Monday features a nine-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 Thunder have picked up right where they left off last season’s championship run with a 3-0 record, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They are currently playing without Jalen Williams, which has put more pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander to deliver. He’s responded by averaging a league-high 40 points, six rebounds, five assists, and 60.7 DraftKings points per game, while shooting 52.7% from the field.
Last season with Williams off the floor, Gilgeous-Alexander saw his usage rate climb to 38.67% and his production increase across the board. He has led the league in drives per game for the last five seasons and is once again attacking the paint more than 23 times per game with a 36.1% usage rate in the first three games and has a 122.7 offensive rating.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the only point guard over $10,000 on this slate, but it is deserving given how much of the offense flows through him. This is a loaded point guard position, but Gilgeous-Alexander has the top ceiling projection against a Mavericks defense that ranked below average in defensive rating last season and currently ranks 19th to start this season.
Value
Leading the slate in projected Plus/Minus by a wide margin is Timberwolves’ starting point guard Donte DiVincenzo. After a mediocre game one, DiVincenzo has averaged 15 points per game and three made 3-pointers in back-to-back games. Being the starting point guard has increased his playing time substantially. DiVincenzo played 38 minutes last game and is projected for a modest 33 minutes tonight.
After three minutes of play last game, Anthony Edwards left with a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen whether he will suit up tonight, so keep an eye on his status throughout the day. Edwards has a 34.2% usage rate to start the season, and DiVincenzo was second on the team last season in production and usage rate increase with Edwards off the floor. Edwards sitting would make him look even better tonight.
DiVincenzo is currently projected for over 50% ownership, by far the most on the slate. With point guard and shooting guard eligibility, he is an elite cash-game play and a strong tournament option.
Fast Break
Devin Booker is a point guard only eligible this season, which makes him a little tougher to play. However, he has scored 30+ points in two of his first three games and will get a cupcake matchup Monday vs. the Jazz, who ranked dead last in defensive rating last season at 119.4 per game. For Booker to reach his ceiling, he will need to have a big scoring night and deliver peripherals, and this is the matchup to do so.
Trae Young and the Hawks are 1.5-point road favorites against the Bulls, with the highest implied team total on the slate at 122 points. Young is coming off his first double-double of the season and has seen his salary drop to $9,200. The Hawks and Bulls ranked second and third in pace per game last season, so expect an uptempo game environment giving Young plenty of opportunity for fantasy production.
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
Playing opposite of Young is combo guard Josh Giddey, who has the top ceiling projection at the shooting guard position tonight. Giddey was magnificent after the All-Star break last season. In 19 games post-All-Star Break, Giddey averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game, while shooting 50% from the field and 45.7% from behind the arc.
Giddey opened the season with a double-double and was two rebounds shy of another last game. He can score fantasy points in a variety of ways and will thrive in this high-paced game environment. The Hawks have the fourth-worst net rating to start the season, allowing 120.7 points per game with opponents shooting over 50% from the field. This is a great matchup for Giddey to showcase his ceiling.
The only setback for Giddey is his finger injury that makes him questionable for tonight’s game. If Giddey were to sit, starting point guard Tre Jones ($5,000) would be one of the best value plays on the slate.
Value
Staying with the Bulls, sharpshooter Kevin Huerter is coming off a productive game against the Magic stuffing the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal, accumulating over 30 DraftKings points. Huerter has yet to find his perimeter shot, making just two of his 10 3-point attempts to start the season, but this is the perfect matchup to get back on track from long distance.
Last season the Hawks allowed 14.3 3-pointers per game with opponents shooting 37.7% from behind the arc, the third-highest in the league. Since coming over at the trade deadline last season, Huerter connected on a career-best 2.7 3-pointers per game for the Bulls in 26 contests, including at least three made 3-pointers in four of his last five regular season games.
Huerter’s peripherals would likely increase if Giddey were unable to play tonight. However, for the overall game environment, it is best if Giddey plays and this game becomes a track meet full of fantasy goodness.
Fast Break
Jaylen Brown has always been the top beneficiary with Jayson Tatum out of the lineup, so he will likely be one of the best plays this entire season. Brown erupted for 41 points last game against the Pistons, shooting 12-for-25 from the field and 5-for-9 from deep. The Celtics have started the season 0-3, but Brown has the sixth-highest usage rate per game in the league at 34.1%. Priced at $8,500, Brown is a strong play in all formats, especially with shooting guard and small forward eligibility.
Donovan Mitchell is another player with a 30%+ usage rate while averaging 30 points per game to start the season with the Cavaliers playing without Darius Garland. Mitchell will continue to fill it up against defenses, but what sets him apart from his peers is when he has games with double-digit rebounds or assists. That has yet to come, but the opportunity is there with Garland out and Ty Jerome leaving in free agency. This may not be the matchup for a double-double, but he is worth a few shares in tournaments.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant poured in a season-high 37 points in 37 minutes against the Pistons in a narrow loss last game. He shot 50% from the field and connected on 16 of his 18 free throw attempts. Similar to Mitchell, Durant is a star that is projected for less than 5% ownership, which makes him incredibly appealing in tournaments. It would not be surprising if Durant had a ceiling game, especially in this spot.
The matchup against the Nets makes Durant even more intriguing. This is a matchup we are going to be targeting all season long. The Nets are 0-3 to start the season with the worst defensive rating in the league, while allowing 128.3 points per game. Opponents are shooting an absurd 52.4% from the field and 44.8% from behind the arc against them. The Nets might lose 70+ games this season.
Value
Drawing the most projected ownership at the small forward position is backup forward Royce O’Neale. There is a chance that O’Neale could draw the start tonight if Dillon Brooks is unable to play through his groin injury. Even off the bench, O’Neale is a strong value play at his $4,400 price tag. He also leads this position in projected Plus/Minus with his dual forward eligibility.
