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Monday night presents a nine-game slate to attack, and DraftKings continues to offer huge tournaments for DFS players. Below are some of my favorite targets at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [100K to 1st]
EDITOR’S NOTE: Monday’s Timberwolves-Nets game has been postponed.
Point Guard
Stud
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans, $9,300 - Fox has been great lately, amassing 48.9 DKFP per game over his last four, and this is a prime spot vs. the Pelicans. This New Orleans’ club lacks rest after taking on the Cavs Sunday, and their 28th-ranked defense has yielded the seventh-most DKFP per game to opposing point guards in 2020-21.
This will be the third time Fox has met this soft Pelicans’ defense in 2020-21. He was absolutely brilliant in the first two matchups, producing a ridiculous 70.3 DKFP per game. Considering these results and his recent success, Fox is very underpriced at only $9,300 tonight.
Other Options: Stephen Curry ($10,300), John Wall ($8,000)
Value
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls, $6,800 - This is the cheapest Morant has been all season, and the Bulls are a plus spot, ranking 24th in defensive rating over their last 10 outings. Furthermore, the 21-year-old will be at home, where he is generating 5.1 more DKFP per game this season. Also, the O/U game total for this matchup is up to 229 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
In the 11 home games that have presented a total of at least 225 points, Morant is averaging 42.3 DKFP this season.
Other Options: Bruce Brown ($4,800), Jalen Brunson ($4,400), Facundo Campazzo ($3,600 - if Jamal Murray is out)
Shooting Guard
Stud
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz vs. Washington Wizards, $9,200 - Mitchell can’t be stopped right now, scoring 54.8 DKFP per game in his past three, and the All-Star’s impressive run is guaranteed to continue vs. the Wizards. Mike Conley (rest) will be out Monday and Jordan Clarkson (doubtful, ankle) is also likely to be sidelined, solidifying Mitchell with an elite role against this Washington club that ranks first in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency. When both Conley and Clarkson have been off the floor this year, Mitchell has garnered a 34.8% usage rate and a 32.8% assist percentage, both of which are team-highs for the Jazz.
Back on March 18, Utah and Washington faced off for the first time this season, and Conley was also out for rest purposes. The result: Mitchell went off for 60 DKFP across 38.3 minutes of work. His ceiling is even higher if Clarkson winds up being ruled out, and Mitchell is a building block for both cash-games and GPPs.
Other Options: Devin Booker ($9,000), Zach LaVine ($8,700)
Value
Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz vs. Washington Wizards, $5,700 - Ingles is in the same boat as Mitchell. The absences of Conley and Clarkson are a huge boost to his fantasy stock, and his current price doesn’t reflect this opportunity, especially in this strong of a matchup. With just Clarkson inactive in these past two, Ingles has averaged 34.25 DKFP per game off of 33 minutes a night. This is a huge leap from the 26.4 minutes per game the wing has averaged this season, and Ingles is a lock for 30-35 minutes as the replacement starter for Conley.
In that first matchup vs. the Wizards sans Conley last month, Ingles recorded a season-high 51.25 DKFP in 32.3 minutes.
Other Options: Dillon Brooks ($5,600), Landry Shamet ($3,700)
Small Forward
Stud
Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors. $7,000 - Night in and night out, Porter Jr. is underpriced for his consistency. In 35 minutes Sunday afternoon, the forward notched 41.25 DKFP against a tough Celtics’ defense that ranks sixth in defensive rating over their last ten games. This was Porter Jr.’s second straight effort above 40 DKFP, and he is obtaining 38.4 DKFP per game over his past 10. Even with Aaron Gordon ($5,800) in town, Porter Jr. has played 34.2 minutes per game, and this up-tempo matchup vs. the Warriors (second in pace) is optimal for the athletic 22-year-old.
Porter Jr. should be able to exceed five-times value in this spot. As always, I fully expect him to be under-owned in large tournaments.
