This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a big 10-game slate Monday night following the abbreviated Super Bowl Sunday ledger, so we'll have no shortage of options across every position and price range despite an injury report that contains a multitude of big names. Naturally, the final prognosis on some of the players currently sporting questionable designations will help determine how the slate unfolds, but even with the health-related question marks at the moment, this shapes up as an intriguing night of NBA DFS.
As usual, we'll proceed to break down the positional outlook below, along with possible chalk plays and some likely under-owned bargains that could help you round out your lineups with a couple of superstars.
Before delving into the slate, a reminder that FanDuel has reverted to its previous format of NOT dropping the lowest scoring in lineups after a one-year experiment with that feature. Therefore, it will be important to be prudent with each selection, as each player's total will count toward your final score.
Without further ado, let's take a more comprehensive look at Monday's slate!
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the three games on Monday's slate with the highest projected totals:
Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards (Projected total: 234.0 points)
In completely unsurprising news, the Wizards are involved in the game with the highest projected total of the night. Washington comes in allowing the most points per game (120.7), and they're also playing at the fifth-fastest pace (106.7 possessions per game). The Warriors aren't much better defensively, as they're yielding 114.9 points per road game, while Washington is averaging a robust 115.7 points per contest overall.
Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies (Projected total: 227.5 points)
The fast-paced Grizzlies have raised the offensive expectations of their opponents all season, and Monday is no exception. Memphis is averaging 106.6 possessions per game and allowing the fourth-most points per contest (115.7). The Pistons are also ranked in the bottom half of the league with 111.6 points per game allowed, and they've yielded 117.7 over their last three. It's also worth noting the two teams combined for 237 points when they first met Jan. 24.
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers (Projected total: 227.5 points)
Both the Spurs (113.6 PPG) and Clippers (115.4 PPG) rank in the top 10 in scoring, and San Antonio is allowing 115.5 points per road contest, ranking them in the bottom 10 in that category. The last time these two squads met, the result was a shootout that featured a combined total of 243 points. Both teams also come in with a completely clean bill of health, upping the chances of some offensive fireworks.
Other Projected High-Scoring Game of Note: Minnesota Timberwolves at Sacramento Kings (Projected total: 226.0 points)
Positional Breakdown
Point guard is thin on top-shelf options with both Luka Doncic (ankle), Kyrie Irving (knee) and Kemba Walker (knee) confirmed out, and depth will take another big hit if Trae Young (ankle) is forced to sit out as well. There are also availability questions surrounding Derrick Rose (groin) and Ricky Rubio (ankle) at the mid-tier level, making it one of the more ragged positions in terms of injuries.
Shooting guard is in slightly better shape, as especially at the very top levels, but D'Angelo Russell's uncertain status due to a quad injury is a concern in the mid-tier. There are a few other potential or confirmed absences further down the salary ladder, but the size of the slate still affords plenty of options and value into the sub-$4K range.
Small forward's biggest injury issues are the confirmed absence of T.J. Warren (concussion) and the possible one for Marcus Morris (illness). Outside of those two notable names, the position is in much better shape than the two backcourt spots. The fact an underpriced Paul George ($8.1K) is the most expensive option also makes it easy to roster a pair of solid players at the three.
Power forward can't escape having at least one notable name on the injury report, either, as Julius Randle is probable with a quadriceps injury. However, with the big man likely to play, the outlook is strong overall. Kawhi Leonard ($10.1K) is the most expensive option, then there's a $2K-plus dropoff to John Collins ($8.1K), Domantas Sabonis ($8.1K) and Kristaps Porzingis ($8.1K). There's also value to be considered down to the $4K price point, where a returning Rui Hachimura resides.
Center has a strong group of options and a clean bill of health until the mid-tier, making it one of the deepest positions on the night. Karl-Anthony Towns, Andre Drummond and Joel Embiid are a strong trio up top, while the mid-tier and value levels offer plenty of viable options down into the high $3K range.
Notable Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written (usually late morning Eastern time), check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
Luka Doncic, DAL
Doncic will miss multiple games after suffering a right ankle sprain in Thursday's practice.
Trae Young, ATL
Young is questionable due to an ankle injury.
Kyrie Irving, BKN
Irving is out with the MCL sprain that's expected to keep him out for at least a week.
De'Andre Hunter, ATL
Hunter is likely to be considered questionable at best due to an ankle injury that already cost him Saturday's game.
Kemba Walker, BOS
Walker remains out due to his knee injury.
Marcus Smart, BOS
Smart is doubtful due to a thigh injury.
Enes Kanter, BOS
Kanter is questionable due to a hip injury.
Seth Curry, DAL
Curry will not play due to a knee injury.
T.J. Warren, IND
Warren will not play due to a concussion.
D'Angelo Russell, GSW
Russell is questionable due to a thigh bruise.
Jordan McRae, WAS
McRae will remain out due to an ankle injury.
Garrison Mathews, WAS
Mathews is likely to be considered questionable at best due to his ankle injury.
Frank Ntilikina, NYK
Ntilikina is probable with a groin injury.
Marcus Morris, NYK
Morris is questionable due to an illness.
Julius Randle, NYK
Randle is probable due to a quadriceps injury.
Mitchell Robinson, NYK
Robinson is probable with a hamstring injury.
Derrick Rose, DET
Rose is likely to be considered questionable at best with the groin injury that forced an early exit from Sunday's game.
Markieff Morris, DET
Morris is likely to be considered questionable at best with the hip injury that cost him Sunday's game.
Allen Crabbe, MIN
Crabbe is likely to be considered questionable with the knee injury that already cost him two games.
Ricky Rubio, PHO
Rubio is likely to be questionable at best with the ankle injury that cost him Sunday's game.