O’Neale has played at least 28 minutes in each of his first three games while averaging double-digit points and over 20 DraftKings points per game. Nearly all of O’Neale’s scoring production has been from the perimeter. 23 of his 25 field goal attempts have come from behind the arc, where he is shooting 34.8% with 2.7 made 3-pointers per game. He is a knockdown shooter, which increases his value on DraftKings.
The Jazz are an average 3-point defensive team to start the season, ranking in the middle of the pack in 3-pointers allowed and percentage per game. O’Neale is also averaging a steal and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Fast Break
Ausar Thompson is coming off a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Celtics, where he added three assists and two steals, accumulating 45.5 DraftKings points. Thompson is second on the Pistons in scoring and facilitating and third in rebounds per game. The Cavaliers have notoriously been a difficult matchup for opposing players, but Thompson can deliver fantasy points in a variety of ways.
Brandon Ingram has had a strong start to the season, averaging 22.3 points per game while shooting a career-best 51.9% from the field and 41.7% from behind the arc. Priced in the mid-range at $7,200, Ingram has averaged nearly 40 DraftKings points per game. The Spurs have the second-highest defensive rating this season, mainly because it is impossible to score in the paint. However, Ingram seems to live on the perimeter and in the midrange, making him still a great tournament option.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The top of the power forward position is loaded with low-owned, high-upside options. Leading the pack is Mavericks’ big man Anthony Davis, who is stuffing the stat sheet, averaging 24.7 points, 12 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.7 blocks, and 52.2 DraftKings points per game. Davis has produced a double-double in each of his first three games and is leading the Mavericks in every statistic besides assists per game.
The Thunder have the fifth-best defensive rating this season but have been dominated on the glass. They rank 26th in rebounding rate at 47.1% per game and could be playing without Chet Holmgren, who is questionable with a back injury. Even if Holmgren plays, this is a favorable matchup for Davis, who should dominate the paint and the glass with a great chance at his fourth double-double.
Value
Bulls’ power forward Matas Buzelis is drawing the second-highest projected ownership on the slate at 40% tonight. Buzelis had an incredible first game, recording 21 points, six rebounds, and three blocks while shooting 7-for-12 from the field. His second game was much worse, with Buzelis in foul trouble all night and fouling out while only playing 12 minutes against the Magic.
Expecting to stay out of foul trouble, Buzelis will have a fantastic opportunity to pay off his $5300 price tag. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate and should be able to fill it up against a weak Hawks’ defense. Buzelis is a staple in cash games and a great value play in tournaments.
The Hawks also rank 27th in rebounding rate at 45.1%, so Buzelis has an outside chance at a double-double in this matchup. He is simply a phenomenal play at this price point and in this matchup tonight.
Fast Break
Alperen Sengun dominated the Thunder with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, accumulating 71.2 DraftKings points, but followed that up with only 40.8 DraftKings points against the Pistons. Getting back on track against the Nets should be an easy task for Sengun, with the Nets ranking 28th in rebounding rate and last in defensive rating. The Rockets are 15.5-point home favorites with the third-highest implied team total on the slate at 120.75 points.
Naz Reid is another value player that is worth targeting on this nine-game slate, especially if Anthony Edwards is unable to play. Reid was the biggest beneficiary with Edwards off the floor last season, increasing his usage rate to 25.06%. After Edwards left early last game, Reid delivered his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. He is projected for around 25% ownership and is a great value play at $5,000. Reid will look better if and when Edwards is ruled out.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
It is impossible to ignore what Victor Wembanyama has done over the first three games of the season. Looking healthier and stronger than ever, Wembanyama is averaging an absurd 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, six blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. Every night is a ridiculous Wembanyama highlight on both ends of the floor. He is a fantasy cheat code and the best play on the slate.
Despite being $500 cheaper than Nikola Jokic, Wembanyama has the top ceiling projection at both the center position and the slate. The matchup against the Raptors frontcourt makes this spot look even better. They rank 20th in defensive rating while allowing 60 points per game in the paint, which is tied for the fourth-highest in the league. Wembanyama is the clear-cut top pay-up option on the slate where he is drawing 20% projected ownership. Every time he is on the slate, click the add to roster button.
Value
To no surprise, the 76ers have ruled out Joel Embiid tonight on the first leg of a back-to-back to rest his knee. That will open the door for veteran Andre Drummond to draw the start. Our NBA Models have Drummond projected to play around 27 minutes, which makes him one of the best value plays on the slate. In 16 minutes last game, Drummond had seven points, 13 rebounds, and 30.2 DraftKings points.
The Magic present a difficult matchup, but they are susceptible to scoring in the paint, where they are allowing 55.3 points per game, which is tied for the ninth-highest in the league. Projected to get 27 minutes at $4,300, Drummond is a great play in all formats. Paul George continues to be out for the 76ers, making more room for usage rate and fantasy production.
Fast Break
Nikola Jokic has had a strong start to the season; he just hasn’t been Victor Wembanyama. Jokic has recorded a triple-double in each of his first two games, averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 12.5 assists, and 61.4 DraftKings points per game. Jokic had several games torching the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert last season, including his last game against them, scoring 61 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He is the second-best pay-up option on the slate behind Wembanyama.
Nikola Vucevic is averaging a team-high 21.5 points and 12 rebounds per game, while shooting 64% from the field and 71.4% from behind the arc with 2.5 3-pointers made per game. The veteran center continues to put up numbers for the Bulls and will draw an incredible matchup against the Hawks, who rank 27th in rebounding rate and 29th in points allowed in the paint at 62.7 per game. The center position is crowded, but Vucevic deserves a few shares in tournament lineups.
Pictured: Victor Wembanyama
Photo Credit: Imagn
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