The NBA tips off a huge week of hoops with eight games on the Monday night DFS slate on DraftKings. The action includes a nice NBCSN/Peacock doubleheader that starts with a nice Spurs-Heat matchup in Miami and concludes with the Warriors taking on the Mavs in Dallas. As you get your roster assembled for this slate, check out these top three options to consider 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 Raptors are the only team completing a back-to-back, but their matchup against the Jazz makes them especially fantasy-relevant despite that caution sign. Let’s take a look at the 16 teams on Monday’s slate and spotlight some smash spots to stack to start the week.
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San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat
The Heat play at the fastest Pace in the NBA, for both the season and over the last 13 games. As a result, they give up more possessions for their opponents, which often boosts whoever is playing them to exceed their season averages. The Spurs are in this “pace up” spot on Monday and could have extra work available in their rotation as well.
The Spurs listed both Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell as questionable, and if either or both sit out Monday, the other players will have to pick up the scoring load and usage.
Core Plays: We’ll get to plenty of cheaper plays later in these NBA DFS stacks, so let’s start with a pair of pay-up plays from the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama ($11,000) will have a very high ceiling in this showdown against Bam Adebayo ($9,200). Wemby only had to play 26 minutes on Saturday to rack up 50.5 FPTS against the Pacers and has 50+ FPTS in eight of his last nine games. De’Aaron Fox ($7,200) has also stepped up lately, averaging 38.2 FPTS per game over his last 10. If more work is available to pick up, he should be set for a big night against Miami, who has been one of the best matchups for point guards this season.
Value Options: If Castle or Vassell are out, rookie Dylan Harper ($5,000) would have a good chance to step up. He had at least 28 FPTS in three of his last four games. and is coming off a 24-point performance on Saturday. Julian Champagnie ($4,700) has scored double-digit points in three straight games and could get some extra work as well, while Keldon Johnson ($4,400) and Carter Bryant ($3,300) are good value plays, especially if Vassell is out. Bryant has played at least 20 minutes in three of his last four and had at least 17 FPTS, which is solid for a player with a salary so close to the minimum.
Memphis Grizzlies at Atlanta Hawks
The Grizzlies are in Atlanta to take on the Hawks and bring solid value if you can figure out the rotation. Their injury report still has plenty of big absences, leaving usage for the rest of the roster. Memphis has only won one of their last 11 games, but they did play the Celtics tough on Friday before losing by 20+ to the Hornets on Saturday.
Core Plays: The big name to build around is Ty Jerome ($7,000), who has shown a high ceiling with 40+ FPTS in three of his last four games. He’s still only playing around 25 minutes per game, but has been able to stuff the statsheet when he’s on the floor. He’s the only player on the team expected to play with a salary over $5,500.
Value Options: Javon Small ($5,300) and Gregory “GG” Jackson ($5,100) have both been very productive from their salaries just over $5,000, and both of them could get more work if Cam Spencer (doubtful, back) misses this game in addition to Cedric Coward and Jahmai Mashack. Taylor Hendricks ($4,800) and Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($4,700) have shown solid upside from their salaries as well, and Walter Clayton Jr. ($4,200) has some spike potential as an even cheaper value. Clayton had 24 FPTS against Charlotte and has at least 19 FPTS in three of his last five.
Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors
The Jazz host the Raptors, who are finishing their back-to-back after getting smashed by the Suns on Sunday. While Toronto could be a good stack depending on who is available, the Jazz actually make sense as a group of value plays as well. If you lost track of who’s getting time and producing, here’s a quick rundown of who to target Monday.
Core Plays: Rookie Ace Bailey ($7,100) has played big minutes all season and has picked up usage for his last few games without Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier and Lauri Markkanen, who all remain out on Monday. Bailey had 60.2 FPTS in the team’s win over the Bucks on Thursday and followed that up with 50.75 FPTS against the Sixers. He has been stuffing the stat sheet and even turning in good defensive numbers as well. Brice Sensabaugh ($6,600) has shown boom-or-bust upside in the past and has scored 20+ points in each of his last four games, and is coming off a huge 41-point game last week against the Timberwolves. He missed the last two games with an illness, but is not on the injury report for this game.
Value Options: As value plays, EJ Harkless ($5,100) and Kennedy Chandler ($4,500) make sense. Harkless has played at least 30 minutes in four of his last five games and had 43.5 and 39 FPTS in the two games that Sensabaugh missed. Chandler made his season debut in Saturday’s game, and he moved right into a big role without Collier and George, playing 37 minutes and producing 19 points and 34.2 FPTS. Harkless’s playing time could get cut a bit, but Chandler should have a clear path to playing time, making him worht a look as a bargain play while he continues to try and take advantage of his 10-day contract.
