This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
DraftKings is running one of the largest Monday slates of the season this week, featuring plenty of Power Five action among the seven games. Featured among the available contests is the CBB $8K Heating Up, which pays out $2,000 to the winner. As always, each program's expected total and spread are listed below.
Top Players
Alexis Yetna, F, Seton Hall ($7,300 DK, $8,000 FD)
Yetna missed Seton Hall's Jan. 8 win over Connecticut and had limited production during his first game back on the court. However, the transfer from South Florida has returned to form across his last two appearances by posting a pair of double-doubles with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in each outing. Not only do the Pirates have the highest expected total of any team on Monday's slate, but St. John's allows one of the highest offensive rebound rates in the nation. As a result, Yetna should have plenty of opportunities to extend his streak of double-doubles to three.
Jake LaRavia, G/F, Wake Forest ($9,000 DK)
Sticking with another program that has a high expected total Monday, LaRavia has been a steady contributor for the Demon Deacons this season and is coming off his best performance of the season, as he posted 57.0 DraftKings points in Saturday's blowout win over North Carolina. While the double-double against the Tar Heels was his first of the season, he's recorded at least five rebounds in all but two of his appearances this year, and he's scored in double figures in each of his last eight outings. Like North Carolina, Boston College has been effective on the boards this year. However, LaRavia will attempt to remain productive following Saturday's double-double.
Middle Tier
Tyree Appleby, G, Florida ($4,900 DK, $6,500 FD)
The Gators have a middling expected total against Mississippi, but the matchup is expected to be among the most competitive on Monday's slate. Appleby has shifted to a bench role recently after he committed four turnovers in each of his first three appearances of the calendar year, but he's remained productive with better ball control during his three appearances since heading to the bench. Across those three outings, the senior has averaged 10.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game. Even if Appleby comes off the bench once again Monday, he's continued to have plenty of playing time in a depth role and has strong DFS potential given his well-rounded production.
Terrence Shannon, G/F, Texas Tech ($4,200 DK, $5,600 FD)
Wake Forest's Daivien Williamson was also in contention for a mid-tier option, but I prefer Shannon's upside after he was more involved for the Red Raiders in Saturday's win over West Virginia. Following an absence of nearly a month, Texas Tech eased Shannon back into action, and he had a minimal fantasy impact during his first two games back on the court. However, he started a second consecutive game Saturday and logged 34.8 fantasy points on DraftKings, which would've been good for 8.3x value at his current salary. While the junior carries some risk given his lack of production across his first two appearances following his absence, he's been a dominant fantasy contributor when he's had double-digit field-goal attempts.
Value Plays
James Karnik, F, Boston College ($3,900 DK)
Karnik has been somewhat inconsistent from a fantasy perspective recently, as he's topped 15.0 fantasy points on DraftKings in three of the last four games but was limited to just 3.8 fantasy points in the team's Jan. 19 loss to Louisville. However, the senior is coming off one of his best performances of the season, as he posted 26 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes during Saturday's win over Virginia Tech. The Eagles are heavy underdogs in Monday's matchup against Wake Forest, but Karnik's upside at his current salary outweighs the risk of the inconsistency that he's displayed.
Storm Murphy, G, Virginia Tech ($3,900 DK, $4,600 FD)
Murphy has the same salary as Karnik and has had more consistent fantasy results, but he's displayed slightly less upside. The redshirt senior has started each of the first 18 games of the season and has played at least 30 minutes in five of the last six contests. Across that span, Murphy has averaged 9.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 32.5 minutes per game. The 23-year-old has been held to single-digit scoring totals in each of his last two appearances, but he also tends to generate modest production in other areas, which makes him a relatively safe DFS play at his current salary.
