Monday features a seven-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
Cade Cunningham has been the model of consistency lately with 57+ DraftKings points in three straight games. Despite being $200 cheaper than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cunningham leads all point guards and ranks second on this seven-game slate in ceiling projection.
Over the last three games, Cunningham is averaging 27.7 points, 9.7 assists, and eight rebounds per game with one triple-double and two double-doubles. Cunningham has a 30.1% usage rate and ranks second in the league with a career-high 9.2 assists per game. He has a double-double in 15 of his 25 games played.
The Pistons continue to lead the Eastern Conference with a 22-6 record and are 5.5-point road favorites against the Trail Blazers. Given the Trail Blazers rank third in pace and 21st in defensive rating, this is a fantastic matchup for Cunningham, who is the best pay-up point guard on this slate.
Value
The Nuggets are one of the best teams to target from a value perspective. They are 13.5-point favorites and implied for 131.25 points, which is nearly double-digit more than the next closest team. There are three Nuggets players that rank in the top four of projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position.
Leading them all is Bruce Brown, who has point guard and shooting guard eligibility and is $4,300. He is coming off his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes. Brown recorded a season-high 36 DraftKings points and has 20+ points in five of his last seven games.
It has been a slow start for Brown in his return season with the Nuggets, but he is averaging 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field in the month of December. He has played great lately and will be easy to fit into multiple lineup builds with his dual eligibility.
Fast Break
The Thunder are coming off just their third loss of the season but have yet to lose back-to-back games. The reason Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not looking better on this slate is because the Thunder are 15.5-point home favorites against the Grizzlies, and his playing time may be limited due to a blowout. He has missed several fourth quarters this season, but Gilgeous-Alexander is still averaging a career-high 32.2 points per game, which is the second-highest in the league, while shooting 55.4% from the field.
Stephen Curry is significantly cheaper than Gilgeous-Alexander and Cunningham and has averaged 53.5 DraftKings points in his last three games. Curry’s peripherals have come up recently, but a majority of his production still comes from putting the basketball in the hoop. He has scored 30+ points in seven of his last 11 games, with three games of 46+ points. His ceiling remains high regardless of the matchup. Curry scored 34 points with nine assists in his last matchup against the Magic’s top 10 defense.
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
Donovan Mitchell is far and away the best shooting guard to target. His ceiling projection is nearly double-digits more than the next closest player. Mitchell did not play last Friday due to an illness but is probable to suit up tonight in a strong matchup against the Hornets, who just lost by 26 to the Pistons.
Mitchell is averaging a career-high 30.7 points per game while shooting a career-best 49.3% from the field and 38.8% from behind the arc. He is a pure shooting guard that can score at all three levels.
In his last matchup against the Hornets a week ago, Mitchell had his worst shooting game of the season with 6-for-24 from the field and 1-for-11 from downtown. Expect a bounceback performance against the Hornets, who are allowing opponents to shoot 49% from the field and 38% from distance. The Cavaliers are implied to score the second-most points on the slate and will be led by Mitchell if he is able to play.
Value
Cameron Johnson is another elite Nuggets value option at the guard position. Currently drawing around 25% projected ownership, Johnson will play around 35 minutes, which is more than enough to pay off his $5,000 price tag. His fantasy production has been consistent recently while still having a ceiling in his bag.
In his first season with the Nuggets, Johnson is scoring only 11.5 points per game, which is his lowest total since his second season with the Suns five years ago. His shooting percentages have been solid, but his opportunity has dipped playing alongside two high-usage players in Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets are playing without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, while Peyton Watson is in danger of missing his third straight game. With those three players off the floor this season, Johnson has a team-high +5.98 DraftKings Plus/Minus. He is a strong value play in all formats tonight.
Fast Break
Another player who will benefit due to a potential player missing tonight’s action is Celtics’ guard Derrick White. He has dual guard eligibility, and Jaylen Brown is questionable to play with an illness. With Brown off the floor, White has a team-high +8.04% usage rate boost and a +4.61 DraftKings Plus/Minus. Even if Brown is able to play, White is still a great mid-range play. He is averaging a career-high 18.2 points per game this season and has scored 30+ points in two of his last three games.
Anthony Black will likely draw his ninth start of the season for the Magic with Jalen Suggs doubtful to play and Franz Wagner already ruled out. Black has played 37+ minutes in three consecutive games and has scored 20+ in each of his last two contests. Black is averaging a career-high 13.8 points per game, but his shooting percentages have taken a big hit with his increase in volume. His salary has jumped to $6,400, but Black has dual guard eligibility and is drawing over 20% projected ownership.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The biggest news to monitor for this seven-game slate is the status of Celtic’s forward Jaylen Brown. He missed Saturday’s game due to illness and is currently questionable for tonight. If Brown is able to play, he will be one of the better pay-up options at $9,500, leading all small forwards in projected ceiling.
We all knew Brown would have a great season without Jayson Tatum, but he has exceeded expectations. Brown is averaging a career-high 29.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and five assists per game, while shooting exactly 50% from the field. He also has a 35.4% usage rate, which is the third-highest in the league.
The Celtics are double-digit home favorites against the Pacers, who have lost four straight and are 6-22 this season. If Brown is able to play, he is a great pay-up option against the Pacers.
Value
Herbert Jones is the clear-cut value at the small forward position in tournaments if he is able to play. He is questionable with an illness, but Jones is able to rack up fantasy production in a quick amount of time.
