Monday starts off the work week with a big 10-game slate in the Association. When building lineups on Monday there could be some landmines waiting to blow up your DFS lineups such as three teams playing on the second half a back-to-back including the Pistons, Rockets, and Pelicans who are also coming off an overtime game. Another potential lineup pitfall could be some games getting out of hand early with many teams in tank mode and four games with Vegas favorites of 10 or more points (Raptors, Celtics, Warriors and Thunder) so beware of shortened minutes for those clubs. If you can avoid the landmines then it should be another fun, high-scoring 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
Kris Dunn (CHI): $6,500 @ BKN
After missing nine games due to a concussion, Kris Dunn has returned to the court and gradually seen his minutes increase up to 28 in his previous game. While his shot is still a little rusty, he is able to supplement his fantasy points by consistently providing crooked numbers in the blocks and steals categories which are especially helpful on FanDuel at three points apiece. Dunn’s salary very reasonable right now for a player who will continue to see increased minutes and could start to get his shot to fall against a Nets’ defense that has allowed the fourth most points to opposing PGs this season.
Monday starts off the work week with a big 10-game slate in the Association. When building lineups on Monday there could be some landmines waiting to blow up your DFS lineups such as three teams playing on the second half a back-to-back including the Pistons, Rockets, and Pelicans who are also coming off an overtime game. Another potential lineup pitfall could be some games getting out of hand early with many teams in tank mode and four games with Vegas favorites of 10 or more points (Raptors, Celtics, Warriors and Thunder) so beware of shortened minutes for those clubs. If you can avoid the landmines then it should be another fun, high-scoring 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 FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Point Guard
Kris Dunn (CHI): $6,500 @ BKN
After missing nine games due to a concussion, Kris Dunn has returned to the court and gradually seen his minutes increase up to 28 in his previous game. While his shot is still a little rusty, he is able to supplement his fantasy points by consistently providing crooked numbers in the blocks and steals categories which are especially helpful on FanDuel at three points apiece. Dunn’s salary very reasonable right now for a player who will continue to see increased minutes and could start to get his shot to fall against a Nets’ defense that has allowed the fourth most points to opposing PGs this season.
Trey Burke (NYK): $4,900 vs GS
Coming out of the All-Star break the Knicks shook up their backcourt and Trey Burke has landed on his feet as the biggest beneficiary. In two games since the break, Burke has 26 points in each game on his way to 40+ FanDuel points in each game. He gets a favorable game environment on Monday in a pace up spot against the Warriors. His salary continues to be very affordable allowing you to pay up at other spots.
Shooting Guard
Jrue Holiday (NO): $8,500 vs PHO
You will want to get some exposure to the Suns/Pelicans matchup which as the highest Vegas total on the slate. I’ll get most of my exposure at the SG position, first with Jrue Holiday who has been phenomenal over his last four games averaging 27.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He is playing on the second leg of a back-to-back following an overtime win on Sunday but I do not have concerns about Holiday’s ability still play big minutes and be productive against a Suns’ team that has allowed the most FD points per game to opposing SGs this season.
Devin Booker (PHO): $8,400 @ NO
On the other side of the ball, Devin Booker has continued his hot hand from All-Star weekend but putting up 27 and 30 points in two games since the break. The best way to attack the Pelicans is from the outside where Booker lives. Booker has about a 30-point floor from his scoring alone and could rack up some secondary stats against a Pelicans’ team that has given up increased production in rebounds (+11.7%), assists (+3.4%) and steals (+4.8%) to opposing SGs.
Small Forward
TJ Warren (PHO): $6,500 @ NO
Staying with the Suns, we have T.J. Warren at a fairly weak SF position. Kevin Durant and Paul George are tough to pay up for as both of them could be sitting in the fourth quarter of potential blowouts. Warren appears to have figured out his role with the new acquisition of Elfrid Payton and the return of Booker to the lineup. In two games since the break, Warren has posted at least 36 FD points in each game while playing 34+ minutes per contest. When in doubt get exposure players in games with the highest Vegas totals.
Michael Beasley (NYK): $6,000 vs GS
This same mantra can be applied to rostering Michael Beasley who is facing the Warriors in the second highest Vegas total on the slate. He hasn’t really broken out since Kristaps Porzingis suffered a season-ending injury but he has supplied steady minutes with a solid floor by topping 27 FD points in six straight games. We know he has the potential for an upside game and maybe a fast-paced matchup with the Warriors could provide one of those explosion spots.
Power Forward
Aaron Gordon (ORL): $7,900 @ OKC
I waived between Aaron Gordon and Nikola Mirotic ($7,800) for this spot but sided with Gordon who is not coming off a back-to-back and still has some room to increase his minutes in just his third game back from injury. He played 31 minutes in his last game while compiling 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on his way to 40.9 FD points. He should see his minutes start to increase to the mid-30s as soon as Monday’s matchup with the Thunder who he lit up for 40 points and 15 rebounds earlier this season.
John Collins (ATL): $5,800 vs LAL
With the Hawks jettisoning Ersan Ilyasova out of Atlanta and in full youth movement (aka tank mode), John Collins should continue to start and play about 30 minutes per game over the rest of the season. Playing 30+ minutes in each of his last two games, he has averaged 10.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He draws a favorable matchup at home against the Lakers who have given up the seventh most FD points per game to opposing PFs this season.
Center
Alex Len (PHO): $5,200 @ NO
We round out Monday’s lineup with Alex Len who has finally seen a spike in playing time with Tyson Chandler out. Assuming Chandler misses another game on Monday, Len is still very reasonably priced for a big man who has posted back-to-back double-doubles and averaged 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks over his last three games. I do have some concern about foul trouble for Len facing Anthony Davis, so if you can squeeze out some extra salary look to move up to Julius Randle in the mid-range at center. Speaking of Davis, I have a feeling that he won’t reach value even though he has a great matchup since he is playing in the second game of a back-to-back, the Pelicans could win big or he just gets hurt early in the game and doesn’t return (we’ve never seen that before).
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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.