Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings at each position for Monday’s seven-game NBA slate, along with some strategies unique to this slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $325K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors ($11,100)
Westbrook is the highest-priced player on the slate and, like my momma always told me, you get what you pay for. The floor-ceiling combo may be unmatched. Look at his last four games: 52.5, 50.25, 69.75 and 94.5 DKFP. Who does that? Bradley Beal ($9,400) was out for all those games and is questionable Monday. Even if he plays, the floor-ceiling combo remains intact since Westbrook put up 59.75, 58.5, 40.5, 70.25 and 82.25 DKFP in the five games prior with Beal on the court.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jordan McLaughlin, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings ($4,400)
EDITOR’S NOTE: D’Angelo Russell (knee) and Ricky Rubio (back) will play off the bench on Monday vs. the Kings.
McLaughlin received the start and played 42 minutes last game because D’Angelo Russell ($6,200) was out again and Ricky Rubio ($5,800) was also sidelined — they are both doubtful for Monday. McLaughlin put up a whopping 38.5 DKFP in that contest. Don’t expect a repeat performance since he’s averaging 0.73 DKFP per minute on the season and has garnered a usage rate of 14 and 8% in the last two starts. With that said, he should be able to pay off his salary, and it’s within the range of outcomes that he can provide more.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks ($10,000)
James Harden ($10,900) has missed the last two games but was not on the injury report for Monday’s game. Without Harden on the court, Irving sees a 4.2 percentage-point usage bump to 34.9%. He’s gone for 54 and 46.75 DKFP in the last two games, with the latter total coming in a blowout. The matchup and game environment aren’t ideal, though, since the Knicks play at the slowest pace and are fourth in defensive efficiency. With that said, these teams played a few weeks ago and the final score was 117-112 in favor of the Nets. Harden also played in that one and Irving contributed 43.75 DKFP.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Hamidou Diallo, Detroit Pistons at Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,200)
I really like Gary Trent Jr. ($6,600) in a matchup vs. the Wizards, especially if Fred VanVleet is out, but I’ll go with Diallo at $1,400 cheaper. Since Diallo has arrived in Detroit, he’s played 19, 27, 26 and 25 minutes. The 19-minute game was his first in Detroit, so it makes sense his usage rate was only 12%. After that, though, the usage rate was 24, 19, and 26%, respectively. Diallo scored double figures in each game and stuffed the stat sheet in two of them. The matchup is a pristine one because the Thunder boost the fantasy points per minute of shooting guards by 22.33% above league average. Plus, there’s the revenge narrative if you’re into that sort of thing.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards ($6,600)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fred VanVleet (hip) has been ruled out Monday vs. the Wizards.
Since joining the Raptors, Trent Jr. has started all five games and averaged 32.7 minutes per game. He scored 10 and 15.25 DKFP in his first two games while getting acclimated to his new team. Then he went for 32.5, 40.5 and 40.75 DKFP. Kyle Lowry (foot) missed two of those games and VanVleet exited one early, so extra usage and shot attempts manifested. Well, Lowry is out Monday and VanVleet is questionable, so Trent Jr. should get plenty of opportunities again. The matchup is a juicy one, too, since the Wizards play at the fastest pace in the league and are 26th in defensive efficiency.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Aleksej Pokusevski, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Detroit Pistons ($5,300)
The shooting efficiency can be vomit-inducing, but there’s also upside when he gets hot. Over the last three games, he’s garnered a usage rate over 22 and attempted double-digit shots in each game. He’s scored 8, 20 and 21 points and contributes in the other categories, providing some semblance of a floor. Over the last seven games, he’s put up at least 20 DKFP in each and gone over 30 in three of those contests.
Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards ($8,500)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fred VanVleet (hip) has been ruled out Monday vs. the Wizards.
I really like Julius Randle ($9,600), as well, but I'll take the $1,100 discount. The game environment is magnifique for Siakam since the Wizards play fast and make business decisions on the defensive side of the court. With Lowry out and VanVleet possibly sidelined, too, usage will flow to Siakam. He’s coming off a game in which he had a 35.8% usage rate and put up 58.25 DKFP. (Checks to see who may be defending him today: Davis Bertans. Oh, baby.)
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings ($5,000)
Since entering the starting lineup seven games ago, McDaniels has averaged 32.6 minutes per game. That’s half the battle. There has been variance to his game though — he has a low of 14.5 DKFP with a high of 32.5. He’s attempted double-digit shots in four games while shooting five or fewer in two games. The matchup vs. the Kings is a good one since they play at the 10th-fastest pace and are dead-last in defensive efficiency. Against power forwards, they boost the fantasy points per minute by 8.01% above league average.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings ($10,600)
I guess there will be at least one Kings player on my roster tonight. There’s a reason DraftKings Sportsbook has this game with the highest total at 235. Towns is amazing. He averages 1.42 DKFP per minute and, over his last six games, he’s gone for 70.5, 59, 53.25, 62, 56.25 and 66 DKFP. The Kings play fast, don’t play defense and boost the fantasy points per minute to centers by four percentage points above league average. As if he needed any more help.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Boban Marjanovic, Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz ($3,800)
EDITOR’S NOTE: PF/C Kristaps Porzingis (wrist) has been ruled out Monday vs. the Jazz.
This recommendation will depend on the status of Kristaps Porzingis, who he is listed as questionable. In addition, Willie Cauley-Stein (health protocols) is out ,so Marjanovic could see significant minutes, especially to match up against Rudy Gobert ($7,900). Marjanovic is a per-minute monster, averaging 1.23 DKFP per minute. He’s coming off a game in which he played 24 minutes and contributed 33.5 DKFP.
Overall Lineup Strategy
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My focus is on the SAC/MIN and WAS/TOR games. Both environments should be fantasy friendly, and there are both studs and value to be rostered.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $325K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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