This article is part of our Daily Games Cheat Sheet series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks
Four out of the seven games Monday are Western Conference matchups, which tells us there won't be much defense played later on in the night. The best chance of finding a decent defensive matchup lies in the early Eastern Conference slate. The obvious choice here would be the Cavaliers going up against the lowly 76ers, but you won't find many appealing fantasy options on Philadelphia anyway. The more intriguing defensive matchup is Spurs vs. Knicks, or more importantly, Kawhi Leonard vs. Carmelo Anthony. Melo just had his best offensive game in a while with 37 points Saturday against the Wizards but Leonard is one of the best defenders in the league and should be able to contain him. The Knicks lack secondary scoring, so San Antonio shouldn't have any problems limiting New York.
Offense to Use:
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Rockets' offense has really struggled this season, but this is the perfect game to wake them up. Houston will be forced to keep up with Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the Thunder in order to stay in the game. The Rockets are scoring a measly 88.5 points per game, but against a Thunder team that's allowing 121 PPG, they should look more like the squad that averaged 103.9 per contest last season. James Harden is always fired up to go against the franchise that traded him away, so his putrid shooting percentage should increase. It would also be wise to consider either offense in the Bucks-Nets tilt, as neither team is very good at defending.
Teams on Back-to-Back:
First game: Grizzlies
Second game: Bucks, Rockets, Thunder, Spurs
DraftKings DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Brandon Knight at LAC ($6,600): If you're looking for a point guard not named Stephen Curry or Russell Westbrook, Knight could be your guy. So far this season, Knight has done nothing but prove why he was a lottery pick back in 2011. Through three games, he's averaging 20 points, five rebounds and four assists per game, which levels out to 36.4 fantasy points per contest. The Suns should be able to control the glass against the Clips, leading to more possessions and more scoring. Sure, Knight isn't going to put up 80 fantasy points, but he's more than capable of reaching 5x value for tournament use.
Other suggestions:Jarrett Jack vs. MIL ($6,000), Matthew Dellavedova vs. PHI ($3,200)
Shooting Guard
Khris Middleton at BKN ($5,600): The Nets are allowing opponents to shoot 44 percent from three-point range through three games. Middleton is a career 40-percent from shooter from distance and doesn't have to compete for minutes with the likes of Chris Copeland and Damien Inglis on the bench. He should have no problem taking a decent number of shots, which should pay off well.
Other suggestions:Klay Thompson vs. MEM ($6,900), Dion Waiters vs. HOU ($3,800)
Small Forward
LeBron James at PHI ($9,700): If you're playing cash games, King James is probably your best bet Monday. He scored 29 points against the Heat on Friday and will now face off against a young 76ers squad that appears headed for the lottery again. One of the best parts about DraftKings' scoring is the bonus for double-doubles and triple-doubles, something James should accomplish with ease in Philadelphia.
Other suggestions:Giannis Antetokounmpo at BKN ($6,400), Andrew Wiggins vs. POR ($6,200)
Power Forward
Tim Duncan at NYK ($6,000): The ageless Duncan has yet again found a way to stay fantasy relevant. He's still getting plenty of playing time, though his touches have obviously decreased. That doesn't diminish his value though, as he should provide plenty of that against a young Knicks frontcourt. The Spurs' defense has played well the past two games, and good defending usually leads to more opportunities on offense. Duncan isn't going to post 20 and 10, but hitting value in tournaments would only take a double-double.
Other suggestions:Tristan Thompson at PHI ($4,500), Markieff Morris at LAC ($6,300)
Center
Mason Plumlee at MIN ($5,400): The T-Wolves are 2-for-2 in losing the rebounding battle this season with a minus-7 differential. Without LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez, frontcourt minutes are up for grabs and Plumlee has done the most with them. He's not much of a scoring threat, but has showcased his ability to pass and is decent on the boards. Minnesota allowed two double-doubles in its opener against the Lakers and nearly gave another to Kenneth Faried on Friday. Plumlee offers some roster flexibility and is a decent contrarian play in GPPs.
Other suggestions:Karl-Anthony Towns vs. POR ($6,100), Jahlil Okafor vs. CLE ($6,100)
Injury Report
Out
Kyrie Irving (knee)
Arron Afflalo (hamstring)
O.J. Mayo (hamstring)
Jabari Parker (knee)
John Henson (achilles)
Nikola Pekovic (ankle)
Game-Time Decision
Dwight Howard (back)
Andrew Bogut (face)
Robert Covington (knee)
Terrence Jones (face)
Donatas Motiejunas (back)
