 0.92 FanDuel points per minute while his usage climbs to 25%.
In his expanded role, he brings a high ceiling from his midrange salary on Monday, but he definitely isn’t the only Maverick to consider. Seth Curry has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on DraftKings and is an exceptional value play on that site with his salary of just $4,100 and an 85% Bargain Rating.
Jaden Hardy also gets a big usage bump with Irving off the floor, and he’s only $3,900 on FanDuel with a 93% Bargain Rating. All three of these Mavs will likely have to pick up more work in the backcourt next to Luka on Monday, and the three of them can all be good fits, depending on your roster construction and salary cap structure.
Fast Break
Cade Cunningham has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards on DraftKings and the second-highest on FanDuel. He has been up and down this season, but this is a good pace-up spot for him against Indiana, and he always gets heavy usage, which gives him a high ceiling.
Desmond Bane is another high-usage option near the top of the Projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He had 49 points last Wednesday in Detroit and exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel with a Plus/Minus over 8.0 FanDuel points for four straight games before coming back to earth on Friday against Minnesota.
With LaMelo Ball (ankle) still sidelined, Terry Rozier has been playing big minutes for the Hornets. He has played 40 minutes in three of his last four games, producing 1.34 DraftKings points and 1.30 FanDuel points per minute on a 29.0% usage rate. Rozier has at least seven assists in each of those four games and has taken at least 20 shots in three of those contests. With such a big workload, he brings a very high ceiling against the Heat. His teammate Brandon Miller also has a high ceiling and good Projected Plus/Minus in this matchup.
Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin are both strong mid-range options for the Pacers against the Pistons. Hield has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel and Mathurin brings the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all options under $5,000 on that site. Both are priced up a little more on DraftKings, but still make sense.
As mentioned above, De’Anthony Melton has a strong Projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel in his matchup with the Wizards. He’s a strong midrange play at shooting guard along with O.G. Anunoby, Jalen Green, and Devin Vassell.
If you need to go cheap at the position, Collin Sexton is under $5,000 on FanDuel and should still get plenty of work with the Jazz short-handed. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dillon Brooks, and Luguentz Dort also have good Projected Plus/Minus on FanDuel as affordable plays. On DraftKings, Curry is joined as a top bargain play by Christian Braun, Gary Trent Jr., Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Over the past few weeks, Kawhi Leonard has started to take a more active role for the Clippers, and he should be in a good spot to keep producing as they host the Trail Blazers in Los Angeles on Monday. Kawhi has the second-highest median, ceiling and floor projection at small forward on Monday on FanDuel. On DraftKings, he brings the second-highest ceiling projection at the position as well as the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards.
In his last six games, Kahwi has a team-high 26.9% usage. He has produced 1.24 DraftKings points and 1.23 FanDuel points per minute over that span and has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of those six contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Leonard scored a season-high 41 points on Friday against the Jazz and has 20+ points in five of his last six games. He has definitely been in “takeover” mode more often lately and has powered the Clippers to eight wins in his last 11 games.
While he isn’t a cheap option, to be sure, he does offer a little salary relief under $9,000 on this slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He matches 11 Pro Trends on DraftKings and 12 on FanDuel, which puts him in the top five on both sites among all the players on the slate.
Value
Jalen Williams will look to take advantage of the same matchup that Kahwi just smashed as his Thunder host the Jazz on Monday night. Oklahoma City has the third-highest implied team total on the board in this juicy matchup, and Williams has the top Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Williams also brings eligibility at shooting guard on FanDuel, where he also has the top Projected Plus/Minus. On DraftKings, he can also move to power forward, and he has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at that position.
Near the end of November, the second-year player missed three games with a hip injury and then shook off the rust in a rough game against Minnesota. Since then, though, he has found a good groove and exceeded salary-based expectations in three of his past four games while scoring over 20 points in each of those contests. He was especially good on Friday as the Thunder dispatched the Warriors. Williams finished that game with 28 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block in 40 minutes.
While he is still a volatile option, his recent efficiency and expanded role alongside SGA make him a top option on this slate. He brings such a high ceiling that he deserves consideration as a midrange play with a high ceiling against the Jazz.
Fast Break
The other top option in the projections besides Kahwi is Jimmy Butler, who has been trying to carry the Heat while Bam Adebayo (hip) has been out. The Heat have a great matchup against the Hornets, and Butler brings the potential of a monster game. He had two big games against the Pacers before a couple of quieter games to finish last week. Butler has been boom-or-bust this season, which is why I give the edge to Kawhi in his great matchup, but there’s no denying that Butler also has a very high ceiling in his matchup. He has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at the position on FanDuel and the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus behind only Williams.
