Kicking off the week prior to the all-star break, Monday’s schedule of games features a nine-game slate, all of which tip-off at 7:00 p.m. EST for the main slate. The Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, and Miami Heat are operating on a back-to-back.
Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel
Point Guard
Malcolm Brogdon (PG – IND): $6,500 vs. BKN
Brogdon has had trouble reaching the level he was at early in this season, but he’s still been a solid and consistent DFS threat that routinely hovers around value on a nightly basis. Not only does Brogdon play a consistent number of minutes, but his prowess as a two-way threat allows him to be a factor defensively. Brogdon’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets is an average one with the Nets ranking 10th in defensive rating and 9th in pace. Expect this contest to be a pace-up spot for Indiana Pacers players.
Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,700 vs. ATL
The days of Fultz from Philly are long gone as the former #1 overall pick is finding his groove in Orlando with the Magic as the starting point guard. Fultz doesn’t possess a tremendous DFS ceiling but has been a consistent threat capable of filling up the entire stat sheet. The Magic are generally not a team you want to target often in the DFS landscape, but the matchup against the Hawks is simply too good to pass up, with the Hawks ranked 27th in defensive rating and 5th in pace. This is a major pace-up spot for all Magic players, firmly placing them on the pedestal as options on tonight’s slate.
Kicking off the week prior to the all-star break, Monday’s schedule of games features a nine-game slate, all of which tip-off at 7:00 p.m. EST for the main slate. The Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, and Miami Heat are operating on a back-to-back.
Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel
Point Guard
Malcolm Brogdon (PG – IND): $6,500 vs. BKN
Brogdon has had trouble reaching the level he was at early in this season, but he’s still been a solid and consistent DFS threat that routinely hovers around value on a nightly basis. Not only does Brogdon play a consistent number of minutes, but his prowess as a two-way threat allows him to be a factor defensively. Brogdon’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets is an average one with the Nets ranking 10th in defensive rating and 9th in pace. Expect this contest to be a pace-up spot for Indiana Pacers players.
Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $5,700 vs. ATL
The days of Fultz from Philly are long gone as the former #1 overall pick is finding his groove in Orlando with the Magic as the starting point guard. Fultz doesn’t possess a tremendous DFS ceiling but has been a consistent threat capable of filling up the entire stat sheet. The Magic are generally not a team you want to target often in the DFS landscape, but the matchup against the Hawks is simply too good to pass up, with the Hawks ranked 27th in defensive rating and 5th in pace. This is a major pace-up spot for all Magic players, firmly placing them on the pedestal as options on tonight’s slate.
Shooting Guard
Khris Middleton (SG – MIL): $7,400 vs. SAC
As it currently stands, starting SF Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently listed as questionable tonight for personal reasons, and PG George Hill has already been ruled out of the contest. If Giannis doesn’t play, Middleton immediately becomes one of the top targets on tonight’s slate as his usage rate skyrockets to 34% without Giannis on the court. The Sacramento Kings are only an average matchup, but the Milwaukee Bucks should have no issues with a lack of opportunities as they operate with the quickest pace in the league.
Fred VanVleet (SG – TOR): $6,700 vs. MIN
VanVleet’s play tonight is predicated on the status and health of PG Kyle Lowry. If Lowry is ultimately ruled out – he’s currently listed as questionable – Steady Freddy becomes a prime target on tonight’s slate. If Lowry ultimately does suit up, it’ll surely murky the waters in terms of the Toronto Raptors’ roster. Still, VanVleet comes at a discounted price, is playing on a team looking to rattle off its 14th consecutive win, and opposes the 16th-ranked defense in the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Small Forward
Pascal Siakam (SF – TOR): $8,300 vs. MIN
The same theory applies to Siakam as it does VanVleet. Pascal has taken a step into superstardom this season but has struggled to find any consistency as of late. The Timberwolves present a nice matchup with their defense ranking just average, and the offense operating as the 7th-ranked in pace. It is expected to be a pacey contest, and the Timberwolves just recently moved their best defense in Robert Covington at the trade deadline, further weakening their ability to stop offenses. If Lowry is sidelined for tonight’s contest joining Marc Gasol and Norm Powell, Siakam’s ceiling climbs that much higher.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF – MIA): $4,700 @ GS
The status of SG Jimmy Butler has yet to be determined, though it may not matter with the Heat preparing to play the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are ranked 25th in defensive rating and 11th in pace. Jones has struggled to reach value in his last two games, though another spot-start in the place of Butler tonight could lead to a potential smash in value against a weak defense in the Warriors.
Power Forward
Bam Adebayo (PF – MIA): $8,500 @ GS
Regardless of the status of Butler, Bam is one of the more intriguing players on tonight’s slate. Not only is he an incredibly consistent player who routinely hovers around value, but he’s presented with a golden opportunity playing against the Warriors. The Warriors are bad defensively in general but are particularly bad at defending opposing big men. Bam is a major candidate to smash value tonight.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF – MIL): $3,500 vs. SAC
Ilyasova is either going to be a chalky play tonight, or someone who may not be owned by one single DFS player, and it all directly correlates to the status of Giannis. If Giannis is sidelined, feel free to fire up Ilyasova at the minimum price tag and watch him smash value as he typically does when starting. If Giannis suits up, don’t bother with Ilyasova. This contest between the Bucks and Kings is currently 2nd in the implied totals for the night.
Center
Nikola Vucevic (C – ORL): $8,600 vs. ATL
Vuce is the second Magic player I have on the docket for tonight, with no other player carrying more intrigue into tonight’s contest against the Hawks. The Serbian big man is a highly-skilled threat that can contribute in a number of ways, both offensively and defensively. As I mentioned above, the Hawks are incredibly weak defensively and play with one of the quickest paces in the league. Both of these statistics bode well for Vuce and his teammates.
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Sosa Kremenjas is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Sosa, check out his archive and follow him @QBsMVP.