The NBA tips off another work week of fantasy basketball action with seven games on Monday night’s slate. With the All-Star break just a few weeks away and playoff races taking shape, it’s an exciting time in the NBA. Both DraftKings and FanDuel leave the Hawks-Kings late-night matchup off the main slate, but of the 14 teams in the main contests, the Celtics, Magic, and Suns are playing for the second day in a row. None of the teams in action on Monday play again on Tuesday.
As usual, several key players are dealing with injuries that could impact this slate, including several on those teams finishing back-to-backs. Watch carefully for availability updates, and be sure to refresh the NBA Models throughout the day for the latest adjustments.
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
Whenever the Mavericks are on the slate, Luka Doncic is a top play to consider. He has only played one game over the past 12 days due to an ankle injury and a postponement, so he should be well-rested when his Mavs welcome the Celtics to Dallas.
On this entire star-studded slate, Doncic has the second-highest ceiling projection on DraftKings and the third-highest median and ceiling projection on FanDuel. He has the top marks at point guard in floor, ceiling, and median projections on both sites.
Last Wednesday, Doncic returned from a three-game absence with a triple-double of 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists to exceed salary-based expectations on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He has produced an impressive 1.72 DraftKings points and 1.59 FanDuel points per minute on the season with a 37.0% usage rate.
In this matchup, he leads the entire slate, matching 14 Pro Trends on FanDuel and 12 on DraftKings. He has a history of strong performances against Boston and will look to build on that with another big performance on Monday.
Value
Despite the Pistons’ continued struggles, Jaden Ivey has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on Monday on DraftKings and the fourth-highest on FanDuel. Ivey has a 90% Bargain Rating on DraftKings and gets a favorable matchup in Monday’s rematch with Milwaukee. The Pistons have the third-highest pace differential on the slate and played the Bucks very tough on Saturday.
Ivey had a well-balanced 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists in that contest and has outproduced salary-based expectations in each of his last seven contests. He has picked up more usage over that stretch due to the absence of Cade Cunningham (knee), who is doubtful for Monday.
In his last seven games, Ivey averaged 1.30 DraftKings points and 1.24 FanDuel points per minute while playing a team-high 31.1 minutes per game with a 31.2% usage rate. Especially on DraftKings, Ivey is a good way to get elite upside without paying up to the top of the salary structure.
Fast Break
The 76ers have the second-highest implied team total on the slate as they host the Spurs in a great matchup. In that spot, Tyrese Maxey has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on FanDuel and the third-highest ceiling projection at point guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel. The Spurs have given up huge games to point guards all season, and Maxey has emerged as a true star after the departure of James Harden.
In another great spot, Mike Conley and the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Hornets to try and bounce back after losing to the Thunder on Saturday night. Conley struggled in that matchup but had a big 17-point, 10-assist double-double last Thursday against the Grizzlies. He averaged 0.92 DraftKings points and 0.86 FanDuel points per minute in 28.2 minutes per game in January, and he brings the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Tre Jones continues to turn in solid numbers since moving into the starting lineup for the Spurs. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of his last nine games on FanDuel and six of those games on DraftKings. Over that span, he has produced a solid 1.08 DraftKings points and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute while logging 30.1 minutes per game. Jones doesn’t typically take a ton of shots but has handed out double-digit assists in three of his last four games and continues to be a great facilitator in an up-tempo offense.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Monday’s slate features an elite group of shooting guards including Kyrie Irving facing his former team and Devin Booker’s Suns hosting the Bulls. However, the best matchup and top projected value of the elite group belongs to Anthony Edwards against the Hornets. Edwards has a top-seven Projected Plus/Minus at the position on both DraftKings and FanDuel, along with a top-three ceiling projection.
Edwards struggled in Saturday’s matchup, but he had 24+ points in three straight before that and in 16 of his previous 18. Over his last 20 games, Edwards has averaged 1.25 DraftKings points and 1.20 FanDuel points per minute with a 33.3% usage rate.
On DraftKings, Edwards has an 83% Bargain Rating and brings added point guard eligibility. On FanDuel, he can flex to small forward.
Value
With the Grizzlies’ backcourt severely depleted by injury, Luke Kennard is an elite value play. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards on FanDuel and the second-highest on DraftKings behind only Ivey.
