The Magic will be without Jalen Suggs (back) for a second straight game on Monday when they roll into Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. Suggs suffered a back injury against Toronto on Friday, and without him on Sunday, rookie Jett Howard ($3,000) had a chance to shine. With Suggs joining Paolo Banchero (oblique) and Franz Wagner (oblique) on the sideline, Howard could have another chance to step up as a DFS value play on Monday.
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SF/PF Jett Howard at New York Knicks, $3,000
Howard was the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Michigan where he followed in the footsteps of his father Juwan Howard. In 18 games last year, Howard averaged just 3.7 minutes per game and made little fantasy impact. This season, he has been more involved, averaging 10.8 minutes per game in 34 games. Even with a larger role, he hadn’t made much fantasy impact until Sunday.
On Sunday, Howard made 7-of-16 shots in his career-high 25 minutes, scoring 21 points and finishing with 31 fantasy points by adding four assists and two rebounds. He has played over 20 minutes three times this season and scored double-digit points in five games. Howard has played over 10 minutes in each of the Magic’s last four games, culminating in his big workload on Sunday in the team’s 13-point home loss to the Jazz.
21 PTS 🪄 4 3PM 🪄 25 MIN
Jett Howard had the HOT HAND for the @orlandomagic! The 2023 NBA first round pick posted a career-high scoring night off the bench vs. the Jazz. #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/KhxcR9cupv
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 6, 2025
Cole Anthony ($4,900) is a safer play as explained by my colleague Garion Thorne in his value picks for today. However, Howard also has boom or bust upside and could help clean up garbage time work if the Knicks blow the injury-depleted Magic out.
Howard is available at the minimum salary and is worth a flier play as a sleeper on Monday if you’re looking for a bargain forward with some upside to round out your lineup.
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