Monday features a six-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
There are several high-priced stud options at the point guard position tonight, but leading them all in projected ceiling is Tyrese Maxey. After missing 10 straight games, Maxey returned Saturday night and picked up where he left off, stuffing the stat sheet with 26 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.
Maxey used to be well over $10,000 but is a value on this slate being priced at $9,700. After playing 43 minutes last game, Maxey has the highest projected playing time at 38 minutes tonight. Not only will he play heavy minutes, but this is the best game environment to target, with the 76ers being 2.5-point road favorites against the Heat. This Eastern Conference showdown has a slate-high 246.5-point game total.
Among the four point guards priced in the $9,000s, Maxey leads them all in our NBA Model. He is the premier pay-up option at the guard position, despite the 76ers being a team that is finally fully healthy.
Value
Leading all point guards in projected Plus/Minus is rookie Walter Clayton. The Grizzlies are coming off their second win in their last 15 games and are 13.5-point home underdogs against the Suns tonight.
The Grizzlies are dealing with several injuries, including Clayton, who is questionable to play with ankle soreness. For the guards on this team, Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. are out for the season, while Ty Jerome is out tonight and Javon Small is doubtful. If Clayton is able to play, he will play heavy minutes.
Over his last five games, Clayton has been effective, averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 22.4 DraftKings points per game with five total steals and three blocks. Despite his salary rising to $4,700, these averages are more than enough to pay off his cheap price tag. Clayton played 30 minutes last game, and even with his projection of 26 minutes, he leads the position in projected ownership at nearly 30%.
Fast Break
Right behind Maxey in projected ceiling—and coming in $1,000 cheaper—is Cavaliers guard James Harden. Harden has played 20 games since joining the Cavaliers and has been the most efficient shooter in his career. He is averaging 20.8 points per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and a career-best 44.7% from behind the arc. Harden is coming off his fourth double-double for the Cavaliers with 17 points and 14 assists. He has also averaged over 50 DraftKings points per game in his last five contests.
Another value option, Tre Jones, has put together back-to-back ceiling performances and remains favorably priced in the mid-range at $5,800. In his last two games, Jones is averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 44.3 DraftKings points per game while shooting 59.3% from the field. Even going back to his last five games, Jones has 30+ DraftKings points in every contest. Anfernee Simons remains out, making Jones the starting point guard who will likely play close to 30 minutes again tonight.
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
Anthony Edwards has missed the last six games but is questionable and has a good chance to return tonight against the Mavericks. Keep an eye on his status to make sure he can suit up, but Edwards is a strong contrarian pay-up option. He is projected for less than 10% ownership but a 30.7% usage rate.
Edwards is having an incredible year, averaging a career-high 29.5 points while shooting a career-best 49.2% from the field and 40.2% from behind the arc. Edwards’ peripherals have decreased with the increase of his usage rate and scoring, but he is still averaging over 45 DraftKings points per game.
The Timberwolves are 6.5-point road favorites against the Mavericks implied for over 120 points. This is a strong matchup for Edwards and company, with the Mavericks ranking fifth in pace. The Timberwolves rank 10th, so expect a high-paced game environment. If he plays, this is a great spot for a low-owned stud.
Value
Currently the most popular player on this six-game slate is Cavaliers shooting guard Sam Merrill. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus and is drawing 55% projected ownership. The sharpshooter has been playing heavy minutes with the Cavaliers’ guard injuries and has been productive of late.
Over his last seven games, Merrill is averaging 15 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 27.2 DraftKings points per game while connecting on 2.7 made 3-pointers per contest. His consistency is what separates him from the rest of his pricing peers. Merrill has at least 20 DraftKings points in seven straight games.
The perimeter matchup for Merrill is elite. The Jazz rank last in defensive rating, 3-pointers allowed, and 3-pointers made this season. Merrill will have plenty of chances to let it fly from long distance in this spot. The Cavaliers are 17.5-point favorites implied for 130 points, which is the second-highest on the slate.
