Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter/X & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

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DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

We’ll get the workweek rolling with a solid Monday NBA slate -- six games on DraftKings and eight games on FanDuel, with the inclusion of the two late 10 ET tip-offs on the West Coast. At first glance, this looks like a fairly standard slate with a healthy mix of competitive environments, fast-paced games carrying elevated totals, a few lopsided matchups with double-digit spreads, and a couple of slower, more defensively-minded spots.

As usual, injuries will play a significant role, with some teams far more banged up than others -- and, in the case of the Denver Nuggets, they’ll essentially be without their entire starting lineup. Overall, this shapes up as a strong slate so let’s get down to business. Best of luck!

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Today’s Key Injuries 🚑

^{Note: NBA injury reports can be fickle and often update throughout the day. Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}

^{Additional Note: Players who have yet to play this season will be excluded from the injury report, unless they have either a probable, questionable, or doubtful injury designation, with some amount of chance to make their season debut. Injured players who have been out for an extended period of time and/or are not expected to play for a month-plus will also be excluded.}

• Knicks: J. Hart – OUT, L. Shamet – OUT

• Pistons: J. Duren – OUT, T. Harris – OUT, C. LeVert – Doubtful

• Bulls: J. Giddey – OUT, C. White – Probable, J. Smith – OUT, Z. Collins – OUT

• Celtics: None

• Hawks: T. Young – OUT, L. Kennard – Questionable

• Raptors: J. Poeltl – OUT

• Suns: J. Green – OUT, G. Allen – Probable

• Rockets: A. Sengun – OUT, S. Adams – Questionable

• Hornets: B. Miller – Probable, K. Knueppel – Probable, M. Diabate – Probable, R. Kalkbrenner – OUT, T. Salaun – Probable, M. Plumlee – OUT

• Thunder: I. Hartenstein – OUT, A. Caruso – OUT, Jay. Williams – OUT

• Nuggets: N. Jokic – OUT, J. Murray – OUT, A. Gordon – OUT, J. Valanciunas – OUT, C. Johnson – OUT, T. Hardaway Jr. – OUT, C. Braun – OUT

• 76ers: J. Embiid – Probable, K. Oubre Jr. – OUT, T. Watford – OUT

Late Game Injury Report (FanDuel Main Slate Only)

• Warriors: None

• Clippers: J. Harden – Questionable, D. Jones Jr. – OUT, B. Bogdanovic – OUT, Y. Niederhauser – Questionable

• Jazz: J. Nurkic – Questionable, A. Bailey – Questionable, K. Love – OUT

• Trailblazers: J. Holiday – OUT, J. Grant – OUT, R. Williams – Questionable

Top DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Plays

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Cade Cunningham, DET | DK: $10.5k, FD: $10.8k | vs. NYK

Cade Cunningham sits at the top of the pricing ladder on this evening’s slate, and the workload supports it. He’s averaging north of 55 DKFP/gm over his last 10 games, with consistent peripheral production highlighted by multiple double-doubles and a triple-double during that span. Detroit will again be without Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, and Cunningham’s role meaningfully expands with both off the floor -- his usage rate jumps by 3.4 percentage points to 35.5%, and his per-minute production rises from 1.45 to 1.60 FPPM. The Pistons are slight home underdogs in what profiles as one of the better environments on the slate, with this game carrying one of the highest totals available (232.5 O/U) alongside the close 2.5-point spread. Cunningham already handles elite on-ball responsibility, and the additional absences only consolidate more offense through him. He’s expensive, but the combination of minutes security, usage, and game environment makes him a strong anchor if you’re paying up at guard.

PG Immanuel Quickley, TOR | DK: $6.6k, FD: $6.9k | vs. ATL

Immanuel Quickley has averaged over 35 DKFP/gm across his last seven games despite inefficient shooting, which speaks to his ability to contribute beyond just scoring. More than half of his shot attempts during that stretch have come from three-point range, and while he’s streaky, perimeter volume is a practical way to attack Atlanta’s defense. The Hawks have allowed 42.6 FPPG to starting point guards over their last 20 games, the second-most in the league. Toronto receives the second-highest pace boost on the slate, and in a matchup carrying a 233.5 O/U and narrow 2.5-point spread, Quickley offers solid mid-range exposure in a game environment that should play up-tempo (for Toronto) and competitive.

PG/SG Bruce Brown, DEN | DK: $4.3k, FD: $4.4k | at PHI

Denver’s rotation is razor thin with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Jonas Valanciunas, Cameron Johnson, and Tim Hardaway Jr. all out – and that’s not even the full list (Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun are also out). This should push Bruce Brown into the starting lineup as the primary shooting guard. With Murray sidelined, Brown is also likely to take on additional ball-handling and facilitating responsibilities rather than being limited to a low-usage off-ball role. A blowout is firmly in play with Denver sitting as heavy road underdogs and carrying a slate-low 105.5 implied total. Even so, the Nuggets may only have an eight- or nine-man rotation available, which puts Brown in a strong position for elevated minutes and solid usage regardless of game script. At these price tags, volume alone makes him one of the more viable salary-saving options on the slate.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Tyrese Maxey, PHI vs. DEN

PG Jalen Brunson, NYK at DET

PG/SG Derrick White, BOS vs. CHI

PG Amen Thompson, HOU vs. PHX

SG Brandon Ingram, TOR vs. ATL

PG/SG Dyson Daniels, ATL at TOR

SG VJ Edgecombe, PHI vs. DEN

PG Ajay Mitchell, OKC vs. CHA

SG Duncan Robinson, DET vs. NYK

PG/SG Jalen Pickett, DEN at PHI

PG/SG Daniss Jenkins, DET vs. NYK

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SG/PG Caleb Love, POR vs. UTA

