You can always go about constructing your DFS lineups however you want, but I think it is fair to say you might have a hard time putting together a competitive lineup with a bunch of mid-priced guys. You can get away with solid guys on the wing and even center, but I think you pretty much have to pay at point guard. Most of my lineups will be stars-and-scrubs, and while I don’t necessarily love that strategy philosophically, Monday’s slate certainly lends itself to that approach.

Point Guard

Malcolm Delaney played 26 minutes Saturday against Portland, and he has a decent chance at similar playing time Monday with Kent Bazemore out. There is a decent chance Delaney doesn’t do much even if he plays heavy minutes, but he is a solid punt play if you want to pay for James Harden or Nikola Jokic.

If you don’t trust Malcolm Delaney, and nobody would blame you for feeling that way, you should probably pay up at point guard. I don’t usually like to include two of the top point guards in this space, but since I currently have John Wall and Stephen Curry in the same DraftKings lineup, it seemed appropriate to include them here. If you can play only one I would recommend whoever is cheaper on your site of choice, but if forced to choose, Stephen Curry would get the slight nod, especially if Isaiah Thomas is out again. Wall is more likely to get a double-double, but Curry has scored at least 23 points in nine consecutive games, which certainly counts for something.

Chris Paul has been pretty terrible lately, along with most of his teammates, but he is only a week removed from back-to-back 30 point, seven assist games. Derrick Rose couldn’t guard Chris Paul even if he was interested in playing defense, which Rose clearly isn’t. I would be fine playing Paul in a cash lineup but I really like his GPP potential.

PLAYERTMH/AOPPGPMPGFT%3PTMPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG%USAGEFDPTS/GDKPTS/GYPTS/G$FD$DK$Y
Malcolm DelaneyATLACHA6517.482%0.45.51.72.60.501.338%18.40%11.312.211.5$3,500$3,000$10
Stephen CurryGSWAOKC6733.592%3.9254.46.31.70.2346%29.80%40.744.442.6$9,900$9,400$53
John WallWASABOS6736.880%1.1234.310.81.90.64.145%30.40%45.448.246$10,200$9,600$50
Chris PaulLACHNYK4931.387%2.117.559.320.12.547%24.20%39.241.740.2$8,400$8,400$44

Shooting Guard

James Harden has four straight double-doubles, including 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Nuggets Saturday. Harden is cheaper than Russell Westbrook and shooting guard is weaker than point guard, so Harden gets the nod over Russ.

Victor Oladipo scored just nine points Saturday against the Kings, breaking a streak of four consecutive 20-point games. Oladipo is averaging 20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists against the Warriors this season and he has an excellent chance to score 20 again Monday.

This is this first slate in a long time where I don’t love the idea of going super cheap at shooting guard. That being said, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has a chance to be productive at a pretty low price.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is already averaging 29.9 minutes per game in March, so there is a decent chance his role remains largely unchanged even with Kent Bazemore out. That being said, I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Hardaway plays 35+ minutes and scores 30 points. Hardaway isn’t as safe as Oladipo, but he is cheaper and is probably a better GPP play. Luwawu-Cabarrot has scored at least 10 points in four consecutive games, and his playing time should be safe with Justin Anderson considered doubtful for Monday.

PLAYERTMH/AOPPGPMPGFT%3PTMPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG%USAGEFDPTS/GDKPTS/GYPTS/G$FD$DK$Y
James HardenHOUHDEN7036.585%3.229.28.111.21.50.45.845%34.20%53.858.855.4$12,200$12,700$62
Victor OladipoOKCHGSW5433.375%216.44.32.41.20.31.645%21.20%26.728.727.7$6,000$6,400$24
Timothe Luwawu-CabarrotPHIAORL5614.182%0.54.91.80.80.30.10.940%17.20%8.298.4$3,800$3,800$10
Tim Hardaway Jr.ATLACHA6725.975%1.913.92.62.10.70.21.345%22.90%20.922.621.8$5,600$5,800$18

Small Forward

On the one hand, it would be nice to see Taurean Prince score 15 against somebody other than the Grizzlies before I trust him for DFS. On the other hand, Prince is averaging 12.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game when he plays more than 25 minutes. Prince will almost certainly top 25 minutes with Kent Bazemore out. Thabo Sefolosha probably has the most to gain in terms of playing time with Bazemore out, and Sefolosha’s ownership should be low, which doesn’t hurt.

