Welcome back, everyone. For Monday night, we get an eight-game slate to attack, and DraftKings continues to offer huge tournaments for DFS players. Below are some of my favorite targets at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Shootaround [100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $10,500
The Wizards will be getting Bradley Beal (knee) back from a one-game absence tonight, but that shouldn’t stop us from rostering Westbrook. Even before the 80.5 DKFP outburst vs. the Bucks on Saturday night, the former MVP was playing tremendous basketball, scoring 55 DKFP per game across his previous 10 starts, all of which came with Beal in the lineup.
Following their win Saturday, the Bucks didn’t leave the nation’s capital and they will go head-to-head with Westbrook and the Wizards again on Monday. The 32-year-old is providing 55.8 DKFP per game on his home floor this season and is a strong bet for over five-times value in this likely shootout.
Other Options: James Harden ($11,000), Luka Doncic ($10,600), De’Aaron Fox ($9,100)
Value
Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards, $6,500
Holiday didn’t face a minutes restriction Saturday night vs. the Wizards and we saw the combo-guard have his best outing since he contracted COVID-19 last month. In 32 minutes of action, Holiday recorded 38 DKFP and on tap for Monday is a rematch with Washington. No defense has given up more DKFP to opposing point guards than the Wizards this season and Holiday is simply mispriced.
The well-rounded veteran should never cost less than $7,000, especially in a juicy spot like this and Holiday is a viable option for both cash games and GPPs.
Other Options: Dennis Schroder ($6,200), Donte DiVincenzo ($5,100)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets vs. Sacramento Kings, $6,900
The Kings will visit the Hornets tonight and this game’s total sits at a whopping 239.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. If you didn’t already know, Sacramento is the worst defense in the association, ranking dead last in efficiency, and opposing shooting guards have exposed them for the sixth-most DKFP per game this season.
This is the largest total the Hornets have competed in this year and when the total has been at least 230 points, Rozier has balled out with 35.1 DKFP per game. The streaky guard isn’t suited for cash games, but for GPPs, Rozier is an awesome target that will definitely come with a depressed ownership.
Other Options: Kyrie Irving ($9,300), Paul George ($8,200)
Value
Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets, $5,600
With Derrick Rose (out, health protocols) and Elfrid Payton (doubtful, hamstring) both inactive Saturday, Quickley stepped up and posted 35.75 DKFP in 33 minutes off the bench. His efforts were huge in securing this 22-point blowout win over the Thunder and both Rose and Payton are expected to be out again Monday night. This will be the third time the pair of point guards have missed a contest since the start of the month, and Quickley is averaging 38.4 DKFP per game with them sidelined.
This matchup is also in the rookie’s favor, with the Nets ranking 25th in defensive efficiency and eighth in pace, compared to the Knicks who are the slowest offense in the NBA. Playing up in pace is ideal for Quickley’s skillset and the guard is one of the better values on this eight-game slate.
Other Options: Reggie Bullock ($3,500), Rodney McGruder ($3,400)
Small Forward
Stud
Caris LeVert, Indiana Pacers vs. Denver Nuggets, $7,000
Paying up at small forward isn’t my preferred route for roster construction tonight, but I think LeVert is an interesting risk to take in GPPs. In his first game of competitive basketball since January, the 26-year-old didn’t carry a minutes limit and garnered a 31.7% usage rate Saturday night in his Pacers’ debut. This was a very encouraging sign and while his final score of 22.75 DKFP wasn’t the greatest outcome, LeVert was in a tough spot against the Suns (eighth in defensive efficiency) and we have to expect some positive regression going forward as he gets acclimated with his new team.
We all know he has the upside, with seven performances of over 35 DKFP in 13 contests this season, and I want to be ahead of the curve on LeVert before his price adjusts and he gets back to being a popular DFS play. Tonight’s meeting with the Nuggets carries a healthy total of 226.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, and LeVert could easily smash value at his current salary in this type of environment. By no means would I go overboard with how much exposure you have to him tonight, but if making multiple GPP lineups, attempting to be early on LeVert in a few of them is an appealing contrarian strategy.
