Two nights in row I have managed to sleep until at least 5 am. Trust me when I say this is a feat of incredible magnitude. Even the cat was nice enough to leave me alone. So with the sound of the coffee pot percolating I slipped out of bed and walked into the kitchen. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! This is the sound I heard as I headed for the coffee pot. The next few words that flew out of my lips I assure you were not G-rated.

Living in a house with four little girls, a wife, and a cat presents its share of challenges, the first of which is trying to stop the three-year-old from getting up in the middle of the night and getting into things. So as I flip on the light I see about 50 crushed SpongeBob’s and Patrick’s under my feet that apparently fell victim to the melee. Yup, SpongeBob cereal everywhere.

Tonight I am taking my wife to the Patriots game (even though I am a Colts fan) for our anniversary. One of my vendors was nice enough to give me the tickets so I figured a cold Monday night versus the Bills was in my future. So tonight I will be freezing in decent seats watching what should be a great Monday night game. So now that I have updated you with meaningless trinkets from my life let’s get to some Daily Fantasy Basketball.

We have seven games on the slate tonight which provides plenty of variation. The bad things is for the most part we have slow teams with low expected point totals tonight. So let’s make the best of it and try to cash a lineup.

Point Guard

In four straight games Russell Westbrook has scored more than 30 points with two double-doubles and with Kevin Durant still all banged up I cannot imagine this is a trend that will not continue. He is averaging over 50 fantasy ppg and is the only player I would take for the Thunder tonight versus a tough Utah defense. As with every night he is a great cash and GPP option if you want to spend up.

The guy I will be sure to have some exposure to tonight is Kemba Walker. Tonight he faces the Kings who are allowing over 21 ppg to the PG position on the season and the 16th most fantasy points. Walker is easily scoring in the double-digits and put up 31 points last Tuesday versus the Knicks. I say he can easily do that again tonight in a close game (CHA -5) with the highest current expected point total (207) on the evening.

"Golem," or Rajon Rondo as most of you may know him, has been absolutely unbelievable. He has had four triple-doubles in his last eight games, which is 50 percent of the time if you are as abominable at math as I can be at grammar. Although the matchup could be better with Rondo averaging over 12 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds on the season he is hard to ignore on a small slate I find thin at the PG options.

Although he does not score enough points for my liking, T.J. McConnell does get you plenty of rebounds and assists. He is averaging seven points, six rebounds, five assists and 23.3 fantasy ppg on the season. Tonight he gets a great matchup facing a Minnesota team allowing 25.9 ppg to the PG position. He has a great shot at getting a double-double tonight for the low price of $5000 on FanDuel and makes a great GPP play or punt option at the position.

If you really want to save tonight, Mo Williams is still battling some right ankle inflammation which opens the door for Matthew Dellavedova to draw the start again. He has scored over 20 fantasy ppg in the two games he has started and is facing an Orlando team allowing the 28th most fantasy points to the PG position. I can guarantee two things tonight, the first is I will be eating some food that is horrible for me at the Patriots game and the second is I will be using Dellavedova if he starts.

Two other guys I like who just missed the cut were Jeremy Lin who is playing at SG, facing a Kings team allowing over 26 ppg to the SG position and Ricky Rubio who is facing a Sixers team that has its own woes defending the PG position.

            FanDuelDraft Kings
PlayerTmOppM/G3PMREBASTSTLBLKTOPTSSpread$PTS$PTS
Russell WestbrookOKCUTA35.291.937.5710.212.50.435.0728.71 1190053.911230057.79
Rajon RondoSACCHA360.867.5710.142 3.8612.64207.5800037.09900039.82
Kemba WalkerCHASAC32.541.463.625.231.770.461.7716.77207.5750031.65690033.45
T.J. McConnellPHIMIN28.790.55.076.431.210.432.797.07198.5500023.3520025.2
Matthew DellavedovaCLEORL27.080.852.465.690.77 1.467.31196420018.88450020.15

Shooting Guard

The SG position is so thin tonight it could be the spokesperson for Bariatric Surgery. But the one guy you have to spend up on is Eric Bledsoe. Although he is playing PG, FanDuel has been nice enough to keep him in the SG slot. Thank you FanDuel. Although his price is high so is his production. He is averaging over 23 ppg with decent numbers in rebounds and assists. He is averaging over 38 fantasy ppg and tonight faces the Spurs who are allowing the 26th most fantasy ppg. He will be in my cash games for sure.

You know it's thin when Rodney Hood comes in No. 2 in my position coach article but hear me out. The Thunder are allowing over 23 ppg and the 29th most fantasy ppg to shooting guards on the season. Hood is scoring into the double-digits on a nightly basis and is averaging over 21 fantasy ppg. For the low price in a great matchup I find him hard to not use tonight.

