Monday features a small four-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
The Pistons are coming off a 27-point blowout victory over the Hawks last Friday. It was their only game played in the last eight days, so they should be well-rested going into tonight’s game. Cade Cunningham only played 22 minutes in their last game but still recorded 33.75 DraftKings points.
Cunningham is the obvious stud to pay up for at the point guard position. He leads the position by over eight ceiling projection points with a 31.2% usage projection. Cunningham is averaging a career-high 26.9 points per game and ranks second in the league in assists with 9.1 per game.
The Pistons have the lowest implied team total on the slate at 113.75 points but have split with the Celtics in their two meetings this season. In their last game, Cunningham erupted for 42 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, accumulating 63.5 DraftKings points. He is the least popular pay-up option among the three expensive players on this slate, which makes him an intriguing contrarian play.
Value
The Mavericks have won five of their last six games and are road favorites against the Jazz, implied for a slate-high 121 points. The Jazz rank 29th in defensive rating this season, making this an incredible matchup for the Mavericks, including value point guard Brandon Williams, who is a cheap $4,200.
Williams leads the point guard position and ranks second on the slate in projected Plus/Minus. He will likely continue coming off the bench but is projected for 24 minutes, which is more than enough to pay off his salary. Williams has averaged 26.1 DraftKings points per game in his last three contests.
Williams is a cheap way to get exposure to a Mavericks’ offense that should thrive against a Jazz defense. Point guard D’Angelo Russell is out tonight with an injury, and Anthony Davis is questionable. The Mavericks will need Williams’ scoring off the bench. He has the second-highest optimal lineup rate at 49% in our NBA Sims. He will be a popular value option, but deservedly so in this spot.
Fast Break
Keyonte George has taken the starting point guard job for the Jazz and run with it. He is averaging career highs across the board in points, rebounds, and assists per game this season. George is coming off a dominating performance against the Grizzlies, scoring a game-high 39 points while shooting 12-for-20 from the field, 5-for-9 from behind the arc and a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. He recorded 63.5 DraftKings points and is projected for a little over 20% ownership against the Mavericks tonight.
Jamal Murray is a boom-or-bust fantasy option, which keeps his ownership in check. He is $2,000 cheaper than Cunningham and has provided games of 72 and 54.8 DraftKings points in two of his last four contests. Cunningham is much more consistent with his fantasy production, being the top option for the Pistons, but Murray can have spike games. The Rockets are a difficult matchup, ranking second in defensive rating this season, but Murray is worth getting some exposure to.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The shooting guard position is the weakest on the slate, but Brandon Ingram is coming off his best game of the season against the Knicks. Ingram scored 31 points with six rebounds and six assists while shooting 11-for-18 from the field and accumulating a season-high 51.5 DraftKings points.
It was his second game in a row where Ingram scored 30+ points and made 11 field goals. RJ Barrett is still out, which boosts the ceiling and production for Ingram. With Barrett off the floor this season, Ingram has a team-high +2.71 DraftKings Plus/Minus, and his usage rate climbs over 30% per game.
Another bonus to getting exposure to Ingram or anyone for the Raptors tonight is the matchup against the Heat, who continue to lead the league in pace at 105.3. The Raptors are 5.5-point underdogs but will have plenty of opportunity to score in this up-tempo game environment.
Value
When looking at value for a stars and scrubs lineup build, Brice Sensabaugh can provide that at his $3,600 salary. Sensabaugh has shooting guard and small forward eligibility, making it easy to fit him into lineups. He also has the potential for 20+ DraftKings points, which he has in four of his last eight games.
Sensabaugh will continue to come off the bench for the Jazz but is projected for 17 minutes and the second-highest Plus/Minus at the shooting guard position. He scored 11 points and contributed three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in his last game in 17 minutes for 21.2 DraftKings points.
