The NBA has four weeks left in the regular season, and this work week tips off with eight games on the schedule. DraftKings includes all eight games on their main slate for DFS fantasy basketball, while FanDuel leaves out the three games tipping off at 10:00 p.m. ET or later, resulting in a five-game slate on that site. Of the 16 teams in action, the Hawks, Celtics, Pistons, and Heat are playing for the second day in a row, while the Timberwolves are the only team playing Monday that has another game scheduled for Tuesday.
As usual at this point in the season, injury news will go a long way to shaping this slate and especially defining value. As players are ruled in or out throughout the day, be sure to refresh the NBA Models for the latest updates and 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
The Cavaliers just got Donovan Mitchell back from a knee injury two games ago, but the All-Star guard will be sidelined again on Monday due to a new injury, a nasal fracture sustained on Saturday. The Cavs will also remain without Max Strus (knee) and Evan Mobley (ankle). With those three starters out, Darius Garland will carry the load for the Cavs in the backcourt in a favorable matchup against the up-tempo Pacers.
With Strus, Mobley, and Mitchell off the floor this season, Garland has a team-high 31.2% usage rate and has produced 1.18 DraftKings points and 1.06 FanDuel points per minute. In his 13 games this season without Mitchell, Garland has averaged 38.5 DraftKings points and 35.9 FanDuel points per contest.
He has been productive lately, out-producing salary-based expectations in seven of his last 10 games on both DraftKings and FanDuel. As the focal point of the Cleveland offense, he’s a solid place to start your lineup construction at point guard.
Value
The Trail Blazers have often been tough to watch this season, but there have been some solid value plays from Portland. The latest value option getting good time and producing good stats has been Dalano Banton, who the team acquired from the Celtics at the Trade Deadline. Banton has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel. On FanDuel, he has the best Projected Plus/Minus of any player on the entire slate.
Banton has started seven of the last eight games for Portland and played over 38 minutes in four of those contests. He logged 42 minutes in losses to the Knicks and Pelicans in his two most recent games and took 20 shots in each of those two contests. He exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of those eight games on both DraftKings and FanDuel while producing 1.01 DraftKings points and 0.96 FanDuel points per minute.
With Jerami Grant (hamstring) doubtful and Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) still sidelined, Banton should continue to get plenty of run and usage against the Bulls on Monday. Since he’s getting so many minutes, he’s a low-risk play with good upside in Monday’s matchup in Chicago.
Fast Break
Dejounte Murray has the highest median and floor projections of all point guards on DraftKings as he leads his Hawks against the Lakers and looks to knock off the two Los Angeles teams in back-to-back nights. Murray had a double-double on Sunday night and has produced 1.34 DraftKings points and 1.28 FanDuel points per minute over the last month while carrying more work for the injured Trae Young (finger). He’s not on the FanDuel slate but is a good pay-up option on DraftKings.
Jalen Brunson has the highest ceiling projection on DraftKings and is another good play to consider, while Tyrese Maxey leads the way in that category on FanDuel. If Tobias Harris (ankle) misses a second straight game, Maxey will have an even higher ceiling with higher usage against the visiting Heat.
The Celtics have the highest implied team total on the slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel as they host the Pistons. They could rest some of their stars, so keep a close eye on their injury report. Payton Pritchard could end up with more work in that scenario or if the game turns into a blowout early. He has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on FanDuel, where he has a 96% Bargain Rating. On Sunday in a rout of the Wizards, Pritchard turned in a ceiling performance with 14 points, 13 assists, and five boards in 35 minutes.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Anthony Edwards has the highest median, ceiling and floor projections at shooting guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel as his Timberwolves visit the Jazz in a great matchup. With Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) out and Rudy Gobert (ribs) questionable, Edwards may have to carry most of the offense again for Minnesota.
The former No. 1 overall pick has been showing off his high ceiling over the past week since Towns’ injury. He has scored 25+ points in four of his last five games, exceeding salary-based expectations in each of those contests. With Gobert out on Saturday in the first game of this two-game set against the Jazz, Edwards did extra work on the glass as well, producing a double-double of 31 points and 10 boards and adding on three steals and three blocks.
Edwards has averaged 55.1 Draftkings points and 54.8 FanDuel points per contest in the seven games he has played without Towns this season. On a per-minute basis, he has racked up 1.39 DraftKings points and 1.34 FanDuel points per minute with Towns off the floor this season. As he continues to go all-out to help Minnesota battle for the No. 1 seed in the west, Ant should be in another smash spot against Utah this Monday.