I was wrong about Gordon Hayward on Saturday, as he scored just 14 points but made up for it somewhat with six rebounds, two assists and four steals. At this point, it might be safe to say the best thing for Hayward’s fantasy value is for Rodney Hood to return, but even if Hood remains out, Hayward is going to top 20 points sooner or later. I would certainly rather trust Gordon Hayward than guys like Carmelo Anthony, Robert Covington or even Will Barton.

Jae Crowder is averaging 18.5 points and 5.0 rebounds against the Wizards this season. and he has averaged 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over the last two games with Isaiah Thomas out.

PLAYERTMH/AOPPGPMPGFT%3PTMPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG%USAGEFDPTS/GDKPTS/GYPTS/G$FD$DK$Y
Gordon HaywardUTAAIND6334.586%221.85.53.510.31.946%27.50%34.236.535.3$7,600$6,900$35
Thabo SefoloshaATLACHA5725.775%0.67.34.31.71.60.50.944%13.50%18.319.318.6$3,600$3,900$10
Taurean PrinceATLACHA4612.987%0.44.32.40.70.60.40.840%16.70%9.410.29.6$3,700$3,500$10
Jae CrowderBOSHWAS6032.384%2.213.55.82.210.3145%16.80%25.227.126.3$5,900$6,100$23

Power Forward

Juan Hernangomez had 15 points and five rebounds Saturday with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari out, and he actually costs less today on FanDuel. Hernangomez is a solid cash game play, even if he is unlikely to top Saturday’s line.

Sometimes the obvious plays are the best plays. Ersan Ilyasova had 23 points, four rebounds , one assists, two steals and one block Saturday with Paul Millsap out. That may be Ilyasova’s ceiling, but he is still a solid value until Millsap returns.

Draymond Green is averaging 12.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists over his last three games and his price has largely remained the same. I am still convinced a triple-double is coming soon, making Green a strong play for cash games and GPPs alike.

PLAYERTMH/AOPPGPMPGFT%3PTMPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG%USAGEFDPTS/GDKPTS/GYPTS/G$FD$DK$Y
Juan HernangomezDENAHOU5213.274%0.84.930.50.50.20.548%14%10.210.910.5$3,700$4,500$10
Ersan IlyasovaATLACHA320.70%155.30.310.31.338%14.10%13.214.713.7$4,500$5,000$16
Draymond GreenGSWAOKC6532.970%1.110.38.17.22.11.52.342%15.90%35.737.836.2$8,100$7,900$40

Center

Nikola Jokic played just 22 minutes Saturday thanks to early foul trouble, but he still finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. With Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari out yet again, Jokic’s usage rate should be quite high.

This may be your last chance to get Richaun Holmes at a discount. Holmes has been far more consistent than the other similarly-priced centers in Monday’s slate, scoring at least 30.5 fantasy points on DraftKings in each of his last three games. With Jahlil Okafor likely out Monday, Holmes should be quite safe and he has a pretty high ceiling as well.

No team has allowed more blocks than the Hawks this season, and only five teams have allowed more rebounds. Dwight Howard has had three double-doubles in the four games Paul Millsap has missed, and he is averaging 10.0 points and 20.5 rebounds in two games against the Hornets this season.

Only three NBA teams have allowed more rebounds than the Knicks this season, DeAndre Jordan which may help explain why DeAndre Jordan had 28 points and 15 rebounds against the Knicks back on February 8. DeAndre will likely have another double-double even if Kristaps Porzingis returns for this game.

PLAYERTMH/AOPPGPMPGFT%3PTMPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOFG%USAGEFDPTS/GDKPTS/GYPTS/G$FD$DK$Y
Richaun HolmesPHIAORL4418.265%0.48.44.80.90.710.857%18.30%1818.918.2$4,800$5,100$14
Dwight HowardATLACHA6329.653%013.112.81.311.32.264%18.80%32.734.532.7$6,800$7,000$23
Nikola JokicDENAHOU602781%0.616.19.44.70.80.82.359%23.20%35.337.235.6$10,500$10,200$50
DeAndre JordanLACHNYK6931.749%012.513.61.20.61.71.570%15.30%33.63533.6$7,600$6,900$27