Another strong pay-up play to consider is DeMar DeRozan, who has had to step up for the Bulls in the absence of Zach LaVine. DeRozan has produced 1.20 DraftKings points and 1.17 FanDuel points per minute over his last three games and exceeded salary-based expectations in each of those contests on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He and the Bulls have the biggest pace differential on Monday’s schedule, and he is one of the few options on the board who can match the ceiling of Leonard and Butler.
Mikal Bridges and Franz Wagner also deserve a look in the upper price bracket, given their recent production. Wagner is still especially cheap on FanDuel, where he has an 85% Bargain Rating and has exceeded salary-based expectations in 11 straight games.
For midrange options, Bojan Bogdanovic is worth a look after returning to a very big role with the Pistons. He has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He has only played three games all year and scored exactly 22 points in two of those contests while vastly exceeding his salary-based expectations. He will be facing his former team, the Pacers, in a good game environment and should be able to return excellent value if he plays near his 32.6 projected minutes.
Gordon Hayward, Tim Hardaway Jr., Brandon Miler, Buddy Hield, Kevin Huerter, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are other good midrange plays with upside on this slate. Derrick Jones Jr. should also be a strong value option since he’ll have to step up for the Mavericks in place of Grant Williams.
Under $5,000, Tari Eason stands out with the top Projected Plus/Minus in that price bracket on both DraftKings and FanDuel. The Bucket from the Bayou has been getting extra work recently for the Rockets and can stuff the stat sheet in multiple categories when he’s on the floor. He’s questionable due to lower leg soreness but should bring good value if he’s in his usual role.
Other cheap plays that pop in the projections at small forward on DraftKings include Corey Kispert, Christian Braun, Harrison Barnes, and David Roddy. On FanDuel, the best bargains are projected to include Simone Fontecchio, Barnes, Kispert, and Aaron Nesmith.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Bucks lost to the Bulls just over a week ago, so look for Giannis Antetokounmpo to come out, especially fired up on Monday. Milwaukee should also be very well rested after not playing since last Thursday against the Pacers.
As usual, Giannis has been putting up absolutely ridiculous numbers this season. He has averaged 1.62 DraftKings points and 1.59 FanDuel points per minute. He’s been even better lately, producing 1.72 DraftKings points and 1.69 FanDuel points per minute over his last four games. Giannis has exceeded even his lofty salary-based expectations on DraftKings in each of his last five games and 10 of his last 11 games on FanDuel.
Giannis has the highest projections across the board at power forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel and is projected for 31.9% usage in 37.0 minutes against the Bulls. He had 64 DraftKings points and 66.3 FanDuel points in their meeting on Nov. 30, and he’ll hope for similar stats along with a better outcome in the rematch in Milwaukee on Monday.
Value
In his second season in the NBA, Jabari Smith Jr. continues to grow into a strong fantasy option and a key piece of the rotation for the Rockets. He’s still just 20 years old and has huge future potential, but he also is ready to deliver strong value right now. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on DraftKings, just edging out Jalen Williams. On FanDuel, he has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position and also brings a 73% Bargain Rating.
Smith has averaged just over 30 minutes per game this season and has posted a 17.7% usage rate. He has produced 0.95 DraftKings points and 0.93 FanDuel points per minute on the year and has been trending upwards in his last several contests. One of the main reasons for his increased fantasy numbers is his great work on the glass. He has at least nine rebounds in seven of his last eight games and had a season-high 18 rebounds last Wednesday against the Thunder.
The Spurs are a great matchup for Smith, and he has the potential for a big double-double matched up against the Spurs frontline. While Victor Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson have put up good stats themselves, they have also given up big games to opposing power forwards and centers, which is one of the reasons why Smith shows so well in our projections.
Fast Break
Wembanyama has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at the position and has been posting good numbers despite his team’s struggles. He had 21 points and 20 boards against the Bulls on Friday and has posted four straight double-doubles while adding a total of 13 blocked shots. The rookie has been a strong play for the Spurs since they play up-tempo and give him plenty of usage.
