Monday presents a seven-game slate. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position for Monday’s NBA action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors vs. Orlando Magic, $9,000
As losers of six of their last eight, every game is important for the Warriors right now and Curry has been putting the team on his back, scoring at least 53 FPTS in three of his last four starts. Curry is leading Golden State with a 33% usage rate and 1.4 FPTS per minute this season, and while the Magic rank 10th in defensive rating this season, this is a much easier matchup than usual, with Jalen Suggs (hip) doubtful.
Suggs is one of the top defensive guards in the NBA and with him off the floor this season, Orlando’s defensive rating is 7.7 points worse at 114.5. The Magic have given up at least 128 points in each of the last three games Suggs has missed and Curry should surpass five-times value with ease tonight.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,500), Keyonte George ($8,200), Desmond Bane ($7,900)
Value
Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets, $4,200
Collier has been tremendous recently, scoring 31.8, 38 and 38.8 FPTS in his last three games. During this stretch, the backup point guard is averaging 29.2 minutes per game off the bench, shooting 50% from the field, handling a 22% usage rate and leading the Jazz with a massive 50% assist rate.
Collier is amassing 1.0 FPTS per minute this season and his strong recent play should continue in this plus spot vs. the Nuggets, who continue to be without Aaron Gordon (hamstring). The forward is Denver’s best defender and with him sidelined for the past 12, the Nuggets rank 27th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Anthony Black ($6,400), Cameron Johnson ($5,000), Anfernee Simons ($4,400)
Forward
Stud
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers, $9,500
Brown was rested for the Celtics’ last game, so he hasn’t played since Friday and the former NBA Finals MVP should dominate this Pacers defense that ranks 19th in rating this season. Brown has been on a terrific run, scoring over 50 FPTS in nine of his last 10 starts, including a 61-FPTS outing vs. the Pistons a week ago, who rank second in defensive rating this season.
With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined, Brown ranks third in the NBA in usage rate (35.4%) and he is generating 1.34 FPTS per minute while shooting a career-best 50% from the field. Barring a huge blowout, Brown should top 50 FPTS tonight and he should come with decently low ownership.
Other Options: Anthony Davis ($9,200), Paolo Banchero ($8,700)
Value
Kenrich Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $3,200
The Thunder will be very shorthanded in their frontcourt tonight, with Chet Holmgren (illness), Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus) and Jaylin Williams (heel) all out. Starter or not, Williams should see over 20 minutes with his team so thin on big men and this is a plus spot vs. the Grizzlies, who continue to be without Zach Edey (ankle). With the center inactive for the last four, Memphis ranks 19th in defensive rating.
Williams is amassing 0.8 FPTS per minute with an 18% usage rate this season, and the veteran has a great chance to top 20 FPTS tonight, which would be an immense return at his near-minimum price tag. In the lone game Williams has logged over 20 minutes this season, he finished with 28.75 FPTS vs. the Jazz.
Other Options: Tobias Harris ($4,900), Hugo Gonzalez ($3,700)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz, $12,500
Jokic should bounce back in a big way tonight after a rare, quiet 39.2 FPTS performance vs. the Rockets on Saturday. Jokic has been incredible this season, averaging a triple-double of 66.9 FPTS per game. Handling a 30% usage rate, a 47.7% assist rate and a 38.8% rebound rate, the center is scoring a league-high 1.8 FPTS per minute.
Hosting the Jazz tonight, who rank second-to-last in defensive rating this season, the Nuggets boast an absurd 132.5-point implied team total on DraftKings Sportsbook, which is the highest team total the league has seen this season. Jokic is averaging 69.1 FPTS per game when playing behind an implied team total of at least 120 points at home the last two seasons (five games) and paying up for the big man is a smart move tonight.
Other Options: Jalen Duren ($7,500)
Value
Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers, $3,900
The Hornets will be without starting center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) tonight, making Diabate an excellent punt play. In the two games Kalkbrenner has missed this season, Diabate has scored 33.25 FPTS vs. the Bucks and 28.25 FPTS vs. the Hawks. The 23-year-old started at center in that most recent contest without Kalkbrenner and Diabate should start again tonight vs. the Cavaliers.
Cleveland will be without Evan Mobley (calf) for the fourth straight game and with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year out for the last three, the Cavaliers rank 24th in defensive rating and they are allowing the sixth-most points in the paint in the NBA. A double-double is within reach for Diabate in this situation and he is the top value on the slate at only $3,900.
Other Options: Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,400), Robert Williams ($4,300), Branden Carlson ($3,000)