Dwyane Wade is, well, who he is. On a night where the position is thin I find it hard to not have Wade somewhere if running multiple GPP’s (which I never have more than two). He has scored over 20 points in two games straight and the Knicks are the Knicks, and being who they are they allow 21.4 ppg to SG on the season. Wade should easily reach 30 fantasy points tonight but I am not sure he has that 40-point upside which makes him a GPP only play in my eyes.

Evan Fournier is playing at SF tonight but FanDuel has him still at SG. He takes a ton of shots and is averaging over 19 ppg facing a Cleveland team in the bottom half defensively (allowing the 17th most fantasy ppg) versus the SF position. Cleveland is a nine-point favorite should Fournier should see plenty of minutes tonight and deserves serious consideration.

The Sixers are allowing the most fantasy ppg to the SF position on the season. Luckily for us, FanDuel has Kevin Martin who is starting in the SF position tonight in the SG slot for the low price of $4,600. Martin is averaging almost 20 fantasy ppg (18.8) and over 13 ppg in a little over 20 minutes of playing time. In a great matchup he makes a fine punt play tonight.

            FanDuelDraft Kings
PlayerTmOppM/G3PMREBASTSTLBLKTOPTSSpread$PTS$PTS
Eric BledsoePHXSAS34.231.854.235.7720.463.6223.23 840038.27840041.22
Dwyane WadeMIANYK29.910.553.184.641.270.642.0918.64191.5730031.14680032.62
Evan FournierORLCLE38.152.464.232.921.46 1.8519.23196590029.77680032.14
Rodney HoodUTAOKC30.271.452.273.091.180.361.8213.27 470021.91500023.66
Kevin MartinMINPHI250.672.831.580.5 1.2513.25198.5460018.78390019.88

Small Forward

One team I always seem to avoid taking players from in DFS is the Spurs. They win, and someone has to score, but it seems when I take a Spur I get a guy who puts up 15 fantasy points by night's end leaving me with a horrible taste in my mouth.

Tonight I am going to go to that well in cash games and plugging in Kawhi Leonard. He is averaging over 21 points, seven rebounds, and 37 fantasy ppg and put up more than 40 fantasy points twice in the last four games. Tonight he faces a Phoenix team allowing the 26th most fantasy ppg to the SF position making him a must play. Loving me some Leonard.

Detroit tonight is only a two-point favorite in what should be a great game to watch versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Marcus Morris put up a double-double (16 points and 11 rebounds) versus the Timberwolves on Friday followed by an 18-point, nine-rebound, and four-assist game versus the Wizards on Saturday. He is averaging over 29 fantasy ppg and gets the Milwaukee defense allowing the 27th most fantasy ppg to the SF position. Great cash game play for a great price.

If you want to spend up tonight Carmelo Anthony is a great play in all formats. The Heat are allowing the 22nd most fantasy points to the SF position and Anthony is averaging over 36 fantasy ppg. These two in conjunction usually lead to a productive fantasy night and then we have the king…

LeBron James is still a dominant force in the NBA. LeBron who I find more pretentious then asking someone if they have Grey Poupon at a red light is averaging over 45 fantasy ppg and the Magic run in the middle defensively (15th in fantasy ppg). The thing is James is not a middle-of-the-road kind of player, he is averaging over 26 points, seven rebounds, and six assists per game and is the only player at the position who offers triple-double potential tonight. A great GPP play for sure.

Khris Middleton is playing at SG tonight, facing a Pistons team allowing 21.4 ppg to the SG position on the season. Middleton scores in the double-digits pretty much nightly and for the low price of $5,500 tonight on FanDuel should reach value. If you want to save to try and get some bigger players in then he might be a great way to save a few pennies. A little risky but worth a flyer.

            FanDuelDraft Kings
PlayerTmOppM/G3PMREBASTSTLBLKTOPTSSpread$PTS$PTS
LeBron JamesCLEORL36.231.317.236.231.540.693.3826.621961010045.721010048.42
Carmelo AnthonyNYKMIA34.141.717.213.290.790.572.0722.57191.5900036.8850039.06
Kawhi LeonardSASPHX34.251.837.421.831.671.251.0821.25 850037.65820039.48
Marcus MorrisDETMIL37.4616.622.081.460.381.6214.92191.5620028.05620029.69
Khris MiddletonMILDET35.231.693.152.311.230.231.3113.54191.5550022.4540024.06

Power Forward

Without a doubt my favorite play at the position tonight is actually playing center. Tristan Thompson has scored 21 points, 27 rebounds, and six assists in the two games since starting. Tonight he faces a Magic team allowing over 20 ppg to centers on the season and allowing the 21st most fantasy points. For the price he will be in all my cash games.

The Milwaukee Bucks are allowing 27.5 ppg to the PF position. I assure you this is not a typo. I had to check twice myself. What if I told you the Bucks are allowing the 24th most fantasy points to the PF position as well? With these two tidbits being revealed then it stands to reason a great value play tonight could be Ersan Ilyasova. Not only is he only $4,500 on FanDuel tonight he also has scored 20 points twice in the last five games with one game being 18 points. You have to love the chance.

