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We're set for a robust Monday night slate that thankfully doesn't have an inordinate amount of top-end players set to miss due to COVID-19 protocols, giving us a strong player pool to work with.
With less absences than usual compared to recent weeks, we have a better opportunity to achieve true balance salary-wise while selecting players that have a bit more certainty associated with them than those that have been short-term fixes for teams that have been particualrly short-handed.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 1/3/22. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Good luck, Rotoballers.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
James Harden - PG/SG, BKN vs. MEM ($11,300 DK; $11,400 FD)
Harden's recent play essentially speaks for itself, as he's been over 70 DK points in four straight and has eclipsed that mark in two occasions in that span on FD as well. Harden's eye-popping production has survived the return of Kevin Durant to the lineup, so there's no hesitation in my mind on rolling with him again Monday if you can float his salaries. The Grizzlies have been reasonably solid defensively but still allow 48.3 DK/46.7 FD points per game to PGs, along with the highest road three-point shooting percentage (38.9) in the NBA, the latter particularly relevant when calculating The Beard's upside.
Lonzo Ball - PG, CHI vs. ORL ($7,600 DK; $8,300 FD)
Ball is slated to make his return to the floor after a multi-game stay in COVID-19 protocols, but he isn't likely to face much of a minutes restriction. The talented offseason acquisition has been a hit for the Bulls in his debut season in Chicago and checks in averaging 33.6 DK/33.1 FD points per contest. The Magic make for a very welcoming target to return to action against, as Orlando is allowing 48.9 DK/47.8 FD points per game to PGs in the last 15, along with the fourth-highest offensive efficiency to the position overall on the season (26.9 percent). The Magic is also giving up the fourth-most assists per game (25.6), a weakness an elite facilitator like Ball is certainly capable of capitalizing on.
Jalen Green - PG/SG, HOU at PHI ($5,200 DK; $5,900 FD)
Green has been excellent since returning to the floor from his hamstring injury, averaging 22.3 points on 48.1 percent shooting, including 51.5 percent from three-point range, over his first four games. The rookie's salaries remain highly appealing for a matchup against a 76ers team that's just average defending three-point shooting (34.9 percent allowed) and that's given up 40 DK/38.1 FD points per game to shooting guards for the season. The potential absences of Kevin Porter (team discipline) and Eric Gordon (groin) could also certainly help Green, as he sports a 26.8 percent usage rate without his two teammates on the floor.
Also consider: Bradley Beal ($10,400, $9,100); Seth Curry ($6,000, $6,400)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF, MIL vs. DET ($11,800 DK, $11,600 FD)
Antetokounmpo is always naturally a consideration, and certainly against a Pistons team that he's already averaged 58.4 DK points against over the first two meetings of the season. The big man is also averaging a whopping 60.6 DK points per contest at home and is coming off having scored over 60 fantasy points on each site in three of his last four, including one game over 70. The Pistons have solid defensive numbers against power forwards overall for the season, but as Giannis has already demonstrated, he's an exception to that rule and should be in position to once again deliver despite his hefty salaries Monday.
Anthony Edwards - SF, MIN at LAC ($7,700 DK; $8,200 FD)
Edwards is expected available Monday after demonstrating his conditioning was back up to par by logging 37 minutes against the Lakers on Sunday night. The talented wing has scored over 30 fantasy points on each site in his first two games back from COVID-19 protocols and owns a 33.5 percent usage rate while averaging 45.0 DK/43.4 FD points per 36 minutes with both Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell off the floor this season. Both of his teammates could remain out Monday due to COVID-19, and Edwards will be facing a Clippers team without Paul George's defense and allowing 45.2 DK/43.3 FD points to small forwards over the last seven games as a result.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SF, WAS vs. CHA ($4,900 DK; $5,000 FD)
Getting some exposure to the Wizards is a good idea Monday, considering Washington catches an already highly vulnerable Hornets defense on the back end of a back-to-back set. KCP offers some very cost-effective exposure in that regard and checks in having scored well north of 20 fantasy points on both sites in five of his last six games. The veteran is averaging a solid 28.3 DK/27.8 FD points per 36 minutes with Spencer Dinwiddie (COVID-19 protocols) off the floor this season, and Charlotte checks in allowing the fourth-highest three-point percentage on the road (37.6 percent) while also playing at the league's second-fastest pace (105 possessions/gm).
Also consider: Kyle Kuzma ($8,000; $6,800)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Joel Embiid - PHI vs. HOU ($11,400 DK; $10,800 FD)
Embiid has pair of 60-fantasy-point tallies and another over 70 in three of his past four games, and the Rockets check in allowing 65.5 DK/65.2 FD points per game to centers over the last seven. That set of metrics already make a very strong case for Embiid, as does the fact Houston is allowing the third-highest offensive efficiency to centers on the season (34.5 percent). Embiid is also naturally a strong candidate for the double-double bonus on DK any time he takes the floor, and Houston is giving up the 10th-most rebounds (14.8) to centers on the campaign.
Nikola Vucevic - CHI vs. ORL ($9,200 DK; $9,400 FD)
Vucevic scored 32 DK points/31.1 FD points over only 28 minutes in his one prior encounter with his old Magic squad this season, and he'll check into Monday's rematch having scored over 40 FD points in five straight, a sample that includes a tally over 60. Vucevic is averaging 42.9 DK points per home contest as well, and the Magic are ranked in the bottom half of the league in offensive efficiency allowed to centers (31.5 percent). Orlando is also giving up 54.8 DK/54.2 FD points per contest to centers for the season and is tied for the sixth-most rebounds allowed per road game (56.0).
Also consider: Daniel Gafford ($6,000; $6,100)
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