Value
The Bulls once again offer great value options in the backcourt this Monday. Coby White (hip) is once again doubtful on Monday against Portland, while Zach LaVine (foot) and Lonzo Ball (knee) remain out with long-term injuries. Alex Caruso (toe) has been very good lately but is also questionable, and if he’s limited or sidelined, there will be even more work for Ayo Dosunmu, who has already been an elite value play in his recently expanded workload.
On FanDuel, Caruso has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards with Dosunmu ranked second just behind him. On DraftKings, Caruso has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus, while Dosunmu ranks sixth. Caruso has exceeded salary-based expectations in three straight games, producing 1.11 DraftKings points and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and playing 35.3 minutes per game. If he’s able to play through his toe soreness, he’ll be a strong value option.
Dosunmu offers a little higher ceiling than Caruso since he has been logging a team-high 38.1 minutes per game over the last 10 contests. He has produced 0.84 DraftKings points and 0.81 FanDuel points per minute over that span, but with so many minutes, he has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of his last 10 games on DraftKings and seven of those contests on FanDuel. He’s been steady due to his massive workload, and he also brings a high ceiling from his mid-range salary.
Fast Break
For the Trail Blazers, Anfernee Simons remains a boom-or-bust play but has a very high ceiling against the Bulls. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in six of his last eight games and went off for 36 points to lead the Blazers to a win over the Hawks two games ago. If Grant is out as expected, he’ll have all the usage he can handle once again. He has the third-highest ceiling projection of all shooting guards on FanDuel and the fourth-highest on DraftKings.
Caris LeVert will have to help carry the load for the Cavs with Mitchell out again, and Sam Merrill is a great value option for the Cavs. Merrill has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards on DraftKings, with LeVert ranked right behind him. On FanDuel, Merrill has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards under $5,000.
In the later games that are only on DraftKings, Desmond Bane, Austin Reaves, and Malik Monk show up as strong options. Bane jumped right back into the mix on Saturday after missing 29 games with an ankle sprain. He had 22 points and seven assists while keeping the Grizzlies competitive with the Thunder, and he’ll look to keep producing in Monday’s matchup with the Kings in Sacramento. He showed a high ceiling while carrying the load for Memphis earlier this season and should be in a high-usage role the rest of the way if he can stay healthy.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
LeBron James had 40 points for the Lakers on Saturday in their loss to the Warriors, and he may have to carry the load again on Monday against the Hawks since Anthony Davis (eye) is questionable after sustaining a corneal abrasion. Whether Davis plays or not, LeBron has been posting massive numbers and deserves attention in this home matchup with Atlanta. James is also questionable with an ankle injury but has regularly been playing through the issue and is still posting monster numbers.
James has the highest median and ceiling projection at small forward and power forward on DraftKings, while his game isn’t on the slate on FanDuel. LeBron has exceeded salary-based expectations in nine of his 10 games since the All-Star Break, producing an impressive 1.52 DraftKings points per minute. With Davis off the floor, that number jumps all the way to 1.69 DraftKings points per minute over that span, and James’ usage spikes to 39.5%.
The Hawks are on the second night of a back-to-back and have been a favorable matchup for forwards all season, so look for another big LeBron night as long as he plays through his ankle injury.
Value
On both DraftKings and FanDuel, Kyle Anderson (shoulder) has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at both small forward and power forward. He is questionable against the Jazz but has been able to play through questionable tags in each of his last two games, logging 29 minutes against the Clippers and 31 minutes in the team’s first game in Utah.
Anderson has helped fill in for KAT and usually brings production in multiple columns in the box score. The veteran doesn’t usually take a ton of shots or score a ton of points but has been able to produce 0.82 DraftKings points and 0.84 FanDuel points per minute in his nine games over the last month.
Fast Break
On FanDuel where LeBron isn’t an option, Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown are good pay-up alternatives. Brown missed Sunday’s game, and Tatum only played 27 minutes in the C’s blowout win. He still managed 30 points, six boards and six assists against the Wizards. If one is out and the other plays, the one in action will have a high ceiling against the Pistons.
Sam Hauser stepped up in Brown’s absence and could be a great value if he’s lined up for more minutes on Monday, although he was forced to leave early with an ankle sprain on Sunday. Before leaving, he hit 10 three-pointers in just 23 minutes. Hauser has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward on FanDuel.