Julius Randle had a rough game against the Celtics on Friday, but before that, he was rolling with four straight games exceeding salary-based expectations on DraftKings. Three of those games were ceiling games in which he had a positive Plus/Minus of over 10 DraftKings points. If Jalen Brunson (ankle, questionable) is limited at all, Randle and R.J. Barrett may have added usage in this matchup with the Raptors.
Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Bojan Bogdanovic, and DeMar DeRozan (on DraftKings) are strong plays in this spot that were discussed above since they’re also eligible at small forward.
Paolo Banchero and Jaren Jackson Jr. also bring high ceilings, although they have been a little more volatile than DeRozan and Kawhi lately. Banchero is an especially strong play on FanDuel, where he has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine of his last 10 games and has an 85% Bargain Rating.
The midrange options at power forward also share a lot of overlap with the best options at small forward. Gordon Hayward, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Derrick Jones Jr., and Corey Kispert are all near the top of Projected Plus/Minus. P.J. Washington joins them at power forward on DraftKings, and he could get even more work with Mark Williams (back) doubtful.
Tobias Harris is another strong midrange play at power forward, especially if Embiid is at less than 100%. Since the 76ers have the highest implied team total on the night, there should be enough work for Melton, Harris, and Maxey to all post big games.
If you need to go cheap at power forward, Tari Eason, Corey Kispert, and Harrison Barns all look like strong value plays under $5,000.
Jericho Sims is a good option with his additional power forward eligibility on DraftKings at the minimum salary since he could get more work with Mitchell Robinson (ankle) ruled out against the Raptors. Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to bring great value as well and can move to power forward on FanDuel. Since he’s solely a center on DraftKings, we’ll highlight him more below.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
With Embiid dealing with enough of a knee issue that he’s listed as questionable, Nikola Jokic becomes the top play at center. Embiid did go through a full practice on Sunday and is in a smash spot vs. the Wizards, but he brings more risk since he could be at less than 100%, and the Sixers could try to limit his minutes if they can open up an early lead.
On DraftKings, Jokic has the highest median and ceiling projection on the entire slate in his matchup in Atlanta against the Hawks. The Nuggets have the fifth-highest implied team total on the slate, and the Hawks should keep things competitive enough to push them for most of the game.
Jokic has averaged a slate-leading 1.90 DraftKings points and 1.80 FanDuel points per minute this season. He has posted three double-doubles in his last five games and has racked up over 15 rebounds in each of his last two contests. He only played 34 minutes against the Rockets, and with two days off, he should be fired up and ready to help the Nuggets get back in the win column after three straight losses.
While there are lots of good options at center, the Joker always has slate-breaking upside and can be a good option on Monday night in Atlanta.
Value
With Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) and Walker Kessler (foot) out and John Collins (illness) questionable, Omer Yurtseven is an amazing value play on Monday. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the whole slate on FanDuel and the second-highest on DraftKings, behind only Jokic. He has the highest Pts/Sal on both sites by a wide margin, so he should be a strong consideration for almost any lineup build.
Yurtseven has produced 1.04 DraftKings points and 1.03 FanDuel points per minute on the season, but he has stepped up with some huge games when he had a bigger role. He had nine points and 15 rebounds against the Trail Blazers on Dec. 2 and eight points and nine boards against the Mavericks last Wednesday. His role has been volatile, but with so much playing time and a good matchup in OKC, Yurtseven is poised to return elite value.
If he gets good playing time, Yurtseven is actually relatively low-risk since he does so much work on the glass. With some more usage available as well, he’s hard to pass up at just $4,700 on DraftKings and $4,400 on FanDuel.
Fast Break
If he plays at near 100%, Joel Embiid will be in a smash spot against the Wizards. With so many options, he could be a good leverage play for GPP if others are avoiding him due to the added injury risk.
If you don’t have the salary for the elite group but don’t have to spend all the way down, Myles Turner should be in a great spot against the Pistons. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on FanDuel and the fifth-highest Projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings. Alperen Sengun and Clint Capela are other midrange options that show well in our projections.
For the Hornets, Nick Richards is a good value play if he again fills in for Williams. He has put together back-to-back nice games, averaging 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in 27 minutes per game against the Bulls and Raptors.
The other main place to get value is from the Knicks. Hartenstein has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on FanDuel and the fifth-highest on DraftKings. He has produced 0.95 DraftKings points and 0.99 FanDuel points per minute on the season and is projected for almost 28 minutes in this matchup. Sims is extremely cheap and is projected to play 17.5 minutes, which would be enough to make him a good punt play.
