Monday night in the Association features a big 11-game slate of action. My typical lineup construction involves fitting in at least one high-priced stud option and while there are plenty to choose from on the slate there doesn’t seem to be enough value options, at least at this point of the day, to fit in a high-priced stud. So, I’m going with a more balanced lineup approach to the big Monday slate.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
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Point Guard
Reggie Jackson (DET): $6,200 vs CLE
The Cavaliers’ continue to struggle on the defensive end allowing the third most points per game this season. Stopping opposing PGs have been a big part of the problem as they have allowed the ninth most FanDuel points to the position this season. Jackson has had a solid and consistent season averaging 28.7 FanDuel points per game. He should be able to top his season average with a pace up game for the Pistons in a favorable matchup.
Darren Collison (IND): $5,700 @ ORL
Collison has topped 31 minutes in each of his last three games and has produced to exceed five times his salary in each game despite playing tough defensive opponents in the Heat, Pistons and Grizzlies. He gets an easier matchup on Monday against a Magic defense that has allowed the fourth most FanDuel points to opposing PGs this season.
Monday night in the Association features a big 11-game slate of action. My typical lineup construction involves fitting in at least one high-priced stud option and while there are plenty to choose from on the slate there doesn’t seem to be enough value options, at least at this point of the day, to fit in a high-priced stud. So, I’m going with a more balanced lineup approach to the big Monday slate.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Point Guard
Reggie Jackson (DET): $6,200 vs CLE
The Cavaliers’ continue to struggle on the defensive end allowing the third most points per game this season. Stopping opposing PGs have been a big part of the problem as they have allowed the ninth most FanDuel points to the position this season. Jackson has had a solid and consistent season averaging 28.7 FanDuel points per game. He should be able to top his season average with a pace up game for the Pistons in a favorable matchup.
Darren Collison (IND): $5,700 @ ORL
Collison has topped 31 minutes in each of his last three games and has produced to exceed five times his salary in each game despite playing tough defensive opponents in the Heat, Pistons and Grizzlies. He gets an easier matchup on Monday against a Magic defense that has allowed the fourth most FanDuel points to opposing PGs this season.
Shooting Guard
Victor Oladipo (IND): $7,900 @ ORL
I’m a sucker for a good narrative which sometimes puts me on players that don’t necessarily deserve to be rostered but I don’t think that is the case for Oladipo in his return to Orlando. Oladipo has been great for the Pacers this season and the Magic have allowed increased production to opposing SGs in rebounds (+8.0%), assists (+8.7%) and steals (+12.3%) giving Oladipo some upside in his return to the Magic Kingdom.
Lou Williams (LAC): $6,000 @ NY
Watch Patrick Beverley‘s status for Monday’s game closely. If Beverley plays then I’d consider pivoting away from Williams to either Andrew Wiggins or Dwyane Wade. In 10 games with Beverley in the lineup, Williams is averaging 21.6 FanDuel points per game. With Beverley out of the lineup, Williams is averaging 35.2 FanDuel points over five games. The matchup with the Knicks is a favorable one for Williams as long as he gets the minutes if Beverley is out.
Small Forward
Paul George (OKC): $8,500 @ NO
When deploying a balanced lineup, you still need to get some upside players such as Oladipo and Paul George into your lineup. George is playing big minutes for the Thunder right now, reaching the 40 mark in four of his last five games. He should log heavy minutes again on Monday against the Pelicans in what should be a close and fairly high-scoring game. The Pelicans have allowed increased production to opposing SFs in every key category this season (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks). It could be a stat-stuffing night for George.
Courtney Lee (NYK): $5,100 vs LAC
Lee has played at least 35 minutes in three straight games. While he doesn’t produce a huge volume of points, he could see a spike on Monday if Tim Hardaway Jr. sits out. Lee has a reasonable salary and has produced five times his salary in four of his last five games. He has a solid floor and could have a little upside if Hardaway is ruled out.
Power Forward
Aaron Gordon (ORL): $7,500 vs IND
Gordon has underperformed his current salary in four straight games. How is that for a ringing endorsement to play him on Monday? Anyway, Gordon consistently plays at least 30 minutes and has an excellent matchup against a Pacers’ team that has allowed big increased production to opposing PFs in points (+10.4%), rebounds (+6.1%) and assists (+18.6%) which could lead to one of the blow-up games for Gordon that he is capable of when the matchup is right.
Dario Saric (PHI): $5,400 vs UTH
After struggling early in the season while playing fewer minutes, Saric has come on lately playing at least 33 minutes in five of his last six games. He put up 37.5 FanDuel points against the Jazz two weeks ago and that was when the Jazz still had Rudy Gobert patrolling the lane. Unsurprisingly, the Jazz interior defense hasn’t been as good without Gobert and Saric should be able to take advantage while getting big minutes at a reasonable price.
Center
Kevin Love (CLE): $7,500 @ DET
Sure, I would “love” to play one of the high-priced centers on the slate such as DeMarcus Cousins, Joel Embiid or Karl-Anthony Towns, but Love just feels too underpriced for the production he brings. He continues to post double-doubles with 10 in 16 games this season and he performed well against the Pistons last season averaging 14.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in two games. Love rounds out my balanced lineup nicely for Monday’s slate.
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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot
