This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Monday's six-game slate gives us yet another night where we should center our lineup builds around James Harden ($13,800), as his matchup against the Suns should propel him into video-game-like territory yet again. Chris Paul's return hasn't slowed the Harden train enough to call in a fade, and this slate doesn't give us a lot of elites. As a result, The Beard should be an easier fit tonight. The big question will be which direction you choose to take with the rest of your lineup. There are a few spend-up guys to recommend, but you can also opt for a balanced lineup filled with mid-range guys who can pop with big numbers.
On the injury front:
PELICANS: The situation remains the same in New Orleans, with Antony Davis (finger), Nikola Mirotic (calf) and Julius Randle (ankle) out in the frontcourt. E'Twaun Moore (quad) and Elfrid Payton (ankle) are also out. Jahlil Okafor ($7,500), Kenrich Williams ($4,900) and Darius Miller ($4,800) are the primary pivots up front, in that order. Tim Frazier ($4,400) remains your best pivot in the backcourt.
NUGGETS: It's possible that we'll see Jamal Murray (ankle) back in action on Monday, which spells bad news for Monte Morris. With Gary Harris (groin) still out, I expect Malik Beasley ($4,900) to start at the off-guard once again.
POINT GUARDS
Trae Young, ATL at WAS ($7,600): Young sits plainly atop the point guard heap, and even though his three-game averages against Washington aren't great, he suffered his worst game of the season in their most recent matchup. If you cancel that game out, his numbers are considerably better, and you have to like Young's chances against a Wizards team that doesn't fare well against opposing backcourts.
Frank Jackson, NO at IND ($3,900): Make no mistake, I still think Frazier is the way to go here, but his 30 FDFP showing against the Spurs will certainly earn him more playing time for the injury-plagued Pelicans. There's nothing particularly reliable about his floor and his 42 minutes against San Antonio looks to be an outlier performance, but he's at an excellent must-drop price, and it's entirely possible that he outscores a pick or two in most lineups tonight.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Bradley Beal, WAS vs. ATL ($9,300): All you have to do is look at Beal's three-game average against the Hawks (29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists) to convince you of Beal's tremendous value here. Granted, it's difficult to make this play alongside Harden at this position, but it's certainly worth considering as a viable path if you can fit him in.
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. SA ($6,600): Hield has been on fire, and he's one of the league's best three-point threats. He drilled in seven threes against the Sixers two days ago, and I like Hield's chances despite the potential slow place of this matchup. Some may shy away from Hield upon looking at his so-so total against them earlier in the season, but this game happened in the midst of a minor slump, and his recent totals have been considerably more favorable.
SMALL FORWARDS
Otto Porter Jr, WAS vs. ATL ($6,600): Giannis fades in lopsided games, and DeRozan's recent numbers concern me, so the resurgent Porter becomes the most logical spend-up choice at this position. We finally saw a glimpse of the forward's old self in a superb 40.4 FDFP game against the Bucks last week, and he did that with only 24 minutes on the floor. His minutes should continue to inch up, and his production should settle into a groove heading into the All-Star break.
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at NO ($5,700): Bojan destroyed the Heat with 31 points on Saturday, and I think the forward sets up well against the Pelicans' decimated roster. Even at full strength, New Orleans is the league's worst wing defender, so Bogdanovic could inflict some serious damage in this matchup.
POWER FORWARDS
I favor hitting Kenrich Williams for some value at this spot, but there are other ways to go if you are inclined to find a pair for Harden here. Spending up for a Blake Griffin ($9,400) is indeed doable, but I can identify some cheaper options that can give you similar value.
Josh Jackson, PHO vs. HOU ($6,300): If you've slept on this T.J. Warren pivot, you've been missing out on some great value. He showed some ability to pop for a big total against the Hawks last week, and while he's also turned in some so-so numbers, he is a great candidate to crush value at this price. I expect to spend up at center tonight, and the PF spot is likely where I'll try to limit my spending.
Marvin Bagley, SAC vs. SA ($6,200): The Kings appear ready to move on from Nemanja Bjelica and finally give the rookie the lion's share of minutes at the four. A slow start for Bagley delayed this anointment, but his recent numbers show a definite upward trend that should continue as the season moves forward. I'm not a huge fan of the pace of this game, but I favor this move over riskier plays like Paul Millsap and Jeff Green.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN at DET ($11,300): If you plan on a true stars and scrubs route, then Jokic is your guy to pair with Harden on this slate. I like his chances even better if he gets Jamal Murray back, but Denver's had no trouble getting Jokic the ball. He's put up a whopping 24.7 points and 14.3 rebounds over his last six games, so there's no doubt that he's worth the mountain of cash you'll have to pay.
Myles Turner, IND at NO ($7,100): Given the sad state of affairs in New Orleans, this pick should be self-explanatory, and I think he's an excellent mid-range target if you've decided to spend up elsewhere. I think a 35 FDFP performance is realistic, so it isn't going to be a Jokic total, but he won't cause irreversible damage to your lineup either.
