This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Week 12 of the fantasy basketball season begins with a nine-game Monday night slate. Let's dive in and find some value at each price tier.
Slate Overview
BOS (-9) @ WAS, O/U: 226.5
PHI (-7) vs. OKC, O/U: 213
IND (-5) @ CHA, O/U: 208.5
ORL (-5.5) vs. BKN, O/U: 211.5
DEN (-8) @ ATL, O/U: 219
UTA (-3) @ NO, O/U: 222.5
MIL (-7) @ SA, O/U: 229
DAL (-9.5) vs. CHI, O/U: 216
SAC (-11.5) vs. GS, O/U: 213.5
Injuries to Monitor
Bradley Beal (leg) QUESTIONABLE
There's no word on Beal's return yet, but if he's out. You've got a hodge-podge of guys who've all popped to various levels in this scenario, with Troy Brown Jr. ($6,100) experiencing the biggest boost. Jordan McRae ($5,700) should also have an increased role.
Kemba Walker (illness) OUT
Marcus Smart ($5,200) will likely get the start, but I think you can expect a boost from every Boston starter in this scenario.
Kristaps Porzingis (knee) OUT
Porzingis will miss at least one more game, which puts Maxi Kleber ($5,700) back in the mix for the Mavs.
John Collins (back) PROBABLE
Collins' back injury doesn't appear to be serious, so we could see him back tonight. If he misses, Bruno Fernando ($3,200) is an excellent value with Damian Jones also questionable tonight.
Jrue Holiday (elbow) OUT
Holiday dinged his elbow on Saturday and the Pelicans will hold him out of action. Lonzo Ball could pick up some extra minutes in the backcourt, while Frank Jackson and/or Nickeil Alexander-Walker could also reclaim larger roles temporarily.
Draymond Green (ankle) OUT; D'Angelo Russell (shoulder) OUT; Kevon Looney (abdomen) OUT
The Warriors roster is awash with injuries and no offense to them, but their starting lineup sounds like a G-League farm team. I have a hard time giving you pivots here. I would take a look at the starting lineup tonight and go from there.
Elite Players
Luka Doncic, DAL ($12,200) vs. CHI
Taking Luka would lower your per-player salary all the way down to $5,400. Is he worth it? I think the combo of the opponent, Porzingis' absence and historical data all lead me to say yes. At this price, you want 60 DKFP or more, and we all know he's capable of popping well beyond that number.
Trae Young, ATL ($9,800) vs. DEN
You'd think the opponent would be cause to fade Young, but he actually had one of his best games (68 DKFP) against the Nuggets. Young will need to turn it on with John Collins potentially out, and while a regression against Denver is possible, I think he'll be able to meet value at $9,800.
Ben Simmons, PHI ($8,800) vs. OKC
Simmons is experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately, and players who went his way in last week's game against Houston were rewarded with a 76 DKFP payday. His first game against the Thunder wasn't even close to that (41.2 DKFP), but I think that's the absolute floor of what he could do at home tonight.
Expected Chalk + Other Targets
Domantas Sabonis, IND ($8,600) @ CHA
The opponent will be what draws many to Sabonis and a host of other Pacers. His salary is a little higher than I'd like, but with three straight 47 DKFP games, he's a great candidate to scratch 6x value against the Hornets.
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($8,000) @ WAS
As I said, I like a boost for all Boston starters in the wake of Kemba's absence, and Tatum should enter a value-beating score. His shot was a little off in his first game against the Wizards and he'll be looking to correct that error. I like the high O/U and the game script here, and to be honest, I really like every Boston starter tonight but felt Tatum deserved a special nod.
Buddy Hield, SAC ($7,200) vs. GS
Hield only rivals Fox in terms of usage (27.1 %), and I think he'll be humming on all cylinders against the Warriors at home. They rank dead-last in defending the three, so Hield will get plenty of opportunities and if he gets hot, watch out. We could get some pretty high numbers from Hield if he's dialed in.
Value Plays
Aaron Holiday, IND ($5,800) at CHA
Perhaps Holiday belongs in the category above at this point, as he'll likely be set for another start Monday with Malcolm Brogdon still nursing a sore back. Holiday played 32 minutes in Saturday's game against Atlanta, and while he struggled from the field (5-19 FG), the fact that he took 19 shots is encouraging. Plus, Holiday added four rebounds and six assists, giving him 23 dimes over his last three games. Considering Monday's matchup, this could be his breakout game.
Wendell Carter Jr., CHI ($6,000) at DAL
The second-year big man hasn't had the highest ceiling this season, but he's showed off a dependable floor. Most recently, Carter went for 11 points and 14 rebounds in Saturday's game against Boston, which marked his third consecutive double-double. He added two assists, two blocks and three steals in that contest, as he topped 40 DraftKings points for the second straight game. Going up against a Mavs team that will be without its best rim-protector, Carter could be poised to extend that double-double streak.
Garrett Temple, BRO ($4,700) at ORL
Temple has stepped into a larger-than-expected role for much of the season in the wake of injuries to Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert. The Nets got the latter player back last week, but LeVert will now sit out Monday for maintenance purposes. That should mean another 30-plus-minute night for Temple, who's attempted 27 field goals over his last two games. Don't depend on the veteran for gaudy scoring efforts, but his all-around contributions typically keep him in the range of 25 DraftKings points on most nights.
Damion Lee, GSW ($6,100) at SAC
As the Warriors seemingly shuffle the rotation on a week-to-week basis, Lee has been among the primary beneficiaries of late. He's topped 30 minutes in seven of his last 10 games and should again be in line for a significant role with D'Angelo Russell still sidelined. Lee put up 28.75 DraftKings points in his last game Saturday against Detroit, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. He can't always be counted upon for defensive contributions, but Lee is a capable rebounder and decent passer who's never afraid to pull the trigger.
