With Group Play in the NBA Emirates Cup tipping off on Tuesday, the NBA has a busy week ahead, but on Monday, the main fantasy basketball slate features a handful of games that all tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET. The turbo-style contests should be fast and furious, so be sure to get your lineups locked in place before the 10-team contests lock at 8:00 p.m. ET. Four of the 10 teams are finishing back-to-back games since the Wizards, Rockets, Thunder, and Kings all played Sunday. Several teams have injury uncertainty, so be sure to check back for the latest news and updates before tip-off.
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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the top ceiling, median, and floor projection at point guard this Monday. He and the Thunder lost to the Warriors on Sunday, and more importantly, they also lost star center Chet Holmgren to a hip injury that is expected to sideline him for over 8-to-10 weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. While Chet is sidelined, SGA will have to carry even more of the scoring load for the Thunder, and he should do just in Monday’s matchup against his former team, the Clippers.
On the season, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 46.8 DraftKings points per game and has scored 35+ DraftKings points in every contest. He had a high point of 76.75 DraftKings points against the Hawks earlier this season and posted 43.75 DraftKings points the first time he faced the Clippers this season.
He has a 32.1% usage rate on the season, which jumps to 37.9% with Holmgren off the floor. He has produced 1.53 DraftKings points per minute without Chet, and he’ll have to carry a heavy load to keep the Thunder in a good playoff position over the next few months before getting his running mate back late in the season.
Value
The Pelicans have been decimated by injury in the early part of the season and will continue to be without Dejounte Murray (wrist), CJ McCollum (adductor), Herb Jones (shoulder), Jordan Hawkins (back) and now Zion Williamson (hamstring) for the foreseeable future. The team announced on Saturday that Zion is out indefinitely. With so many injuries, Jose Alvarado stands out as one of many players stepping into expanded roles for New Orleans. On Monday, Alvarado has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all players on the slate.
Alvarado has scored double-digit points and exceeded salary-based expectations in five of his last six games since moving into the starting five with an average Plus/Minus of +10.6 DraftKings points. He has produced 1.06 DraftKings points per minute while playing 33.3 minutes per game. He has had 20+ points in each of his last two games and has proven to be productive in almost any game script due to his large workload and ability to put up numbers in multiple categories.
On Monday, he and the Pelicans host the Nets, and he’ll continue to be a great value at just over $6,000 while averaging 17.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game as a starter.
Fast Break
Brandon Ingram is eligible at both point guard and small forward, and he’ll have to carry the load for the Pelicans as well. He’ll have all the usage he wants, but he has finished below salary-based expectations in three straight games, including Friday’s game when he scored just 11 points in a blowout loss to the Magic. His potential usage gives him an extremely high ceiling, though. He has the highest ceiling projection of all small forwards and the third-highest at point guard.
A very solid mid-range option to target as a pivot or a complement to Alvarado is Fred VanVleet of the Rockets. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at the position and has a great matchup against the Wizards, who give up more DraftKings points per game to point guards than any other team in the NBA. FVV has struggled with his show in the first two games of this road trip but had 34.25 DraftKings points on Sunday in Detroit, even though he only scored seven points. He can return value even if he doesn’t score a ton of points, but he could absolutely go off if his shot starts falling.
Without Holmgren, the Thunder have a serious lack of size right now, but multiple players should help fill in his minutes and usage. One candidate is Cason Wallace, who has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at point guard on Monday after scoring a season-high 16 points in 30 minutes on Sunday. He’s been on the fringes of the starting five, but he’s a big enough part of the rotation to be worth considering at his affordable salary of only $3,700.
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
While they are still only 2-6, the Wizards have been very watchable this season while giving their young talent room to grow on the job. Jordan Poole has been at the forefront with a 27.3% usage rate and has produced 1.26 DraftKings points per minute. In the FantasyLabs projections, he has the highest floor projection of all shooting guards on the slate as he faces the Rockets and the second-highest median projection.
He has scored 20+ points in five of his last six games and had 24 points and 31 fantasy points in Sunday’s loss to the Magic. He is getting plenty of shots while Kyle Kuzma (groin) is out, and he could get even more work depending on the status of his backcourt mate Bub Carrington, who left Sunday’s game with a leg injury after being listed as questionable with a wrist injury before the game.
