Here are five stud players to consider at each position for Monday’s 9-game fantasy basketball slate on DraftKings:
Point Guard
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors ($8,200) — Fox leads the Kings in facilitating, creating 14 potential assists per game, eighth best among all NBA players. Fox takes his facilitating into a strong matchup against the Warriors, who have been prone to allowing assists. Golden State has allowed the sixth most assists per game to opponents, and combined with their below average point prevention, Fox carries scoring and assist upside in this matchup. Fox’s 27% usage rate is best on the Kings.
Shooting Guard
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans ($8,200) — Mitchell has posted a heavy 31% usage rate this season and has been relied on for more facilitating recently due to Mike Conley’s hamstring injury. Over Mitchell’s last eight games without Conley playing point guard, Mitchell is creating just under 12 potential assists per game, a boost from seven potential assists per game in previous games this season. Mitchell takes his heavy usage into an excellent matchup against the Pelicans, who have struggled defensively. The Pelicans have allowed the third most points to opponents and rank in the bottom third in assists allowed to opponents.
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks at San Antonio Spurs ($10,900) — Antetokounmpo’s price is under $11,000 for the first time in over two months for a matchup against a soft Spurs defense that has allowed the fifth most points to opponents and seventh most assists to opponents. Antetokounmpo is having the best season of his career, posting a league-high 33.9 player efficiency rating while averaging 60 DKFP per game, and the only reason Antetokounmpo’s fantasy output hasn’t been higher is because the Bucks often blow their opponents out. The Bucks are 7-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook for this game, but the fact that the matchup is taking place in San Antonio could keep it close enough to Antetokounmpo to not have his minutes cut too significantly.
Power Forward
Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers at Charlotte Hornets ($8,600) — Sabonis attempts over half of his field goal attempts within five feet of the basket, a zone that the Hornets have been poor at defending. Charlotte has allowed the second most field goals within five feet of the basket while allowing opponents to shoot the seventh highest field goal percentage in that zone, creating a soft matchup for Sabonis in the interior. Sabonis also has a strong matchup on the glass given the Hornets’ rebounding issues. Charlotte ranks as the league’s fourth worst rebounding team by the percentage of missed shots they rebound. Sabonis’ 23% usage rate is second highest on the Pacers.
Center
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans ($7,900) — Gobert has an appealing matchup against the aforementioned Pelicans, who in addition to allowing the third most points to opponents have been prone to allowing baskets near the basket. The Pelicans have allowed the fifth most field goals per game within five feet of the basket, the zone that Gobert takes nearly all of his shot attempts. New Orleans also ranks as a below average rebounding team by the percentage of missed shots they rebound, giving Gobert a decent matchup on the glass as well.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is timfinn521) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.