This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We kick off the week with a full 10-gme slate on FanDuel. Let's get to it!
SLATE OVERVIEW
BKN (-7.5) @ CLE O/U: 207.5
WAS (-3.5) vs. CHA O/U: 216
BOS (-12) vs. HOU O/U: 211.5
ATL (-10.5) vs. OKC O/U: 213
CHI (-4.5) vs. IND O/U: 208.5
MIL (-12.5) vs. ORL O/U: 217.5
MIN (-2.5) @ NOR O/U: 214
PHO (-6) @ SAS O/U: 220
UTA (-9) vs. MEM O/U: 220.5
SAC (-2.5) vs. PHI O/U: 216.5
The Kings are a favorite? That's the top news here, but the litany of lopsided games is really the headline item on this slate. We'll want to focus on the close ones, as we risk elites sitting down the stretch in many of these matchups.
INJURIES
BKN Joe Harris (ankle) - OUT
BKN Bruce Brown (hamstring) - OUT
Patty Mills ($4,500) should continue to play a prominent role in this injury scenario.
CLE Cedi Osman (back) - QUESTIONABLE
The Cavs are snakebit with injuries. Consult the starting lineup for any usable pivots, but I won't endorse anyone as an alternative in this matchup.
HOU Kevin Porter (thigh) - QUESTIONABLE
If Porter misses his third straight game, Jalen Green ($5,200) and Eric Gordon ($5,100) will be the best two pivot options.
BOS Jaylen Brown (hamstring) - PROBABLE
BOS Robert Williams (knee) - PROBABLE
These two players are worth mentioning because although they will both return to action, I expect them to be used sparingly in a potentially lopsided affair against Houston. Options like Dennis Schroder ($6,100) and Al Horford ($7,200) will still be in play.
OKC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
If SGA is out, Ty Jerome ($3,800) will be poised to have an increased role after a respectable outing Saturday.
ATL Bogdan Bogdanovic (quad) - QUESTIONABLE
Kevin Huerter ($4,400) will be a great add regardless, but he should see even more usage if Bogdanovic is out. Huerter is entirely too cheap to ignore right now.
CHI Nikola Vucevic (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
We've had a few games to monitor the usage in Vucevic's absence. Due to the incredibly low salary, Derrick Jones ($4,200) appears to have the most value as a pivot.
ORL Cole Anthony (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
ORL Gary Harris (hand) - QUESTIONABLE
If both guards are absent, R.J. Hampton ($5,300) will look to build on his massive 42-FDFP performance from Saturday.
NOR Devonte' Graham (foot) - QUESTIONABLE
Although Tomas Satoransky will start if Graham sits, pivoting to Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($6,100) will be the better value.
MEM De'Anthony Melton (groin) - OUT
Thanks to the return of Dillon Brooks, this absence doesn't have the same impact it would have had earlier in the season. Tyus Jones ($4,200) is currently the best value pivot to pick up the slack.
PHI Joel Embiid (COVID-19 Protocols)
The salary of Andre Drummond ($7,400) salary is getting out of hand, but he's still Embiid's best alternative for Philly.
ELITE PLAYERS
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700) tops our player pool, and I think he's our sound spend-up option given the easy matchup ahead for James Harden ($10,100) and Kevin Durant ($10,500). I don't doubt their output, but both players could disappear in the fourth quarter. Close games are at a premium tonight, so it also makes sense to field Ja Morant ($9,800) in what should be one of the tighter games on the slate. LaMelo Ball ($9,000) also clocks in as a good choice at the bottom of the elite pool in a fast-paced matchup against Washington.
Also consider: Trae Young, ATL ($9,300) vs. OKC
EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS
DeMar DeRozan, CHI ($8,600) vs. IND
His salary is a tad high, but we want to hammer the close games on this slate, and DeRozan fits the bill. After two games in the 50-FDFP range last week, he posted two consecutive games of 43 FDFP or more over the weekend. He's connected on over 49 percent of his shots over the past week and continues to provide excellent secondary numbers. I'm also perfectly fine with Zach LaVine ($8,000), who carries a superb salary relative to his production.
Anthony Edwards, MIN ($7,900) @ NOR
I may be a glutton for punishment, but I still think Edwards is good at this salary point. He regressed with a tepid game against Memphis, but the Pelicans are much weaker defensively, raking near the bottom of the league in scoring defense. You're betting on his upside here.
Harrison Barnes, SAC ($7,300) vs. PHI
We slid past many big names to get here, but I will go with Vegas' instinct and assume that the Sixers are vulnerable during their road trip. Barnes' big game against Utah over the weekend was an encouraging sign for Monday, and although his numbers bounce around a bit, his salary is right about where it should be.
Lonzo Ball, CHI ($6,700) vs. IND
Ball has found his way into a few perfect lineups because his salary remains so low. He's averaged just over 30 FDFP over the past five games, and although we'd prefer his salary to be just a tad lower given that production, he'll still provide excellent value at point guard.
Also consider: Miles Bridges, CHA ($8,200) @ WAS, Jonas Valanciunas, MEM ($8,000) @ MIN, John Collins, ATL ($7,300) vs. OKC
VALUE PLAYS
As usual, our injury section has a wide array of worthwhile value plays, but here are a few more who can help you out Monday.
Ricky Rubio, CLE ($6,700) vs. BKN
Rubio should have fun playing against elites in his age group Monday. With Collin Sexton out for the season, Rubio will have a prominent role with the Cavs, giving them a fighting chance with a veteran presence in the backcourt. You can always count on good assist totals from the dime-dropper, but he's also a great off-the-ball shooter opposite Darius Garland ($6,200).
Josh Giddey, OKC ($6,000) @ ATL
The rookie's value skyrockets if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits. However, Giddey's still very viable regardless of SGA's status. 30 FDFP is what he needs to beat value at this salary, and he's exceeded that number in four consecutive games.
LaMarcus Aldridge, BKN ($5,600) @ CLE
It's a speculative pick, but Aldridge's numbers have jumped in recent games, and after a look at some of Brooklyn's lopsided wins, there's merit to rostering Aldridge as a candidate to clean up if this game gets out of hand.
Also consider: Patrick Beverley, MIN ($5,000) @ NOR, Danilo Gallinari, ATL ($4,000) vs. OKC
