Welcome to the Monday NBA DFS slate. I hope you had a profitable weekend as we continue on this season. Be sure to monitor injury news as injury tags are scattered across tonight’s slate with some big names like Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry.
If you’re going to play NBA DFS you have to keep in mind lineup announcements and stay tuned for late swapping. That is going to be the easiest way to stay ahead of the field and in the money. We have a six-game slate on DraftKings and an eight-game slate on FanDuel.
On FanDuel for example, I don’t expect too much ownership to end up on the Atlanta-Sacramento game, which makes for great leverage opportunities if you opt to roster players from this game. In the end, it’s about making the right choices and picking your spots, which is why I’m here. Let’s break down the top plays for this slate.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $9,300
- FanDuel: $9,400
In a semi-surprising turn of events, the Detroit Pistons this year are quietly putting together a formidable team, at least compared to last year. Currently sitting just below .500, Detroit would be the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, which is crazy to think about coming off such a dreadful season a year ago. A lot of that is due to Cade Cunningham. The Oklahoma State product has bumped his scoring, rebounding and assists this year with his usage rate staying above 30%.
More importantly, for our sake, he’s averaging around 50 fantasy points a game. He projects above that tonight. The Bulls allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards and that’s thanks to their defense that continues to decline, ranking 25th in the league while staying consistent as the fastest-paced team in the NBA.
Cunningham will only see additional work to what he’s already getting. He may be coming off a back-to-back, but so is Chicago. At least Detroit is coming home. I’m more than happy to save salary elsewhere to get Cunningham into my lineups tonight.
Devin Booker (PG, SG, SF – PHO)
- DraftKings: $9,500
- FanDuel: $8,700
I hate to go consecutive guards but Devin Booker is going to get all the usage with Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant continuing to be out for the Suns. Orlando isn’t exactly the most friendly matchup with a high-powered defense but they are suffering from injuries themselves and have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this year.
Booker has averaged around 40 fantasy points per game this season but he’s tallied 46, 51 and, most recently, a 60+point effort yesterday against Minnesota. Considering his price has stayed relatively steady, he’s going to be a go-to option, especially on FanDuel with a cheaper price and guard-forward status. Still, he’s a top play for me on this slate.
- DraftKings: $8,500
- FanDuel: $8,500
With Joel Embiid questionable tonight and Giannis Antetokounmpo priced to the nines, Bam Adebayo is my go-to choice for the center spot, especially if Embiid ends up being out. Yes, there is Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,000 on DraftKings; $9,200 on FanDuel) but I prefer a lot of other Knicks players that we will get to later and Towns seems to have too much ownership for my liking.
Adebayo projects for around 45 points and has only scored below 35 fantasy points once in his last six contests. He’s been playing ridiculous minutes recently, averaging over 40 minutes in his last three games. A double-double should be in the books for Adebayo and he isn’t garnering any crazy ownership.
- DraftKings: $8,900
- FanDuel: $8,700
I hate to go so big on point guards but if I didn’t discuss a player going up against the Washington Wizards I would be tarnished by the DFS gods. Despite the Knicks ranking as one of the slowest teams in the league, they’ve had the third-most efficient offense to date.
Jalen Brunson has been a big reason for that as he has only dipped below 30 fantasy points twice all year. Going against Washington is a godsend. I don’t want to sound like a broken record but the Wizards are the third-fastest team in the league with the worst defense. They allow the second-most points per game to opposing guards and have lost eight straight games, allowing 120+ points in six of those contests. The Knicks will garner a ton of ownership but they should as they are clear cash plays this evening.
- DraftKings: $7,000
- FanDuel: $7,200
With a game total of around 234 points, a lot of options here will make for go-to cash options. Zach LaVine has stayed steady at around $7,000 this year and projects just shy of 40 fantasy points tonight. His usage has stayed steady at 24% with his scoring at 20 points a game.
LaVine has managed double-digit efforts in four of his last five starts since returning from injury, scoring 26 and 31 against tough opponents. His ceiling might be a bit capped from Chicago’s general offense ranking below average but LaVine will get his looks and won’t break the bank to get you the points you need to get you in the money.
