Happy Halloween! Monday features a seven-game NBA slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages 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. Use our FanDuel promo to get three months of free NBA League Pass.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
The Nets’ season has been scarier than Nightmare on Elm Street. They’ve had plenty of issues, but Kyrie Irving has not been one of them. Well, at least on the court. He’s been scoring the ball at an elite rate, racking up at least 30 points in four of his past five games. He erupted for at least 62.0 DraftKings points in two of those four contests, giving him a strong ceiling for his price tag.
Irving also draws a fantastic matchup Monday vs. the Pacers. They rank first in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency to start the year, and it’s hard to beat that combination for fantasy purposes. The Nets’ implied team total of 122.5 points leads the slate by a comfortable margin, so there’s plenty of merit in targeting Irving in this spot.
Value
The Hornets are currently without LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, and Terry Rozier remains doubtful with an ankle injury. That means the team will likely be without their three best players from last season.
Dennis Smith Jr. has stepped into the starting point guard role, and he’s unsurprisingly thrived. DSJ has always been an outstanding per-minute producer, and he’s racked up 1.02 DraftKings points per minute so far this season. He’s coming off 37.1 minutes in his last outing and responded with 36.25 DraftKings points. He also narrowly missed a triple-double, falling just one rebound and two assists shy, and any player with that kind of upside is a strong option at just $6,000.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey remains one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings, where his $6,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 94%. He’s coming off a down performance in his last outing, finishing with just 26.75 DraftKings points, but he played just 29.3 minutes. He logged at least 37.8 minutes in his three previous games, so he’s a good bet for a bounce-back performance on Monday.
Reggie Jackson is one of the best value options at PG on FanDuel. He’s priced at a ridiculously low $4,800, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 89%. He’s struggled to just 0.68 FanDuel points per minute this season, but he was at 0.92 in 2021-22. With Kawhi Leonard out and John Wall not expected to play, this is the perfect spot for Jackson to rediscover last year’s form.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
With Leonard out of the lineup, Paul George has the potential to go Hannibal Lector on the Rockets this evening. He already has a 61.2 FanDuel-point performance with Leonard out of the lineup this year, and while he’s been unable to reach that height recently, he hasn’t played his usual allotment of minutes. He racked up just 31 minutes two games ago and followed that up with just 27.8 minutes in his last outing.
That makes George a strong bounce-back candidate vs. the Rockets. He averaged 1.22 FanDuel points per minute last season, and he’s currently projected for 36 minutes in our NBA Models. He’s another player who stands out as an excellent value on FanDuel, where his $8,200 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%.
Value
In addition to Leonard and Wall, Robert Covington is also uncertain for the Clippers on Monday. He’s currently in health and safety protocols, so he could be sidelined as well.
That would open up a nice role for Terance Mann. He averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute last season, and he’s been right around that figure to start the new year. He has the potential to play upwards of 30 minutes on this slate, and the Rockets represent an outstanding matchup. They’re merely 23rd in defensive efficiency this season, and it wouldn’t be shocking if they continue to slip down the standings. They were dead last in that department last year and haven’t made any note-worthy changes to their rotation.
Fast Break
Buddy Hield has been on a heater to start the year. He’s scored at least 35.5 DraftKings points in his past four games, yet his price has stayed pretty stagnant on DraftKings. He’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute so far this season, and he’s projected for just under 32 minutes in our NBA Models.
De’Anthony Melton is an interesting source of value on DraftKings. He’s not projected to carry much ownership on this slate, but his $4,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 88%. Melton has averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s already displayed the ability to rack up fantasy points without a ton of playing time.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant has had a poor start to his season from a fantasy perspective. He’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in five of his first six games, and the lone exception was a game where he played 41.2 minutes. He continues to score the ball at an elite rate, but his peripherals have taken a significant hit with Ben Simmons joining the rotation. He’s averaged just 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, representing massive decreases from his averages of 7.4 and 6.4 last season.
Still, Durant is one of the most talented players in the league, and he’s still racked up 1.29 DraftKings points per minute this season. He can do plenty of damage vs. the Pacers with his scoring alone, and he should terrorize their defense like Michael Myers terrorizes Jamie Lee Curtis.
