The NBA starts the first full work week of 2025 with nine games on the schedule this Monday. For the main DraftKings slate, the late game in Sacramento is omitted, leaving eight games on the solid slate with all 16 teams taking the floor between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. ET. The only one of those 16 teams playing for a second day in a row is the Magic, who visit the Knicks on Monday after losing at home to the Jazz on Sunday. Even without many back-to-backs, several injury situations deserve close monitoring as we approach tipoff. As news and updates come out throughout the day, our NBA models will adjust and change, so be sure to update the projections and your roster if needed.
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.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
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 Pistons host the Trail Blazers in one of Monday’s games, and in that favorable matchup, Cade Cunningham has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all point guards, and he also ranks in the top four at the position in Projected Plus/Minus.
Cunningham has led the Pistons to three straight wins to start 2025 despite losing his backcourt running mate Jaden Ivey (leg) to a fractured fibula on New Year’s Day against the Magic. Cunningham had 40 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and 63.5 DraftKings points on Saturday in his most recent game.
On the season, Cunningham has averaged an impressive 1.43 DraftKings points per minute with a 32.1% usage rate. With Ivey off the floor, his production has been even better, though, with his usage rate jumping to 34.5% and his production climbing to 1.48 DraftKings points per minute.
Against the Blazers, Cunningham is in a smash spot and could deliver a huge game while he continues to carry so much work in the offense.
Value
The Magic were without Jalen Suggs (back) on Sunday, in addition to Paolo Bachero (oblique) and Franz Wagner (oblique). If those three stars are all out again on Monday, Cole Anthony would have to step up into a larger role once again for the Magic.
On Sunday, Anthony had 12 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and 23.5 DraftKings points against the Jazz after producing nine points, 11 assists, four rebounds, one steal, and 31.5 DraftKings points in his 34 minutes against Toronto last Friday. Anthony made his first start of the season on Sunday, and if he’s in the starting five again on Monday, he has a very high ceiling for a play under $5,000.
Anthony has the highest Projected Plus/Minus and the highest Pts/Sal of all players on Monday’s slate. If Suggs returns, that would obviously change his projections significantly, but if Suggs misses another game, Anthony would be a great option.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers host the struggling Suns on Monday, and Maxey has the second-highest median projection and the third-highest ceiling projection at point guard. He has produced 1.28 DraftKings points per minute and 49.8 DraftKings points per game over his last six contests and has been carrying a big workload for Philly, regardless of who else is available. On Monday, both Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand) and Joel Embiid (foot/nose) are questionable, and if either or both are out, Maxey will get even more minutes and usage.
Since re-joining the Nets, D’Angelo Russell has stepped right back into a big role. He is questionable for Monday’s home game against the Pacers, but if he plays, he’ll be an option worth considering. Russell had 22 points and 42 DraftKings points in his first game with the Nets this season and followed that with 11 points, 12 assists, and 37.75 DraftKings points against the Bucks. On Saturday, he only played 14 minutes before his injury but still had 15.25 DraftKings points. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard if he plays since the Nets are missing so many other key starters. If he’s out, Keon Johnson ($5,300), Reece Beekman ($3,100), and Ziaire Williams ($5,200) will have to carry the load.
Lonzo Ball is another affordable point guard to consider. He has the sixth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position and has exceeded salary-based expectations in six of his last eight games while averaging 22.0 DraftKings points per game at the rate of 1.04 DraftKings points per minute.
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
One of the exciting new features this season on FantasyLabs is our partnership with ShotQuality. In the ShotQuality Projections, Klay Thompson has the third-highest median and ceiling projection of all shooting guards, even though his salary is only $6,000. Klay also has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position and the second-highest at small forward in those projections.
Thompson will have to take on more work for the Mavs as they visit Memphis with both teams missing key players. Dallas will be without both Luka Doncic (calf) and Kyrie Irving (illness). With those two stars off the floor this season, Thompson has a 22.9% usage rate and has averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute. In the two games that Klay has played without Luka and Kyrie, he has averaged 30.8 DraftKings points.
Last week, Thompson missed Monday’s game with an illness but looked good in his return on Wednesday, scoring 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. On Friday, though, he struggled against the Cavs, finishing with 16 points. Irving was a late scratch for that game, which is why Thompson got a few more opportunities. He should once again on Monday, and the ShotQuality projections point to him as a good way to get a high ceiling at just $6,000.
