This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
DraftKings is carrying a four-game slate Monday, highlighted by the $8K Big Jam that pays out $2,000 to the winner. The most prominent matchup on the slate is a Big Ten clash between Illinois and Iowa that has the highest expected total, but there are plenty of chances to find value in the other matchups. While stars like Kofi Cockburn and Keegan Murray (ankle) are sure to draw plenty of attention, Monday's slate has a plethora of players with mid-tier and low-range salaries that should provide plenty of value while offering lineup flexibility to roster multiple top-tier players.
Top Players
Kofi Cockburn, F, Illinois ($9,400 DK, $15,000 FD - single-game)
Cockburn's salary has caught up to his production, but there are plenty of value plays on Monday's slate that allow DFS managers to select Cockburn with ease. The junior has been incredibly consistent since returning to the floor, and he now has three double-doubles in his last four appearances. He should take on an even more prominent role once again Monday since Andre Curbelo has been ruled out with a neck injury. Although Cockburn has the highest DFS salary of any player on Monday's slate, he's been one of the most consistent players in college basketball, and he's playing in a matchup against Iowa that should be competitive and relatively high-scoring.
Keegan Murray, F, Iowa ($8,200 DK, $15,500 FD - single-game)
Murray's status ahead of Monday's contest is certainly worth monitoring since he was unable to play in Friday's narrow loss to Purdue as a result of his ankle injury. While coach Fran McCaffery is optimistic that Murray will be able to play against the Fighting Illini, he also expressed a similar sentiment prior to Friday's matchup. If the sophomore is available Monday, he's been the Hawkeyes' most consistent contributor early in the season following the departure of Luka Garza. Murray has scored 20-plus points in six of his first seven appearances of the season and has hauled in at least six rebounds in each of the last five games. If he's cleared to play against Illinois, he should be in line for plenty of work once again.
Colin Castleton, F, Florida ($8,800 DK)
Since Murray's status for Monday's contest is in question, Castleton lands in the column as a bonus top player. Like Cockburn, the senior has one of the highest salaries on Monday's slate, but he's been incredibly consistent on the scoreboard for the Gators to begin the season. He's scored in double figures in each of the first seven games of the year while shooting 54.9 percent from the floor, and he's finished with double-doubles in four of the last six contests. Although Florida enters Monday's matchup as heavy favorites (-22.5) over Texas Southern, the Gators are one of two teams expected to top 80 points, so Castleton should have plenty of scoring chances once again.
Middle Tier
Phlandrous Fleming, G/F, Florida ($4,700 DK)
Fleming has also been productive on the scoreboard for Florida recently, but he's come off the bench in all but one of his appearances this year and has been less consistent in the rebound column. The transfer from Charleston Southern totaled just 13 points across his first two appearances with the Gators but has now scored in double figures in each of the last five games. He's also generated production in other areas, including six rebounds in each of the last two contests. Fleming should see plenty of work off the bench once again in what's expected to be a blowout win, so he has the chance to provide plenty of DFS value.
Tramon Mark, G/F, Houston ($4,400 DK)
Mark missed the first two games of the season due to a shoulder injury, and he had lackluster performances across his first few appearances upon his return. However, the sophomore has rounded into form across each of the last two games, as he's averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game during that time. Both of those matchups were blowout wins, and Mark should see plenty of run once again Monday since the Cougars are heavy favorites (-32.5) with the highest expected score against Alcorn State.
Value Plays
Rueadale Williams, G, Coastal Carolina ($3,000 DK)
Williams' salary is one of the most perplexing ones on Monday's slate, as he's been one of the Chanticleers' most consistent performers early in the 2021-22 campaign. However, he has a minimal salary against Mercer on Monday. While Monday's contest isn't expected to be a particularly high-scoring one, it should be a competitive matchup. Williams is averaging 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31.8 minutes per game this season and is a safe bet to provide plenty of DFS value Monday.
Jalen Johnson, G, Mercer ($3,200 DK)
Staying in the same matchup, Johnson has the opportunity to be one of the top values on Monday's slate. As one of Mercer's top contributors this season, the transfer from Tennessee and Wake Forest has scored in double figures in each of his last seven appearances. He's coming off his best performance of the season Saturday against Georgia State in which he came within one rebound of a double-double and would have provided 14x value at his current salary. DFS lineups that include both Johnson and Williams will have plenty of flexibility to roster several other players with top-tier salaries.
