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Monday’s slate feels pretty unusual, especially considering there are 12 games. Aside from center, there are not an overwhelming number of strong options at any position, and shooting guard is extremely weak. With that in mind, I want to fill shooting guard first, and I am probably going with the cheapest option I can stomach. Similarly, I will likely fill center last, and there is a good chance I will use a center in my UTIL spot as well.
Point Guard
Rajon Rondo is questionable with an ankle injury, and if he cannot play, Cameron Payne and Jerian Grant will likely split most of the point guard minutes. Grant is probably slightly safer, while Payne may have the greater ceiling. In any case, I’m probably using whichever one gets the start if Rondo is out.
Mike Conley has at least 23 points, two rebounds and four assists in four consecutive games. It is hard to imagine the streak ending against the lowly Nets. No team in Monday’s slate has allowed as many fantasy points to point guards as the Nets.
I don’t necessarily see a need to pay up at point guard, but if you safe enough at the other positions, Kyrie Irving is a safe play. Irving is averaging 26.8 points and 5.7 assists on two days rest this season.
Darren Collison hasn’t seen the uptick in scoring I expected when DeMarcus Cousins was traded, but he has been solid. Collison might be the safest point guard in his price range, and he has a fair amount of upside as well. Among teams playing Monday, only the Nets have allowed more fantasy points to point guards than the Nuggets, and Collison had 15 points and 10 assists against the Nuggets just two weeks ago.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Jerian Grant | CHI | A | DET | 51 | 16.1 | 88% | 0.7 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 42% | 15.98% | 10.7 | 11.5 | 11.1 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Cameron Payne | CHI | A | DET | 20 | 16 | 100% | 0.8 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 33% | 20.24% | 10.7 | 11.6 | 11.1 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Mike Conley | MEM | H | BKN | 51 | 33 | 84% | 2.4 | 19.9 | 3.6 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 45% | 25.91% | 34.5 | 37 | 35.7 | $7,800 | $8,100 | $33 |
| Kyrie Irving | CLE | H | MIA | 54 | 35.1 | 91% | 2.4 | 25 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 47% | 30.58% | 38.3 | 41 | 39.5 | $9,400 | $8,900 | $43 |
| Darren Collison | SAC | A | DEN | 54 | 31.1 | 85% | 1.2 | 13.6 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 48% | 19.65% | 23.3 | 24.9 | 24 | $5,500 | $5,700 | $21 |
Shooting Guard
Dwayne Wade is out, and Paul Zipser and Denzel Valentine figure to split most of the shooting guard minutes if Wade cannot go. Zipser has played better lately, and might be slightly safer, but I would play whoever gets the start in Wade’s place.
I don’t understand why Rodney Hood is so cheap. He played 33 minutes Sunday after missing two games with knee soreness, and he should see similar minutes Monday with Joe Johnson out. Hood probably isn’t scoring 28 points again like he did Sunday, but he feels extremely safe for someone so cheap.
Gary Harris was pretty terrible against the Hornets Saturday, and it seems nearly inconceivable that he wouldn’t bounce back Monday. Harris is averaging 19.0 points per game against the Kings this season, and he is your best option if you insist on playing a mid-tier shooting guard.
I’m probably not paying up for a shooting guard Monday, but if you twist my arm, I will take a shot on Klay Thompson’s upside. Thompson finally put up some more points Sunday but he still didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, and he just seems due to make five or more threes in a game for the first time since the All-Star break. If nothing else, he is a GPP play.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Paul Zipser | CHI | A | DET | 25 | 15.6 | 78% | 0.6 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 38% | 14.57% | 8.4 | 9.1 | 8.7 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Denzel Valentine | CHI | A | DET | 37 | 13.8 | 70% | 1 | 4 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 36% | 15.29% | 8.1 | 9.1 | 8.6 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Rodney Hood | UTA | H | NOP | 44 | 28.6 | 78% | 2.1 | 13.8 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 42% | 23.14% | 21.2 | 23 | 22.3 | $4,200 | $4,500 | $13 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | H | SAC | 38 | 29.1 | 75% | 1.8 | 13.8 | 3 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 48% | 19.03% | 22.5 | 24.2 | 23.4 | $5,400 | $5,200 | $19 |
| Klay Thompson | GSW | A | ATL | 60 | 34.3 | 86% | 3.3 | 21.9 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 46% | 25.63% | 30.2 | 32.9 | 31.8 | $7,000 | $7,300 | $32 |
Small Forward
Lebron James is averaging 27.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.8 assists since the All-Star break. He hasn’t played since Friday, and the extra rest should make him especially safe for DFS.
Khris Middleton has played at least 30 minutes in three consecutive games, averaging 21.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals over that span. Now that he appears to be 100 percent, Middleton offers production similar to guys like Robert Covington or Nicolas Batum, but he costs significantly less than those guys.
That being said, Robert Covington seems pretty safe coming off a rough game Saturday against the Pistons. Covington will probably be in fewer lineups than Middleton, and could be worth the extra money as a contrarian play.