One of the exciting new features this year on FantasyLabs this season is our partnership with ShotQuality for NBA Projections. In the ShotQuality projections, Poole has the highest median, ceiling and floor projection at the position. He has a high ceiling due to his high volume and comes at a decent price under $8,000.
Value
In both the FantasyLabs and ShotQuality projections Isaiah Joe has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards and the second-highest on the entire slate. He started the second half in place of Holmgren and finished with 10 points and 19.5 DraftKings points in 23 minutes.
Joe has averaged 20.6 minutes per game this season and produced 0.87 DraftKings points per minute. On Monday, he has a minutes projection of 28, which would be enough to make him a good option at his salary of just $3,600.
He also has shown the ability to get hot from long range and go off for spike-scoring games when given the opportunity. He’s a great pay-down play at shooting guard on Monday since his increased playing time should allow him to return value.
Fast Break
The undefeated Cavs visit the Bulls in the matchup with the highest over/under on the slate, and Donovan Mitchell has the highest median and ceiling projection of all shooting guards in the FantasyLabs projections. He hasn’t had to carry the offensive workload every night this season for the Cavs but can still go off with a huge game when called upon. He is producing 1.17 DraftKings points per minute with a team-high 31.5% usage rate.
On the other side of that matchup, Coby White is a strong option for the Bulls. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in three of his last four games and scored 18+ points in six of his last seven. He had 18 points and 36.5 DraftKings points on Saturday in the return of Zach LaVine and should still be involved enough to be a strong play, even with LaVine back in the mix this Monday.
The Kings have gotten strong contributions from Kevin Huerter this season, and he brings the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard this Monday. The veteran had 17 points and a season-high 41.25 DraftKings points in Sunday’s overtime win over the short-handed Suns. He and DeMar DeRozan seem to be clicking well, and he is a solid low-cost wing to consider on Monday as the Kings roll into San Antonio.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Thunder forward Jalen Williams will also have to step into a larger role over the next several weeks to help fill in for Holmgren. On Monday’s slate, Williams has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards and the second-highest median and ceiling projections. He also has the highest ceiling, median and floor projections at power forward, where he brings the highest Projected Plus/Minus as well.
Williams has been solid this season, averaging 39.7 DraftKings points per game and producing 1.26 DraftKings points per minute. He had 20 points, and 37.75 DraftKings points against the Warriors Monday. He showed off his high ceiling last Wednesday against the Nuggets, finishing just one assist short of a triple-double and racking up an impressive 64 DraftKings points.
Against the Clippers, you can stack Williams and SGA with some of the Thunder’s cheap options. If you look at other games or want a more balanced lineup, Williams’ salary under $8,000 still makes a lot of sense given his ceiling.
Value
Tari Eason has the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward in both the FantasyLabs projections and the ShotQuality projections.
“The Bucket from the Bayou” has scored 12+ points in three straight games and in five of his last six for Houston. During that run, he had an impressive 27-point performance that got him 53.75 DraftKings points, but he has also been consistent with at least 23 DraftKings points in five of his last six contests.
Eason and the Rockets have a very favorable home matchup against the Wizards on Monday, and he’s still under $5,000, making him a great value play at either forward spot.
Fast Break
The Clippers have started the season 6-4 even without Kahwi Leonard (knee), and Norman Powell has stepped up with very consistent and strong production. He is averaging 37.3 DraftKings points per game and has over 35 DraftKings points in four straight games, highlighted by 53.5 DraftKings points against the Kings last Friday. He’s no longer a value option at over $7,000, but he brings enough consistency and upside to still be worth a look at one of your wing spots.
Without Kuzma, Kyshawn George has started four of the last five games for the Wizards. In those games, he has averaged 30.5 DraftKings points per game. He played 34 minutes and had 28.25 DraftKings points on Sunday before fouling out, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds and knocking down four three-pointers. He is a solid midrange target against the Rockets and should continue to get plenty of playing time for as long as Kuz is sidelined.
Another value from the Thunder to consider is Aaron Wiggins, who has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games. He will be another piece of the rotation that will have to fill in a larger role without Holmgren.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
DeMar DeRozan had a season-high 34 points and finished with 43.75 DraftKings points in Sunday’s win over the Suns. As has been the norm throughout multiple stops in his career, he has been very consistent while playing huge minutes for the Kings this year. He is averaging 39.5 DraftKings points per game and has five games with 40+ DraftKings points in his last seven.
