This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Here we go with a seven-game NBA slate on Monday, December 31. Keep in mind, however, that we are focused on the main slate starting at 6 ET.
Looking within that, this Minnesota-New Orleans matchup seems like a promising environment for fantasy upside. It represents the highest over/under of the night at 230.5 total points with the Pelicans checking in as five point favorites. Both teams rank in the bottom ten for team defensive efficiency and top half for possessions per game. Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Julius Randle, Robert Covington, and whoever is healthy in the Minnesota backcourt appear to be the best fantasy picks in this high-scoring tilt.
Per usual, we have several injuries to monitor with potential for more while moving closer to tip-off. You'll want to stay in the loop with RotoWire's NBA News Feed before setting your final lineups. As of Thursday morning, these are the situations we are looking at:
Eric Gordon is out. Austin Rivers and Gerald Green will be the primary beneficiaries in minutes.
Rudy Gay is out. Davis Bertans could see more playing time if Gay is ruled out.
Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose are doubtful. Tyus Jones posted 34 fantasy points in 36 minutes with both of them out yesterday at Miami, so he would be a great DFS value if Teague and Rose are forced to miss another game.
These notable players will continue to miss time: Chris Paul, Aron Baynes, Nikola Mirotic
With that, I'll be breaking down the best fantasy choices on DraftKings for Monday. The following write-ups contain a blend of cash game staples, bargain fillers, and tournament pivots.
GUARDS
If Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague are both out, Tyus Jones ($5,000) becomes an extremely good source of value.
James Harden, HOU vs. MEM ($11,400): Chris Paul and Eric Gordon are both out, so Harden will have even more on his plate moving forward. The matchup doesn't look great on paper against Memphis (4th in defensive efficiency vs. backcourts), but Harden makes up for that while seeing some potentially insane usage rates with a ton of minutes. The MVP candidate hasn't been bothered by tough matchups in recent games, as he cruised to 72 FP vs. Utah, 60 FP vs. Boston and 65 FP vs. Oklahoma City over the past few weeks. All of those teams rank in the top ten for defensive efficiency against opposing backcourts.
Mike Conley, MEM at HOU ($7,600): I'm hoping most people overlook Conley in this matchup. We could see a back-and-forth affair in Houston, and Conley's matchup gets somewhat easier with Paul and Gordon not playing for the Rockets. The Memphis point guard is significantly cheaper than other guards like Jrue Holiday or DeMar DeRozan with realistically similar upside. Conley is coming off a solid 49.25 FP performance vs. Boston despite only shooting 1-9 on three pointers. I'm expecting another well-rounded outing with upside if his shot is falling.
Dennis Schroder, OKC vs. DAL ($5,400): Schroder is more of a price play than anything tonight. Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson are both dealing with illnesses that could result in either missing this game or seeing limited minutes. That would certainly help stabilize Schroder's playing time off the bench. That was the case against the Mavericks last night, where Schroder piled up 33 FP in 33 minutes of action. Dallas ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency vs. opposing backcourts, which certainly helps if Schroder sees quality minutes yet again.
Other guards to consider: DeMar DeRozan, SA vs. BOS ($8,200), Jrue Holiday, NO vs. MIN ($8,500), Kyle Anderson, MEM at HOU ($4,800)
FORWARDS
Robert Covington, MIN at NO ($6,500): Covington is more of a tournament play who is also an acceptable mid-range filler in cash games if needed. This seems like a matchup for him to thrive, playing up in pace against a New Orleans team that ranks dead last in defensive efficiency vs. opposing small forwards. We all know that Covington has unlimited shooting range, and the Pelicans rank in the bottom ten for opponent three-point percentage at nearly 36% allowed. In addition, there's a chance Covington could see more shot attempts if Teague and Rose miss another game.
Mikal Bridges, PHO vs. GS ($4,200): Bridges is still way too cheap on DraftKings when accounting for his ascending role. The rookie is averaging 35 minutes and 28 fantasy points per game over his last four, which is a solid baseline for a $4,200 salary. The matchup isn't necessarily great while hosting Golden State, but Bridges should continue to see plenty of opportunities with that much playing time. He's a solid bargain filler to help you reach for the stars of this slate.
Maxi Kleber, DAL at OKC ($3,700): Speaking of bargain filler, Kleber could fall into that category tonight. He has started the past two games with Wesley Matthews out, averaging 29 minutes and 18 fantasy points over that span. That doesn't seem impressive on the surface, but I'll take that level of playing time for the near-minimum salary. Keep an eye on Matthews' status (highly questionable) to see if Kleber is in line for extended minutes yet again.
Other forwards to consider: Paul George, OKC vs. DAL ($9,400), Jayson Tatum, BOS at SA ($6,000), Davis Bertans, SA vs. BOS ($3,400)
CENTERS
Julius Randle, NO vs. MIN ($7,900): Randle is one of my favorite all-around picks on this slate. I mentioned earlier how this Minnesota-New Orleans matchup makes for an elite game environment, and Randle could absolutely thrive within it. Nikola Mirotic will continue to miss time, and Randle has been in full beast mode while seeing extra playing time. The Pelicans' forward has notched 41 and 49 fantasy points in his past two games, and he could certainly be within that range again tonight. His opponent, the Timberwolves, rank 20th in defensive efficiency vs. opposing frontcourt players.
DeAndre Jordan, DAL at OKC ($6,100): The draw doesn't look good from a defensive efficiency point of view, but Jordan is simply too cheap on DraftKings. The Mavs' big man has posted 36+ fantasy points in three straight games, one of those being a 43 FP effort against the same Oklahoma City team he'll see tonight. I'll be looking to utilize Jordan as a strong mid-range play through all formats.
Other centers to consider:Clint Capela, HOU vs. MEM ($7,400), Kevon Looney, GS at PHX ($3,700)
