We have a seven-game slate this Monday, so there’s plenty of DFS value to be mined. From guys you almost must target to potential punt plays, we're here to break down the biggest values. In this column, I’m talking primarily about players with salaries around $6,000 or cheaper. Let's start with a quick look at Vegas' expectations for today’s slate.
|
Matchup |
Over/Under |
Spread |
|
Jazz at Cavs |
219 |
Jazz -8.5 |
|
Rockets at Knicks |
229.5 |
Rockets -10.0 |
|
Blazers at Magic |
222 |
Magic -7.0 |
|
Grizzlies at Hawks |
239.5 |
Hawks -2.0 |
|
Bucks at Heat |
226 |
Bucks -3.0 |
|
Mavs at Bulls |
224.5 |
Mavs -3.5 |
|
Pacers at Spurs |
220.5 |
Pacers -2.5 |
Remember that injuries and lineups are subject to change at any moment! For the very latest news, stay tuned to Rotoworld’s injury report and player news pages!
Point Guard
Collin Sexton (Yahoo – $20 FanDuel – $5,500 DraftKings – $6,000)
The Cavs will be without Darius Garland, who was ruled out early with a groin injury. That leaves Sexton in an improved spot to produce, though the matchup vs. Utah’s defense doesn’t bode well. He was already averaging 33.9 minutes the past month, a number that could be closer to 36-38 tonight, and he’ll also absorb some of Garland’s 17.9% usage. Ideally, Sexton will spend more time as a playmaker tonight, with increased dimes offsetting any struggles to score vs. the Jazz, but either way it’s a risk worth taking.
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Shooting Guard
Gary Trent Jr. (Yahoo – $10 FanDuel – $4,200 DraftKings – $4,300)
There’s a fairly low over/under in this game, and Orlando’s defense has been stout, but Trent Jr. remains in an enviable position for DFS. His price hasn’t budged much despite his playing time increasing to at least 29 minutes in each of the past five games. Low usage has dampened his offensive numbers and he’s coming off a very quiet game vs. Atlanta (15 points with nothing else), but he gets a tailwind from two teammate injuries – Damian Lillard (groin) remains out, and Anfernee Simons is questionable after getting hurt on Saturday. If Simons is out, I’m playing Trent Jr. and viewing C.J. McCollum as a must-start. If Simons plays, I’d think about pivoting to slightly more expensive SGs like Kevin Huerter and Terrence Ross.
Small Forward
Kevin Porter Jr. (Yahoo – $14 FanDuel – $4,900 DraftKings – $4,900)
As with teammate Collin Sexton, Porter Jr. benefits from the absence of Darius Garland tonight. Unlike Sexton, KPJ’s role as an engine for the second unit he should at least get him more minutes without Rudy Gobert patrolling the paint. He figures to have the ball in his hands a ton tonight and has hit at least 21 DFS points in four straight, including games of 29.9, 34.5 and 51.1. The upside is tangible and at these prices, it’s a gamble I’m happy to take. I’m also interested in De’Andre Hunter vs. the Grizzlies, especially if Cam Reddish (back) sits outs. This should be a high-scoring, defense-free affair and the Memphis frontcourt is in shambles, so Hunter is a cheap way to get exposure to a great DFS game.
Power Forward
Robert Covington (Yahoo – $28 FanDuel – $6,200 DraftKings – $6,200)
Covington is at the high end of the price range for this bargain column, but he’s worth it. The fit in Houston has been ideal and he’s been particularly great as a shot-blocker, with 2.7 swats per game in a Rockets jersey. He’s averaging 37.8 DFS points over the past six games, which equals 6.1x value based on his FanDuel and DraftKings price tonight. The kicker is that he draws a matchup vs. the Knicks’ defense, and I’m not against having multiple Rockets on my lineup tonight, if not outright stacking them. Mike D’Antoni is a great coach for fantasy purposes, because you basically know where the minutes and usage will be every night.
Center
Wendell Carter Jr. (Yahoo – $19 FanDuel – $3,600 DraftKings – $5,500)
This is specific to FanDuel, where WCJ’s price is so extremely low that he almost has to be rostered vs. Miami. Despite playing only 18 minutes in his debut on Saturday, he still had six points, nine boards, two assists and a block for 22.8 DFS points. I’m assuming the minutes come up, which makes him an easy play in FanDuel…I’m not quite as willing to pay mid-tier prices for him elsewhere, though. If you’re on Y! or DK, think instead about P.J. Tucker. He costs only $14 on Yahoo and $3,900 on DraftKings, and he’s coming off a very nice game vs. Boston this weekend (nine points, 13 boards, three blocks). The Knicks’ center spot isn’t scary for Tucker, who gets nearly all of his offense from the 3-point line, and as I said above I’m happy to get more exposure to Houston.