DraftKings has a six-game Monday night slate to tip off the NBA DFS fantasy basketball week. It’s an interesting slate with several matchups between struggling teams. Those contests can often be good targets to find spots for NBA DFS stacks, since value plays can end up in smash spots. As you assemble your squad, check out these three options for NBA DFS stacks this Monday. “Stacking” is the strategy of including multiple players from the same NBA team on the roster of your fantasy team to take maximum advantage of a favorable matchup or game environment.
At this point in the season, it’s critical to watch the daily injury report throughout the day since key players could be unavailable. The Mavericks, Warriors and Trail Blazers are each playing for the second day in a row, so be especially aware of their injury reports since they could have unusual rotations on Monday. Let’s take a look at the matchups on this slate and spotlight some smash spots to stack.
Set your DraftKings NBA DFS lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Chicago Bulls vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Bulls and Grizzlies meet in the Windy City for the matchup with the highest over/under on the board this Monday. Both teams have been struggling defensively and playing at a fast pace, so there should be plenty of points scored. The Grizzlies are shorthanded (more below), so it should be a good spot to stack Chicago.
The Bulls won’t have Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey or Isaac Okoro, while Nick Richards is probable and Collin Sexton is questionable.
Core Plays: The key parts of a Bulls stack are Josh Giddey ($9,000) and Matas Buzelis ($7,700). Giddey has been scalding hot over the last few games, posting over 60 FPTS in three straight contests. He had a triple-double for 60.2 FPTS in 39 minutes on Friday, even in a tough matchup against the Clippers. He has four triple-doubles in his last six games and could reach a similar ceiling in this smash spot at home. Along with Giddey, Buzelis is one of the few players left in the core from before the trade deadline shakeup. Buzelis had a double-double and 36.2 FPTS against the Clippers and has scored 20+ points in six of his previous seven games, including an explosion for 41 points and 61.5 FPTS against the Warriors.
Value Options: Jalen Smith ($5,200) just returned from a calf injury and has been getting good minutes at center. He sat out against the Clippers but had 35.5 and 20 FPTS in his previous two games. He should be a great option against the thin Grizzlies frontcourt and has an extremely high ceiling. Rob Dillingham ($4,100) has been getting more work with all of Chicago’s injuries and has scored 12 points in each of his last two games, producing 30.8 and 24.5 FPTS. If Sexton is out again, Dillingham should get enough work to be a bargain play. Leonard Miller ($4,300), who came with Dillingham in the same trade, has also been productive with at least 14 points and 29 FPTS in each of his last three games. Stacking Smith, Miller or Dillingham with Giddey or Buzelis could be a great core of a strong NBA DFS Stack.
Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards
The Warriors were extremely short-handed against the Knicks on Sunday, and they’ll finish their back-to-back in Washington DC, where the players who are available will get a great matchup against the Wizards. Steph Curry, Seth Curry, Al Horford and Moses Moody all remain out, while Draymond Green is probable and Quinten Post is questionable.
Core Plays: Kristaps Porzingis ($5,500) will get a favorable matchup in his return after missing Sunday’s game. He only needed 22 minutes to rack up 20 points and 34.5 FPTS against Minnesota in his last game on Friday. Brandin Podziemski ($8,300) has been very productive while filling in and had 44.5 and 43.2 FPTS in his last two games. Gui Santos ($7,300) has been the other member of the Warriors posting great fantasy numbers lately with over 35 FPTS in four of his last five games. Both Podziemski and Santos have great matchups against the Wizards as well.
Value Options: De’Anthony Melton ($6,000) will return after missing Sunday’s game, which could cut into the playing time of Pat Spencer ($5,000), Will Richard ($4,700) and Gary Payton II ($4,500). Of the three, Payton is the best option to still mix into the stack since his production is multi-faceted and complements Melton well. Payton has scored double-digit points six of his last seven games and is coming off 40 FPTS on Sunday night in New York. Quinten Post ($4,100) had 22 points and 36.2 FPTS against the Knicks but is questionable and could get crowded out if both Porzingis and Draymond Green are back as expected.
Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls
The Grizzlies’ injury report is almost as long as Les Misérables, and just about as depressing. Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke are all out, while GG Jackson and Ty Jerome are doubtful and Walter Clayton Jr. is questionable. While that often leads to an odd rotation, it does give players who are in the mix a chance to step up and produce.
Core Plays: Javon Small ($6,000) has been carrying the load lately, whether he’s in the starting lineup or coming off the bench. He has at least 29 FPTS in four straight games and is coming off 37 FPTS against the Mavs and 36.75 FPTS against the Pistons in the Grizzlies’ back-to-back last week. Cam Spencer ($5,100) and Cedric Coward ($5,100) are also solid mid-range options on the wing who can help carry the scoring.
Value Options: If Jackson is out as expected, Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($5,400) will be in for more work in the middle. He has at least 22 FPTS in four straight games and had 17 points, nine rebounds and 33.75 FPTS in a strong showing against Portland in a similar matchup. Rayan Rupert ($4,600) has posted good numbers when he has played, but is on a two-way contract, so be sure to confirm his availability. He didn’t play against Detroit last Friday but had over 26 FPTS in two of his last three active games. Tyler Burton ($3,300) has been getting big minutes the last few games, but hasn’t turned in much production. If he keeps getting so much time, he could be worth a punt play.