Fast Break
Donovan Mitchell will benefit from the same matchup against the weak Jazz defense, but he is a little tough to pay for given the large spread. In a game where the Cavaliers scored 149 points, Mitchell put up a dud performance with only six points and 27 DraftKings points, shooting a putrid 1-for-10 from the field. He averaged 35 points in his previous two games, so this is a fantastic bounce-back matchup tonight. His salary dipped to $9,100, and his usage rate remains over 30% with a matchup that could not be any easier.
Dylan Harper, in his last four games, is averaging 17.3 points and 30.5 DraftKings points per game while shooting an absurd 65.1% from the field and 47.1% from deep. The Spurs have the highest implied team total on the slate at 131.5 points and are 18.5-point favorites. Their opponent, the Bulls, rank 23rd in defensive rating and third in pace, making this a superb matchup for the rookie guard. Harper will continue to come off the bench, but in a projected blowout, this is another spot where he could shine.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Celtics’ injury report is another one to monitor throughout the day. This is the second leg of a back-to-back, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White missing last night’s game. Jayson Tatum played, so it would not be surprising if he sat out tonight. With no Tatum and Brown potentially back in the lineup, Brown has by far the highest projected ceiling at the small forward position and is drawing over 15% ownership.
Despite playing alongside Tatum recently, Brown has still been a priority in the Celtics’ offense. In his last five games, Brown is averaging 32.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 51.2 DraftKings points per game. He is projected for a slate-high 37.4% usage rate in a competitive game on the road against the Hawks.
Due to his recent play, Brown has seen his salary continue to rise, but he is still a priority if he plays and Tatum does not. This is a spot where value is provided with Nikola Vucevic continuing to be out tonight.
Value
Collin Sexton is another cheap Bulls guard with shooting guard and small forward eligibility who is a strong value tonight. Priced at $5,000, Sexton has been playing incredible recently. In the month of March, Sexton is averaging 21.2 points per game while shooting 52.3% from the field and 46.8% from distance.
Sexton’s peripherals are lacking, but his scoring has been incredible. He has scored 20+ points in seven of his last 10 games. In order for the Bulls to be competitive in this matchup against the Spurs, who are heavy favorites and the third-best defense in the league, Sexton needs to have another 20-plus-point game.
Sexton has comfortably the highest projected Plus/Minus at the small forward position tonight. He is drawing over 30% projected ownership and has a 30% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims. Despite playing on the wrong end of a projected blowout, Sexton is popping in our NBA Model as an elite value.
Fast Break
Following his 25-game suspension, Paul George has returned with a vengeance. He has put together back-to-back huge games, averaging 27 points, 9.5 rebounds, four steals, three assists, one block, and 55.9 DraftKings points per game. He has connected on 10 total 3-pointers in his last two games and is only drawing a little over 10% projected ownership tonight. Priced at $7,700 with dual forward eligibility, George is a great way to differentiate lineups.
Opposite of Sexton, the Spurs have two value options with small forward eligibility. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are priced similarly under $5,000 and are both projected for around 15% ownership. In his last four games, Johnson is averaging 19 points and 30.4 DraftKings points per game while shooting 60% from the field. Vassell has averaged 35 DraftKings points per game in his last two games, connecting on four 3-pointers in each game. Johnson has the slight edge due to consistency, but both are great options.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Despite being $2,300 less expensive than Jalen Johnson, Evan Mobley is the clear top stud option at the power forward position. Mobley has always benefited greatly from playing without Jarrett Allen, who is out due to injury maintenance. With Allen off the floor this year, Mobley has a team-high +1.62% usage rate boost and a 1.5 DraftKings Plus/Minus. He is coming off a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double in his last game.
Not only is Allen out, but this matchup against the Jazz is strong, with the Jazz frontcourt ranking 19th in both rebounding percentage and points allowed per game in the paint. This is an excellent spot for Mobley to secure his second straight double-double and fifth double-double in his last eight games.
Mobley has power forward and center eligibility, which makes it easy to fit him into any lineup build. His salary has also dropped $500 to $8,400, which makes him more appealing in all formats on this slate.