Kennard has scored double-digit points in each of his last six games and exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel in every single one of those contests. He has played over 29 minutes in each of his last five games and made multiple three-pointers in each of his last seven.
In this matchup with the Raptors, Kennard will again be asked to carry the load and has a projection of 30.9 minutes with a 17.7% usage. He has increased his assist total as well over the last few games with more play-making responsibilities and now has point guard eligibility on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Devin Booker has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last five games, scoring over 25 points in each of those games. In the only game, he didn’t score that many points; he had 11 assists and a nice double-double. In those five games, he produced 1.40 DraftKings points and 1.36 FanDuel points per minute while leading the team with a 33.1% usage rate. Even with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal available, it’s clear that Booker still brings an elite ceiling.
Since joining the Raptors, Immanuel Quickley has stepped into the starting lineup and produced 1.09 DraftKings points and 1.05 FanDuel points per minute in 31.3 minutes per game with a 23.3% usage rate. Quickley has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of those 11 games on FanDuel and seven on DraftKings. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard on FanDuel and the fourth-highest at point guard on DraftKings as he faces the Grizzlies.
If you opt to go cheap at shooting guard, John Konchar stands out as the top value under $5,000 on DraftKings, while Eric Gordon stands out in that spot on FanDuel.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
With Zach LaVine (ankle) sidelined again, DeMar DeRozan will have to step up once again for the Bulls. DeRozan has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward on DraftKings and the fourth-highest at the position on FanDuel. He also has the third-highest ceiling projection at the position on both sites. He and the Bulls have the third-highest pace differential on the slate in their matchup against the Suns.
DeRozan has produced 1.04 DraftKings points and 1.04 FanDuel points per minute on the season with a 25.4% usage rate overall this season. With LaVine off the floor, his usage climbs to 26.5%, and his production increases to 1.11 DraftKings points and 1.12 FanDuel points per minute.
In each of his last two games, DeRozan has taken 20 shots, and he has at least 19 shot attempts in five of his last six. With so many opportunities, he brings a high ceiling, especially for a player priced at $7,400 on DraftKings, where he has a 90% Bargain Rating.
Value
Like Quickley, R.J. Barrett has thrived since being traded to Toronto. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on both DraftKings and FanDuel for Monday night as he faces the Grizzlies.
Barrett has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of his last eight games on both DraftKings and FanDuel. He played a team-leading 34.3 minutes per game over that span with a 24.2% usage rate. He averaged 1.16 DraftKings points and 1.14 FanDuel points per minute and scored 20+ points six times.
The Raptors have lost six of their last seven, and the Grizzlies four of their last five. However, one of these two teams will turn things around with a nice win to start the week on Monday, and they each offer some strong value options for fantasy.
Fast Break
Jayson Tatum has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection at small forward on both DraftKings and FanDuel. His Celtics have the fourth-highest implied team total on the slate, and he’ll be looking to shake off a couple of bad shooting performances against the Nuggets and Rockets in his last two games. Tatum has still been very productive, though, averaging 1.38 DraftKings points and 1.33 FanDuel points per minute over the past month.
Facing the Spurs gives a boost to everyone’s projections, and Tobias Harris is in the top six in Projected Plus/Minus at small forward on Monday. He has been carrying a little more work lately in Philly with De’Anthony Melton (back) sidelined and has double-digit points in six straight games with 20+ points in four of those contests.
The Spurs have started bargain option Julian Champagnie in each of their last 15 games, and he has started to put up better numbers recently. He has scored at least nine points in four straight games and has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last five. He’s only $3,700 with a 92% Bargain Rating on DraftKings, and he makes an interesting punt play in what should be an up-tempo matchup with the Sixers.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
With Ja Morant (shoulder), Marcus Smart (finger), Desmond Bane (ankle), and Derrick Rose (thigh) all sidelined and Xavier Tillman (knee) questionable, Jaren Jackson Jr. has stepped up as the Grizzlies’ go-to option on offense. He gets a good matchup on Monday against the Raptors, who just traded Pascal Siakam and are still without Jakob Poeltl (ankle), leaving them very under-manned in the frontcourt.
JJJ has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate on FanDuel and the highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward on DraftKings. He has the third-highest ceiling projection at the position on DraftKings and the second-highest on FanDuel.