Value
Aaron Nesmith missed the Pacers’ last game, but he started the last time he was able to suit up. He provided 30.75 DraftKings points in just 29.7 minutes as a member of the starting unit, so he would be worth some consideration at $3,500 if he’s able to suit up on Monday. He’s currently projected for approximately 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.32 (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Gordon Hayward is another member of the Hornets who has benefitted from all their absences. He’s increased his production to 1.00 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s racked up at least 30.5 DraftKings points in four of his past five games. That makes him a reasonable option at just $6,200, particularly in a strong matchup vs. the Kings. They rank third in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency, so they’re one of the best possible matchups for fantasy purposes.
Speaking of the Kings, Keegan Murray has wasted little time making an impact in his rookie season. His average of 0.72 FanDuel points per minute isn’t all that exciting, but he makes up for it with tons of volume. He’s currently projected for just under 36 minutes, which is the fifth-highest mark at the position on FanDuel. He’s also one of the better pure values on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 89%.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Fading Giannis Antetokounmpo at the moment is scarier than the little girl in the Exorcist. He’s taken his already elite game to another level this year. He’s averaged 1.89 DraftKings points per minute, and no one else on the slate is above even 1.54. No one on most slates is typically close to Giannis in that department, but the gap is particularly wide on Monday.
Giannis has posted a usage rate of at least 40.7% in three of his past four games, and he should continue to be a bit more involved than usual with Khris Middleton sidelined. Giannis remains one of the best in the business at piling up peripherals, so any increase in scoring potential takes his already elite ceiling to another level. Add in a matchup with the Pistons – who are dead last in defensive efficiency this season – and Giannis is tough to avoid.
Value
Predicting the Pacers’ frontcourt has been basically impossible this season, but Jalen Smith has been the one constant. He’s coming off a season-high 33.7 minutes in their last outing, and he played 31.1 and 29.2 minutes in the two games prior.
That’s excellent news for Smith, who has been a fantastic per-minute producer since arriving in Indiana. He averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute last year, and he’s increased that figure to 1.15 this season. He seems locked in for around 30 minutes vs. the Nets, and he can do some serious damage in that spot. The Nets rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and the Pacers racked up 125 points against them on Saturday.
Fast Break
Lauri Markkanen continues to shine for the Jazz. He’s scored at least 40.25 DraftKings points in four of his past six games, and he’s increased his production from 0.93 DraftKings points per minute last year to 1.18 this season. He’s started to get a bit more expensive, but he still seems underpriced in a potential shootout vs. the Grizzlies.
Isaiah Stewart has posted a positive Plus/Minus on FanDuel in six of seven games this season, and he’s coming off 39.6 FanDuel points on Sunday. He played a season-high 32.9 minutes in that contest, and he’s averaged 1.02 FanDuel points per minute this season. If he continues to see that much playing time, he’s undoubtedly underpriced at $5,600.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
If there’s one thing that fantasy players can count on, it’s Nick Nurse running his players into the ground in October. Pascal Siakam is coming off a modest 35.8 minutes in his last outing, but the Raptors lost that game by 22 points. He had played at least 38.0 minutes in each of his three previous contests, giving him one of the largest potential workloads on Monday’s slate.
Siakam has also been incredibly efficient with his playing time to start the year. He’s increased his production to 1.38 DraftKings points per minute, which is the third-highest mark among centers on Monday’s slate. Fred VanVleet has also been added to the injury report as questionable, and Siakam would be tasked with an even more significant workload if he’s ultimately ruled out. He increased his usage rate by +2.0% and assist rate by +5.0% with VanVleet off the floor last season.
Value
Myles Turner has played in just two games this season, but he’s averaged a stout 1.39 DraftKings points per minute when he’s been on the floor. He missed the Pacers’ last game due to injury management, but he should be back in the lineup on Monday.
Turner has always possessed an extremely appealing fantasy skill set, combining the ability to knock down 3-pointers and pile up blocked shots. His fantasy output has been limited due to splitting time with Domantas Sabonis, but Sabonis is now in Sacramento. Turner should put up career-best numbers when he’s on the floor this season, even if that may not be as often as we’d like.
Fast Break
Speaking of Sabonis, he’s a viable option at just $7,700 on FanDuel. He’s averaged 1.27 FanDuel points per minute this season, and his 12 Pro Trends rank second at the position. He fouled out after just 22.7 minutes in his last game, but he should return to his usual workload vs. the Hornets.
Alperen Sengun got to 29.2 minutes in his last outing, and he will provide excellent value if he continues to see that much playing time. He’s racked up 1.29 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s one of the best per-minute producers in the league. His $5,200 salary on DraftKings is simply too cheap, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 97%.
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