A frustrating number of the teams on Monday’s slate spread the minutes and fantasy production around, making it difficult to play anyone from those teams. I wish I could find someone I trust from the 76ers, Celtics, Magic or Suns, but it is really difficult. If you are putting together a GPP lineup you should probably look at those teams, but I was able to find several guys I really like for any DFS format who I trust a bit more.

Unfortunately, the spreadsheets I normally use are not available for publishing at this time, but we will post them closer to lineup lock if at all possible.

Point Guard

It seems like Stephen Curry’s bad games are becoming increasingly frequent since the All-Star break, but he continues to bounce back from those poor games with strong showings the next time out. Beyond that, the Timberwolves are not nearly as stingy defensively as the Spurs, and Curry scored 46 points in his only game against Minnesota this season.

I don’t know that I would ever actually do it, but I wonder if you could construct a competitive DFS lineup exclusively using players from the Kings-Bulls game. Any such lineup would probably have to feature both Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose. Rondo has gone 14 consecutive games with fewer than 10 rebounds, but the Bulls are allowing the most opponent’s rebounds in the NBA. On the other end, no team has allowed as many fantasy points to opposing point guards as the Kings. The Bulls will almost certainly put up points, and Derrick Rose is one of the only players you can actually count on.

The closest I can come to trusting any Nugget right now is D.J. Augustin. I wish he was averaging more than 24.5 minutes per game with the Nuggets, but you can’t complain about his 12.5 points or 4.8 assists per game since going to Denver. The Cavaliers are 21st in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards, making Augustin an especially solid play Monday. Emmanuel Mudiay is a slightly safer alternative, though Augustin is a better value.

If I have a lineup that doesn’t have Stephen Curry, it will probably have Kyrie Irving. Kevin Love is questionable, and in the three games Love has missed this season, Irving has averaged 25.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Irving has reached the point where I will play him any time Love or LeBron James sit.

Ray McCallum has been inconsistent, and it is important to note he only started Saturday because Matt Barnes was suspended, but he is worth a shot Monday. The Suns are 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards, and McCallum is averaging 24.2 minutes per game since joining Memphis.

Shooting Guard

Shooting guard is interesting because while most of the guys I like are mid-priced, I really like the expensive and cheap options best.

Jimmy Butler’s minutes—and production—are down since he returned from a knee injury, but that could change against the Kings. E’Twaun Moore had 24 points against the Kings last month, and Butler should be able to do even better.

Monta Ellis isn’t the most exciting guy for your DFS lineup, but he may be one of the safest. Even when Ellis isn’t scoring, he contributes enough in rebounds, assists and steals to be worthwhile.

Khris Middleton is averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists against the Pistons this season. Middleton’s price has dropped significantly in the last week, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t score 20 points again while contributing across the board.

Tim Hardaway Jr. has scored 20 points in two consecutive games, and only the Warriors have allowed more fantasy points to opposing shooting guards than the Wizards this season. Hardaway could come crashing back down to earth, especially since he only played 20 minutes Saturday, but he is still pretty cheap, and he is especially interesting for tournament lineups.

No team has allowed as many fantasy points to opposing shooting guards as the Warriors, and Zach LaVine is averaging 19.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a starter. Like Monta Ellis, LaVine is very safe for cash games.

Small Forward

Small forward is actually one of the more versatile positions on Monday’s slate. There are guys I like all over the place, and for that reason, I may just fill this position last.

Otto Porter is averaging 15.0 points and 4.8 rebounds over his last five games, and he scored a team-high 23 points in his only game against Atlanta this season. He could get more minutes matched up with Tim Hardaway Jr., and that would only help his fantasy value.

It seems like Paul George is either one of the best fantasy producers on a given night, as he was Saturday against the Thunder, or he is slightly disappointing. George had 34 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in his only game against the 76ers this season, and he should have an excellent shot at similar production Monday.

The Bucks have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards, and I like both Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris in this matchup. Morris gets the slight nod for me because he costs less and he has averaged 15.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in three games against Milwaukee this season.

Brandon Rush had 10 points in 27 minutes Saturday, and I don’t see why he couldn’t produce similar numbers if he starts again Monday. The matchup is certainly much better, and his price is still miniscule.

What is the world coming to when Lance Stephenson is the most trustworthy fantasy play on an NBA roster? This is definitely a matchup DFS players should want to take advantage of, and Lance Stephenson is your best bet, especially if you don’t trust Ray McCallum. Stephenson is averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his last four games.

Power Forward

Taj Gibson has two double-doubles in the last four games with Pau Gasol out, and he had 12 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes against the Kings back on February 3. His double-double potential makes him playable Monday, especially if Gasol sits again.

Paul Millsap had 21 points, six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal in his lone game against the Wizards this season. The Wizards don’t match up great with Atlanta’s bigs, and that will especially be the case if Marcin Gortat is out.

In two games as a starting center this season, Draymond Green is averaging 14.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists. He played a game-high 39 minutes Saturday with Andrew Bogut out, and the chance for similar minutes Monday makes him an exciting play.

Many people will likely be on Channing Frye if Kevin Love is out, but Frye hasn’t played more than 24 minutes in any game with Cleveland, even when Love was out. Frye is worth a shot just because his price is so low, but Tristan Thompson is averaging 6.7 points and 12.0 rebounds when Love sits. Thompson is the far safer play, and has a reasonable shot at a double-double.

Center

I am most likely either spending up at center or going very cheap. I don’t see a whole lot of middle ground at this position. My preference is to spend up, and there are actually two studs I really like.

DeMarcus Cousins had 30 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and three steals in his only game against the Bulls this season, and there is no reason to believe it was a fluke. Cousins almost has to be in your lineup Monday, especially on DraftKings, where he is eligible at power forward.

On DraftKings you can play both DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond, and I will probably take advantage of that in at least one lineup. Drummond is averaging 15.7 points, 18.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks in three games against the Bucks this season. 

Andrew Bogut will miss his second consecutive game, and while that didn’t lead to more minutes for Marreese Speights Saturday, it could on Monday. Speights has shown an ability to rack up points without a lot of minutes, and that combined with the opportunity for more minutes makes him intriguing, especially for tournament lineups.