Other Options: LeBron James ($10,300)
Value
RJ Barrett, New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets, $6,200
I prefer Quickly at a lower cost, but Barrett is also in play with the Knicks short on ballhandlers. With Payton and Rose unable to suit up Saturday, the second-year guard went off for a season-high 49.75 DKFP against the Thunder. He received 36 minutes of work and Barrett’s usage was up to 30% in the win.
Just like with Quickley, playing up in pace tonight vs. the Nets is perfect for Barrett’s game and in the Knicks’ first matchup against the inner-city rival earlier this season, the 20-year-old recorded 31.3 DKFP. Even with that huge fantasy score from Saturday in his game log, Barrett shouldn’t carry much ownership tonight and I don’t mind stacking him and Quickley together in the same lineup.
Other Options: Buddy Hield ($6,500), Will Barton ($5,300), Alec Burks ($4,400), Deni Avdija ($4,300, if Davis Bertans is out)
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks vs. Washington Wizards, $11,100
Saturday night, Antetokounmpo destroyed the Wizards for a 70.75 DKFP triple-double across 36 minutes. Tonight, he will face the same club and the two-time MVP’s price has only gone up $100 on DraftKings. Just as he was for that slate, Antetokounmpo is one of the top values of the night and a building block for all formats.
Following that monstrous performance Saturday, which was his second triple-double in a row, the 26-year-old is scoring 62.5 DKFP per game in his past 10. The Wizards are the fastest team in the NBA and they also rank fourth-to-last in defensive efficiency. Antetokounmpo is vastly underpriced at $11,100 and is a lock for over 60 DKFP.
Other Options: Domantas Sabonis ($9,600), Kristaps Porzingis ($8,300)
Value
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, $6,500
Whenever the Warriors are expected to be in a competitive tilt, Green needs to be on your radar, regardless of the matchup. In the 14 contests that he has been active for this year that have been decided by single digits, the former defensive player of the year is contributing 37.5 DKFP per game. Tonight features a date with the Lakers and the defending champs are only 2.5-point favorites against the Warriors on DraftKings Sportsbook.
This should be a very tight tilt and we should see Green get above 35 minutes, as the Warriors seek their second straight win after taking down the top-seeded Jazz yesterday afternoon. The veteran is averaging an outstanding 45.2 DKFP per game when he has seen 35 minutes or more this season and he will almost certainly sport a low ownership in GPPs this evening.
Other Options: Rudy Gay ($5,500, if DeMar DeRozan is out), Bobby Portis ($4,700)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers, $10,700
Even in an average spot against the Pacers, who rank 13th in defensive efficiency, Jokic is a viable expensive spend tonight. The center is essentially matchup proof this season, especially on his home floor, where he is generating 61.5 DKFP per game. This is 3.6 more DKFP than when Jokic is on the road and he is in good form right now, amassing 59.2 DKFP per game across his past 10.
To reach five-times value at his current price, Jokic needs to produce 53.5 DKFP tonight, which is something he has accomplished in 15 of his past 20 starts.
Other Options: Julius Randle ($9,800)
Value
Alex Len, Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $3,700
With Mortiz Wagner struggling to make an impact, Wizards head coach Scott Brooks decided to give Len a chance and started him at center Saturday night. As a result, the 27-year-old tallied 22.5 DKFP in a season-high 32.3 minutes of action against the Bucks. It is no guarantee, but if Len is named the starter tonight and Davis Bertans (questionable, calf) is inactive again for Washington, the center will enter the punt play conversation in this excellent matchup.
Milwaukee may rank 10th in defensive efficiency, but they are very susceptible in the paint, allowing the ninth-most DKFP per game to opposing centers. This season, Len is scoring right under 1 DKFP per minute and 24.2 DKFP per game when he has cracked the 20-minute mark.
Other Options: Richaun Holmes ($6,400), Ivica Zubac ($4,600, if Serge Ibaka is out),
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