Value
On the other side of that matchup, the Grizzlies are also likely to be very short-handed, with Ja Morant (shoulder), Marcus Smart (finger), Luke Kennard (hamstring) out, and Desmond Bane (ankle) doubtful. One ultra-value play that can help unlock salary in other spots if Bane is ruled out is rookie Cam Spencer.
The 24-year-old was originally a second-round pick of the Pistons out of UCONN before being traded to the Grizz. He’s on a two-way contract and has only appeared in nine games, but he has played 12+ minutes in each of his last three games. He played 22 minutes last Sunday against the Thunder, finishing with seven points and 19.25 DraftKings points. He had 15 DraftKings points against the Suns on Tuesday but didn’t get onto the floor last Friday. Spencer was back in action Saturday, though, and scored seven points in just 13 minutes on his way to 9.75 DraftKings points.
Spencer is available at the minimum salary on Monday and will need to figure into the Grizzlies backcourt rotation. He has the fifth-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards in the FantasyLabs projections, and the fourth-highest at the position in the ShotQuality projections.
Fast Break
Zach LaVine can be boom or bust for the Bulls, but he has a very high ceiling and is in a good matchup against the Spurs, which has the highest over/under on the slate. LaVine has scored at least 30 points in three of his last four games and six of his last 10. In those 10 contests, he has averaged 40.3 DraftKings points per game and 1.21 DraftKings points per minute. He has the second-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections at shooting guard on Monday.
Both Cole Anthony and D’Angelo Russell (discussed above) are eligible at shooting guard and have the top two Projected Plus/Minus at the position. They’re solid mid-range options at the position, along with Malik Beasley of the Pistons.
If you are looking for an alternative bargain to Spencer, the ShotQuality projections also indicate Gary Trent Jr. should have a successful return to Toronto as the Bucks go north of the border. Trent has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards with salaries under $4,500 in the ShotQuality projections and the third-highest in that price range in the FantasyLabs projections.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Deni Avdija has been excellent lately for the Trail Blazers, and he ranks in the top five in median projection in both sets of projections and also has a top-five ceiling projection in the ShotQuality projections. Avdija has stepped up for Portland while former Piston Jerami Grant (face) has been sidelined, and he’ll miss this potential return to the Motor City on Monday for his fourth straight absence.
In each of his last six games, Avdija has exceeded salary-based expectations even though his salary has been rising with his increased workload. He comes into this contest after back-to-back double-doubles on the road against the Lakers and Bucks. In Los Angeles, he had 19 points, 10 boards, and 40.5 DraftKings points last Thursday. On Saturday, he followed that up with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 48 DraftKings points while he helped the Blazers get a three-point win over the Bucks.
Avdija has averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute and 29.2 DraftKings points per game in 34 games in his first season in Portland. He’s been trending up, though, averaging 1.18 DraftKings points per minute and 38.7 per game in his last six.
Value
The Mavs will need another big game from Quentin Grimes with both Kyrie and Luka out, and Grimes has been rising to the challenge lately with more consistency than any other Maverick. He has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards in the ShotQuality projections.
He has taken double-digit shots and exceeded salary-based expectations in four straight games with over 25 DraftKings points in each contest. In his 15 games since December 1, Grimes is producing a solid 0.95 DraftKings points per minute with a usage rate of just over 15%.
Last week, Grimes’ role increased, and he played 30+ minutes in all three of the Mavs’ games. On Friday, in the game Kyrie missed, Grimes stepped into the starting lineup and produced 39.0 DraftKings points on 26 points, six assists, two rebounds, and a steal in 33 minutes. He has a similar upside in Monday’s game against Memphis, which typically is a generous matchup for opposing wings.
Fast Break
The Raptors could have their preferred starting five for the first time all season on Monday, and Scottie Barnes is expected to lead the way for the Raptors against the Bucks. He has the highest ceiling projection of all small forwards in both sets of projections, although he may not get quite enough usage to live up to his lofty salary if R.J. Barrett (illness) is able to return from his three-game absence.
Spurs’ small forwards Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson are both in the top five in Projected Plus/Minus at the position in the FantasyLabs projections. Vassell has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last five games with over 33 DraftKings points in each contest while Johnson has exceeded salary-based expectations in five straight games with double-digit points and 20+ DraftKings points in each of those games.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Without Morant and Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. will have to take over as the focus of the Grizzlies offense. At power forward, he has the second-highest median, ceiling, and floor projections, and he’s much more affordable than Giannis Antetkounmpo, who is the only player above him in those areas. JJJ also has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward in both sets of projections since he represents such good value.
