This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Monday brings a solid eight-game slate that features the likes of John Wall, Stephen Curry, James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo. There's also plenty of value to be had, especially with key injuries opening up some opportunity. Let's break down who's appealing at each price point.
GUARD
John Wall, WAS at DEN ($18,000): Wall makes for an appealing cash-saving pivot off top guard choice James Harden, considering he's already averaging 49.00 fantasy points over his first two contests. Wall was also solid in this matchup last season, averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals over two games versus the Nuggets. With a team-high 36.6 percent usage rate and a matchup against a team that plays up in pace, Wall should have ample opportunity to make good on his price.
Mike Conley, MEM at HOU ($14,300): Conley's ownership might be a bit depressed Monday, considering he underwhelmed with a 3-for-14 shooting performance that led to just 23.00 fantasy points on Saturday against the Warriors. However, the veteran guard is too good a shooter not to snap out of that funk, and a matchup against James Harden's defense might be just what the doctor ordered. Conley averaged 19.8 points (on 46.2 percent shooting), 6.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals over four games against the Rockets last season while often facing off against Harden, and the Rockets are already allowing 52.0 fantasy points and 27.3 points (on 46.8 percent shooting) per game to point guards.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC at PHO ($10,500): Fox has scored no fewer than 25.00 fantasy points in his first three games and actually outpaced veteran George Hill in playing time during the Kings' most recent contest on Saturday night. The Suns have been disastrous enough in the early going to already get their head coach fired and are allowing the most fantasy points (72.2) and points (32.2) per game to point guards over the first three games.
FORWARD/CENTER
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL vs. CHA ($19,500): Antetokounmpo appears to be on a whole other level this season, exceeding 60 fantasy points in each of his first three games while stuffing the stat sheet in trademark fashion. He draws a matchup ripe for more of the same against the Hornets, a team he averaged 20.3 points (on 57.8 percent shooting), 9.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.0 blocks against in three games last season. The Hornets have already surrendered a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double to the Pistons' Tobias Harris, and Antetokounmpo brings considerably more upside.
Andre Drummond, DET vs. PHI ($14,300): Drummond has scored between 28.50 and 40.50 fantasy points in his first three games and has even been perfect from the free-throw line, a development that could help him garner additional minutes later in games. He faces a Sixers squad that's surrendering 62.0 fantasy points, 25.6 points and 18.4 rebounds per game to centers over the first first three games and that he averaged 14.7 points, 15.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 4.3 steals and 1.3 blocks against in three contests last season.
Tobias Harris, DET vs. PHI ($12,300): Harris is in a good spot in his own right, considering the Sixers are allowing 59.8 fantasy points, 24.3 points and 12.5 rebounds to power forwards in the early going. Harris has exceeded 40 fantasy points in two of his first three games and is playing well over 30 minutes per contest, making him particularly appealing at a very reasonable price.
UTILITY
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. TOR ($15,600): Aldridge is sporting a team-high 32.3 percent usage rate this season over the first two games without Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) in the lineup, and the latter is already listed as out for Monday's contest. Aldridge has been in vintage Portland Trail Blazers form, having scored 48.00 and 52.00 fantasy points, respectively, in the aforementioned pair of contests. The Raptors are allowing 45.8 fantasy points, 21.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game to power forwards thus far this season, and with Serge Ibaka slated to shift to center Monday in place of Jonas Valanciunas (ankle), Aldridge may able to avoid him a lot more than if Ibaka was in his usual spot at the four.
James Johnson, MIA vs. ATL ($12,500): Johnson could well draw another start at power forward Monday, as head coach Erik Spoelstra may opt to roll out the same lineup he utilized against the Pacers on Saturday night with Hassan Whiteside (knee) sidelined. Whiteside is reportedly very likely to miss Monday's contest as well, and Johnson would get a matchup against a Hawks defense allowing 48.3 fantasy points, 20.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game to fours. Johnson has scored 30.00 and 41.00 fantasy points, respectively, in his first pair of contests, and his floor-stretching capability gives him excellent upside at his price.
