This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
For Monday's slate, we have an eight-game schedule with some interesting spreads. In fact, there are three games with double-digit spreads and no spread within four points. Being able to identify the teams that could get blown out will help you to widdle down part of the field, and that's a crucial part of DFS. While it's unclear which games will be over early, it's important to approach those games with caution and use every advantage you can get.
Russell Westbrook, OKC at DET ($11,600) -- OR -- James Harden, HOU vs. PHI ($11,700): I've said in previous articles that I want to get either Westbrok or Harden in every lineup, and they haven't disappointed yet. The duo are putting up ridiculous numbers, with both players averaging 56 fantasy points per game. It's the usage that makes these guys so good, as they have the ball in their hands at all times and accumulate fantasy points through sheer volume. They both have favorable matchups, as well, with Philadelphia and Detroit ranking as average defenses, at best. It's almost a horse apiece in terms of which player to use, but be sure to get at least one of the in your lineup whenever they take the court.
Ish Smith, DET vs. OKC ($5,300): Smith is filling in for Reggie Jackson as the starting point guard for Detroit and playing very well. Aside from a dud performance against the elite Clippers defense, Smith is averaging 26 fantasy points per game. That's 5X value and there's reason to believe he can provide that yet again here. Facing off against Russell Westbrook can be tough on the defensive end, but Smith should be able to take advantage on the other end. In fact, the Thunder have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to point guards this season. They actually have allowed the second-most assists from point guards and the most steals, so Smith should be able to accumulate those stats considering those are two of his specialties.
Josh Richardson, MIA at SAN ($3,800): While this matchup with the San Antonio defenseis extremely scary, this price is simply too cheap. Richardson missed the first couple of weeks due to a knee injury, but he made his first start in the team's most recent game and played 33 minutes and accumulated 27 fantasy points. That's absurd value for a near-minimum-priced player and he should continue to see 30-plus minutes so long as Goran Dragic (ankle) remains out. The one concern here, of course, is the matchup, but with his capabilities as a defender and a hustle-type player, Richardson is more matchup-proof than most players in this range.
Carmelo Anthony, NYK vs. DAL ($7,600): Anthony is starting to turn things around and now's the time to get on him before he gets to $8,000. The Syracuse product has scored at least 37 fantasy points in four of his last five games. The one time he failed to reach that benchmark, he was ejected in the second quarter when he was well on his way to another monster night. The matchup is strong as well, considering Anthony will likely be matched up with an undersized Harrison Barnes. The reason he's been so good recently is the usage, as he has taken at least 20 shots in all four of those 37-plus-point performances.
Robert Covington, PHI at HOU ($4,800): Covington got off to a horrendous start this season, but he's finally starting to turn things around. Not only has he scored at least 21 fantasy points in five straight games, he's averaging over 32 minutes per game in that span, as well. The Rockets are the best fantasy matchup in the NBA, as they play at an incredibly fast pace with an emphasis on scoring quickly. Where Covington could be really sneaky is defensive stats, as he had a career-high eight steals in his last game against the Rockets. In that game, he also scored 28 points on his way to a ridiculous 58-fantasy-point outing. While he's unlikely to match that Monday, his price and upside make him impossible to pass up in such a great situation.
Domantas Sabonis, OKC at DET ($4,000): Admittedly, I recommended Sabonis on Sunday in my Yahoo! article and it did not go well. He scored just five fantasy points in that loss, but going back to the well can lead to a big cash. Many people will see that dud outing and fade him, but we won't. Prior to Sunday, he was averaging over 20 fantasy points per game across his five previous contests. What's most encouraging was his increased role, as he was averaging nearly 30 minutes per game in that span as well. While this is a risky play, it has very little downside at this price, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him surpass 20 fantasy points yet again. With that in mind, he's a better cash play than a tournament play, simply due to his limited upside and high floor.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. BRK ($6,900): When looking at Jordan's game log, there are some serious inconsistencies. The main reason for that is how well the Clippers have played, as Jordan has already sat out numerous fourth quarters. While that could be an issue yet again here, Jordan should still be able to put up monster rebounding numbers against a weak Brooklyn team that will be without Brook Lopez (rest). The price is extremely affordable, too, as he is $1,500 cheaper than Hassan Whiteside and Andre Drummond, who are very similar players to Jordan, in terms of production potential.
Joel Embiid, PHI at HOU ($5,400): The only reason this price is so low is because of his 24-minute cap. While that is concerning for upside purposes, it's still not factoring how ridiculous this guy has been playing. Embiid is currently leading his team in points, rebounds and blocks, while maintaining a crazy-high usage rate. It's clear Philadelphia wants to get Embiid the ball in his limited minutes and run its offense through him. The matchup is the best part of this play, though, as the Rockets rank among the league's most fantasy-friendly defenses.
Joakim Noah, NYK vs. DAL ($4,700): Noah continues to be undervalued on DFS sites, which don't seem account for his peripheral stats. While he almost never scores in double figures, he provides elite numbers for his position in rebounding, assists and defensive statistics. Noah has actually scored at least 29 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, while reaching double figures in scoring just once. The matchup is strong, as well, considering he'll be matched up against a struggling Mavericks team. At just $4,700, there's very little downside to using Noah.
