It’s Monday again, we have a seven game slate to comb through to find some value plays of $5,500 or less in FanDuel so we can spend up for today’s studs. There are a few big time guys listed as game time decisions like LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and Brandon Ingram so please make sure to check player status before submitting your lineup for the evening. Time to get to it, as always good luck!

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Point Guard

Cory Joseph (IND): $4,200 vs. MIL

Darren Collison is listed as questionable for this evening’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks so keep a very close eye on his status. If he is held out again Cory Joseph is a near lock for another 30+ minute evening. In the past five games Joseph has seen 30 or more minutes he’s averaged 10 points, five rebounds and two assists per game (including a random scoreless outing against the Hawks), which is good for an average of 24.8 FanDuel points per game. He’d need 21 points to hit 5x value tonight, but he has shown he has the upside to record 30+ FD points, which he’s done in three of his past six games. If Collison is held out again tonight look for Joseph to be a good value play.

Tyler Johnson (MIA): $5,000 vs. PHO

Disclaimer here, Tyler Johnson is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns with a quad injury. He appears on this list because if he does end up playing he draws a matchup with a Suns team that ranks 26th against the point guard position and gives up an average of 48 FD points per game to the position. It is a bit of a risk tonight with him because of his injury and the Heat being favored by nine points means there’s blowout potential, but Johnson is a dynamic scorer and scored in double-figures in four straight games before missing the past two for injury. If Johnson is a go tonight, he can provide a nice value play against a forgiving defense.

Shooting Guard

Ben McLemore (MEM): $4,200 @ SAS

Memphis is experiencing a litany of injuries to its backcourt which is providing opportunity to guys like Ben McLemore to produce. Tonight the Grizz will be without Tyreke Evans (rib), Mario Chalmers (hamstring) and Andrew Harrison (wrist). McLemore has seen a huge boost in playing time these past two games, taking advantage of his opportunity in a big way. In the past two games he’s averaged 16 points, five rebounds and three assists resulting in 35.5 FD points per game. Small sample size? Yes, but it’s hard to ignore his production these past two games seeing 30+ minutes on the court in each. It’d be easy to expect him to see a similar workload as Wayne Selden (knee) has also dealt with recent injury issues. McLemore is the flavor of the week in the revolving door of Grizz guards, so riding this wave may be smart as it will not last very long.

Marcus Smart (BOS): $4,800 @ CHI

Tonight the Celtics draw a matchup against a Bulls team trying to pack it in for the year and improve their lottery position. Chicago does rank 12th against the shooting guard position, but does allow an average of 41 FD points per game. Enter Marcus Smart, who has been playing consistently since returning from his 11 game absence. Smart has scored in double-figures in four of the past five games, dishing out at least five assists in each of those contests. He provides a nice floor finishing over 20 FD points in each of the past five games as well (average of 24.6 FD points per game). If you are looking for salary relief to spend up for one of the studs, but don’t want a lot of risk then Smart is your guy. While he won’t wow you in the box score, he won’t cause your lineup to crash and burn if you spend down for him.

Small Forward

David Nwaba (CHI): $5,300 vs. BOS

Some people will look at this name and say “Who”? Well David Nwaba is the type of player that can elevate your lineup and be a difference maker. He’s a modest $5,300 tonight so he’ll need to get to 26.5 FD points to get to 5x value, which he’s done in three of the past five games. Boston ranks 24th against the small forward position so tonight is an opportunity for Nwaba to build of his last outing of 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists against the Mavericks. He’s recorded 30 or more FD points in two consecutive games and coach Fred Hoiberg has committed to starting Nwaba for the next few games. He’s logged 30+ minutes in five straight games and is a near lock to do so again tonight. He’s averaged 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game in those contests. He’s an opportunistic scorer and a good rebounder at the position and offers double-double upside. He can be a nice option to pair with Lebron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo tonight.

Reggie Bullock (DET): $4,900 @ CLE

Reggie Bullock draws a good matchup tonight against a Cleveland team ranked 27th against the position giving up an average of 39 FD points per game to small forwards. Bullock appears on this list because of his nice price tag of $4,900 and his past success against the Cavs. In the past two games the Pistons and Cavs met, Bullock has put up 26.4 and 29 FD points respectively. Given his modest price tag tonight he’d need 24.5 FD points to get value tonight. Given the past two games were pre-trade deadline Cavs, but it appears the honeymoon phase is over for the new look team. Bullock has also strung together a nice streak of three games averaging 16 points, five rebounds and two assists per game leading to an average of 28 FD points per game during that stretch. With his recent play and past success against a bad Cavs defense look for Bullock to achieve value tonight.

Power Forward

Jabari Parker (MIL): $5,300 @ IND

This is probably the riskiest of the selections in this article, but Jabari Parker has the type of talent to validate it so long as he remains under the $5,500 threshold. Parker has logged at least 20 minutes in five of his past six games, averaging 13 points and five rebounds per game over that stretch resulting in an average of 23.8 FD points. He’ll need 26.5 FD points to reach value tonight against a Pacers defense that ranks 18th against the position, which is the proposition and why he finds his name here. In the past four games he’s logged at least 20 minutes he’s averaged 27.9 FD points per game. So it seems like if he gets to 20 minutes of playing time he is a safe bet to get to value.

Marcus Morris (BOS): $5,000 @ CHI

Must be something in the name as Marcus Morris is the second Celtic named Marcus to appear on this list. Due in large part to the matchup tonight against a tanking Bulls team, Morris is in line to exceed the 25 FD point level to get 5x value. Morris is playing well of late and is coming off arguably his best performance of the season against the Rockets (21 points led to 35.3 FD points). Morris provides upside with scoring and rebounding and sports the second highest usage rate on the Celtics. He’s finished with at least 25 FD points in three straight games and tonight should make it four. Even if the Celtics jump out to a huge lead look for Morris to log between 25-30 minutes of playing time, which would only improve his stock. He’s finished in double-digit scoring in six of the past seven including three straight. Morris is a safe bet and will provide a solid floor against a bad Bulls team tonight.

Center

Brook Lopez (LAL): $4,900 vs. POR

Center is a position I’ll be spending up on this evening, there just isn’t much value I feel really good about. This is evidenced by Brooke Lopez appearing as the best value at $4,900 in a matchup against a Portland team that ranks 23rd against the position. Trusting Lopez is a risky proposition given his low floor, but the matchup tonight in a game that sports a 224 over/under should lead to a better than average chance he’ll reach the 24.5 FD point target tonight. While Lopez has only achieved that target once in the past four games, he still sports the fourth highest usage rate on the Lakers. Scoring has never been the problem for Lopez, but his rebounding leaves a lot to be desired. Again, it’s a risky choice with Lopez and you’d likely be betting on his defensive effort tonight if you go this route. There just aren’t many other options for value at the center position tonight.

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Chris Berg is a correspondent at FantasyPros. You can follow him on Twitter @bergey13.