This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Monday brings a manageable eight-game slate that features plenty of appealing individual matchups. The ledger is bookended by a couple of potential shootouts in Cavaliers-Sixers and Lakers-Clippers, while the likes of James Harden, Stephen Curry and LeBron James give us plenty to think about when it comes to elite options. Without further ado, let's examine the best components for your lineups Monday.
GUARD
James Harden, HOU vs. BKN ($22,300): Harden catches the suspect Nets defense on the second game of a back-to-back, and he's also coming off a 64.00 fantasy point effort against the Knicks on Saturday, his fourth game over the last six in which he's hit the 60-point mark. The Beard is a threat to hit the double-double bonus on any given night as well, while Brooklyn checks in allowing the third most fantasy points (56.6) to shooting guards on the season, including 62.5 fantasy points per game over the last five. They also rank near the bottom of the league in points (31.6), rebounds (9.1), assists (6.1) and steals (2.4) allowed on the season to the position, while Harden is sporting a 32.6 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.34 fantasy points per minute with Chris Paul on the floor, dispelling any concerns about the latter's presence affecting Harden's typically spectacular numbers.
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. DET ($15,900): Irving has scored between 40.00 and 62.75 fantasy points in four of his last five games and draws a matchup versus a Pistons defense that's allowed a robust 48.2 fantasy points per game to point guards over the last five. They're also surrendering the fourth highest shooting percentage (45.0) to the position, while Irving is shooting a career-best 48.0 percent and sports a team-high 32.9 percent usage rate. He also dominated in this matchup last season, averaging 24.0 points, 7.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds across four games while shooting 54.9 percent from the field, including 50.0 percent from three-point range.
Lou Williams, LAC vs. LAL ($10,900): Williams gets another crack at his old Lakers teammates and their suspect defense after already having compiled 28.25 fantasy points against them over 24 minutes in the season opener. He's in an even better spot Monday, considering he's now running with the first unit. That opportunity has enabled him to score 33.75 and 42.75 fantasy points, respectively, over his last two games, and he'll be poised for a similar return against a squad that's allowed 50.7 fantasy points per contest to shooting guards on the season, and an even more generous 56.2 fantasy points to the position over the last five. They're also surrendering the fifth most made three-pointers per game to twos (4.1), while Williams is draining a career-best 2.2 treys on a career-high 5.9 three-point attempts per contest.
FORWARD/CENTER
LeBron James, CLE at PHI ($20,900): James is a no-brainer top-tier selection at forward/center Monday, especially considering he'll be tangling with a Sixers defense that's allowed the highest shooting percentage (49.0) to small forwards on the season. LeBron is sporting a 29.7 percent usage rate and averaging 1.47 fantasy points per minute during the Cavaliers' current seven-game winning streak, a stretch during which he's had fantasy-point tallies of 66.00 and 75.50. With such immense upside, he's undeniably worth his current price tag.
Blake Griffin, LAC vs. LAL ($15,300): Griffin trampled the Lakers to the tune of 53.50 fantasy points on the strength of a 29-point, 12-rebound double-double in the season opener, and he's coming off tallies of 57.00 and 47.50 fantasy points over his last two games. He's also picked up his impressive game even further recently, as he boasts a 34.5 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.24 fantasy points per minute in his last seven contests. The Lakers continue to struggle against bigs and are allowing the fifth most fantasy points (46.3) per game to power forwards, along with the second most rebounds (12.9).
Pau Gasol, SA vs. DAL ($11,700): Gasol has been increasingly involved on the offensive end recently, scoring between 34.50 and 38.75 fantasy points in three of his past four contests. He also hauled in 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes against the Mavs in one previous meeting this season, while Dallas checks in allowing 37.6 fantasy points per contest to centers. They've been stingier on that front lately, but they remain ranked in the bottom 10 of the NBA in rebounds allowed to the position (11.6). With a reasonable price tag, Gasol is aptly capable of providing a solid return based on his body of work thus far this season.
UTILITY
Chris Paul, HOU vs. BKN ($14,600): As alluded to earlier in Harden's entry, the Nets are typically a team to attack for fantasy purposes, and that holds just as true when it comes to their point-guard defense. Brooklyn has allowed 46.1 fantasy points per game to ones, along with the sixth most points (24.0) and second highest shooting percentage (46.0) to the position on the campaign. Paul has scored between 31.50 and 52.50 fantasy points in four games since his return from a knee injury and is certainly in a favorable spot for generating another tally in that range.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at IND ($13,700): Vucevic is in an enviable spot for centers versus Myles Turner and the Pacers, as Indiana checks in allowing the fourth most fantasy points (42.5) to fives on the season, including the third most (52.4) over the last five. They're also allowing the fourth highest shooting percentage (57.0) to the position on the season, while Vucevic has ripped four straight double-doubles and is posting career highs in made three-pointers (1.6), three-point attempts (4.3) and three-point shooting percentage (37.6). He's been a virtual lock for 30 fantasy points in his last seven games, making him a viable and reasonably priced cash or GPP option Monday.