Jimmy Butler is averaging 30.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.3 steals in six games with Dwayne Wade out this season.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| LeBron James | CLE | H | MIA | 56 | 37.6 | 69% | 1.8 | 25.9 | 8 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 54% | 29.60% | 48.5 | 52 | 49.4 | $11,000 | $11,200 | $54 |
| Khris Middleton | MIL | A | PHI | 9 | 25.1 | 88% | 1 | 13.7 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 48% | 23.58% | 24.8 | 26.3 | 25.3 | $5,600 | $6,500 | $19 |
| Robert Covington | PHI | H | MIL | 56 | 31.3 | 80% | 2 | 12.3 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1 | 2 | 39% | 18.99% | 26.1 | 28.4 | 27.1 | $7,200 | $7,000 | $31 |
| Jimmy Butler | CHI | A | DET | 56 | 36.7 | 87% | 1.2 | 23.8 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 45% | 26.69% | 41.3 | 43.2 | 41.9 | $9,100 | $8,600 | $48 |
Power Forward
Aaron Gordon is coming off two consecutive double-doubles, and while he will probably come back down to earth soon, I doubt it happens while Nikola Vucevic is still out. If Vucevic is out again Monday, Gordon will be an excellent play.
Richaun Holmes is averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks as a starter this season. Holmes may not have a high ceiling, but he does have a high floor, which makes him attractive for cash games.
Draymond Green has at least 12 points in four consecutive games, and that seems likely to continue with Kevin Durant out. Green isn’t my first choice for cash lineups, but I love his double-double and triple-double potential at a pretty reasonable price.
Dario Saric may not have Draymond Green’s upside, but I would argue it is close. Saric might have a higher floor than Green, and he costs significantly less. Saric has at least four assists in five of his last six games, which helps to keep his floor high.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Aaron Gordon | ORL | H | NYK | 61 | 27.7 | 67% | 1 | 11.4 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 43% | 19.85% | 21.4 | 22.7 | 21.9 | $5,200 | $5,500 | $19 |
| Richaun Holmes | PHI | H | MIL | 37 | 17.2 | 65% | 0.3 | 7.5 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.8 | 55% | 17.77% | 16.3 | 17.1 | 16.5 | $4,500 | $5,200 | $12 |
| Draymond Green | GSW | A | ATL | 59 | 32.9 | 69% | 1.1 | 10.2 | 8.1 | 7.3 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 43% | 15.65% | 35.5 | 37.7 | 36.1 | $8,200 | $8,200 | $36 |
| Dario Saric | PHI | H | MIL | 62 | 25.2 | 78% | 1.2 | 11.6 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2 | 40% | 23.29% | 21.9 | 23.8 | 22.5 | $7,400 | $7,400 | $30 |
Center
Only three teams have a lower rebound percentage than the Celtics. With Al Horford out, the Celtics do not have anyone who can keep DeAndre Jordan off the glass. Jordan had 16 rebounds against the Celtics in their meeting a month ago, and he will be well worth his price if he puts up a double-double.
Bismack Biyombo had a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with 14 points in 34 minutes Sunday with Nikola Vucevic out Sunday. If Vucevic is out again, Biyombo is a must-play.
Dwight Howard? has double-doubles in four of his last five games, and he had 14 point and 16 rebounds in his first game against Golden State this season.
Karl-Anthony Towns has at least 21 points and 14 rebounds in six consecutive games. Portland doesn’t have anyone who can match up with Towns, and while you have to pay full price if you want to use him, I suspect he will be worth it.
Marc Gasol may not be as safe as someone like Andre Drummond, but he has a better matchup and a higher ceiling. No team has allowed as many points as the Nets this season, and no team on Monday’s slate has allowed as many fantasy points to centers. Marc Gasol is one of the only Grizzlies you can trust to take advantage of what should be a great matchup.
Cody Zeller’s minutes have increased in every game since he returned from a quad injury, and that trend should continue with Frank Kaminsky III and Miles Plumlee out. Zeller is like Richaun Holmes but with a higher ceiling.
If Nikola Jokic is out, Mason Plumlee will likely get the start at center. Roy Hibbert, Juancho Hernangomez and Darrell Arthur could all get time at the five as well, but Plumlee’s upside makes him a strong GPP play, even if he is a bit risky for cash lineups.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| DeAndre Jordan | LAC | H | BOS | 62 | 31.5 | 49% | 0 | 12.2 | 13.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 70% | 15.17% | 33.2 | 34.7 | 33.2 | $7,500 | $7,000 | $27 |
| Bismack Biyombo | ORL | H | NYK | 62 | 23.1 | 50% | 0 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 53% | 13.21% | 18.1 | 19.1 | 18.1 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $10 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN | H | POR | 62 | 36.7 | 82% | 1.1 | 24 | 12.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 53% | 27.41% | 44.5 | 47 | 45 | $10,400 | $10,300 | $49 |
| Marc Gasol | MEM | H | BKN | 60 | 34.4 | 83% | 1.4 | 20.5 | 6.2 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 47% | 26.84% | 36.9 | 39 | 37.6 | $8,100 | $8,300 | $34 |
| Cody Zeller | CHA | H | IND | 42 | 26.5 | 66% | 0 | 10.6 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1 | 1.2 | 58% | 16.64% | 23 | 23.9 | 23 | $5,000 | $5,400 | $12 |
| Mason Plumlee | DEN | H | SAC | 54 | 28.1 | 57% | 0 | 11.1 | 8 | 4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 53% | 17.56% | 29.2 | 30.4 | 29.2 | $5,300 | $4,300 | $19 |