Kawhi Leonard has been one of the NBA’s best this season
One of the most crucial keys to DFS NBA success is keeping up with injury updates and active/inactive players. There are a couple coaches in the league that will give their veteran players rest days without much, if any, notice to the general public. Greg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is notorious for doing this. There’s nothing more frustrating than doing research all day, getting what you believe to be one (or many) great lineups put together, and then finding out 30 minutes before tip-off that one of your players isn’t playing. It can change your entire team. Back-ups become starters, and value plays arise.
Twitter is probably the most up-to-the-minute tool we can use to keep up with the chaos that is the NBA. There are NBA beat writers on the sidelines at every game that will post any news, as it happens, to Twitter. You can also follow specific players, teams, and coaches, getting inside information that may not be available anywhere else. If you haven’t already, go to Twitter, create a handle for yourself, and get ahead of the game!
Monday’s slate is an interesting one. It’s loaded with stars, so we have to choose wisely. It would be nice if we could play Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard, and Stephen Curry in the same lineup, but we can’t. We can definitely fit a few of them in, but that means that we’ll have to find solid value to even out our lineups.
Here is my lineup for today.
New FanDuel users get a free entry into an NBA DFS contest where the top-half wins! 
Point Guard
Rajon Rondo – SAC $8300
If you’ve been keeping up with my articles, you’re probably sick of reading about Rondo, but at this price I’m using him any time he takes the court. Rondo is a triple-double threat on any given night, and before Saturday’s blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors, he has been producing elite fantasy numbers. He averages 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 11.0 assists per game, and is looking like the All-Star we saw win a Championship in Boston in 2008. Up next for Rondo and the Kings are the Dallas Mavericks, who play at a fast pace and have given up an average of 46.1 FanDuel points to opposing point guards over the last five games. After a dud on Saturday, I expect Rondo to bounce back today and provide us with the elite numbers we’ve seen all season.
Jerryd Bayless – MIL $4500
Bayless was inserted into the starting lineup on Saturday for a struggling Michael Carter-Williams and played nearly the entire game. Jason Kidd isn’t shy in using Bayless, as he’s averaging 31 minutes per game, whether he’s starting or coming off of the bench. Over his last four games, Bayless is averaging 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. At only $4500 against a Denver Nuggets’ team that ranks 28th in the league against opposing point guards, Bayless should have no trouble exceeding his season averages.
Shooting Guard
Will Barton – DEN $5300
Barton has been fantasy gold. In his last 10 games he’s averaged 13.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Barton has the green light, and he’s not shy about firing up shots as the Nuggets’ main scorer off the bench. He and the Nuggets head to Milwaukee on Monday to face my struggling Bucks’ club who just gave up 129 points to Sacramento at home last week. At this price, Barton will be a staple in my lineups, freeing up cap space to fit in the studs.
Gerald Green – MIA $3700
Green was inserted into the starting lineup last week for the injured Luol Deng and has provided a great value play since, putting up 22.5 and 27.4 FanDuel points in over 32 minutes per game. Deng is doubtful again for Monday’s game, so Green should get another start. Boston ranks 26th against opposing small forwards and plays fast paced, giving Green another opportunity to be the No. 1 value play of the day.
Small Forward
Kawhi Leonard – SA $9100
Leonard has claimed his spot as San Antonio’s top dog, both on offense and defense. He is averaging 21.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks in the month of November, not scoring less than 18 points in any of those games. He is playing at an MVP level, and if it weren’t for Steph Curry, he’d be atop the list. The Spurs travel to Chicago to face the Bulls who are middle-of-the-road against opposing small forwards, although matchup doesn’t really matter when it comes to Leonard.
Omri Casspi – SAC $4200
Casspi has really found his stride over the past six games, scoring in double digits in five of six while grabbing seven rebounds per game. Casspi can play multiple positions, ensuring his spot on the court no matter the matchup. Some people might be turned off to Casspi if DeMarcus Cousins returns for this game, but he’ll see his fair share of minutes either way. With the highest over/under of Monday’s slate, there will be plenty of scoring opportunities. Casspi should exceed his expected value (21 FanDuel points) with ease.
Power Forward
Draymond Green – GS $8200
Green is coming off of back-to-back triple-doubles, and he now has three in his last eight games. Harrison Barnes went down with an ankle injury last week and isn’t expected back until Sunday at the earliest, and Green looks to be the main beneficiary of Barnes’ absence. On paper, the matchup with the Utah Jazz big men doesn’t look great for Green, but he plays much of his offensive game from outside the three-point line. His ability to contribute rebounds and assists in addition to points makes him a great play on any given night.
Blake Griffin – LAC $9100
Griffin is fighting to have his name in the MVP conversation, and he’s doing a great job of making his case. On the season, Griffin is averaging 25.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Griffin will need to score early and often if the Clippers want to keep up with Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and the rest of the Portland TrailBlazers.
Center
Greg Monroe – MIL $7500
Amidst all the lineup changes in Milwaukee, Monroe’s starting spot, and his minutes, have remained consistent. Denver has been getting beaten up to the tune of 57.3 FanDuel points per game over the last five by opposing centers, good for last in the league by more than two points. I expect a big double-double from Monroe tonight as Milwaukee looks to bounce back after a home loss yesterday.
New FanDuel users get a free entry into an NBA DFS contest where the top-half wins!
Kyle David Barney is a correspondent at FantasyPros. You can also find his work at DraftShot.com and follow him @kybbers22.