Derrick Favors tonight, who averages over 34 fantasy ppg faces the Thunder who allowing 24.2 ppg to the PF position. His price is high but if you want to spend up at this position I see no other guy more worth the money than Favors. He is averaging over 16 points and nine rebounds per game and offers huge upside in the matchup tonight.

Cereal, Milk, and Kristaps Porzingis all go together. Snap, Crackle, and Pop. I cannot explain for the life of me why every time I write about Porzingis I cannot get the image of the three little elves out of my head. I imagine them all playing a little game of basketball versus the Keebler elves for the carbohydrate championship game.

Porzingis is the rookie sensation to say the least. He is averaging over 13 points and 8 rebounds per game and has scored over 20 points with two double-doubles twice in the last three. I own him in all seven of my seasonal leagues and will own him in some DFS tonight with the Heat allowing 21 ppg to the PF position.

The next two guys are a tie in the upside versus cost debate. Kevin Love is averaging over 36 fantasy ppg but I feel you are better served saving and what could be the best value of the day Marvin Williams who is averaging over 24 fantasy ppg facing a Kings team allowing the 24th most fantasy points to the PF position.

            FanDuelDraft Kings
PlayerTmOppM/G3PMREBASTSTLBLKTOPTSSpread$PTS$PTS
Derrick FavorsUTAOKC30.75 9.081.51.921.421.6716.17 810034.32760035.61
Kevin LoveCLEORL34.462.23122.460.690.622.5418.31196800036.48820039.46
Kristaps PorzingisNYKMIA26.140.868.790.790.711.51.7113.21191.5630027.65670029.38
Tristan ThompsonCLEORL25.92 9.770.920.460.770.777.69196560022.49530023.37
Marvin WilliamsCHASAC32.231.627.461.540.691.310.9210.08207.5510024.42570026.06
Ersan IlyasovaDETMIL25.621.693.621.230.460.381.1510.15191.5450016.88430018.48

Center

This is a great night for options at the center position. The best option tonight is DeMarcus Cousins who is actually playing at PF but FanDuel has him at C. The Kings-Hornets game has the highest expected point total of the evening and the Kings are five-point underdogs which could spell extra minutes for Boogie. He is averaging over 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 46 fantasy ppg and with the Hornets allowing the 29th most fantasy ppg to the PF position it makes him almost a must play.

Andre Drummond ranks so close to Boogie tonight in my model it is was nearly impossible to separate them. It is going to come down to how you build your lineup. If you can afford Cousins then take him, if you only end up with enough left to fit Drummond then play him. I would take one or the other only in cash games. Drummond is averaging over 44 fantasy ppg and the Bucks are allowing 22.9 ppg to the center position on the season. I will be using them both depending on the site.

If you disagree with me and want to save then take a look at Al Jefferson. He is coming off a 26-point, 10-rebound performance versus the Sixers on Friday and tonight gets the Kings who are allowing 19.4 ppg and the 26th most fantasy ppg to the center position for a decent $7,300 price tag on FanDuel.

If you want to go bargain basement tonight then Robin Lopez is where I would look. Although he is averaging only a little over seven points and six rebounds per game he has much cooler hair than his brother Brook. He is averaging over 19 fantasy ppg and for the low price of $4,400 could free up some cash to spend up elsewhere. This is a risky GPP-only play for a small dollar amount.

Another guy I love tonight is Karl-Anthony Towns who is part of a huge trend of guys with two first names and two last names. By the time we are done with this you could have up to six names. I could be Gerald-Jerry Francis-Peter Gaitani-Colvin. Imagine signing that every day? Anyhow he is averaging 29 fantasy ppg and faces the Sixers who are allowing the 29th most fantasy points to the center position and over 18 ppg.

            FanDuelDraft Kings
PlayerTmOppM/G3PMREBASTSTLBLKTOPTSSpread$PTS$PTS
DeMarcus CousinsSACCHA33.111.5611.222.670.781.333.2227.67207.51060046.131030049.09
Andre DrummondDETMIL36.69 17.850.921.771.382.6918.38191.5970044.8970047.04
Al JeffersonCHASAC27.38 6.691.920.771.230.6915.15207.5730029.38 30.06
Karl-Anthony TownsMINPHI29.460.0810.381.080.692.382.3116198.5720033.92720035.64
Robin LopezNYKMIA25.71 6.071.930.361.212.147.93191.5440019.11420020.49

Well that is all for me for today. I will do my best to make it back later to answer questions but I will be eating crappy food and paying for overpriced parking and loving every minute of it as I watch the deflate gate master Tom Brady dismantle the Buffalo Bills. My wife is even bringing a sign that says “Gronk if your Horny”, that is for you David Gonos. Good day my friends.