This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Here we go with a four-game slate on Monday, March 25.
Per usual, we have some 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 Monday morning, these are the situations we are looking at:
Josh Jackson is questionable. Mikal Bridges would see a ton of minutes if Jackson can't go. Dragan Bender would continue to see 30 or more minutes as well, but his fantasy efficiency can be called into question.
These notable players will continue to miss time: C.J. McCollum, Kelly Oubre, T.J. Warren, Tyler Johnson, Avery Bradley, Allen Crabbe, C.J. Miles, Kyle Anderson, Jaren Jackson
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
Mike Conley – MEM vs. OKC ($7,500): Conley makes for a nice, mid-range lift through all formats tonight. He checks in with a salary $3,400 cheaper than Russell Westbrook and $2,400 less than Damian Lillard. That comes despite holding respectable upside of 47-56 fantasy points in five of his past seven. Conley and the Grizzlies have the fantasy benefit of playing up in pace against Oklahoma City, who ranks second in possessions per game. The Thunder also rank 27th in defensive efficiency to opposing point guards over the past ten games, so that could provide an opening for Conley tonight.
Damian Lillard – POR vs. BKN ($9,900): Lillard is pretty expensive, but he's still a capable target through all formats. He has shifted into overdrive with McCollum sidelined, hitting 64, 65, and 50 fantasy points, respectively, in three games with his fellow guard out. He'll have a chance to keep that going while holding an inflated usage rate in a competitive home draw against Brooklyn. Taking into account floor and upside, Lillard is one of my favorite expensive plays of this slate.
Ricky Rubio – UTA vs. PHX ($5,400): Rubio is very cheap in this spot, helping you snag some of the top-dollar picks in the player pool. It helps that he has a confident matchup against a Phoenix team that ranks 24th in defensive efficiency to opposing point guards. Rubio is averaging 29 FPPG this season, a total he has topped in four of his past five games. He has an excellent chance to exceed that threshold again tonight.
Other guards to consider: Donovan Mitchell – UTA vs. PHX ($8,200), D.J. Augustin – ORL vs. PHI ($5,600), Delon Wright – MEM vs. OKC ($5,700), Seth Curry – POR vs. BKN ($3,800)
FORWARDS
Aaron Gordon – ORL at MEM ($7,000): Gordon had a poor outing on Friday against Memphis, hitting just 14 fantasy points through 39 minutes. However, it's nice to see his playing time remaining high in competitive matchups, and that should be the case with a 2.5 point spread with Philadelphia tonight. Prior to Friday's flop, Gordon was rolling with 39 or more fantasy points in three straight. He should get back to that level while facing a Philadelphia team that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency to power forwards.
DeMarre Carroll – BKN at POR ($4,400): Carroll makes for a serviceable value filler who has seen 33 or more fantasy points in two of his past three games. That has resulted in 35 and 23 fantasy points respectively, which isn't a bad total for this price range. The matchup looks good against a Portland team that ranks 29th in defensive efficiency to opposing small forwards, leading me to look Carroll's way for salary relief.
Maurice Harkless – POR vs. BKN ($4,200): On the other side of this Brooklyn-Portland matchup lies Harkless, who has held a steady 27 minute and 24 fantasy point average over the past three games with McCollum sidelined. That's a reasonable expectation when looking at the cheap salary, and I don't mind Harkless as a fallback option to help roster other high-upside players in this article. Brooklyn ranks 10th in pace and below average in defensive efficiency to small forwards, which certainly doesn't hurt.
Other forwards to consider: Paul George – OKC at MEM ($9,600), Derrick Favors – UTA vs. PHX ($5,500), Mikal Bridges – PHX at UTA ($5,100)
CENTERS
Jusuf Nurkic – POR vs. BKN ($6,900): Nurkic has been somewhat mediocre lately, but tonight represents an outstanding breakout opportunity. He's playing against Brooklyn tonight, who allowed JaVale McGee to pile up 33 points and 20 rebounds the last time they took the floor. We all know Nurkic has a penchant for upside if he can create some momentum. That could easily be the case against this Brooklyn team that ranks 26th in rebound rate and 20th in defensive efficiency to centers.
Rudy Gobert – UTA vs. PHX ($8,000): Gobert is more expensive than Nurkic, and the Portland center is my preferred option for that reason. However, we can't ignore Gobert's matchup against a Phoenix team that ranks 29th in defensive efficiency to centers and 23rd in rebound rate. There's some blowout risk with the Jazz favored by 14.5 points at home, but Gobert has massive upside through extreme efficiency in this encouraging draw. Consider him a tournament pivot at this price point.
Other centers to consider: Steven Adams – OKC at MEM ($5,300), Enes Kanter – POR vs. BKN ($4,000)