In his eight games this month, Jackson has averaged 1.35 DraftKings points and 1.36 FanDuel points per minute. He has a 32.4% usage rate over that span, compared to just a 28.1% usage rate in his 32 games before January 1. Jackson’s extra work and production have helped him exceed salary-based expectations on FanDuel in seven of his last eight games.
Value
A surging bargain play to consider on Monday’s slate is Cavs’ forward Georges Niang, who has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all power forwards under $5,000 on FanDuel and is only $4,200 with an 83% Bargain Rating on DraftKings.
Niang has made multiple three-pointers in 11 of his last 14 games, highlighted by a 33-point outburst against the Bucks last Wednesday. He has at least nine points in seven straight games, averaging 1.11 DraftKings points and 1.04 FanDuel points per minute over that span.
Since so many of the Cavs’ wing options are defensively oriented, Niang should continue to get extra run as an offensive option while Evan Mobley (knee) and Darius Garland (jaw) remain sidelined.
Fast Break
Leaving out Giannis Antetkounmpo as a stud option is always hard to do since he brings such a high ceiling in every matchup. He costs significantly more than JJJ, though, and isn’t projected to bring as much value even on DraftKings, where he has a 95% Bargain Rating. There is no arguing with his raw production and high ceiling. He has averaged 1.68 DraftKings points and 1.64 FanDuel points per minute on the season and cranked that up to 1.75 DraftKings points and 1.69 FanDuel points per minute over the last month. He fell just one assist short of a 31-point triple-double in Saturday’s matchup with Detroit.
Victor Wembanyama continues to impress whenever he is on the floor. The Spurs big man has at least 24 points in four straight games and six of his last seven. In the only game he didn’t reach 20 points during that span, he had his first career triple-double. over those seven games, Wembanyama averaged an impressive 2.00 DraftKings points and 1.99 FanDuel points per minute. His workload isn’t as heavy as Giannis’s at this point, but he continues to show signs that he’s the next superstar in the NBA and brings elite fantasy upside as a result.
On the cheaper side of things, Timberwolves’ big man Naz Reid is underpriced on DraftKings, where he has a 96% Bargain Rating for his favorable matchup vs. the Hornets. His teammate Jaden McDaniels has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of power forwards under $5,000 on FanDuel, so both Wolves are solid bargain options to consider on their respective sites.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
It’s getting a little ridiculous how consistently outstanding Joel Embiid has been. He has missed a few games due to injury, but when he plays, he has been trouncing everyone. He will take on the Spurs in one of the best matchups on the board on Monday, and he brings the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection on the entire slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. On DraftKings, he also has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate and a 94% Bargain Rating.
The reigning MVP has at least 30 points in 20 straight games, averaging 36.8 points, 11.3 boards, 6.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals to produce 1.95 DraftKings points and 1.91 FanDuel points per minute over that impressive run that dates back to mid-November.
Embiid continues to crush all competition and should get up to face Wembanyama on Monday night. As long as there are no surprises on the injury report, he’s a great superstar to build around. Embiid does cost a lot, though, so you’ll have to find bargains in other spots to make him your centerpiece against San Antonio.
Value
After the Poeltl injury and Siakam trade, Jontay Porter has stepped into a much bigger role for the Raptors. He is a huge bargain on DraftKings, where he is the only player on the whole slate with a higher Projected Plus/Minus than Embiid. On FanDuel, he’s priced up a little bit, but he still brings the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate.
Porter has played over 18 minutes in five of his last six games and has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of those games on FanDuel. He played a season-high 32 minutes five games ago and has started each of the four games since then.
Over his last five games, Porter has averaged 1.05 DraftKings points and 1.13 FanDuel points per minute. As long as he stays in the starting lineup and is expected to get so much work, Porter will remain a good bargain option at center.
Fast Break
On DraftKings, Jalen Duren has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at center due to his 90% Bargain Rating. Duren only had eight points and nine rebounds against the Bucks on Saturday, but before that, he posted 13 double-doubles in his previous 15 games. He’s expensive on FanDuel but offers better salary relief and upside on DraftKings.
While Mobley has been sidelined for the Cavs, Jarrett Allen has been very productive. He has posted 11 straight double-doubles and averaged 1.52 DraftKings points and 1.48 FanDuel points per minute over that span.
Porter is the top bargain option at center on DraftKings and FanDuel, but if you need alternatives under $5,000, Thaddeus Young, Tristan Thompson, and Maxi Kleber have good Projected Plus/Minus as punt plays.
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