JJJ came up just one rebound short of a double-double on Saturday, finishing with 41.25 DraftKings points in a loss to the Warriors. He had had 44.5 DraftKings points on 28 points, six rebounds, and five assists on Friday against Sacramento and has over 40 DraftKings points in five of his last six overall.
Last Tuesday in Phoenix, he put on an impressive show with 38 points, 12 boards, four assists, and 66 DraftKings points, and he could have a similar upside as the Grizzlies come for their first game since the day after Christmas.
Value
With so much usage available, Jake LaRavia is another great option for the Grizzlies. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards and power forwards in both sets of projections and is a very strong option at only $5,000.
LaRavia played 32 minutes on Saturday against the Warriors and handed out a career-high 10 assists to go with his 17 points. His 37.5 DraftKings was his second-best output of the season. In his minutes without Bane and Morant, LaRavia has averaged 0.91 DraftKings points per minute over the last month.
The third-year forward from Wake Forest continues to be a boom-or-bust fantasy play in most scenarios but with so much work available and his recent production as a passer, he should be able to return good value on Monday night.
Fast Break
As usual, Giannis Antetokounmpo has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at the position. The Bucks have struggled since their NBA Cup victory, but Giannis continues to post strong numbers. He has scored over 25 points in all 11 of the games he has played since December 1 and has at least 11 rebounds and 55 DraftKings points in each of his last six games. He’s consistently excellent and is listed as probable as he continues to play through a knee injury.
Without Ivey, Tobias Harris has picked up more work over the last three games, exceeding salary-based expectations in each of those contests by playing 34+ minutes and producing 32.5, 49, and 36.25 DraftKings points in those three games. The Blazers have been a great matchup for power forwards, so Harris is a strong mid-range play.
Brandon Clarke still has a salary under $4,000, even though he continues to produce solid production off the bench for Memphis. He has at least 21 DraftKings points in three of his last four games, including each of his last two since returning from a calf injury. If LaRavia spends more time in the backcourt, Clarke will have potentially more work off the bench.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
The Spurs have the highest implied team total on the slate in a favorable matchup against the Bulls who play at a high pace with a low defensive efficiency rating. Even though they split a pair of games against the Nuggets last week, Victor Wembanyama put up impressive numbers in each game and continues to emerge as an elite fantasy option. He ranks just behind Giannis for the highest ceiling projection of all players in both sets of projections.
On Friday, Wemby had 69.5 DraftKings points on 35 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. He followed that up with 63.75 DraftKings points on 20 points, 23 rebounds, four blocks, and three assists on Saturday.
The second-year big man has over 52 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 11 games and has been fairly consistent, producing an impressive 1.77 DraftKings points per minute over that stretch and going off for a massive 83 DraftKings points in his Christmas Day performance against the Knicks.
Value
While Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson have the top two Projected Plus/Minus at center, Mason Plumlee comes in just behind them in the FantasyLabs Projections. Plumlee is expected to keep his role in the starting lineup even with Jusuf Nurkic available after his suspension.
In his three starts in place of Nurkic, Plumlee produced 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 24.3 minutes while posting 25.25, 32.5, and 12.75 DraftKings. His best game during that stretch came against the Grizzlies when he almost had a double-double.
Despite his down game against the Pacers on Saturday, he has gelled well enough with the starting unit to stick in that spot which gives him a high ceiling from his bargain salary under $4,500.
Fast Break
The Knicks got another huge performance on Saturday from Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 44 points, 15 rebounds, and 75.0 DraftKings points against the Bulls, showing just how tasty Wemby’s matchup is against Chicago. Unfortunately for KAT and the Knicks, the big man left in the closing minutes with a knee issue and is questionable Monday against the Magic. If he plays, he’ll be a strong option since he has been so consistent and usually gets a large workload for New York.
As a midrange option, Dereck Lively has good upside against the Grizzlies. He seems to be back to a full workload after missing a week and posted 34.5 and 26.76 DraftKings points in his two games since returning. He contributes in multiple categories when at his best, and the Mavs could lean on him for more offense without as much usage going to their backcourt.
The Pistons have been getting good numbers from Isaiah Stewart over the last week, as the veteran continues to contribute in the second unit. In his last three games, he has 24, 20.25 and 22.0 DraftKings points. He isn’t typically a high-volume scorer but does good work on the glass and in hustle stats.
