This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA starts off the week with a sparse slate of only three games, though there are some big hitters on the slate. The defending-champion Warriors are on display, and so are Kyrie Irving's Celtics and Hassan Whiteside's Heat. We also get to see two teams that are expected to be poor, but have been producing all types of electric offense of late in the Nets and the Suns. Let's explore.
GUARDS
Stephen Curry, GS vs MIA ($10,000): Curry continues to be one of the safest bets in the game. He has scored at least 20 points with at least nine combined rebounds/assists in every game this season, which has led to at least 41 fantasy points in his last 10 outings. His range in that stretch has been between 41 and 54 fantasy points, so the only question is whether he'll be great or elite on a given night.
D'Angelo Russell, PHO vs BKN ($8,000): This one was a toss-up between Russell and Devin Booker. There's not much to recommend one over the other, and if possible I'd suggest rostering both of them. That said, Booker is on the second half of a back-to-back and had an awful game on Sunday while Russell is coming off consecutive 40+ fantasy point outings and had a rest day on Sunday.
Tyler Johnson, MIA at GS ($3,900): Johnson has been crazy up-and-down all season, making him a high risk play. However, his price is so low that he's a very effective punt on days that he has it going. He has now sandwiched two games where he averaged 30 fantasy points around an 11-fantasy-point clunker, so perhaps he is starting to find the level that made him so effective last season.
FORWARDS
Kevin Durant, GS vs MIA ($10,500): Durant is the only truly elite option at forward on Monday. He's safe, you know what you're going to get from him on a night-to-night basis, and much like Curry the question is just whether your team needs him enough to afford his price tag.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN at PHO ($6,700): Hollis-Jefferson is coming off two strong games in which he has averaged 21 points, six boards, 2.5 assists and 2.5 combined blocks/steals. In the four games before that, he had three solid ones between 27.7 and 37.2 fantasy points scored, but one klunker of only 7.6 fantasy points. Hollis-Jefferson has always been a risk/reward play, though he has been more reliable with his production of late than he used to be.
DeMarre Carroll, BKN at PHO ($6,200): Carroll is predictably productive, as long as he's healthy. He has produced between 31.6 and 38.9 fantasy points in his last six consecutive healthy games, though he did have one down game and one missed game in that stretch due to injury. He's apparently healthy going into Monday's game, so should be a solid play.
CENTERS
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at GS ($8,700): Whiteside returned from injury last week, and over three games has played himself from part-time productive back up to his usual elite level. Monday will be the second half of a road back-to-back, which could be a challenge, but his 21 points and 17 boards on Sunday indicates that his game is up to full speed.
Al Horford, BOS at ATL ($7,500): Horford remains one of the quietest but most-productive big men in the NBA. His floor this season has been in the upper-mid 20s of fantasy points, but he's spent most of the season in the mid-30s with an upside into the low/mid 40s of fantasy points. The Hawks don't have a lot of talent in the middle, plus they are Horford's former team, so he should be set for another solid game.
Tyson Chandler, PHO vs BKN ($4,900): Chandler has grabbed double-digit rebounds in two straight, three of four, and six of his last eight games. He is coming off consecutive games of 27 and 27.8 fantasy points, which is solid for his price point, going into a winnable match-up with the Nets' interior.
