The Super Bowl is over and hockey is on hiatus, so it’s NBA DFS time. It was time for that anyways, but now even more so than usual. The NBA knew that, as it had just three games on the schedule yesterday, and DraftKings now has seven games on tonight’s main slate.
The question, of course, is who do you play? I’ve got a nice pack of plays I want to build around that should help push you in a winning direction. Let’s see which NBA DFS picks make my cut, while I’ll also highlight the slate’s most stackable game and discuss which studs I want to pay up for the most.
NBA Core Plays for Monday
| DraftKings NBA Core Plays | FanDuel NBA Core Plays |
| Collin Sexton ($4.6k) | Collin Sexton ($4.7k) |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($7k) | Danny Wolf ($4.8k) |
| Isaiah Collier ($7.3k) | Zion Williamson ($7.8k) |
| Danny Wolf ($4.8k) | NAW ($7.2k) |
Update 2: Adding NAW. JJ and Daniels are out for the Hawks so he is shaping up to be a smash play. The matchup with Minnesota stinks, but he looks awesome if the game stays close. I think there is merit to fading him (and really most chalk on this slate), but the reality is these guys all look good. In big GPPs you can get more creative and consider fading Collier/NAW but in most contests I’d just use this core. CJ McCollum also is very cheap. He’s always so hard to trust and he’s more owned than NAW, so I am prioritizing NAW.
Update: I like Ware, but removing him since he’s so volatile. Might be bad chalk, but I do think he’s a great value if you want to risk it. Zion is viable on both sites, but he projects as well as guys like Collier/Randle and is cheaper. I think he’s an elite play on FD.
The Bulls continue to be a good source of value with Josh Giddey out and the rest of their former rotation jettisoned to the sun. Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simson also grade out as rock solid plays, but Sexton is the best P/$ option they have to offer at the moment.
On the other side of that game is Danny Wolf, who remains cheap, is in a smash spot, and won’t have to contend with MPJ for usage. That gives him a considerable boost and may thrust him into the starting five. He is a great play and PF/C flexibility makes him even better.
Isaiah Collier is getting expensive, but he’s still not priced up enough. Miami offers a fast-paced environment and Utah continues to be short on legit lead guard options. Keyonte George is out again tonight, making Collier a foundational piece in an up tempo setting.
Ware is back in the rotation for Miami and Utah is an amazing matchup for him. You can certainly make a case to fade him at his current ownership, but he’s also the best points per dollar play of the entire slate right now.
Best NBA Stacking Environment for 2/9
- Jazz vs. Heat (240.5 total)
- Hawks vs. Timberwolves (238.5 total)
- Kings vs. Pelicans (230.5 total)
- Cavaliers vs. Nuggets (239.5 total)
There are several stackable spots on this slate, but the Jazz game stands out the most. It has the highest total and two offenses that like to push the pace big time. The only question is which Jazz veterans actually play, while trusting their starters is obviously pretty difficult at the moment.
The easiest game to stack might be Sacramento vs. New Orleans. I don’t know if I trust the Kings veterans, but their younger guys (Carter, Clifford, Cardwell) stand out as compelling values in a smash spot. The Pels also look good on the other side, with Trey Murphy and Zion looking like strong plays.
Top NBA DFS Studs for Monday
- Nikola Jokic ($12.1k)
- Jalen Johnson ($10.7k)
- Cade Cunningham ($10k)
- Anthony Edwards ($9.7k)
Jokic is the top spend tonight and it’s not that close. Jamal Murray is Q and if he sits it’s going to be even more so the case. There’s already some solid value to work with, so I just don’t see any way around it.
JJ and Cade are fine, but they don’t project well enough when compared to Jokic. I’d rather spend the extra $1.4k to go from JJ to Jokic. Cade has a stronger case since he is a full $2.1k cheaper than Jokic.
ANT also looks really good against the Hawks. I think you can make a case for any of these guys, but I prefer Jokic.
Playing DFS since the days of DraftStreet, Kevin knows the ins and outs of DFS, specifically for NFL and NBA. He’s also been helping people win in fantasy football leagues for 15+ years and is one of many experts featured at FantasyPros.
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