The Elite 8 is set and ready to get underway with back-to-back doubleheaders Monday and Tuesday to determine the 2021 Final Four. Monday’s action should see two games with a bit of contrasting style. Baylor and Arkansas is going to be a high scoring, up-and-down game where Houston and Oregon St may be a more grind it out defensive battle. Another theme with this slate is how guard driven most of these teams are, which can make it tricky to build your lineups. While you should probably lean more heavily on the Arkansas/Baylor tilt, there are plenty of guys in the other game to consider as well. So let's get right to it.
The Slate
Games by Time w/ O/U
12 Oregon St vs 2 Houston- 7:15pm CBS- 129
3 Arkansas vs 1 Baylor- 9:57pm CBS- 148.5
| Top Guards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Jared Butler | BAY | ARK | 7700 | 32.68 | 7500 | 29.76 | |
| Jared Butler has struggled mightily with his three-point shot this NCAA Tournament, as he has gone 4/21 in three games. However this is a guy that shot 40% from beyond the arch all year, so think he is more than capable to get out of this slump. Also his ability to impact the game with rebounding (3.3 rpg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (2.1 spg) make him worthy of one of the higher priced guards. Arkansas turns the ball over 12.8 times per game, so this should be a plus matchup for him. | |||||||
| Ethan Thompson | ORST | HOU | 7400 | 29.00 | 7300 | 26.66 | |
| Ethan Thompson is quickly becoming the unheralded star of this tournament. Thompson was excellent against Loyola-Chicago with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists against the team ranked 2nd in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. Houston brings a similar challenge, as they are ranked 6th in defensive efficency, but Thompson seems up to the challenge. He has also made a living at the free throw line lately making 23/24 freebies his last two games. | |||||||
| Davion Mitchell | BAY | ARK | 7200 | 29.95 | 7000 | 27.40 | |
| Yup I'm going to include both Baylor's guards in this week's playbook and for good reason. Davion Mitchell has helped quel the effects of Butler's poor shooting of late with 30 points on 13/21 from the flor. Mitchell is another guy that dishes out assists (5.3 apg) and chips in on the glass as well (2.6 rpg). The Baylor/Arkansas will be the much more up-and-down game of the two on the slate, so consider Davion Mitchell as well or if you could finagle a way to play both it could pay dividends. | |||||||
| Value Guards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Dejon Jarreau | UH | ORST | 6200 | 27.16 | 6400 | 25.04 | |
| Dejon Jarreau has been dealing with a hip injruy however it didn't stop him from impacting the game in their Sweet 16 game vs Syracuse. Jarreau stuffed the stat sheet with 9 points but added 8 rebounds, 8 assists, a block and a steal. The game between the Cougars and Beavers expects to be a grind it out game, which suits Jarreau's game perfect. | |||||||
| JD Notae | ARK | BAY | 5100 | 23.20 | 5000 | 21.13 | |
| JD Notae has struggled in his last two games with only a total of 11 points and 6 rebounds. However in a guard heavy slate he provides excellent value. Notae is averaging 12.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.9 apg on the year. While his 13 minutes against Oral Roberts does concern me, playing a team like Baylor that is very guard heavy expect Notae to have to answer the call. | |||||||
| Adam Flagler | BAY | ARK | 4900 | 15.93 | 4100 | 14.63 | |
| Adam Flagler has stepped up huge for the Bears seemingly out of nowhere this year. Despite averaging only 9 ppg on the season he has upped that 11.3 during the dance. Flagler could be key to funding a winning lineup with his pricetag however keep in mind he is only forward eligible in FanDuel. | |||||||
| Top Forwards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Justin Smith | ARK | BAY | 8000 | 28.53 | 7900 | 26.91 | |
| Inserting Justin Smith in the starting-five has elevated the Arkansas Razorbacks, as they are one game away from reaching a Final Four. Smith has been dominate in this tournament run averaging 20.3 ppg and 11 rpg. Against Baylor he has an A+ matchup, as they are a guard heavy team. He is definitely a guy to consider building your lineup around especially in a GPP. | |||||||
| Moses Moody | ARK | BAY | 7800 | 30.28 | 6800 | 28.22 | |
| Again this slate is so guard heavy but luckily DraftKings has Moses Moody as G/F eligible. Moody is another guy that has struggled shooting the ball lately but the volume has certainly been there. In three games this toournament Moody has shot the ball 39 times. Moody seems due for one of his big scoring nights, as he has only scored 20+ points once in his last 5, before that he had done so three times in four games. This game will be the higher scoring of the two and expect Moses to continue to get volume. | |||||||
| Warith Alatishe | ORST | UH | 6900 | 27.90 | 7200 | 26.05 | |