Ty Jerome, PHO
Jerome is likely to be questionable at best with the lower leg injury that cost him Sunday's game.
Dario Saric, PHO
Saric is expected to remain out due to an ankle injury.
Cameron Johnson, PHO
Johnson is likely to be listed as questionable at best with the quadriceps injury that's cost him eight games.
Aron Baynes, PHO
Baynes is questionable with the hip injury that's already cost him seven games.
Davis Bertans, WAS
Bertans is questionable due to neck tightness.
Bruno Fernando, ATL
Fernando is questionable due to a calf injury.
Cam Reddish, ATL
Reddish will remain out due to a concussion.
Alex Len, ATL
Len remains out due to a hip injury.
DeAndre' Bembry, ATL
Bembry is doubtful due to a hand injury.
Trey Burke, PHI
Burke is questionable due to an illness.
Brandon Knight, CLE
Knight is likely to be questionable at best due to knee soreness.
Evan Fournier, ORL
Fournier is questionable due to a back injury.
PJ Washington, CHA
Washington is questionable due to an ankle injury.
Notable Longer-Term Injuries/Absences: Jonathan Isaac, ORL; Al-Farouq Aminu, ORL; D.J. Augustin, ORL; Josh Richardson, PHI; Stephen Curry, GSW; Klay Thompson, GSW; Ante Zizic, CLE; Justise Winslow, MIA; Jabari Parker, ATL; Chandler Parsons, ATL; Richaun Holmes, SAC; Marvin Bagley, SAC; RJ Barrett, NYK; Robert Williams, BOS; Grayson Allen, MEM; Andre Iguodala, MEM; Bruno Caboclo, MEM; Frank Kaminsky, PHO; Jake Layman, MIN
Elite Players
Even when factoring out the absence of Luka Doncic (ankle), we have three five-figure healthy players on the big slate: Bradley Beal ($10,500), Kawhi Leonard ($10,100) and Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,000). In the $9K range, Trae Young ($9,600) is no sure thing to play, but both Andre Drummond ($9,700) and Ben Simmons ($9,000) could deliver nicely on their prices. And there's even the potential for some elite-level production when dipping into the $8K range, with the matchups for Nikola Vucevic ($8,600), Deandre Ayton ($8,300) and Paul George ($8,100) standing out as ones that could lead to those players outpacing their salaries.
Expected Chalk
There could ultimately be plenty of injury-related chalk Monday night depending on how many questionable tags turn into absences. For example, if Trae Young (ankle) sits, we could see ownership bump up on Jeff Teague ($4,800), while a missed game by D'Angelo Russell could lead to multiple backcourt pieces on the Warriors becoming more popular. Kyrie Irving's confirmed absence should also make Spencer Dinwiddie ($7,100) very popular.
Key and Likely Underowned Values
Christian Wood, DET at MEM ($4,400)
Wood has settled into a steady role in the frontcourt rotation, and he'll come into Monday's favorable matchup versus the fast-paced Grizzlies having scored 19.8 to 35.1 FanDuel points in five of his last seven games. Those are solid-to-excellent returns on his current salary, and Memphis could be just the type of club to coax a strong performance from him. The Grizzlies come in ranked just outside the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to power forwards (25.4), and they're also yielding the fourth-most FanDuel points per game to fours (47.7) for the season. Memphis also ranks in the bottom half of the league in rebounding rate (49.6 percent), and they've produced the third-lowest figure in that category (45.5 percent) over the last three games.
De'Anthony Melton, MEM vs. DET ($4,400)
Melton is another bargain with likely low ownership from the Grizzlies-Pistons tilt, considering the upside he's flashed on multiple occasions this season and his own favorable matchup. Melton returned from a two-game absence due to a hand injury with a modest performance Friday, generating just 12.7 FanDuel points over 17 minutes against the Pelicans. However, he'd scored over 25 FanDuel points in five of the eight games prior to the injury, and he's hit or exceeded that mark on 14 occasions overall this season. The Pistons come in ranked in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to opposing second units (45.0), while allowing 45.9 percent shooting, including 36.0 percent from three-point range, to bench players. Melton has demonstrated impressive efficiency this season (47.3 percent shooting), and he'd often been exceeding 20 minutes prior to his aforementioned injury absence.
JaMychal Green, LAC vs. SA ($3,600)
Green is likely to be a forgotten man with all the other values available Monday, but he's worth a look if you're trying to punt at one PF spot in large-field tournaments. The veteran big enjoys a consistent role in the frontcourt rotation that's typically affording him minutes in the low 20s at minimum, and although his production does fluctuate, he'll come into Monday's game having hit or exceeded 20 FanDuel points in four of his last eight games. Green has averaged 19.5 FanDuel points over two games against the Spurs as well, and San Antonio checks in allowing the sixth-most FanDuel points per game to power forwards (46.5) on the season.
Other underowned value plays: Troy Brown, WAS vs. GSW ($4,700); Isaiah Thomas, WAS vs. GSW ($3,900)
Other value plays with likely higher ownership: Al Horford, PHI ($5,900); Buddy Hield, SAC ($5,800); Jalen Brunson, DAL ($5,700); Nemanja Bjelica, SAC ($5,600); Lou Williams, LAC ($5,500); Thomas Bryant, WAS ($5,300); Alec Burks, GSW ($5,100); Victor Oladipo, IND ($5,100); Myles Turner, IND ($5,100); Marquese Chriss, GSW ($5,000); Tristan Thompson, CLE ($4,900); Ish Smith, WAS ($4,900); Reggie Jackson, DET ($4,500); Kevin Porter, CLE ($4,500); Willie Cauley-Stein, DAL ($4,400); Doug McDermott, IND ($3,500)