On Monday, DeRozan will get a little extra boost from playing his former team, the Spurs. He didn’t face them yesterday with the Kings, but he scored 20+ points each of the four times he came back to San Antonio while playing with the Bulls, including a pair of games with 30+ points and a near triple-double in 2023.
DeRozan has the third-highest ceiling and median projections at the position in both the FantasyLabs projections and the ShotQuality projections and brings the second-highest floor projection in the FantasyLabs projections behind only Williams.
Value
It’s tricky to anticipate exactly what the Thunder will do in the frontcourt with Holmgren since Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams are still out for a while, and Kenrich Williams has yet to make his season debut. Williams could be ready to play on Monday, but he could also have a minutes limit and is still a little under-sized.
The other two options are really more combo-forwards than true centers but could potentially have value since they’ll be pressed into action on Monday vs. the Clippers. Dillon Jones played 15 minutes on Sunday and had four points, six rebounds, and 14 DraftKings points. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all power forwards in the ShotQuality projections behind only Williams and comes at the bargain basement salary of only $3,100.
Even though he’s only eligible at center, the other option that could figure in is Ousmane Dieng. Of the two, Brooks has shown a little more potential, so he’d be my favored Thunder big man, even though both are high-risk punt plays. The Thunder will likely try to go small as much as possible with some of the value options discussed above, but Jones should get enough minutes to make an impact.
Fast Break
Evan Mobley has the second-highest ceiling projection at power forward and has been a huge part of the Cavs’ undefeated start to the season. He is averaging an impressive 1.31 DraftKings points per minute and is coming off back-to-back 23-point games. On Saturday, he helped the Cavs escape the Nets with a massive double-double and 54.5 DraftKings points.
Former Thunder big man Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is lined up to get plenty of minutes with his new team as well since the Pelicans will be without Zion. JRE has outperformed salary-based expectations in four of his last six and has 20+ DraftKings points in three of his last four. He has a minutes projection of 32 with a 13.3% usage projection vs. the Nets on Monday.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
The Rockets’ great matchup against the Wizards sets up Alperen Sengun for another big night, and he has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate in the ShotQuality projections. Even on a night with multiple great star centers to choose from, he stands out with a high ceiling at his salary of under $8,000.
Sengun had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 45.5 DraftKings points in Sunday’s win over the Pistons. He has posted five double-doubles in his last seven games while averaging 1.44 DraftKings points per minute. His salary was higher for most of that run, and getting him at this price in this matchup makes him a great spot to build around Monday.
Compared to Victor Wembanyama and Domantas Sabonis, he comes at a huge savings and brings a similar ceiling based on the matchup.
Value
Aside from Sengun, Nic Claxton has the top Projected Plus/Minus at center. He had a double-double on Saturday with 31 DraftKings points against the tough frontcourt of the Cavs. In four of his last seven games, Claxton has at least 30 DraftKings points.
He should be set for another solid game against the Pelicans, who are short-handed without Zion and will likely have to turn to Robinson-Earl, Daniel Theis ($3,900), and rookie Yves Missi ($5,000), which should set up a favorable matchup for Claxton.
Fast Break
The Thunder will have no one even close to being able to match up with Ivica Zubac. The Clippers big man has been very consistent this season, averaging 40 DraftKings points per game and 1.14 DraftKings points per minute. He posted over 40 DraftKings points in each of his last two games to help the Clippers beat the Kings and Raptors. There is some risk that the small-ball lineups of the Thunder force Zubac to play a reduced role, but if he gets his normal workload, he should dominate down low and on the glass.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Domantas Sabonis go head-to-head in a great showdown between the two most expensive centers on the slate. Both bring extremely high ceilings, but Sabonis has been the more consistent option and is more affordable this Monday. Sabonis has over 40 DraftKings points in each of his 10 games this season, averaging 49.8 DraftKings points per game and 1.36 DraftKings points per minute. Both Zubac and Sengun are projected to bring more value than Sabonis, but if you have the salary available, Sabonis brings a higher ceiling and floor.
Jalen Smith (knee) continues to be a viable punt play as he continues to play through his knee contusion. He had 21.75 DraftKings points in 17 minutes on Saturday and has over 18 DraftKings points in four of his last six games. He’s still under $4,000 and can chip in reliable production in his limited role off the bench.
