I’ll be honest, I am not a big fan of Monday’s five-game NBA slate. There are two games that feature a double-digit home favorite and each of the other games also have some blowout potential with the remaining three favorites favored by five or more points. There aren’t any “lock” high-priced studs to jam in either, so I find myself building a more balanced lineup. Be sure you are also building in some upside on the small slate, even in cash games.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool 
One Stud
Kevin Durant (SF/PF – GS): $9,400 / Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GS): $9,100 @ IND
Monday is another slate where you can pretty comfortably fit in two of the higher-priced stud options. On Monday’s slate, I’m looking to use both Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry for their matchup against the Pacers. The Pacers will be without Victor Oladipo but should still be competitive playing at home. Both Durant and Curry have seen less fantasy production since DeMarcus Cousins returned, but they both still offer two of the highest floors on the slate and always have upside potential.
I’ll be honest, I am not a big fan of Monday’s five-game NBA slate. There are two games that feature a double-digit home favorite and each of the other games also have some blowout potential with the remaining three favorites favored by five or more points. There aren’t any “lock” high-priced studs to jam in either, so I find myself building a more balanced lineup. Be sure you are also building in some upside on the small slate, even in cash games.
Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
One Stud
Kevin Durant (SF/PF – GS): $9,400 / Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GS): $9,100 @ IND
Monday is another slate where you can pretty comfortably fit in two of the higher-priced stud options. On Monday’s slate, I’m looking to use both Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry for their matchup against the Pacers. The Pacers will be without Victor Oladipo but should still be competitive playing at home. Both Durant and Curry have seen less fantasy production since DeMarcus Cousins returned, but they both still offer two of the highest floors on the slate and always have upside potential.
Core Plays
Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $6,400 vs. BKN
Al Horford is coming off back-to-back double-doubles averaging 19.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while topping 44 DraftKings points in each outing. Next up for Horford is a great matchup on Monday night against the Nets who have allowed increased production in points (+4.2%) and rebounds (+10.0).
Darren Collison (PG – IND): $5,900 vs. GS
With Victor Oladipo out for the Pacers, Darren Collison will see a higher usage rate to help fill the void. Collison has scored at least 16 points in four straight outings and has dished out at least eight assists in three straight games. He has put up at least 36 DK points in three straight games. He’ll be in an up-tempo matchup against the Warriors on Monday in a game with the second-highest Vegas total on the slate.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG/SG – NY): $5,800 @ CHA
My recommendation of Tim Hardaway Jr. is a little bit of a gut call while I look for players with upside to include in my lineup. He does get a usage increase of about 5.6 percent with the collection of Knicks that are expected to be out on Monday. Hardaway is also coming off a game where he put up 40 DK points while scoring 22 points with six rebounds and five assists. He has a reasonable salary which allows for some value if he has another strong outing.
Dewayne Dedmon (PF/C – ATL): $5,500 @ LAC
Dewayne Dedmon only plays about 25 minutes per night, but he is typically productive with those minutes. Over his last three games, he has averaged 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He put up 13 points and 12 rebound in a previous meeting with the Clippers this season and the Clippers have been generous to opposing big men this year allowing an increase in points (+11.5%), rebounds (+9.3%), and assists (+6.7%).
Value Plays
Patrick Beverley (PG/SG – LAC): $4,500 vs. ATL
With Danilo Gallinari out for the Clippers, Patrick Beverley has played at least 34 minutes in five straight games. In those outings, Beverley has averaged 11.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists for 34.6 DK points per game. Gallinari will remain out on Monday in a favorable matchup for the Clippers against the Hawks who give up increased fantasy production across the board to every position on the floor.
Trey Burke (PG/SG – NY): $4,200 @ CHA
With Emmanuel Mudiay out for at least the next couple of weeks and Frank Ntilikina leaving the last game due to injury, there could be big minutes available for Trey Burke against the Hornets. Burke has already reached double-digit points in seven straight games and should easily make it eight with an expanded role and increased usage on Monday night. He could have to opportunity to reach 10x his low salary.
Avery Bradley (SG – LAC): $3,700 vs. ATL
Avery Bradley doesn’t have as much upside as Beverley or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($3,800), but he also has a safer floor that makes him a good cash game option. Bradley has scored double-digit points in four straight games while playing at least 35 minutes in each of those outings. He has topped 21 DK points in each of those games and should settle into another 20-30 DK point night in a favorable matchup against the Hawks.
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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and Correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.