- DraftKings: $9,100
- FanDuel: $8,800
It’s hard to think that I’m typing up Franz Wagner as a solid cash play but the NBA is weird sometimes, so here we are. With Wendell Carter Jr. and Paolo Banchero sidelined, Wagner’s usage has skyrocketed of late, tallying 40+ fantasy points in each of his last six games. That’s a solid floor to lean on.
With Phoenix dealing with some injuries, Wagner should do just fine against a team that allows the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing big men. As the second highest-priced forward on the DraftKings slate but a steep drop-off from Antetokounmpo, Wagner should gain significant ownership. He’s shown a consistent floor with the current Orlando rotation, so I expect him to be a solid cash play.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $6,900
- FanDuel: $6,800
Originally, I was going to put Turner in the value section but after seeing his early projected ownership comfortably in the single-digits I decided to add him here as a GPP play. Indiana may be coming off a back-to-back but Myles Turner posted 34 points yesterday with nine boards and 50+ fantasy points. I’m not saying he will repeat that type of performance tonight but he’s priced the same and Toronto is a much center-friendlier matchup than Miami.
The Raptors have allowed the third-most points to opposing centers this year and Turner has shown his ceiling. With him on the court for around 34 minutes with a usage rate of around 25%, he is a great option away from the big names at center. If for some reason you can’t find yourself clicking on Turner, Pascal Siakam ($7,200 on DraftKings; $7,300 on FanDuel) is a solid option for similar reasons.
- DraftKings: $6,300
- FanDuel: $5,800
After posting 32 points against Milwaukee last week, Gradey Dick has been on prime DFS radar. Tonight he goes against a 22nd-ranked Indiana Pacers defense where the game total sits at one of the highest on the slates.
Coming in around 5% ownership, Dick is a pure large-field GPP play but has the chance to shoot the lights out and get there. He especially offers a potentially high return on investment (ROI) on FanDuel. Despite his dual status, it doesn’t seem like anyone is rostering the Kansas product, making him a prime GPP candidate.
- DraftKings: $4,500
- FanDuel: $5,200
For a near punt play in deeper league GPPs, we have Taurean Prince. It’s not my favorite play but with projected ownership around 2%, the Bucks forward is an easy way to get different from the field for a game total of around 224 against Houston.
The Rockets will pace up Milwaukee and Prince will see the floor for over 30 minutes. He’s scored double-digit numbers in consecutive games, with a double-double against Detroit last week. It isn’t the sexiest play for sure, but it does give you some leverage and differentiation against the field.
NBA DFS Value Plays
- DraftKings: $3,700
- FanDuel: $4,900
I will lead that value will open up closer to slate tip when injuries and lineups get announced and officialized, but early on, Nikola Jovic might just be that option. His price is a lot friendlier on DraftKings but if Jimmy Butler ends up missing again with his ankle injury, Prince is a clear value play on both sites.
The 76ers have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards and Jovic should be efficient in his 20 or so expected minutes. He’s scored in the double digits in four of his last five games and should bring in five or six boards with an assist or two sprinkled in. He makes for a fine punt play as the slate currently stands but could end up being a must-roster option depending on how injuries shape up.
- DraftKings: $4,100
- FanDuel: $4,400
With a total of around 238 points tonight in Toronto, there is bound to be value that leaks through with both teams ranking in the top half of the league in pace of play and both teams in the bottom half of the league in defensive ranking.
I’m targeting Indiana players more as favorites and against a Toronto team that isn’t ranked dead last in defensive metrics because the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz exist. T.J. McConnell projects for over 20 fantasy points tonight, which should make for a fine value play.
- DraftKings: $6,600
- FanDuel: $6,700
For another obligatory Wizard opponent, we have Mikal Bridges. With dual guard-forward status, he’s going to be high-owned and isn’t as much of a punt option as some value plays. He feels like someone who should be in your lineups.
Bridges has seen his price jump a bit but that was after a 40-point fantasy outing. He has an even friendlier matchup tonight. Bridges has historically played better at home, averaging nearly 20 points a night in his five home games this year. I project him for around 35 fantasy points. He is capable of reaching 6X value tonight from his salary.
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