The first Monday in March features seven games on the main NBA DFS fantasy basketball slate on DraftKings. The action begins at 7:00 p.m. ET when two games tip off in Philadelphia and Charlotte. The rest of the action gets underway not long after that with the 9:00 p.m. ET matchup between the Pistons and Jazz, the final game on the slate. The Jazz, Heat, Thunder, and Trail Blazers are each playing for a second day in a row, while the Hawks, Warriors, Rockets, and Sixers are the front half of their set of back-to-back games.
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.
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Note: Projections and Leverage 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
Point guard is extremely well-stocked on Monday with multiple top options on the board. Kyrie Irving has the highest ceiling projection at the position and the second-highest median projection as he leads the Mavs against the Kings in Dallas. It should be a good matchup for him, and he comes a little cheaper than some of the other top plays at this position.
Kyrie dropped 31 points in 38 minutes in a loss to the Bucks on Saturday, earning 43.75 DraftKings points. He was even better earlier in the week, scoring 35 points and 60.25 DraftKings points on Tuesday against the Lakers, followed by 25 points and 51.75 DraftKings points at home in a win over the Hornets.
In six of his last seven games, Irving has over 43 DraftKings points. That run dates back to his last matchup against the Kings just before the All-Star break. The Kings won that matchup, 129-128, but Kyrie had a huge game with 30 points and 58.25 DraftKings points in 44 minutes. He’s playing huge minutes and carrying a huge workload for Dallas since the Luka trade, and he brings a very high ceiling as a result in this home contest with the Kings.
Value
Point guard is so well-stocked with top options that it’s probably not the ideal spot to go cheap, but if you decide to roll with a less expensive option that still brings upside, Dennis Schroder brings the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position, and his salary is barely over $4,000.
Schroder has bounced around to multiple teams and played a variety of roles this season, but he has been productive in his last few games coming off the bench for the Pistons. Schroder had seven points, five assists, and 18.5 DraftKings points on Saturday against his former team, the Nets, and he has at least 17 DraftKings points in four straight, highlighted by his game against the Hawks last Sunday with 16 points and 33.5 DraftKings points.
On Monday, the Pistons face the Jazz, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game this season to point guards. While Cade Cunningham continues to dominate in the starting lineup, Schroder has proven he can produce enough off the bench to be a good cheap option.
Fast Break
Stephen Curry and the Warriors lost Saturday night in Philly after five straight wins, but they’ll look to bounce back with a stop in Charlotte this Monday. Curry always seems to have monster games in Charlotte, where his father, Dell Curry, spent much of his NBA career. Steph comes in on a nice roll after posting a double-double and 59.25 DraftKings points in Saturday’s loss. He has at least 48 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is averaging 49.4 DraftKings points per game over his last 11.
The Jazz sat both Collin Sexton (ankle) and Jordan Clarkson (foot) on Sunday for the first part of their back-to-back, so keep a close eye on their injury report against the Pistons. Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier have both shown high ceilings in expanded roles. George had 28 points and 41.25 DraftKings points on Sunday and has averaged 37.4 DraftKings points over his last six games. Collier has over 28 DraftKings points in three straight games and eight of his last nine.
Terance Mann is only $4,000 but has found a nice fit with the Hawks. He has 22, 26, and 24.25 DraftKings points in his last three games with at least 13 points and 26 minutes in each contest.
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 Monday’s ShotQuality projections, Kings guard Zach LaVine has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections at shooting guard.
On Saturday LaVine scored 20 points for the seventh time in his last 10 games and has hit multiple three-pointers in six straight games. He has produced over 36 DraftKings points in five of his last six games, highlighted by a pair of performances with over 50 DraftKings points.
A week ago, he had a season-high 42 points and 53.25 DraftKings points against the Hornets, and he brings a similar ceiling to Sacramento’s matchup with the Mavs this Monday. He’s a strong option under $8,000 with both a high ceiling and a very solid floor.
Value
The Heat were very short-handed on Sunday against the Knicks and could offer excellent value if they’re in a similar spot on Monday. Alec Burks stands out with the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards in both sets of projections after producing 18.25 and 23.75 DraftKings points in his last two games.
