NBA DFS Position Coach: February 22, 2016

There are seven games on Monday’s slate, but it feels like less than that, especially at shallow positions like shooting guard and power forward. It is important to fill those positions first, preferably with cheaper options, so you can spend the bulk of your budget on a center and a point guard or two.

Point Guard

It is a little crazy how much this slate, and especially the point guard position, hinges on the health of Kyrie Irving and Dwyane Wade. Matthew Dellavedova played 29 minutes Sunday with Mo Williams out and Kyrie Irving dealing with an illness. Dellavedova should play 30-plus minutes for the first time since Christmas if Irving is out, and that would make him pretty valuable. Dellavedova is averaging 9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists as a starter this season.

Goran Dragic averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists over the weekend with Wade out. Considering Dragic didn’t even shoot the ball that well in those games, there is reason to believe he can sustain that performance Monday at home against a Pacer team on the second half of a back-to-back. Wade is questionable for Monday’s game, so be sure to check his status before game time.

I’m not sure if Michael Carter-Williams’s improved play since the All-Star Break is sustainable, but I suspect he can keep it going for at least one more game. The Lakers have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season, and Carter-Williams should see heavy minutes again with Jerryd Bayless out.

Stephen Curry was 5-15 from the field Saturday, just the fourth time this season he has failed to shoot better than 33 percent. In the three games following his other poor shooting performances, Curry averaged 36.3 points on 58 percent shooting. Another strong bounce back performance seems likely.

Chris Paul was reportedly fine after leaving Saturday’s game with a thigh injury, and if that is indeed the case, he could have a huge night against the Suns. No team has allowed as many fantasy points to opposing point guards as the Suns this season.

Shooting Guard

As is usually the case, especially when James Harden and Jimmy Butler have the night off, I suggest going cheap at shooting guard Monday. There are plenty of cheaper shooting guards with favorable matchups who could easily get hot, and I am fine rolling with one of them and spending my money elsewhere.

J.R. Smith played 39 minutes Sunday, and he will likely have a heavy workload again if Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are out.

So far O.J. Mayo’s increased minutes have not translated into a ton of fantasy production, but I’m willing to risk it at his price. Mayo has scored at least 10 points in 14 games this season, and the 15^th is likely just around the corner if he continues to play 30-plus minutes per game.

The Suns have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards, and that is unlikely to change against the Clippers. Jamal Crawford is averaging 20.8 points per game over his last 10 games, and he is a nice value despite his limited upside. J.J. Redick could be just as valuable, as the Suns have allowed the second-highest three-point percentage and made three-pointers in the NBA this season.  

Stephen Curry is the Warrior I really want to play, but if you can’t afford him and you want to avoid the pit of mediocrity at shooting guard, Klay Thompson is a fine play. Thompson is shooting over 50 percent in his last 10 games, including an 11-for-22 performance Saturday against the Clippers.

Small Forward

Luol Deng has taken 35 shots in two games since the All-Star Break, and while he probably won’t continue to shoot 62.9 percent from the field, he will likely keep shooting if Wade is out. Justise Winslow has averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last two games, and while Deng is probably the better play Monday, Winslow is a cheap alternative if Wade does not play.

No team in the NBA has allowed a higher field goal percentage while defending the rim than the Lakers, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 6.0 drives per game. The Lakers have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season, and Giannis’s upside makes him an excellent GPP play.

Shabazz Muhammad has averaged 25.5 minutes per game over his last four games, and he is a nice value while he continues to see more minutes. The Timberwolves have allowed the fifth-most points to opposing small forwards this season, making Muhammad a worthwhile investment.

Tobias Harris isn’t much of a tournament play, because he doesn’t do much besides score points, but he has scored at least 16 points in each of his games since joining the Pistons. Harris is virtually assured to see heavy minutes and get a lot of shots with Anthony Tolliver out and Donatas Motiejunas in limbo, making Harris a relatively safe cash game play.

Power Forward

In stark contrast to Sunday’s slate, power forward is extremely thin. I would fill this position first, because otherwise you may get stuck playing Amare Stoudemire or Jon Leuer.

Lost in the trade talk and David Blatt’s firing was the fact Kevin Love was great at the start of the season with Kyrie Irving out. Love averaged 19.9 points and 11.8 rebounds in November, and he had 29 points and 11 rebounds Sunday with Irving dealing with an Illness. If Irving’s illness keeps him out Monday, look for Kevin Love to pick up the slack offensively yet again.

Julius Randle lit up the Bulls for 22 points and 12 rebounds Sunday, and the Bucks are just as bad against opposing bigs as the Bulls. A similar performance would not be surprising, and at the very least Randle has an excellent shot at his sixth double-double in his last eight games.

Mirza Teletovic is averaging 19.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 31.5 minutes since the All-Star break, and I see no reason to believe his production will slow while Tyson Chandler is out. Teletovic has at least 14 points in six consecutive games, and that production is well worth his modest price.

Jabari Parker appears to have turned a corner, posting at least 17 points and nine rebounds in three consecutive games. The Lakers are third in the NBA in opponent’s points, so there should be plenty of fantasy production to go around for the Bucks.

The way I see it, Draymond Green needs to get a triple-double to be worth his DFS price, and if he does, he will almost certainly be the highest-scoring power forward Monday. Green has 11 triple-doubles in 54 games this season, and considering the other power forward options, Green is a fine GPP play. It also doesn’t hurt the Hawks are sixth in fantasy points allowed to opposing power forwards.

Center

You should probably go into Monday’s slate planning to pay up for a center. Even with Pau Gasol and DeMarcus Cousins getting the night off, there are plenty of centers worth paying for.

Hassan Whiteside had 25 points and 23 rebounds with Chris Bosh out Saturday, and while a repeat performance is unlikely, Whiteside should remain a nice value until his price increases or Bosh returns.

Greg Monroe will likely be a less popular play than Hassan Whiteside, but he has a chance to be just as effective. The Lakers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season, and Monroe is coming off a 24 point, 12 rebound performance against the Hawks Saturday.

The Celtics are sixth in the NBA in opponent’s rebounds, and it is fair to expect most of those rebounds to get gobbled up by Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns had a streak of 10 consecutive double-doubles broken Saturday, but I could easily see him starting a new streak Monday.

If you refuse to pay for a top center, Jared Sullinger is a reasonable alternative. Sullinger has made the most of his increased playing time with Kelly Olynyk out, grabbing at least 11 rebounds in four consecutive games.