Malik

Monk

Monk has recorded three 20-point games in his last five appearances, with his fantasy ceiling being slightly higher than usual due to Dennis Schröder’s absence due to injury. Over the last four games, Monk has provided top-100 value in eight- and nine-cat formats. He’s still rostered in 22 percent of Yahoo! leagues, which may be a bit low due to the combination of his production and Schröder’s absence. However, the schedule does not work in Monk’s favor, as the Kings play only one more game in Week 7.

Monk was initially probable for Wednesday’s game, so the upgrade in status was expected. With Dennis Schröder still out, Monk will spend more time on the ball, running the show when Russell Westbrook isn’t on the floor. There will also be times when the two are playing alongside each other.

Previous reports indicated that Monk was expected to play on Wednesday despite missing practice on Monday. That will hold true, as he has officially been listed as probable. He’ll continue to play a large reserve role after scoring 21 points in 34 minutes on Sunday.

Schröder has missed Sacramento’s last two games but could return to take on Houston. If he does, Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk will likely lose out on a few minutes, but not enough to decimate the value of either player.

Shoulder soreness kept Monk out of Monday’s practice, but the Kings’ schedule works in his favor. Sacramento only plays two games during Week 7 and won’t return to action until Wednesday, giving the athletic guard some time to recover. The expectation is that Monk will play against the Rockets.

Monk finished Sunday’s defeat one point shy of his season high, shooting just under 50 percent from the field. Even better for fantasy managers was the veteran guard recording a complete stat line, something he’s done on four other occasions this season. Rostered in 22 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Monk sits just outside the top-150 in nine-cat formats. Given his importance to the Kings’ rotation, he’s worth rostering in 14-team leagues, but 12-team league managers can afford to look elsewhere for production.

Monk scored 16 of his 22 points off the bench in the second half, knocking down seven of 12 shots after the break to help Sacramento mount a late comeback effort. The veteran sharpshooter did a little bit of everything in this one, adding two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in a performance that felt like a full Thanksgiving plate. He can be safely ignored in most fantasy leagues but should see a few additional shot opportunities while Domantas Sabonis remains sidelined with left knee soreness.

Monk will be back after a one-game absence against Atlanta on Wednesday. He should return to playing his typical large role off the bench, though the rotation could look a little different. Dennis Schroder will reportedly come off the bench, which will limit Monk’s usage.

Monk missed Sacramento’s last game and could miss a second straight outing. Kings coach Doug Christie discussed switching up the starters, so if Monk plays, that could mean he bumps into the opening group. His absence should lead to more minutes for Keon Ellis, Russell Westbrook and Nique Clifford.

The Kings will be without one of their key scorers off the bench on the second night of a back-to-back, as Monk deals with a sore ankle. The veteran guard is posting career-highs in shooting efficiency over nine games this season and averaging 14.2 points per game. As a result, Keon Ellis and Russell Westbrook should be even more involved off the bench for the Kings on Wednesday.