Over his last five contests, Jones has two games where he exceeded 40 DraftKings points. In those two games, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, six steals, and one block per game. Jones is active on both ends of the floor and should be able to feast on the Mavericks, who are allowing nine steals and 4.9 blocks per game to their opponents, which Jones can take advantage of.
After starting the season 3-22, the Pelicans have won four straight games and are favored to beat the Mavericks tonight. They are getting healthier, but Jones can accumulate fantasy production on defense where he doesn’t need the ball. He leads all small forwards in projected Plus/Minus and ownership.
Fast Break
Deni Avdija has been one of the best breakout players in the league in his second season with the Trailblazers. He is averaging a career-high 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game with a 27.3% usage rate. Avdija has triple-double upside and will try to go shot-for-shot with Cunningham. In his last game against the Pistons earlier this month, Avdija had a stat line of 35 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, accumulating 58.2 DraftKings points. He is another player worth paying up for tonight.
This may be another lost season for the Hornets, but Brandon Miller is starting to find his groove since returning from injury. Miller has 53+ DraftKings points in two of his last three games, averaging 25.5 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in those two ceiling performances. One of those came against the Cavaliers, whom he will face tonight. This Cavaliers defense isn’t what it used to be. They rank in the middle of the pack in defensive rating and have not been feared this season.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
It took many words, but we have finally reached the best player on the slate with Mavericks’ big man Anthony Davis. Priced at $9,200 with power forward and center eligibility, Davis is an elite pay-up option.
Take out his abysmal game against the Thunder, Davis is averaging 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, two blocks, and 51.8 DraftKings points per game over his last six contests. Davis may also be on an island tonight because rookie Cooper Flagg is questionable to play with a back injury.
Another benefit to Davis is this matchup against the Pelicans’ frontcourt. They are allowing 54 points per game in the paint and rank 21st in rebounding percentage. Davis has a 48.5% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims, which is by far the highest on the slate. He is an elite play in all formats tonight.
Value
Veteran Tobias Harris has been in and out of the Pistons’ lineup due to injury, but when he plays, he is a valuable part of this offense. In his 18 games played, Harris is the third option for the Pistons, averaging 13.8 points per game. He has scored at least nine points in 17 of his 18 games this season.
Not only can Harris score, but he is also averaging five rebounds per game. He is going to start and play around 30 minutes tonight, which will make him a strong value option being priced under $5,000. He is averaging 25.4 DraftKings points per game, which is making him pop in our NBA Models.
Harris has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position behind Davis. He is a cheap way to get exposure to a Pistons’ offense that is projected to have plenty of success in this spot.
Fast Break
With Franz Wagner out and Jalen Suggs doubtful, Paolo Banchero will easily be the top option for the Magic. Over the last two games, Banchero has been a dominant fantasy producer. He is averaging 24.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 58.9 DraftKings points per game. The Warriors rank third in defensive rating, but they struggle in the trenches, where Banchero can use his size and strength. His versatility makes him tough to guard, and he is difficult to ignore given his recent play.
Pascal Siakam has been one of the few bright spots for the Pacers this season. He is leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals per game. Playing without Tyrese Haliburton has unleashed his volume. Siakam is attempting 3.1 more field goals per game this season compared to last season, while still shooting a solid 47.2% from the field. The Celtics are a middle-of-the-road defense, so that is also not concerning. Siakam is a contrarian pay-up option projected for less than 5% ownership.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Welcome to another Monday NBA DFS Breakdown article where Nikola Jokic has a projected ceiling nearly 20 more points than the next closest player. He is coming off a dud performance against the Rockets in a 14-point loss but had a triple-double in back-to-back games before that.
No one can reach his ceiling projection on this seven-game slate, but what is interesting is a majority of the value is on his team, making him easily correlated with his teammates. Loading up on the Nuggets with Jokic and value plays is going to be popular against the Jazz, who rank 29th in defensive rating.
Jokic is projected for 35% ownership but has a 25% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims. He remains expensive at $12,500, and the Nuggets are 13.5-point favorites, so there is merit to a fade position on the three-time MVP. I would recommend locking him in cash games and coming in closer to his optimal lineup rate in tournaments. There are plenty of ceiling plays for cheaper with Cunningham and Davis.
Value
One easy way to differentiate lineups is playing Nuggets’ backup center Jonas Valanciunas with Jokic. They are both popular, but pairing them together will not be. However, it is recommended to get exposure to at least one of them in nearly every lineup against this weak Jazz frontcourt tonight.
Despite only being projected to play 14 minutes, Valanciunas has the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. He has averaged double-digit points in his last five games and is projected for a 26% usage rate.
Not only do the Jazz rank near the bottom in defensive rating, but they also rank 20th in points allowed per game in the paint. There is a chance that Valanciunas gets more playing time in a blowout, but even if he plays around 15 minutes, that is more than enough time to pay off his cheap $3,400 salary.
Fast Break
Outside of Jokic and Davis, the center position falls off a cliff. One of the next best options is Cavaliers’ center Jarrett Allen, who gets the benefit of playing without his twin tower, Evan Mobley. Allen has back-to-back strong performances, averaging 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and 37.3 DraftKings points per game with three steals and three blocks in his last two games. The Hornets also rank 29th in points allowed in the paint at 55.2 per game, making this a superb spot for Allen again tonight.
Jalen Duren has been the third-best center in fantasy this season, averaging an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. The Trail Blazers are another interior defense that struggles defending the paint. Duren has a double-double in back-to-back games, recording 38+ DraftKings points in both contests. His salary remains affordable in the mid-range at $7,500, and he is the second-best option on the Pistons.
Pictured: Anthony Davis
Photo Credit: Imagn