PG/SG Kris Dunn, LAC vs. GSW (Preferred if Harden is out)

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF/SG Kevin Durant, HOU | DK: $8.9k, FD: $9.1k | vs. PHX

Kevin Durant stands out as a high-end forward option (with SG eligibility on DK) with Alperen Sengun sidelined again. With Sengun off the floor this season, Durant’s usage rate jumps +8.7 percentage points, from 23.7% to a team-leading 32.4%, and the offense funnels heavily through him as the primary scorer and creator. He’s also producing at a strong per-minute clip recently, averaging 1.42 FPPM over his last five games. This matchup sets up well for ceiling outcomes, as Durant already went for 51.5 DKFP the last time Houston faced Phoenix -- a game Sengun also missed. At these price tags, you’re getting legitimate 50+ FP upside without paying all the way to the top of the slate, which keeps Durant firmly in play as a pay-up option.

SF RJ Barrett, TOR | DK: $6.1k, FD: $6.2k | vs. ATL

RJ Barrett stands out in the mid-range as he works back into a more stable role following a lengthy injury absence, which kept him sidelined for 15 games. After logging just 24 minutes in his first two games back, Barrett got up to 30 minutes against this same Hawks team on Saturday, where he erupted for a season-high 29 points and finished with a healthy 38.0 DKFP. He’s a 1.09 FPPM producer on the season, so another dose of ~30 minutes would likely lead to some quality value at these low-$6k price points. The matchup also checks out about as best as you could hope for, as Atlanta ranks dead last in DvP against starting small forwards this season.

SF/PF Tari Eason, HOU | DK: $5.8k, FD: $5.9k | vs. PHX

Tari Eason immediately stepped into a larger role after Alperen Sengun went down last game, turning in his best performance of the season with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double while adding defensive production and finishing with 40.5 DKFP. With Sengun off the floor this season, Eason sees a +5.1 percentage point boost to his usage rate, which can tick up slightly more if Steven Adams (ankle/questionable) also sits. His per-minute output has been strong as well, as he’s up to 1.16 FPPM over his last five starts. The salary has climbed, but the workload remains the key, especially if Eason is pushed into the 30–34 minute range again. The matchup also helps, with Phoenix ranking 25th against starting forwards over their last five games and playing on the back end of a back-to-back after a physical and competitive contest against OKC last night.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF Jalen Johnson, ATL at TOR

SF Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. CHI

PF Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. ATL

SF/SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ATL at TOR

PF OG Anunoby, NYK at DET

SF/PF Peyton Watson, DEN at PHI

PF Matas Buzelis, CHI at BOS

PF/C Isaiah Stewart, DET vs. NYK

PF/C Collin Murray-Boyles, TOR vs. ATL

SF/PF Javonte Green, DET vs. NYK

SF/SG Julian Strawther, DEN at PHI

SF/PF Hunter Tyson, DEN at PHI

FanDuel Main Slate Only

SF/PF Kevin Durant, LAC vs. GSW (Boost if Harden is out)

SF/PF Deni Avdija, POR vs. UTA

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Joel Embiid, PHI | DK: $8.7k, FD: $9k | vs. DEN

Center is thinner than usual with Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun both sidelined, but Joel Embiid still stands out as one of the few high-end options available at the position. While it’s unlikely we’ll see Embiid consistently look like his former MVP-level self again, he’s flashed his patented upside and is set to make a fourth consecutive start for the first time this season. He posted 34 points and 10 rebounds just three games ago and has averaged north of 35 minutes in his last three outings. This matchup sets up cleanly with Denver extremely short-handed in the frontcourt, but the obvious concern is game script. Philadelphia is a heavy 14.5-point favorite, and Embiid may not be needed for another full 35-minute workload if this game gets out of hand. Even with that risk, the matchup and price points keep him firmly in the mix at a position lacking true ceiling alternatives.

C Paul Reed, DET | DK: $3.8k, FD: $4.2k | vs. NYK

With Jalen Duren out, Paul Reed slides into the starting lineup and checks nearly every box you look for in a value center. He’s averaging an elite 1.35 FPPM on the season, so any workload in the 25–30 minute range puts him in an entirely different tier at these rock-bottom price tags. Reed has already shown he can manage a more typical starter’s workload, logging 30 minutes in the most recent game. The matchup does come with some foul-risk against New York’s size, but Detroit may have little choice but to lean on him heavily if he stays out of trouble. Expanded run has unlocked legitimate ceiling outcomes for Reed in the past, including the 63.75 DKFP eruption he posted earlier this season when filling in as a starter. We never want to label anything as a sure thing or a “lock” in DFS, but it’s hard to find a clearer combination of role, minutes, and per-minute upside on this slate than what Paul Reed should be able to provide. He may realistically be 80-90% owned on tonight’s slate, but it’s extremely risky to fade him.

Other Centers to Consider

C Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK at DET

C Sandro Mamukelashvili, TOR vs. ATL

C Daron Holmes II, DEN at PHI

C Luka Garza, BOS vs. CHI

C Zeke Nnaji, DEN at PHI

FanDuel Main Slate Only

C Jusuf Nurkic, UTA at POR

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we have rolled out Props AI for NBA – available for LineStar Premium users! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks, UnderDog Fantasy, and other prop apps/sites!

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter/X or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!