This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
With only four games on the schedule, Monday makes for an interesting DFS slate.
In these circumstances, I prefer to stack on one game and put most of my eggs in one basket. We're going to do that with the Sacramento-Atlanta matchup. While it has the lowest expected total of the night, there's actually a lot to like here. These are teams that play extremely efficient basketball while also playing at a high pace. That leads to extra rebounds, assists and hustle statistics that other games won't provide. This is also one of the most even matchups in a slate that has no game within a seven-point spread.
With all that in mind, it's key to mix a couple other players with the Sacramento-Atlanta stack to add some variance to your lineups.
Guards:
DeMar DeRozan, TOR vs. DEN ($7,900): Not many players are as hot as DeRozan to start the season, and it's hard to avoid someone producing at such a high level. In his first two games, DeRozan has scored a combined 72 points. That doesn't even include his peripheral stats, which have also been solid. With Gary Harris injured, the Nuggets have fewer options to match up with DeRozan and he could feast on that defense all night long. At just $7,900, there's a lot to like about a guy who could easily see 20-plus shots.
Dennis Schroder, ATL vs SAC ($6,300): Schroeder is coming off his best game on Saturday and he should continue to grow into his new role. The German has taken over the reins as the starting point guard in Atlanta, and he has the potential to be one of the best in the league. In that win on Saturday, he set a career-high in assists dishing out 11 dimes in just 27 minutes of action. There's no reason to think that he cant match or surpass that production against a Kings defense that ranked dead-last in points allowed last season. The price is what's most enticing, though, as he's a great bet to exceed 5X value at just $6,300.
Ty Lawson, SAC at ATL ($5,100): Lawson's numbers have been far from eye-popping in his first few games, but he's still providing adequate fantasy production. The interim starter is averaging 26 fantasy points per game and has failed to reach double-digits in points or assists in any of his three games. That's amazing, and it shows just how high of a floor Lawson has. That 26-point mark is 5X value on the dot, and having a floor like that makes Lawson hard to pass up. The minutes and volume are what truly make him valuable, though, as he is playing 35-plus minutes per game right now.
Forwards:
Paul Millsap, ATL vs. SAC ($8,100): Millsap is now the go-to guy in this Atlanta offense and it's clear he has no issue running the offense through the post. In the first two games combined, Millsap has 45 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. That shows his versatility, and it's even more impressive considering he is averaging less than 30 minutes per game in that span. He's doing most of that that damage without significant steals and blocks production, as well, which is one of the factors that makes Millsap so special.
Nikola Jokic, DEN at TOR ($6,100): Jokic was a third-round pick in fantasy drafts just last month and this price represents him more as a mid-round pick. The Joker showed why he was drafted so highly on Saturday, when he dropped a 23-point, 17-rebound gem against the Blazers. That's not all he can do, though, as he also recorded four steals and has shown the capability to provide assists and block shots, as well. The matchup is solid, too, with the frontcourt being one of the few weaknesses for this Toronto team. The price just simply doesn't correspond to the production.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BRK vs. CHI ($3,600): Hollis-Jefferson has disappointed fantasy owners in the opening week, but his price has fallen way too far. The Arizona product was a mid-round pick in fantasy drafts and has the capability to be a much better player than what he's showing. What makes him special is his ability to contribute in hustle statistics. That's why I like him here, as he faces a turnover-prone frontcourt in Chicago and gets the opportunity to match up against smaller players. Using him at a near minimum price is a great idea in a tournament, as he is one of the few players who has a legitimate shot at 10X value.
Centers:
DeAndre Jordan LAC vs. PHX ($7,500): The last time Jordan faced the Suns, he tallied 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in a dominating performance. What makes him so good for this matchup is the up-tempo play, as the Suns are one of the three fastest-paced teams in basketball dating back to last season. That should mean plenty of rebounds and hustle points for an athletic beast like Jordan. The price is hard to pass up, as well, with Jordan checking in as the fourth-highest-priced center in a four-game slate. That should never happen, as Jordan always has a good chance to be the number one center on nearly any given night.
Jusuf Nurkic, DEN at TOR ($5,200): FanDuel is slow to react to Nurkic's new role and he's become a very valuable player at his current price. Nurkic has 63 fantasy points across his first two games and has done that damage in 26 minutes or fewer in each contest. That shows how dominant he can be, as he's a stat stuffer when he steps on the floor. Paying just $5,200 for a player with this sort of upside is impossible to find, and he should have no problem giving us at least 5X value.
Tyson Chandler, PHX at LAC ($4,200): At a near minimum price, Chandler makes for a great tournament play with his ability to double-double as the starting center. While he has failed to reach double figures in scoring this season, he does have 28 rebounds across his first three games. The matchup benefits Chandler, as well, as the Suns will need to play him plenty minutes against an explosive big man like DeAndre Jordan. There may be no better bet for a player below $5,000 to grab 10 rebounds, and Chandler has the potential to add double-digit point, in addition to a handful of blocks and steals.