Burks got more work after moving into the starting lineup in place of Andrew Wiggins (ankle) and Jaime Jaquez (ankle) on Sunday. If neither is able to return on Monday, Burks will get a great matchup against the Wizards and bring a very high ceiling.
He finished Sunday’s game with 12 points on four three-pointers in 25 minutes, earning 23.75 DraftKings points by adding three boards and three assists as well. The veteran is an extreme value at just $3,300 and allows you to stuff stars in other spots.
Fast Break
The Hawks have gotten exceptional play from Dyson Daniels most of the season, and he had at least 33 DraftKings points in 11 straight games before a down game on Friday against the Thunder with only 27 DraftKings points. He should bounce back in Monday’s matchup with Memphis, especially since that game has the highest over/under on the slate and features the two teams that rank at the top of the league in pace. Daniels has averaged 39.3 DraftKings points per game since February 1.
Malik Beasley has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard in the ShotQuality projections. He has made at least four three-pointers in three straight games and nine of his last 10. In those 10 games, he averaged 29.8 DraftKings points and should continue to bring great value at just $5,000.
Another veteran wing with good upside is Caris LeVert, who has been very productive since heading to the Hawks at the trade deadline. LeVert has double-digit shot attempts in each of his last seven games and has scored double-digit points in six of those games, averaging 16.1 points to go with 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. Over those seven games, he averaged 29.9 DraftKings points per game. He finished Friday’s loss to the Thunder with 23 points and 35.25 DraftKings points.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Two of the top small forwards on the board go head-to-head as Amen Thompson and the Rockets face off with Jalen Williams and the Thunder. Williams has the highest median and floor projections at the position in the FantasyLabs projections and is in the top three of median, ceiling and floor projections in both the ShotQuality and FantasyLabs projections.
On Sunday, Chet Holmgren (ankle) was unavailable for the Thunder, and Williams stepped up with a career-high 41 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and 65 DraftKings points in OKC’s win over the Spurs. Williams has scored 20+ points in four straight games and has 40+ DraftKings points in five of his last six games while averaging 45.7 DraftKings points per contest.
Especially if Holmgren misses another game, Williams will be a great play on Monday against the Rockets in what should be a highly entertaining Western Conference matchup in OKC.
Value
In the ShotQuality projections, Malik Beasley (discussed above) and Ausar Thompson have the top two Projected Plus/Minus ratings at small forward. They have a very favorable matchup against the Jazz, and both have been very productive while the Pistons have been surging up the Eastern Conference standings.
Thompson hasn’t quite put up as many fantasy points as his twin brother in Houston, but he has been a huge part of the Pistons’ recent success. He scored 13 points in each of his last two games and has scored double-digit points in 11 of his 13 games since February 1. He has over 25 DraftKings points in 11 of those games as well.
Unlike Beasley, Thompson relies more on his hustle and defense for his fantasy production, which makes him slightly less volatile than if he relied on his outside shot. He had at least three steals in four straight games before going without a steal on Saturday, and he typically chips in strong rebounds and assists to produce good value as a mid-range forward play.
Fast Break
Amen Thompson (shoulder) and Paul George (groin) have the top two ceiling projections in the FantasyLabs projections at small forward, but both are questionable. Both of them have the potential to go off with a huge number, but both also come with higher risk than Williams, LaVine, or DeMar DeRozan due to their injuries.
The Mavericks will be without P.J. Washington (ankle) in addition to Anthony Davis (adductor), Daniel Gafford (knee), and Dereck Lively II (ankle), which leaves plenty of work for Naji Marshall, who has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward in the FantasyLabs projections. Marshall has three games with over 24 DraftKings points in his five games since this All-Star break, including his most recent game on Saturday against the Bucks when Washington was forced to leave early.
Haywood Highsmith has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward in the ShotQuality projections since he will likely have to fill in for Wiggins and Jaquez on Monday. He showed a high ceiling with 36.25 DraftKings points against the Hawks last week but only had 20.75 and 12.0 DraftKings points in his two most recent matchups. He’s volatile but brings good upside at only $3,600.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Taking on the Hawks, Jaren Jackson Jr. has the highest ceiling projection at power forward in both sets of projections for this Monday. His teammate Ja Morant (shoulder) is questionable, but Desmond Bane does not have an injury designation and should return after missing Saturday’s game.