| While Ethan Thompson gets the glory for Oregon St's run Warith Alatishe was critical in their win over Loyola-Chicago. The big man had 10 points and 11 rebounds, plus his defense around the rim really stymied the Ramblers down low. Alatishe has been great on the glass all tournament, securing 32 boards. Also Warith is a Houston kid so you know there will be a little added motivation in this one. | |||||||
| Value Forwards | |||||||
| Player | Team | Opp. | DK $ | DK FPPG | FD $ | FD FPPG | |
| Justin Gorham | UH | ORST | 6300 | 23.90 | 6000 | 22.36 | |
| Houston is lead by their guards as well but there is some value in their forwards. Although not sure how much value he has on FD consider he is their third higest priced forward. Against Syracuse, who is a poor rebounding team, Gorham finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Oregon St is by far the worst rebounding team reamining in the field, expect Gorham to have a nice game. | |||||||
| Fabian White Jr. | UH | ORST | 4500 | 14.30 | 4500 | 13.79 | |
| Fabian White Jr clearly hasn't fully returned to form since coming back from a torn ACL mid-season. However he still has gotten steady minutes in this tournament with 19 in each game. If White could do what he did against Cleveland St in the opener he'll be a steal at $4500. | |||||||
| Maurice Calloo | ORST | UH | 3500 | 10.20 | 4400 | 8.65 | |
| Maurice Calloo has emerged for the Beavers with 15 point outings in 2 of his last 4 games. Calloo's minutes have been sporadic, which concerns me but expect Beavers to look to lean towards him and Alatishe agianst a undersized Houston frontcourt. He could be a steal at this price. | |||||||
Example Lineups:
| DK Cash | FD Cash | ||||||||||
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| G | Adam Flagler | BAY | ARK | 15.93 | $4,900 | G | Davion Mitchell | BAY | ARK | 27.40 | $7,000 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| G | DeJon Jarreau | UH | ORST | 27.16 | $6,200 | G | Moses Moody | ARK | BAY | 28.22 | $6,800 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| G | Davion Mitchell | BAY | ARK | 29.95 | $7,200 | G | Ethan Thompson | ORST | UH | 26.66 | $7,300 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| F | Justin Gorham | UH | ORST | 23.88 | $6,300 | G | Dejon Jarreau | UH | ORST | 25.04 | $6,400 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | MaCio Teague | BAY | ARK | 24.19 | $6,600 | |||||
| F | Warith Alatishe | ORST | UH | 27.90 | $6,900 | F | Maurice Calloo | ORST | UH | 8.65 | $4,400 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| F | Jaylin Williams | ARK | BAY | 12.63 | $4,200 | F | Justin Gorham | UH | ORST | 22.36 | $6,000 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| Util | Jalen Tate | ARK | BAY | 23.73 | $6,500 | F | Adam Flagler | BAY | ARK | 14.63 | $4,100 |
| ????Pivot | MaCio Teague | BAY | ARK | 26.02 | $6,700 | ????Pivot | |||||
| Util | Jared Butler | BAY | ARK | 32.68 | $7,700 | Util | Justin Smith | ARK | BAY | 26.91 | $7,900 |
| ????Pivot | Ethan Thompson | ORST | UH | 29 | $7,400 | ????Pivot | Quentin Grimes | UH | ORST | 29.39 | $7,700 |
| Total | $49,900 | Total | $49,900 | ||||||||
| Pivot Total | $49,800 | Pivot Total | $49,900 | ||||||||
| DK GPP | FD GPP | ||||||||||
| Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Pos. | Player | Team | Opp | FPPG | Salary |
| G | DeJon Jarreau | UH | ORST | 27.16 | $6,200 | G | Jared Butler | BAY | ARK | 29.76 | $7,500 |
| ????Pivot | Marcus Sasser | UH | ORST | 23.32 | $6,000 | ????Pivot | |||||
| G | Davion Mitchell | BAY | ARK | 29.95 | $7,200 | G | DeJon Jarreau | UH | ORST | 25.04 | $6,400 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| G | JD Notae | ARK | BAY | 23.18 | $5,100 | G | Mark Vital | BAY | ARK | 18.99 | $5,200 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | ||||||||||
| F | Matthew Mayer | BAY | ARK | 17.4 | $5,000 | G | Moses Moody | ARK | BAY | 28.22 | $6,800 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | JD Notae | ARK | BAY | 21.13 | $5,000 | |||||
| F | Justin Smith | ARK | BAY | 28.53 | $8,000 | F | Warith Alatishe | ORST | UH | 26.05 | $7,200 |
| ????Pivot | Moses Moody | ARK | BAY | 30.30 | $7,800 | ????Pivot | Justin Smith | ARK | BAY | 26.91 | $7,900 |
| F | Mark Vital | BAY | ARK | 19.87 | $5,300 | F | Fabian White Jr. | UH | ORST | 13.79 | $4,500 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | Roman Silva | ORST | UH | 10.75 | $4,800 | |||||
| Util | Warith Alatishe | ORST | UH | 27.85 | $6,900 | F | Jalen Tate | ARK | BAY | 21.72 | $5,800 |
| ????Pivot | ????Pivot | Justin Gorham | UH | ORST | 22.36 | ||||||
| Util | Justin Gorham | UH | ORST | 23.88 | $6,300 | Util | MaCio Teague | BAY | ARK | 24.19 | $6,600 |
| ????Pivot | Jalen Tate | ARK | BAY | 23.73 | $6,500 | ????Pivot | Quentin Grimes | UH | ORST | 29.39 | $7,700 |
| Total | $50,000 | Total | $50,000 | ||||||||
| Pivot Total | $49,800 | Pivot Total | $50,000 | ||||||||