In another one of the three games only on DraftKings, Harrison Barnes offers great value at either forward spot. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at both small forward and power forward on DraftKings and has exceeded salary-based expectations in each of his last three games by double-digit DraftKings points with an Average Plus/Minus of +13.3 DraftKings points.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
After an adjustment period after joining a new team, Pascal Siakam seems to be settling in very well with the Pacers. Spicy P has the second-highest ceiling projection at power forward on FanDuel, and he ranks in the top four in both median and ceiling projections on DraftKings, even with all the extra options from the late games.
Siakam has exceeded salary-based expectations in three straight games on both DraftKings and FanDuel, producing an elite 1.45 DraftKings points and 1.48 FanDuel points per minute. Siakam has four double-doubles and three more games with nine rebounds in his last 11 games, and he usually turns in good defensive stats as well.
He had 36 points the last time he faced the Cavaliers, but that was before his trade to Indiana. With Mobley and Strus out and Dean Wade (knee) doubtful, he should end up in favorable matchups against smaller options from the end of the Cavs’ bench.
Value
Especially on FanDuel, Taylor Hendricks is a great value option as he continues to start for the Jazz. Hendricks has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward on FanDuel, along with a 97% Bargain Rating. On DraftKings, he’s priced up a bit more but still makes a solid mid-range target.
Hendricks was a top 10 overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft by the Jazz, and the Rookie has started in each of his last eight games. He did miss three games with a ligament sprain in his left big toe, but he played 33 minutes on Saturday against Minnesota and produced a nice double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.
Since joining the starting five, Hendricks has exceeded salary-based expectations on FanDuel in six of those eight games while averaging 0.92 DraftKings points and 0.92 FanDuel points per minute.
Fast Break
On FanDuel, Jarrett Allen can slide over to power forward and be a good pay-up option in an expanded role for the short-handed Cavs. Naz Reid is also a high-upside play on that site with more work, especially if Gobert is out. On DraftKings, it’s DeMar DeRozan who has the extra power forward eligibility and makes sense near the top of the salary structure.
In one of the matchups that are only on DraftKings, both Jaren Jackson Jr. and GG Jackson have good projections for the Grizzlies, along with Santi Aldama.
If you are shopping for a bargain play at power forward, Jabari Walker is the other play that stands out on FanDuel in addition to Hendricks. On DraftKings, Harrison Barnes is joined by Jalen Smith and Georges Niang as good plays with salaries of $4,500 or lower.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
On DraftKings, Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis are the top two options at center as they lead their teams into late matchups. Sabonis has been quietly amazing this season, averaging 1.44 DraftKings points and 1.40 FanDuel points per minute on the whole season and 1.54 DraftKings points and 1.45 FanDuel points per minute over the last month. That rate isn’t in a small sample size either since the big man has logged an impressive 36.8 minutes per game over the last month, too.
Sabonis has posted an amazing 49 straight double-doubles after finishing with 21 points and 14 boards against the Knicks. He had his 24th triple-double of the season against the Lakers last Wednesday and brings both a high ceiling and a high floor to every matchup. The Grizzlies are getting healthier overall but are still thin in the frontcourt, setting up Sabonis in a good spot Monday night.
Value
Clint Capela posted his fifth straight double-double on Sunday against the Clippers, finishing with 15 points and 13 boards. He has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all centers on DraftKings and should be in a good matchup against the Lakers whether Davis plays or ends up being forced to sit out.
Capela has exceeded salary-based expectations in seven of his last eight games on DraftKings, averaging a solid 1.33 DraftKings points per minute. He should continue to carry the load in the front court while Onyeka Okongwu (toe) remains out, making him a strong midrange target on DraftKings this Monday.
Fast Break
Without the last three games on the night, FanDuel’s options at center are a little limited. Rudy Gobert had the highest ceiling projection at the position if he is able to play through his injury against his former team in Utah. If he’s out again, DeAndre Ayton would have the highest ceiling projection with Nikola Vucevic just behind him.
Myles Turner has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position on DraftKings, behind only Sabonis and Davis. On FanDuel, Turner has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus. He has produced 1.24 DraftKings points and 1.25 FanDuel points per minute over his 12 games this past month and had three straight games over salary-based expectations before cooling off Saturday.
If you’re bargain shopping at center, Jalen Smith has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of the options under $5,000 on FanDuel, followed by Tristan Thompson and Luke Kornet. On DraftKings, Smith is a great option at just $4,000 with Isaiah Hartentstein and Walker Kessler also solid value options to consider.
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