Other Options: DeMar DeRozan ($7,800), Anthony Edwards ($7,500)
Value
Kent Bazemore, Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets, $4,300 - Kelly Oubre Jr. (wrist) was out Saturday, and in his place, Bazemore was interested into the Warriors’ starting five, scoring 29.75 DKFP across 32 minutes in the win vs. the Rockets. The Warriors have already ruled Oubre Jr. out for Monday’s tiled, keeping the door open for Bazemore to smash value with the starting role.
At least 30 minutes is a fair expectation for the 31-year-old, particularly with James Wiseman (knee) also on the shelf. In the last 10 contests Bazemore has logged 30 minutes or greater, he is providing 26.4 DKFP per game.
Other Options: Buddy Hield ($6,200), Joe Harris ($5,600), Talen Horton-Tucker ($5,300 - if Kyle Kuzma is out)
Power Forward
Stud
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lonzo Ball (hip) has been ruled out Monday vs. the Kings.
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings, $9,700 - Lonzo Ball (questionable, hip) seems likely to miss his third straight Monday, which would be huge news for Williamson. In these past two without the point guard, Williamson has destroyed his opponents, averaging 62.75 DKFP per game. This includes a 68.25-DKFP outburst against a Sixers’ defense that ranks second in defensive efficiency. In the eight total contests he has been active without Ball this season, Williamson is collecting a team-high 49.3 DKFP per game.
In these starts, the former top overall choice from 2019 NBA draft has watched his usage and assist rates increase four and 3.5 percentage points, respectively. Entering a matchup vs. the Kings, who rank dead-last in defensive efficiency, Williamson is worth every penny if Ball remains sidelined.
Other Options: Kevin Durant ($9,000), Richaun Holmes ($7,300)
Value
Royce O’Neale, Utah Jazz vs. Washington Wizards, $4,200 - O’Neale makes a ton of sense as a punt play tonight. Thanks to 33.5 minutes per game, the forward has produced 25.4 DKFP per game in these past two with Clarkson sidelined, and O’Neale’s role should grow even further with Conley also unavailable.
His usage sees a 1.8 percentage-point boost when both Clarkson and Conley are off the floor, and O’Neale should get into the 35-40 minute range against a soft Wizards’ defense that he tallied 24.75 DKFP against earlier this season.
Other Options: Bojan Bogdanovic ($4,900), Jeff Green ($4,600), Juan Toscano-Anderson ($3,200 - if starting)
Center
Stud
EDITOR’S NOTE: Karl-Anthony Towns (personal) has been ruled out Monday vs. the Nets.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets, $10,500 - Towns is one of the best lucrative spends of the night vs. the Nets. Their main weakness on the defensive end is stopping centers. Brooklyn is giving up the eight-most DKFP per game to the position this season. Fresh off a 59-DKFP showing vs. the Bulls last night, KAT is amassing 59.3 DKFP per game in his past 10 starts, including 62 DKFP against this Nets’ club two weeks ago.
For whatever reason, Town’s salary has decreased $300 since Sunday, and the center is an excellent high-end value at only $10,500 for this nine-game slate.
Other Options: Nikola Jokic ($10,400), Joel Embiid ($10,100), Rudy Gobert ($7,900), Jonas Valanciunas ($7,300)
Value
Nicolas Claxton, Brooklyn Nets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, $3,100 - With LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) out the lineup, Claxton is going to see an expanded role vs. the Timberwolves. With Deandre Jordan ($4,000) riding the bench and being a DNP-CD in the Nets’ last five, Claxton is the top candidate to get the starting nod at center tonight. Even if he doesn’t, the second-year big man is very likely to see above 25 minutes off the bench.
This season, Claxton has contributed 1.03 DKFP per minute and 21.8 DKFP per game when he has surpassed 20 minutes. The Wolves are extremely susceptible to centers, surrendering the second-most DKFP per game to the position, and Claxton is a very strong value at near-minimum salary, which would cause him to enter must-play territory if he winds up starting.
Other Options: Deandre Ayton ($6,900), Draymond Green ($6,700), Kelly Olynyk ($6,600), Willy Hernangomez ($3,900), Boban Marjanovic ($3,400 - if Kristaps Porzingis rests)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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