FanDuel NBA Lineup Advice: Monday (1/6)

Monday night’s schedule of games includes a nine-game slate, all of which are set to tip-off at 7:00 p.m. EST for the main slate. No teams are operating on a back-to-back, giving all 18 participating teams a clean transition into tonight’s contests.

Check out today’s NBA Shot from FanDuel

Point Guard

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,600 vs. CHI
Currently operating in a class of his own, Doncic is coming off a wildly productive game that saw him total 69.4 FanDuel points in 43 minutes of game time (overtime). Luka’s price tag is wildly high, but he’s earned it as he’s a true triple-double threat on any given night. The absence of PF Kristaps Porzingis allows Luka to up his usage rate – he currently sits at 3^rd in the league – by freely jacking up shots. The matchup against the Chicago Bulls is a tough one as they rank 5^th in defensive rating, but they do rank just above average in pace at 13^th. Still, somebody has to score for the Dallas Mavericks, and it all starts and ends with Luka.

De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $7,700 vs. GS
Since returning from injury, Fox has picked right up from where he left off as an ascending and electric young talent. In his past four games, Fox has reached value twice, with 27 and 28-point performances as the non-value results. Tonight’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors is a good one as they rank 22^nd in defensive rating and 15^th in pace.

Shooting Guard

Marcus Smart (SG – BOS): $4,900 @ WAS
With starting PG Kemba Walker being ruled out due to an illness, Smart will draw his third consecutive start. Since entering the starting lineup, Smart has registered 30+ minutes of playing time in each contest and has totaled 25.5, 49.7, and 16.5 FanDuel points. Smart – and the rest of his teammates – has a chance to crush value tonight as the Washington Wizards present a beautiful opportunity, ranking 30^th in defensive rating and 4^th in pace. The Boston Celtics currently have the 2^nd highest implied total of the night, trailing only the Milwaukee Bucks.

Damion Lee (SG – GS): $5,600 @ SAC
The Warriors are likely to be a source of value tonight simply due to the number of injuries to their roster. Lee has played a boatload of minutes as the starting two-guard, and there doesn’t seem to be any barrier to having that trend continue. The Sacramento Kings are only a decent matchup, as they rank 18^th in defensive rating but 28^th in pace. Lee is coming off a solid 28.5-point performance in his last contest.

Small Forward

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF – DAL): $4,800 vs. CHI
With Porzingis being ruled out, Finney-Smith is expected to get a lot of run in tonight’s contest against the Bulls. Not only that, but Justin Jackson and Dwight Powell make up the remainder of the frontcourt. With a lack of playmakers for the Mavericks, Finney-Smith should get more than enough opportunities offensively to help reach value, though his ability to pick up ancillary stats will be important. The Bulls are not a good matchup, but the playing time and opportunity are present in many of the Mavericks’ options tonight.

Alec Burks (SF – GS): $6,000 @ SAC
Coming off the bench, Burks has been inconsistent lately, but he possesses the ability to explode for a big performance every other game. Burks is coming off a strong 43.9-point performance in his last game, and the Warriors have already ruled out D’Angelo Russell, Kevon Looney, and Draymond Green. Expect Burks to get a lot of run and plenty of opportunities to create offensively for himself and his teammates.

Power Forward

Richaun Holmes (PF – SAC): $6,700 vs. GS
Holmes is arguably the best play of the night. With PF Marvin Bagley III being ruled out of the contest, Holmes will be relied upon to play 30+ minutes, a figure he’s eclipsed in his last seven contests. The Warriors are horrendous at defending opposing big-men, providing Holmes with the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent and to crush value. Holmes is a consistent DFS threat, as he’s managed to score 30+ FanDuel points in all of his last four games.

Thaddeus Young (PF – CHI): $4,200 vs. DAL
The veteran in Young doesn’t have much of a ceiling these days, but he does present a high-floor option at a discount price. Starting PF Lauri Markkanen is not expected to play tonight, providing Young with an opportunity for more playing time and his insertion into the starting lineup. The matchup in the Mavericks is average, as they rank 16^th in defensive rating and 17^th in pace. With his extended minutes, Young should absolutely be able to hit value on tonight’s slate.

Center

Nikola Vucevic (C – ORL): $8,500 vs. BKN
Starting SF Johnathon Isaac has been ruled out due to injury, which leaves Vuce with more opportunities to collect boards. The matchup in the Brooklyn Nets is a decent one as they rank 14^th in defensive rating and 10^th in pace. Vuce is one of the most consistent players in DFS, and with more opportunities to rebound the ball and a higher usage rate offensively, he could very well be in a position to smash value tonight.

Create FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool

Sosa Kremenjas is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Sosa, check out his archive and follow him @QBsMVP.