Over 60% of Sensabaugh’s field goal attempts come from behind the arc, where he is shooting 35% and has made at least two 3-pointers in three of his last four games. The Mavericks are a great perimeter-defending team, and his 3-point shot provides a floor even at his cheap price tag.
Fast Break
Naji Marshall has been a breath of fresh air since entering the Mavericks’ starting lineup. He has scored at least 15 points in six of his last seven games, while shooting a blistering 63.6% from the field during that time. Marshall can also stretch the floor with at least one made 3-pointer in 10 of his last 11 games. Priced at $5,200, Marshall leads all shooting guards in projected Plus/Minus. He will start and play around 27 minutes and is projected for less than 20% ownership. He is another strong value option.
In his first season with the Heat, Norman Powell leads the team, averaging a career-high 24.6 points per game while shooting 50% from the field and 43.6% from downtown. He does not provide many peripherals, but Powell has been filling it up with ease recently. In his last five games, Powell has averaged 25 points with 3.2 made 3-pointers per game. Even with Tyler Herro back in the lineup, Powell is still arguably their best scoring option on the perimeter right now.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Celtics got off to a slow start but have been cooking lately, winning 10 of their last 13 games. A big reason for their success has been the emergence of Jaylen Brown. Without Jayson Tatum, Brown was always going to have a big season, but he has exceeded expectations recently.
In his last eight games, Brown is averaging 32.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 54.8 DraftKings points per game with one triple-double, one double-double, and 12 total steals. He is projected for a slate-high 37.5% usage rate tonight in a matchup against the Pistons.
In Brown’s two games against the Pistons this season, he is averaging 37 points, eight rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 58 DraftKings points per game while shooting 43.8% from behind the arc. He has attempted an absurd 28.5 field goals in those two matchups and will be the premier pay-up option tonight.
Value
Rookie Ace Bailey has started in each of the last 15 games for the Jazz and is averaging 12.7 points and 23.1 DraftKings points per game. Bailey has scored double-digit points in 11 of those 15 games, while shooting an impressive 47.8% from the field and 38.8% from behind the arc.
Bailey ranks third on this four-game slate in both projected Plus/Minus and projected ownership at 28%. At $4,700, Bailey is another cheap way to get exposure to the Jazz in the highest game total on the slate at 240 points. He is projected to start again and play close to 30 minutes tonight.
Bailey has also made 2.1 3-pointers per game in his 15 starts, with nearly half of those games connecting on at least three 3-pointers. Bailey is a fantastic value option in both cash games and tournaments.
Fast Break
At 37 years old, Kevin Durant is still one of the league’s best scorers. He leads the Rockets with 24.8 points per game, while shooting 49.9% from the field and 39.6% from distance. Durant has had a relatively disappointing last two games but averaged 47.4 DraftKings points per game in his four previous games. The Nuggets have had a mediocre defense this season worth targeting. Durant has shooting guard and small forward eligibility and remains favorably priced at $8,300.
PJ Washington has been a model of fantasy consistency this season, averaging 33 DraftKings points per game. He is averaging a career-high 15.6 points per game. Washington also leads the Mavericks in rebounding and blocks per game when Anthony Davis is off the floor. Keep an eye on Davis’ status, because if both he and Daniel Gafford are out, Washington would look even better.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
One of the best matchups on the slate is Alperen Sengun vs. Nikola Jokic. Jokic got the better of Sengun in their only meeting this season, with Sengun recording a season-low 29.2 DraftKings points. He was in foul trouble and had a disappointing stat line with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
Sengun has dominated recently, averaging 27 points, 11 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 61.6 DraftKings points per game with a double-double in each of his last three games. During that stretch he also has 10 steals and five blocks. Sengun has a ton of upside anytime he touches the court.
Due to the difficult matchup against Jokic, Sengun has seen his salary decrease to $9,300, making him much more interesting tonight. The Nuggets rank third in rebounding percentage and 11th in points allowed per game in the paint, making Sengun a contrarian-only tournament option.
