This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There's seven games on the schedule for Monday's NBA slate, a number that's quite manageable when it comes to daily lineups preparation. However, the player pool is deep enough that prospective DFSers can still get enough differentiation with their lineups from the crowd, which is of paramount importance in big tournaments like FanDuel's $150K NBA Slam. With that in mind, here are some players that intrigue me based on their listed price on FanDuel.Point Guard
Jarrett Jack, BKN vs. MIL ($6,300): For those unwilling to cough up the big bucks on Russell Westbrook ($11,200), Stephen Curry ($11,000), or Chris Paul ($9,300), Jack represents a solid, low-cost alternative who will allow DFS players to allocate their funds elsewhere. While Jack doesn't have a particularly high ceiling on a rather inept Nets squad, he does have plenty of minutes working in his favor. After missing the season opener last week with a hamstring injury, Jack debuted with 27 minutes last Friday against the Spurs, and then played 35 minutes the next night in Memphis, generating 15 points, nine assists, and three rebounds. With unimpressive commodities behind him on the depth chart in Shane Larkin and Markel Brown, I expect 35 minutes to be closer to the norm for Jack. He should fare well against the struggling Bucks, and will likely add some a steal or two to his ledger, given that opposing point guard Michael Carter-Williams is averaging 4.3 turnovers per game.
Shooting Guard
James Harden, HOU vs. OKC ($10,400): Despite his early-season struggles, Harden is still the fifth-priciest player on FanDuel for Monday's games. That's precisely why I'm compelled to use him, as I don't expect his ownership rates to be as high as usual because of how poorly he's been playing. Through three games, Harden has only knocked down three three-pointers and is shooting a grisly 22.2 percent from the field. I'm going to chalk that up to small sample size, and roll the dice on Harden delivering a bounce-back performance, particularly in a game like this that figures to take on a rapid pace. If Harden can simply rediscover his shooting stroke, he shouldn't have much of a problem piling up the points on FanDuel. Even as he's failed to score in an efficient manner in the early going, Harden is still averaging 6.3 rebounds, six assists, and two steals per contest.
Nik Stauskas, PHI vs. CLE ($3,800): After sitting out the season opener against the Celtics while dealing with back spasms, Stauskas faced a restriction of 21 minutes upon returning to the lineup for the home opener Friday against Utah. He was one the lone bright spots in a 28-point drubbing by the visitors, scoring a team-high 12 points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT) while coming off the bench. It's unclear if Stauskas will slot back into a starting role Monday, but expect his playing time count to at least rise a little bit more, potentially into the upper-20s. Stauskas won't provide much in the defensive categories, but his willingness to look for his own offense and his ability to knock down threes shouldn't make it difficult for him to justify his low price.
Small Forward
Trevor Ariza, HOU vs. OKC ($5,500): With Dwight Howard (back) and Terrence Jones (face) sidelined for Sunday's game against the Heat, Ariza started at power forward as the Rockets employed a small-ball lineup. Ariza finished with seven boards while playing 41 minutes in a game that wasn't particularly close. If the Rockets are down at least one of Howard and Jones again Monday, Ariza stands to make another run at 40 minutes, about five more than he averaged last season. The increased playing time would in theory lead to increased counting stats, and given Ariza's ability to both pick up steals and knock down three-pointers at steady rates, the FanDuel points could pile up.
Harrison Barnes, MEM vs. GS ($4,800): There's a definite ceiling on Barnes' offensive output so long as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson remain in the mix for the Warriors, but the fourth-year small forward has quietly grown in his game in other areas through the first three contests. Barnes is pulling down seven rebounds per game and is dishing out an average of 2.3 assists, both of which would be career-bests if he's able to maintain that pace. And despite only shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from three-point range, Barnes is still averaging 10.3 points per game. With the Grizzlies boasting strong backcourt defenders in Tony Allen and Mike Conley, Curry may be forced to defer to Barnes more frequently Monday night. It's not hard to see Barnes make a run at 15 or 20 points if he can get his shot to start falling again.
Power Forward
Serge Ibaka, OKC at HOU ($6,900): While Ariza stands to benefit from more minutes if the Rockets are indeed forced to utilize a small-ball lineup, it could also lead to another dominant performance down low from Ibaka. The power forward racked up 18 points, seven boards, and five blocks in Sunday's game against an undersized Nuggets frontcourt, and if Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones are forced to sit for the Rockets, Ibaka will again tower over the opposition. Potential matchups against the likes of Ariza (6-foot-8), Montrezl Harrell (6-foot-8), and Chuck Hayes (6-foot-6) are ones that Ibaka should have plenty of opportunities to exploit on both ends of the court.
Center
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN vs. POR ($6,600): Towns has looked as good as advertised in the Timberwolves' first two games, averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks per contest. The rookie's ability to knock down foul shots at a high rate separates him from most of his fellow big men, and his presence in the low block as a rim protector and rebounder will give him a high floor most every night. Expect him to thrive against a green Portland frontcourt that's still reeling from the offseason departure of LaMarcus Aldridge.