On Saturday, without Morant and Bane, Jackson had 42 points in a loss to the Spurs, adding four rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists for 59.5 DraftKings points.
He probably won’t have to carry quite so much offense on Monday, but he still brings a very high ceiling in what should be a high-scoring contest at home against Atlanta. The Hawks have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards this season, and JJJ has 37+ DraftKings points in three of his last four contests.
Value
Since the trade of Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks, Kyshawn George has stepped up and become a key piece of the Wizards’ rotation. The 21-year-old rookie from Switzerland has played 53 games this season and started each of his last 15.
In his 11 games since February 1, George is averaging 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals for 27.1 DraftKings points per game. He had 30.5 DraftKings points in 35 minutes on Saturday in Charlotte with eight assists to go with his eight points. He picked up playmaking responsibility with Jordan Poole (elbow) out, and Poole is again out on Monday against Miami.
George has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all power forwards in the ShotQuality projections and should continue to get plenty of playing time and usage as the Wizards try to develop their young core for the rest of the season.
Fast Break
Bam Adebayo had 30 points, seven rebounds, and 45.25 DraftKings points on Sunday against the Knicks, carrying more work with Wiggins and Jaquez out. He played 42 minutes in that game and has at least 37 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games while picking up more work since the Jimmy Butler trade. The Wizards have been a great matchup for opposing big men this year, so Bam has a high ceiling Monday.
The No. 1 pick from last year’s draft, Zaccharie Risacher, has the fourth-highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward in the ShotQuality projections. He came up just one rebound short of a double-double on Friday against the Thunder. He has averaged 25 DraftKings points per game in his five contests since the break and has shown a very high ceiling with 41 DraftKings points against the Pistons last week.
With Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) out, Trey Lyles could step into a more involved role for the Kings. He has scored eight points in each of his last two games and had 18.75 DraftKings points on Saturday when Sabonis left after just one minute against the Rockets.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Rockets center Alperen Sengun has the highest median projection at the position in the ShotQuality projections and the second-highest ceiling and floor projections, behind only Bam. He could catch a break if the Thunder are without Holmgren, although Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams are still a formidable frontcourt duo.
Sengun had 30 points, 10 boards, five assists, and 50.5 DraftKings points against the Kings on Saturday and has averaged 43.4 DraftKings points per game on the season. He was limited to under 20 minutes on Wednesday of last week on the second night of a back-to-back but has played 35+ minutes in all the rest of his five games since the All-Star break with at least 23 points and 40 DraftKings points.
On Monday, Sengun is listed as questionable with a back injury, but if he plays through the issue, he should be in a great place to produce as a pay-up play in the middle.
ValuMe
The top Projected Plus/Minus on the whole slate in both sets of projections comes from Jonas Valanciunas, who is a must-play on Monday against the Mavericks. The veteran big man will likely start in place of Sabonis and have a good matchup against the shorthanded Dallas frontcourt.
On Saturday when Sabonis left early, Valanciunas finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 49 DraftKings points in 30 minutes. He had been producing good numbers on a per-minute basis since arriving in Sacramento but had played a limited role with Sabonis carrying a big workload.
Valanciunas flashed a very high ceiling when given more minutes before being traded from Washington to Sacramento at the trade deadline, and he’s a great option to build around at center on Monday’s slate.
Fast Break
On the other side of that Kings-Mavs matchup, Moses Brown is a very good play as well with Washington out. Brown has only played four games for the Mavs but has filled in very nicely in the last two games. He had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 45.25 DraftKings points last week against the Hornets and then posted 18 points, nine rebounds, and 29.25 DraftKings points against the Bucks. Going up against Valanciunas is a better matchup for him than Sabonis, so both centers can be included as a double stack this Monday night.
In the up-tempo matchup between the Hawks and Grizzlies, Onyeka Okongwu is also a strong mid-range play. He had a double-double with 44.75 DraftKings points last Friday against the Thunder and has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last five games since the break.
The Warriors have been giving more work to Quinten Post in the last few games, and he’s a good play under $5,000 against the Hornets. He had 18 points in 24 minutes last Thursday with 30.75 DraftKings points against the Magic and followed that up with 16 points in 25 minutes on Saturday for 33.75 DraftKings points.
