This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
Monday's five-game slate on DraftKings features just one team with an expected scoring total over 70 points, and there aren't many players with lofty salaries among the included matchups. As a result, DFS players will have to search for strong plays among mid-tier and value salaries. One of the featured contests on DraftKings is the $10K Heating Up contest, which pays out $2,000 to the winner. As always, the expected totals and point spreads from RotoWire's Daily Matchups page is included below:
Top Players
Azuolas Tubelis, F, Arizona ($6,800 DK)
Arizona has been firing on all cylinders to begin the season, and the Wildcats have the highest expected total on Monday's slate. The lopsided spread (-12.0) is slightly concerning since the team could choose to rest some key contributors if the game gets out of hand, but Tubelis has been heavily involved in most games this season. The Wildcats seemed to ease him back into action after he missed one game due to an ankle injury, but he's been back in the starting lineup for each of the last three games and is coming off his first double-double of the season.
A.J. Griffin, G/F, Duke ($5,900 DK, $6,900 FD)
The Blue Devils are another team with a relatively high expected total Monday, and Griffin has generated some recent consistency since securing a regular spot in the starting lineup. He's scored in double figures in four of the last five games and posted a season-high 27 points during Saturday's blowout win over North Carolina. Virginia is notorious for having one of the slowest paces in the nation, but Griffin should have plenty of chances to remain productive as long as Duke's efficient offense can drive the tempo.
Middle Tier
Nick Jourdain, F, Temple ($4,400 DK)
Jourdain has carved out a starting role for the Owls recently and has been a fairly consistent fantasy performer, as he's scored 10-plus points in six of the last eight games. He had one of his best performances of the season Saturday against Tulsa by mustering his first double-double of the year. In spite of his recent uptick in production, Jourdain has maintained a relatively low salary that would have given him at least 5.3x value in five of his last six appearances. While Temple and USF are expected to have the lowest-scoring matchup on Monday's slate, Jourdain has been productive regardless of the team's total scoring output.
Dalen Terry, G/F, Arizona ($5,400 DK)
Although Terry ranks last among Arizona's starters in usage rate, his ability to produce in several areas has made him a fairly reliable fantasy contributor this year. The redshirt freshman was held in check to close out January, but he's scored at least 21.5 fantasy points on DraftKings in each of the last two matchups. There should be plenty of production to go around if the Wildcats play up to their potential against Arizona State, and Terry's rough stretch appears to be in the rear-view mirror.
Value Plays
Jahlil White, G/F, Temple ($4,100 DK)
White has been part of Temple's starting lineup in each of the last nine games and has generated consistent fantasy production during that time. Although the freshman has scored in double figures just twice across that span, his results in rebounds and assists have led him to put up at least 19.0 fantasy points on DraftKings in each of his starts. In spite of his increased production, White's DFS salary remains at a level that would have given him at least 4.63x value in each of his appearances as a starter. He's been a relatively safe bet for production and gives DFS players more flexibility to focus on players with higher salaries.
Francisco Caffaro, C, Virginia ($3,300 DK)
Caffaro hasn't been the top contributor for Virginia's slow-paced offense this season, but he maintains a DFS salary near the minimum despite starting each of the last seven games. The center hasn't been a prolific scorer, as he's posted 10-plus points just twice during the 2021-22 campaign. However, he's hauled in at least five rebounds in seven of his last eight appearances, which has given him solid fantasy production. Caffaro flashed some inconsistency in Tuesday's win over Boston College by tallying just four points, a rebound and a steal in 14 minutes, but he's still been fairly reliable since joining the starting lineup.
