Welcome back to another Monday in the world of NBA DFS! Tonight we have a sizable nine-game slate to work from so there should be plenty of opportunity to differentiate your lineup. With over/under numbers from Vegas still rolling in there is no clear winner as far as highest implied total so I’ll just start with a couple of items of note. Russell Westbrook is suspended for tonight’s matchup with the Heat for collecting his 16th technical foul on the season. Without Westbrook, there are five players that come in at $10k or more for salary so choosing the right one(s) will be important.
This article is intended to focus on the players I think have the best chance to push your lineup into the green. Players listed here will have the best chance of success based on match-up, recent play, and opportunity. There will be two players listed for each position, with the exception of center which will have one. As always good luck!
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Point Guard
Fred VanVleet (TOR): $4,600 vs. NYK
With Kyle Lowry dealing with an ankle issue he is questionable for tonight with it looking likely he’ll miss tonight’s match-up with the Knicks. This will open the door for VanVleet to get some more opportunities against a Knicks team that ranks 15th against the position. With Lowry off the floor, VanVleet sees almost a two percent increase in usage rate. At such a low salary you’d only need 23 FanDuel (FD) points to get to 5x value, which in a match-up like tonight’s is very reasonable.
Welcome back to another Monday in the world of NBA DFS! Tonight we have a sizable nine-game slate to work from so there should be plenty of opportunity to differentiate your lineup. With over/under numbers from Vegas still rolling in there is no clear winner as far as highest implied total so I’ll just start with a couple of items of note. Russell Westbrook is suspended for tonight’s matchup with the Heat for collecting his 16th technical foul on the season. Without Westbrook, there are five players that come in at $10k or more for salary so choosing the right one(s) will be important.
This article is intended to focus on the players I think have the best chance to push your lineup into the green. Players listed here will have the best chance of success based on match-up, recent play, and opportunity. There will be two players listed for each position, with the exception of center which will have one. As always good luck!
BRACKET PICKS: This strategy won $1.1 million in prizes »
Point Guard
Fred VanVleet (TOR): $4,600 vs. NYK
With Kyle Lowry dealing with an ankle issue he is questionable for tonight with it looking likely he’ll miss tonight’s match-up with the Knicks. This will open the door for VanVleet to get some more opportunities against a Knicks team that ranks 15th against the position. With Lowry off the floor, VanVleet sees almost a two percent increase in usage rate. At such a low salary you’d only need 23 FanDuel (FD) points to get to 5x value, which in a match-up like tonight’s is very reasonable.
Stephen Curry (GSW): $9,400 @ SAS
Of the elite point guards tonight I like Curry. He’s coming off a three-game stretch where he’s recorded at least 40 FD points (also has done that in five of the past seven). So getting that kind of floor with a player at this salary range is a good deal. San Antonio ranks 20th against point guard, and the last time Steph saw the Spurs he posted a 41 FD point game in just 28 minutes of action. Given his recent play, I’d feel very comfortable spending up for Steph tonight.
Shooting Guard
Zach LaVine (CHI): $8,300 @ PHO
I’ve chosen LaVine here because this game sports a nice implied total of 229 points with a spread of just three. Meaning this game will have points to go around and should remain close to the end which means more opportunity for LaVine. As the clear leader in usage and the go-to guy for a young Bulls team, he will get every opportunity to keep the Bulls close in this one. His salary is also not out of reach for a player that has 50+ FD point potential (has accomplished that twice in the past seven games). There’s no question he’ll get the work necessary to get to 5x value (41.5 FD points).
Devin Booker (PHO): $9,800 vs. CHI
For a lot of the same reasons I chose LaVine, Booker appears in this list. This game sports a 229 implied total and should remain close to the end so I’m taking the leader in usage rate for both teams. Booker is a pure scorer with 60+ FD point upside (he’s exceeded 60 FD points in two of the past four games). Chicago ranks 20th against opposing shooting guards and it’d be easy to see this game turning into a LaVine versus Booker shootout. With some value being available at the other positions and shooting guard not providing a lot of depth tonight I’m spending up at both spots to get a piece of this game.
Small Forward
Jabari Parker (WAS): $6,100 vs. UTH
Jabari shows up in this list as someone who has been very consistent of late. He’s recorded at least 30 FD points in seven of the past 10 games, including a string of three straight. Even as a sixth man he offers double-double potential on any given night and even in a tough defensive matchup like the one tonight he will get his opportunities to produce. He’s coming into tonight off the back of two straight double-double efforts with the most recent one coming against Memphis, another tough defensive team so he’s proven he can transcend a tough match-up. This game has an implied total of 228.5, which is a number I’m very comfortable with for Parker to get his share.
Kevin Knox (NYK): $4,200 @ TOR
I view Knox as a value play move tonight against a Toronto team that ranks 14th in defense against opposing small forwards. While this may seem like a tougher match-up the last time Knox saw the Raptors he posted a 20 point, four rebound, and two assist effort leading to 30.8 FD points. At such a low salary he’d need 21 FD points to get to 5x value, which he’s done in three of the past four games.
Power Forward
Markieff Morris (OKC): $3,500 vs. MIA
If you’re looking to spend down at the power forward position starting with Markieff would be a place to start. His production has been a little erratic just as his playing time has been. He is still a productive scorer and rebounder when given the opportunity and coming in at the bargain base price you’d really only need 20+ FD points to consider his selection a win. He’s projected to see 15-20 minutes off the bench, which would give him plenty of time to produce.
Bam Adebayo (MIA): 5,800 @ OKC
Sticking with the same game Adebayo appears in this list due to his recent play, posting at least 30+ FD points in four of the past five games. He carries double-double potential each night and can get his production through peripheral stats as well, not relying solely on his scoring. This elevates his upside coming into a game against the Thunder who rank 19th against opposing power forwards. In his last match-up with the Thunder, he posted a 10 point, nine rebound, and two assist performance leading to 23.8 FD points.
Center
Marc Gasol (TOR): $7,000 vs. NYK
With Serge Ibaka missing Monday night’s game due to suspension it opens the door for Gasol to gain more opportunity. There’s no denying Gasol’s talent as a true jack-of-all-trades type of center, he can produce in all statistical categories increasing his upside. He gets a Knicks team that ranks 21st against opposing centers making it a palatable match-up for him as well. With increased opportunity, I’m banking on Gasol reaching the 35 FD point level needed for 5x value.
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Chris Berg is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @bergey13.