Value
In his third year in the league, GG Jackson has been getting heavy playing time due to the vast amount of Grizzlies injuries. Jackson has scored double-digit points in 19 straight games and is shooting a career-high 48.5% from the field. He is averaging 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 22 DraftKings points per game.
Priced at $5,400, Jackson has been a steady fantasy producer and is one of the first clicks in a cash-game lineup build. He has a 40.6% optimal lineup rate, which is over 10 percentage points higher than the next power forward. His usage rate has also skyrocketed lately, and he has a 30.6% projected usage rate in this spot.
The Suns are double-digit road favorites and play at a crawling pace, making this a difficult game to get exposure to. However, Jackson is playing too well and is way too valuable to ignore on this slate. He is projected to have close to 40% ownership, but it is deserving given his recent play and favorable salary.
Fast Break
Jalen Johnson may be overpriced, but he does have the highest projected ceiling at the power forward position tonight. He continues to do everything for this Hawks team that has won 15 of its last 17 games. Johnson leads the team, averaging a near triple-double with career highs across the board in 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 50.8 DraftKings points per game. Johnson has exceeded 50+ DraftKings points in eight of his last 11 games.
GG Jackson is the best Grizzlies power forward option, but Taylor Hendricks and Tyler Burton are not too far behind. Hendricks has the slight advantage over Burton due to his experience and having power forward and center eligibility. He is averaging a career-high 10.6 points per game in his 22 games since joining the Grizzlies. Burton is a rookie who is also averaging double-digit points in his 10 games played for the team.
I would still rank them in terms of priority for this slate: Jackson, Hendricks, and Burton.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
With so much value on this six-game slate, it is difficult not to get excited about Victor Wembanyama. He is $11,500, which is the highest he has been all season, but the Bulls have zero answer for this rising star. Wembanyama has by far the highest ceiling tonight with a projected usage rate that is nearing 35%.
Even with a projected playing time under 30 minutes, Wembanyama is popping in our NBA Model. Just in his last three games, Wembanyama is averaging 22.7 points, 15 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 4.3 blocks, 2.5 steals, and 58.4 DraftKings points per game. His ceiling is unmatched even in a projected blowout tonight.
The Bulls frontcourt has done a solid job rebounding, ranking 15th in overall rebounding percentage this year. However, they get torched in the paint, allowing 53.6 points per game, which is the fourth-highest in the league. In his only game against the Bulls this season, Wembanyama had 38 points and 12 rebounds.
Value
We go from leading the slate in projected ceiling to leading the slate in projected Plus/Minus with value Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. Priced under $5,000, Gafford is expected to play 26 minutes with plenty of upside for more, with Dereck Lively out and Marvin Bagley questionable due to a shoulder injury.
Gafford has been a priority since early March. Over his last seven games, Gafford is averaging 17.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 35.9 DraftKings points per game while shooting an absurd 79.4% from the field. Given his salary, that is amazing value. He has posted a points-and-rebounds double-double in four of those games.
The Timberwolves rank 10th in rebounding and middle-of-the-pack in points allowed per game in the paint. Their large frontcourt of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid will force the Mavericks to give Gafford more minutes. Gafford also has a slate-high 49.6% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims tonight.
Fast Break
Bam Adebayo has been remarkable even after his record-breaking 83-point game. He has recorded a points and rebounds double-double in five of his last six games, averaging 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 46 DraftKings points per game during that time. He will have the difficult task of playing against a healthy Joel Embiid, but his versatility should be able to keep him out of foul trouble and still attacking on the offensive end. Priced under $9,000, Adebayo is drawing over 30% projected ownership in this matchup.
When looking to dumpster dive, Cavaliers’ backup center Thomas Bryant is the best option. Priced at $3,400, Bryant will not have to do much to return value, and he has been solid recently. Allen is out, which will boost the playing time and production of Bryant, who is averaging 8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 18.8 DraftKings points per game in his last four games. In a projected blowout, Bryant will likely get even more playing time, but he is still popping in our NBA Model with a modest 18-minute projection tonight.
Pictured: Tyrese Maxey
Photo Credit: Imagn
