FantasyDraft NBA: Monday Values

This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.

After a modest four-game Sunday evening slate, we're back to a more plentiful eight-game ledger Monday that has several intriguing matchups, including Rockets-Bulls, Cavaliers-Timberwolves, and to cap off the night, Nuggets-Warriors. A number of appealing individual matchups are on tap overall, while some key injuries could bode well for the fantasy production of other players on those squads. Without further ado, let's analyze how it all breaks down at each price level.

GUARD

Chris Paul, HOU at CHI ($17,800): Paul is sporting a 24.9 percent usage rate and averaging 1.33 fantasy points per minute in the three games that James Harden has missed thus far with his hamstring injury, and he's scored between 39.25 and 51.25 fantasy points in his last four games overall. That stretch includes a trio of double-doubles, and the fantasy-point tallies all represent solid-to-excellent returns on Paul's current price. With what will likely be a competitive matchup on tap against an improving Bulls team that's been tough at home, Paul sets up as an appealing cost-savings pivot over Stephen Curry ($18,800) for those that need the extra cash. Moreover, Chicago comes in allowing the most fantasy points to point guards (61.9) per game over the last 10 games, along with the second most points (30.0), second most rebounds (9.1), fourth most assists (10.3), most blocks (1.1) and most made three-pointers (3.5) to the position over that span.

Lou Williams, LAC vs. ATL ($14,500): Williams continues to provide starter-quality production on most nights despite coming off the bench, and often generates numbers befitting a higher-priced player. The veteran sharpshooter has scored between 32.50 and 59.00 fantasy points in the last five games, taking an average of 17.2 shot attempts -- including 8.1 from three-point range -- over that sample. That aggressive nature should serve him well against the Hawks, which come in allowing the eighth most fantasy points (48.4) per game to two-guards on the season, along with the seventh most points (27.3) and third most made three-pointers (3.9).

Justin Holiday, CHI vs. HOU ($9,500): Holiday remains priced well under $10K despite having scored over 20 fantasy points in 13 of his last 15 games. A clunker in his last contest against the Pacers on Saturday resulted in only 14.00 fantasy points, but his role in the Bulls' offense typically leads to much better production. He'll be poised for a boost Monday, considering the Rockets's pace generates the seventh-most possessions per game (102.8) and they have surrendered the ninth most fantasy points (58.3) per game to two-guards over the last five contests, along with the fifth most points (35.0), third most rebounds (10.6), sixth most made three-pointers (5.0) and sixth highest shooting percentage (47.0).

FORWARD/CENTER

LeBron James, CLE at MIN ($20,400): Unsurprisingly, James took matters into his own hands against the Magic on Saturday with the Cavs having lost five of their previous seven games, going off for 75.00 fantasy points on the strength of a near triple-double of 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. While the individual matchup might not be as enticing Monday, there's little reason to doubt he won't exhibit sky-high usage again in what should be just as competitive a game on the road against a quality opponent. The Timberwolves have admittedly been very stingy against small forwards in recent games, but James typically transcends matchup. Furthermore, that fact he averaged 26.0 points (on 75.0 percent shooting, including 60.0 percent from three-point range), 13.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in two games versus Minnesota last season is also noteworthy.

Draymond Green, GS vs. DEN ($14,400): Kevin Durant is questionable at best to suit up Monday with a calf injury that's already cost him two games, and Green notably averaged an impressive 1.34 fantasy points per minute over that pair of contests while scoring 56.50 and 36.00 fantasy points. Even if Durant manages to suit up Monday, Green remains an appealing option at home against a Nuggets squad that's struggled containing fours all season. Denver comes in allowing the fifth most fantasy points (46.3) per game to power forwards on the season, including 51.2 over the last five contests. They're also yielding bottom five or 10 figures to the position in multiple other categories, while the Warriors' pace of play (104.0 possessions per game, third most in the NBA) certainly is a point in his favor as well.

Trey Lyles, DEN at GS ($11,000): Lyles' price has been creeping up and justifiably so, considering he's scored between 31.50 and 42.25 fantasy points in his last five games, and no fewer than 25.75 in his last eight overall. He's sporting a 23.6 percent usage rate and averaging 1.08 fantasy points per minute during the latter stretch and has seen no less than 27 minutes in any of those contests, giving him a trustworthy workload for either cash games or tournaments. He'll be poised to continue his current stretch of strong production Monday, considering the Warriors' aforementioned uptempo style and the fact that they've yielded the fourth most fantasy points (46.5), fifth most points (22.2), second most rebounds (12.0) and second most steals (1.7) per game to power forwards on the season.

UTILITY

Jimmy Butler, MIN vs. CLE ($15,700): Butler has scored under 40 fantasy points just once in the last 11 games, and he's averaging a robust 17.2 shot attempts over his last 15, a notable boost over his 15.7 season figure. While with the Bulls last season, Butler also performed consistently well against the Cavs, averaging 22.3 points (including 47.4 percent shooting from three-point range), 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals across four games. His current individual matchup shapes up even better, as Cleveland has allowed the most fantasy points per game on the season (52.2) and over the last five games (72.6) to two-guards, and the most made three-pointers (4.3) on the campaign to the position as well. Butler is a virtual lock to fill up the stat sheet each night and even more so in what should be highly competitive affair and highly favorable matchup.

LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at SAC ($14,400): Aldridge exploded for 55.00 fantasy points over 30 minutes against his old Portland teammates Sunday, his third double-double over the last four games. He's scored no less than 35.75 fantasy points in the last seven games, and with Kawhi Leonard expected to be out Monday with a newly-discovered partial shoulder tear, Aldridge will be poised for big returns once again. He boasts a 30.4 percent usage rate and is averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute with Leonard off the floor this season, while the Kings have allowed the second most fantasy points (47.1) per game to power forwards, along with the most points (23.4) and most made three-pointers (2.5). Moreover, Aldridge racked up 46.00 fantasy points over 38 minutes on Dec. 23 against Sacramento on the strength of a 29-point, 10-rebound double-double.