Value
Leading the slate in projected Plus/Minus and ownership is Jazz rookie power forward Kyle Filipowski. He also has by far the highest optimal lineup rate at 63.5% with his power forward and center eligibility.
That is all coming off a game where Filipowski played 19 minutes and only contributed two points, four rebounds, and 8.5 DraftKings points. However, the ceiling is there because he recorded a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double in his previous game against the Thunder for 44 DraftKings points.
The Mavericks rank 25th in rebounding percentage at 48.4% and 29th in points allowed in the paint at 55.2 per game. This is an incredible matchup for Filipowski, who has double-double potential and is only $5,400. He will be the most popular play on the slate, so lock him in for your cash-game contests.
Fast Break
Anthony Davis is questionable to play with a new calf injury. His status is the most notable on the slate because he is coming off a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double against the Nets, where he recorded 56 DraftKings points. Starting to look like his normal self with 12 blocks and seven steals since returning from injury, Davis would be one of the better pay-up options if he is able to suit up without any minutes limit. Davis has 48+ DraftKings points in four of his last five games and is still a respectable $9,500.
Lauri Markkanen is another Jazz player who looks like a great option on this four-game slate. Jusuf Nurkic is out for the Jazz, which will boost Markkanen’s rebounding numbers. Markkanen leads the Jazz in scoring, averaging a career-high 27.6 points per game with a 26.8% usage rate. He has displayed both a solid floor and an elite ceiling when his perimeter shot is falling. Markkanen has made at least two 3-pointers in 20 of his 23 games played this season, while shooting 35.8% from downtown.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Leading the slate by a wide margin in projected ceiling is 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic. This has been another amazing season for Jokic, ranking first in the league for both rebounds and assists per game and fifth in scoring. He is averaging a triple-double for the second straight season.
Jokic is also averaging 67.5 DraftKings points per game for the 18-6 Nuggets. On paper, the Rockets look like a very difficult matchup for opposing big men, leading the league in rebounding percentage and ranking eighth in points allowed per game in the paint. However, Jokic dominated Sengun in their last meeting with 34 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocks for 69.5 DraftKings points.
Despite being $12,700, Jokic is easy to pay up for given how much value is on this four-game slate.
Value
37-year-old Kevin Love rewound back the clock last game with 20 points in 20 minutes off the bench with eight rebounds. He shot 8-for-15 from the field and 4-for-10 from behind the arc and accumulated a season-high 35.5 DraftKings points. With Jusuf Nurkic out, Love is in play once again tonight.
Love is under $4,000 and is projected to play 20 minutes with the third-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. He will continue to come off the bench, but Love can excel in this matchup against the Mavericks’ frontcourt that may be without Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford.
It is crazy getting exposure to Kevin Love in the year 2025, but he is projected for 25% ownership and has a 36.9% optimal lineup rate. Get exposure to several Jazz players on this four-game slate.
Fast Break
Bam Adebayo is another boom-or-bust fantasy option that costs under $8,000. In three of his last five games, Adebayo has produced a ceiling performance, averaging 51.9 DraftKings points per game. He also has two dud performances, averaging 27.7 DraftKings points per game. Which Adebayo comes to play is anyone’s guess, but he has the third-highest projected ceiling at the center position. The Raptors also have an average interior defense, making this a matchup that Adebayo can exploit.
Opposite of Adebayo is Raptors’ starting center Jakob Poeltl. He is averaging a near double-double with 10.2 points and a team-high eight rebounds per game, while shooting a career-best 69.2% from the field. Poeltl is averaging 25.8 DraftKings points per game with plenty of ceiling performances worth getting exposure to. Poeltl is projected for 15% ownership in a matchup against the Heat, who rank 26th in rebounding percentage this season at 48.4% and 23rd in points allowed per game in the paint.
Pictured: Cade Cunningham
Photo Credit: Imagn
