This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Monday is a star-studded eight-game slate, with six players at or above $10,000, with the most expensive being Giannis Antetokoumpo ($11,800) against the Pistons. The highest-priced player out with an injury is Zach Lavine ($8,100), who is sidelined due to an ankle injury.
The highest over/under on the day is 233.0, with the Kings visiting the Timberwolves. The lowest over/under is 209.5, with the Grizzlies visiting the Warriors. The largest spread is in favor of the Thunder (-13.0), who are at home against the Bulls. The closest contest is expected to be between the Knicks (-1.5), who will host the visiting Suns.
Let's break down an option at each position:
Point Guard
Derrick Rose ($6,100), MIN vs. SAC
Rose's minutes and production waned from Nov. 26 through Dec. 5, as he averaged 21.0 fantasy points across 25.4 minutes. Since then, he's produced at the level we grew accustomed to earlier in the season. Over the past four outings, Rose has posted 35.7 FP in 31.5 minutes, which is more in line with his season average of 1.0 FP/min. At $6,000, Rose should make for an effective play in both cash and GPP formats. Sacramento also allows the third-most fantasy points to point guards, including the second-most assists. In contests where Rose posts more than his season mark of 4.4 assists per game, he racks up an average of 34.6 FP.
Shooting Guard
Devin Booker ($8,400), PHO at NY
During his return from a six-game absence Saturday, Booker posted 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists (44.9 FP). His season average of 38.0 fantasy points makes it seem like his $8,400 price is a reach, but he was playing his best basketball before getting hurt, and the hope if he can continue that trend. Over Booker's past seven appearances (discounting the game in which he suffered his injury), he's averaging 42.2 FP across 36.4 minutes. From a matchup perspective, Booker is in a great spot Monday. The Knicks have allowed the third-most fantasy points to shooting guards on the campaign, including the most rebounds and second-most assists. Booker is notably averaging 41.2 FP when he exceeds his season mark of 6.8 assists per contest.
Small Forward
T.J. Warren ($6,800), PHO at NY
Kelly Oubre and Austin Rivers, recently traded to the Suns in exchange for Trevor Ariza, won't be available until Wednesday's game against the Celtics. So for the time being, Warren, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton remain Phoenix's clear offensive options with little depth surrounding them. Even with Booker's return Saturday, Warren took at least 16 field-goal attempts for the third straight game -- a stretch in which he hasn't dipped below 32.2 fantasy points. For the season, when taking at least 16 field-goal attempts, Warren averages 37.8 FP. He has solid upside at $6,800, having dropped at least 40 FP in four contests this year. Those all came against tougher defenses than New York (Boston, Golden State, San Antonio and New Orleans).
Power Forward
Noah Vonleh ($5,500), NY vs. PHO
Vonleh appears to have carved out a consistent role in the Knicks' rotation, seeing 31.0 minutes per game across the past eight. During this stretch, he's averaging 26.8 FP on the back of 9.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a combined 1.4 steals/blocks. Notably, he hasn't dipped below 20.0 FP in any of the past eight games, making him a quality mid-to-low-cost cash game option. He's also produced 33.5 FP and 40.7 FP games in this run as well, which is enough to justify deploying him in a GPP. Those aren't flukes, either, as he's cracked 40 FP five times this year. Also, the Suns are allowing the third-most assists to power forwards. When Vonleh eclipses his average of 2.2 assists, he posts 33.0 FP per game.
Center
Steven Adams ($7,300), OKC vs. CHI
Adams is always al cash play, posting between 30-40 fantasy points in 16 of his 27 appearances. We can chase Adams' upside Monday, however, given his matchup against the Bulls. Chicago allows the second-most fantasy points to centers, including the most blocks. When Adams gets more than 1.0 block (his season average) he posts 38.8 FP per contest. And each of his top three fantasy outputs (53.8, 44.0 and 42.9) have more than one block on the stat sheet. It's tempting to chase the upsides of the top-flight centers for GPPs, but Adams can still get you plenty of value while opening up roster flexibility for the other positions.
